It was winter. People were walking along the pavement. The roads were looking beautiful in the sparkling lights and snow filled trees. Carols could be heard from the nearby church. Reva was sitting on a bench off the road. She was lost in her world thinking of something as if in trance. Her eyes were moist. Suddenly, a smiling and happy person was coming close to her wishing everyone around “Happy Christmas” on her way. She came and sat beside Reva.
It was Ashley, her friend who is working with her as a teacher. Ashley noticed that Reva was not in her usual mood to have fun.” Hey, Reva.. what are you up to? Is anything bothering you? Why you decided to leave your job?”. Reva took out a photograph from her jacket. It was a photo of village children. A dark girl of about eleven carrying a baby boy and a small girl next to her of about five years old standing innocently and as stiff as a stick with oiled hair in bordered blouse and skirt. Ashley looked at the photo and said that they were cute but she was puzzled and was anxious to know more about them and their relation to Reva. “Who are they?” asked Ashley. Reva heaved a bit and said that,” I have a lot of things to tell you….”
Reva began to tell, “The elder girl’s name is SHREEKUTTY carrying her brother Raman and next to her is her younger sister Revathi. They lived in a small village called “Koodali” in Kerala. Their parents used to work in the farms.
Sreekutty used to do all the household chores while their parents were out to work. She used to walk along the fields sometimes enjoying the scenic beauty around. From an early age she began to do all the household work. It was common for most of the girls in koodali. They were not sent to schools because their parents were poor and also they didn’t give much of importance to their studies. They used to think that girls are supposed to learn household work and get married and be inside the home. But yes, they used to send their children to work as servants at other rich people’s home.
Sreekutty was also sent to work as servants at the age of eight. She was a very dedicated servant. In the morning at about nine she used to leave for her work. She used to run and sing passing through trees and fields, trying to catch dragonflies and butterflies. But she used to halt for a moment when she reached the village school. It’s an open classroom where students sit on the ground and study, learn and write. She tried to listen what they were teaching and stare at their books and slates with popped eyes. Her moment of noticing this “different” world of studies sometimes used to extend up to an hour.
And for that reason she used to get scolding from the owner of the house where she used to work.
After coming home she used to play with her younger sister Revathi. Sreekutty once asked her Mom that why she was not being sent to the school. Her mom frowned and say that, ”Girls are not supposed to go to school. What will they do after going to school? It’s a complete waste of time. You don’t waste your time thinking of such rubbish. You go to work and earn. Don’t you think that’s enough I get a headache thinking about both of yours’ marriage expenses in future and you are asking to spend on your education. What will we get back after we spend on you?” Sreekuuty got her answer and she was very upset. Filled with tears in her eyes she said,” Amma, I know but still after looking at those kids who are studying I feel like to try it once. You know now I know to write my name. Her mom was taken a back for a moment. She asked,” HOW COME?” Sreekutty told her about Sharada the teacher of the village school who used to sometimes teach her something to write. Then her mom warned her not to waste time in it.
For days now her mother did not go to work as she was expecting a baby. Sreekutty asked her mom whether she would abort this child like many other she did. Her mom laughed and said,” Silly, those were girl child but this time it’s a boy, I got it checked from our village doctor.” These words struck Sreekutty’s heart like a sword. Mom said,” We already have two daughters and then why to bear more burden of dowry. I get a headache thinking of your marriage now only.” She couldn’t ask her anything more. Her throat was choked with sadness. She couldn’t have food that day. In the dim light of the lamp that day sreekutty took an oath that she will learn and be educated and also teach Revathi. So she started keeping aside a part of her salary for revathi’s studies. The village teacher used to like her a lot and so was determined to help her.
Sreekutty somehow managed to make up the minds of her parents to send Revathi to school along with her but the expenses were borne by sree. Revathi in the beginning was not interested much as she wanted to play but gradually she understood what her sister is going through just to make revathi’s life and she started working really hard.
At the age of seventeen Sreekutty got married but she kept on taking care of Revathi and her education. Sreekutty started working in fields. She was having problems with her in laws but she never did let revathi know about this. Sreekutty had a daughter and a son but she never distinguished between them. Revathi completed her Graduation. With the help of the village teacher she was sent to Calcutta for a Teacher’s job.”
“Oh! So she is in Calcutta here, among us” asked Ashley. Reva answered,”Yes, with you”. Ashley couldn’t believe what she just heard. She said,” You mean, this girl…?!” Reva said,” Yes, that Revathi in this picture is me. It’s just that people started calling me reva just for fun and gradually that became my name” There was a silence for a moment. Then reva controlling her tears showed Ashley the letter in which it was written that Sreekutty died to Brain Tumor last night.
Reva said,” This photo is the only thing I have in her memory now. Tomorrow I am going back to my village. I want to open a school in the honour of my sister who is everything to me and want to devote my life in teaching the girls in my village and fulfill my sister’s dream to educate all the girls”. Ashley said,” I am with you”. She kept the photograph inside her jacket again and both started walking…
-Drishya V Prabhakaran
It was Ashley, her friend who is working with her as a teacher. Ashley noticed that Reva was not in her usual mood to have fun.” Hey, Reva.. what are you up to? Is anything bothering you? Why you decided to leave your job?”. Reva took out a photograph from her jacket. It was a photo of village children. A dark girl of about eleven carrying a baby boy and a small girl next to her of about five years old standing innocently and as stiff as a stick with oiled hair in bordered blouse and skirt. Ashley looked at the photo and said that they were cute but she was puzzled and was anxious to know more about them and their relation to Reva. “Who are they?” asked Ashley. Reva heaved a bit and said that,” I have a lot of things to tell you….”
Reva began to tell, “The elder girl’s name is SHREEKUTTY carrying her brother Raman and next to her is her younger sister Revathi. They lived in a small village called “Koodali” in Kerala. Their parents used to work in the farms.
Sreekutty used to do all the household chores while their parents were out to work. She used to walk along the fields sometimes enjoying the scenic beauty around. From an early age she began to do all the household work. It was common for most of the girls in koodali. They were not sent to schools because their parents were poor and also they didn’t give much of importance to their studies. They used to think that girls are supposed to learn household work and get married and be inside the home. But yes, they used to send their children to work as servants at other rich people’s home.
Sreekutty was also sent to work as servants at the age of eight. She was a very dedicated servant. In the morning at about nine she used to leave for her work. She used to run and sing passing through trees and fields, trying to catch dragonflies and butterflies. But she used to halt for a moment when she reached the village school. It’s an open classroom where students sit on the ground and study, learn and write. She tried to listen what they were teaching and stare at their books and slates with popped eyes. Her moment of noticing this “different” world of studies sometimes used to extend up to an hour.
And for that reason she used to get scolding from the owner of the house where she used to work.
After coming home she used to play with her younger sister Revathi. Sreekutty once asked her Mom that why she was not being sent to the school. Her mom frowned and say that, ”Girls are not supposed to go to school. What will they do after going to school? It’s a complete waste of time. You don’t waste your time thinking of such rubbish. You go to work and earn. Don’t you think that’s enough I get a headache thinking about both of yours’ marriage expenses in future and you are asking to spend on your education. What will we get back after we spend on you?” Sreekuuty got her answer and she was very upset. Filled with tears in her eyes she said,” Amma, I know but still after looking at those kids who are studying I feel like to try it once. You know now I know to write my name. Her mom was taken a back for a moment. She asked,” HOW COME?” Sreekutty told her about Sharada the teacher of the village school who used to sometimes teach her something to write. Then her mom warned her not to waste time in it.
For days now her mother did not go to work as she was expecting a baby. Sreekutty asked her mom whether she would abort this child like many other she did. Her mom laughed and said,” Silly, those were girl child but this time it’s a boy, I got it checked from our village doctor.” These words struck Sreekutty’s heart like a sword. Mom said,” We already have two daughters and then why to bear more burden of dowry. I get a headache thinking of your marriage now only.” She couldn’t ask her anything more. Her throat was choked with sadness. She couldn’t have food that day. In the dim light of the lamp that day sreekutty took an oath that she will learn and be educated and also teach Revathi. So she started keeping aside a part of her salary for revathi’s studies. The village teacher used to like her a lot and so was determined to help her.
Sreekutty somehow managed to make up the minds of her parents to send Revathi to school along with her but the expenses were borne by sree. Revathi in the beginning was not interested much as she wanted to play but gradually she understood what her sister is going through just to make revathi’s life and she started working really hard.
At the age of seventeen Sreekutty got married but she kept on taking care of Revathi and her education. Sreekutty started working in fields. She was having problems with her in laws but she never did let revathi know about this. Sreekutty had a daughter and a son but she never distinguished between them. Revathi completed her Graduation. With the help of the village teacher she was sent to Calcutta for a Teacher’s job.”
“Oh! So she is in Calcutta here, among us” asked Ashley. Reva answered,”Yes, with you”. Ashley couldn’t believe what she just heard. She said,” You mean, this girl…?!” Reva said,” Yes, that Revathi in this picture is me. It’s just that people started calling me reva just for fun and gradually that became my name” There was a silence for a moment. Then reva controlling her tears showed Ashley the letter in which it was written that Sreekutty died to Brain Tumor last night.
Reva said,” This photo is the only thing I have in her memory now. Tomorrow I am going back to my village. I want to open a school in the honour of my sister who is everything to me and want to devote my life in teaching the girls in my village and fulfill my sister’s dream to educate all the girls”. Ashley said,” I am with you”. She kept the photograph inside her jacket again and both started walking…
-Drishya V Prabhakaran
is just amazing............... simply amazing....
ReplyDeleteTruly touching
ReplyDelete