My Grandmother – The Lion of the family

It was one of the chilly October mornings, I reached my home in secunderabad around 7:00am. I got off the auto, opened the main gate and stepped in and was closing the same. I had my back towards the entrance of the house and that’s when I heard the familiar voice saying “Baagunavva Naani” – which means How are you my darling child.? That sharp, strong voice could belong to only one person in this entire world and that is my paternal grandmother – Pushpavathi, the Lion of our family

She was born into a family of values. Her father by all means was a very well respected gentleman who passed away at the ripe age of 95 years. You would be surprised to know that he never had a blood pressure or diabetes or arthritis or cancer. He passed away on his terms, in his very own bed while surrounded by his beloved family members. And her mother of course was a fabulous person. Though I have very vague memories about her because I was hardly 7 or 8 years old when she passed away

Ok…Coming back again…(I have this nasty habit of getting carried away)..Why do I call my grand mom Lion of the family?

A)      Attitude – Oh man..I always keep telling myself, I wish I could possess the attitude of hers. Trust me I would be somewhere else. Self respect matters to her the most (Izzat, aatma samman in hindi). No matter what she always has the habit of living with her head high. I hardly remember her asking for some help from someone. She would ask any one of her immediate Grand children for help. If at all she would ask a non family member for some help, she will make sure she repays the same at an appropriate time. Without fail!

B)      Far sightedness – How many people these days have a futuristic vision? Hardly any. But she has. I will share a peculiar incident here. My great grandfather had a well-established business. He had two sons After this death, the name of the business was replaced by a different name belonging to his younger son. Which indirectly was a message to my Grand Parents that the business no longer belongs to them. 3-4 years after this incident, she took a call stating that a wall be constructed in the middle of the house so that its equally divided between both the sons of my great grand father. What I want to imply here is the far sightedness she had ”Yesterday we lost our rightful share in the business..tomorrow it could be the house!”

C)      Learning from experience – She is a living proof or an example and she proves that learning from experience makes one wise. Another example related to this. She has seen many close relatives of ours suffer terribly on hospital beds before they passed away. The relatives who passed away in hospital were on ventilators, could not speak, not even recognise their own family members and had all sorts of pipes inserted into them and connected to all sorts of hi tech gadgets in ICU’s. My grand father (her husband) was on his death bed due to cancer of the urinary bladder. Doctors had given up all hope of any survival. While the human tendency is that of a hope that keeping such person in hospital for few more days might lead to something or die fighting, she did the unthinkable. She said in a stern voice (as told to me by my brother) – “If he has to die, he will die in his house amidst his family members. Not away from his family and not in an ICU where people are not allowed to see him, touch him, feel him. I will not allow him to leave us in such a way”. At her behest, he was discharged and few days later, he passed away in the same way she had envisioned. Salute to her courage, will power, decision making ability, situational leadership

Even at this age, she does all her things all by herself, loves her 3 daughters and their children with all her heart. Caring for all. Having faith and belief in Lord God and always considers that whatever happens, happens for one’s own good. She lives without having any complaints, nor she expects any complements in return. She wishes nothing but the best things to happen for all

She is blessed with strong memory and will power which can crush anything or bear any hardship with utmost ease. She is a one man army typically like a Lion that hunts on its own, as per its own terms and as per its choice. The only thing I wish and I pray for her is that she should live strong and long and God bestows upon her all his choicest and most wonderful blessings of all time

Thank You Grand Ma for the wonderful times we had together. The trips to various places with you and Grand Father, the lessons you have taught me, your invaluable guidance has made me a better person. People like you come once in a life time and I am glad and privileged I am born into your family.