Thursday, April 25, 2019

Guardians of legacy Manjiri Date

There are some people who claim they scripted their own destiny, some who believe that destiny cannot be changed and then there is yet another lot who don't believe in destiny at all. I for one believe that there are a few who just go about working relentlessly without respite. They probably don't even have time to think about such contentious matters and probably end up forcing even destiny to give in to their wish.
  We are always greeted at the door by this 80 plus octagenirian, with a smile, sometimes toothless, but brimming with joy and cheer.
Can't miss that apron tied  round her frail midriff, a testimony to her being set for taking on not just the kitchen chores, but life in general. There must be something in that act of tying those apron strings. It probably anchors more than  just the apron. It also must be tying down the ever fleeting mind to focus on the  task at hand.
Its nice to see her grin widen  as we take our seats. Despite repeated requests to join us, she hobbles along to the kitchen and fetches a small steel container. She opens it and quickly places a couple of coconut barfis on our hand with a quaint remark- "You had said last time that you liked these. So I made them specially for you."
This really touches a very soft spot deep inside my heart. The recipe of making this Barfi is tedious and rather complicated. She must have been through the grind and back breaking process just because i like these coconut yummies.
Mrs Manjiri Date, Medhas mother never ceases to fascinate me. She's the archtypical matriarch, who almost ruled with an iron fist, and yet endeared herself to everyone who crossed her path. She has an opinion on almost everything, but also the desire to learn, to evolve, to motor on.
She is extremely deft with her hands and has ventured into embroidery, tailoring, and many other handicrafts.
Quintessentially a mother who took every possible effort to inculcate the highest of academic standards in her daughters, she always made it a point to network with neighbours and friends to the point of having an extended family. Everyone had a special fondness for Manjukaku. Someone whom all could turn to for a quick consultation on matters ranging from mundane domestic strife to larger issues like taking  financial decisions.  Everyone's agony aunt. She would never let you down. She would immerse herself totally in your problem, sometimes worrying about it more than the person himself. Blessed with a very sharp mind, that needs fodder, in the form of concern or then some issue to worry about, her compassion and need  to get involved very funnily spills over into the torment of even the victims of her daily soap opera shows on television. Its really so fascinating to see her animated reactions while watching her favourite Marathi serials. People like her are noble souls who won't even dream of hurting a fly.
They are God fearing, and very religious. I deliberately use that word because rituals like singing Bhajans, or for that matter maintaining the legacy of a family temple, are done with extreme devotion and faith.  The rituals aren't any fetish but only looked up as the legacy of our rich and varied culture. She never let ritual supersede the sentiment and neither ever ridicule it. She was the master of moderation. The picture is taken in the same temple of Ganesh which she visits and serves on every auspicious day. A true guardian of a legacy, a tradition that enriches rather than enslaves.May your tribe increase.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

You deserve such soulmates for worldly presence and task in hand. Please keep us tantalising with your impeccable prose garnished by fervour divine.
Dhanyabhag!