Y Sunita Chowdhary
While a lockdown is not something all enjoy, it doesn’t make much difference to Sowcar Janaki. She has been living in solitude for over two decades now in an estate in Bengaluru. She bought around 8,000 square feet land from her sibling Krishna Kumari’s husband and named it Sai Kuteer. Ask her if she missed travelling, she says not really. She did get to complete her two Tamil projects and also went to Tirupati with her family. She recollects her recent trip and tells us how she keeps herself busy, “I had been to Tirupati on 10th on the occasion of my granddaughter Vaishnavi’s birthday. My eldest daughter and her family came for the darshan, while I went from Bangalore. After 17-long years I visited Tirupati, it was an “extraordinary darshan”. The temple was shut later. This is the result of human deeds, we have spoilt the environment and we are now facing the repercussions. This on the flip side has taught people to live with basic amenities. This virus has no vaccine so far and people are only being taught to maintain self hygiene”.
Hygiene in the hour of pandemic
“The majority isn’t serious about the virus. Not seriousness, I believe they are in ‘denial mode’ and feel that they needn’t do those things. I’m more surprised that the so-called sophisticated educated people don’t preach them. When I told a person who came for lunch to wash his hands first, he said he is clean and hasn’t touched anything. These people don’t realise that while driving they have touched the steering and when they walked in they have touched the gate, the door etc. In olden times, people followed the practice of washing hands and cleaning legs before stepping into the house. We made sure we provided education and good schools but in reality people have only hoarded money. We have not made our country rich in habits and culture. Our culture is eroded and I wonder where we are headed towards. I was born during the British rule in 1931, got married in 1947 at the age of 15. I now live alone and I take care of everything.”
On her upbringing
“My father was educated in England and we were influenced by his punctuality, table manners etc. After completion of his three years of education and upon his return I was born. Etiquette is taught at home first, school comes later. Home is the first and best school. My parents were educated and highly disciplined and maintained hygiene. However, they were not strict parents. Being born in Telugu Brahmin community, we were all not only taught hygiene, table manners, neatness, but all members were taught to do their own work; The same has been passed on to our children and we all are independent. Even if a maid doesn’t come it doesn’t bother us. Except for car driving, I can do all my work.”
Her family
“My mother was married off at the age of 12, my brother was born at 14. I was born after my father returned from England. We stayed in our own house in Rajahmundry and at the time my father went to England, my mother was staying with her in-laws house. In fact, we learnt about hygiene and other things from our other, upon the return of our father we were taught westerns manners like -table manners, discipline, doing things on our own and being independent.”
About Krishna Kumari
“However, my sister Krishna Kumari was tad different. Being pampered by my brother and mother she didn’t pick up neatness and other things as a kid. But things changed after she got married. She used to work in movies, she didn’t spend time much at home. The home was taken care of by the elders. I was not like this, I used to take care my house, kids and then go to work. I never had a cook, cooking, washing utensils and laundry all was and is being done by myself. So Corona virus hasn’t taught anything new to me. The only thing that dawns on me is about migrants who are suffering a lot. Death has happened due to long walk or accidents, women delivering on roads or other vehicles is not a nice thing happening.”
Indifferent attitude of people
“There is lack of seriousness, there is no awakening among people. Social distancing is the norm. When someone calls me up, I say I have locked myself down and very happy in isolation. Lifestyle has changed, values have changed and now health has become priority. Splurging has stopped. I don’t understand when people say they are bored during the lock down. Where is the question of boredom if people start doing their things and keep themselves busy. I do my own work, from cooking, cleaning kitchen and by the time I hit the sack it is 11pm. I need to read my papers, I like to watch television. From the beginning I don’t have the habit of watching serials. If needed I watch old classics. Nobody is allowed to visit me. I’ve strictly told people not to visit me, so nobody comes here Lockdown or no lockdown, nobody is allowed into the house. I shouldn’t become burden on others, I am ‘super senior citizen’, I have completed 88.”
Treading with caution
“I make a phone call and groceries are at doorstep. I am not missing anything. All my kids are in the United States. We have disturbed the planet, thus planet is now reclaiming it. Humans should keep their technology advancement aside, and should lead life as mere humans. The Ganges is now cleaner, Himalayas are visible, pollution has now subsided, road accidents cases have reduced; so nature is giving a lesson to human race, as the latter doesn’t change. It is sad that even in the lockdown people are trespassing and violating things. They are high chances of them transmitting the disease to others. The situation is said to last for a year atleast and we are now being told to live with the virus. Where is the treatment, expect for wearing masks or gloves there is no treatment. If a person is serious then they are put on ventilator, else there is nothing much.
We have seen Tuberculosis (TB), Cholera, SARC, Chikungunya, Ebola but never ever dreamt of situation like this where people have to wear mask; we can’t even touch others and are in fact endangering others life. It’s a pity that human race is witnessing this situation. Whether you call it nature or God, people who don’t believe in God call it as a nature. Reaching a space or landing on Moon is not big achievement, what we are supposed to do on Earth it is not done. The solution seems to be very bleak for this.”
Avakaya tradition for the summers
“Luckily, this year I have got good cultivation of mangoes in my farm. Nearly, 200 mangoes were cut and used for pickles. My kids are so fond of the pickle, that they don’t eat a morsel without ‘Avakayi’. By chance, if a vehicle heads to Chennai then I make sure to send the pickles. I do all the chopping and mixing for the past 50 to 60 years. I enjoy feeding others. I enjoy this nature, sitting in the lawn, strolling under the trees. It is like heaven. The only sound I hear is the birds chirping. Except for security guards, CCTV cameras, you will not find anything or any one here. I had a beautiful life , I can only take care of myself and rest leave it to God. I am very optimistic person, we wish for the better times to come in. let us hope for the best. However the future is not encouraging and looks bleak. Let us pray for the best.”
