Meera Rao’s tribute to her “Aunty”

n 1997, when I moved to 63, Eldams road, Chennai, the first neighbour I met, introduced herself to me as a writer. That immediately drew my attention. In the months to come, I began to share in Meera’s excitement and avidly read whenever she was published. I enjoyed reading her articles, written in her easy, light-hearted style. As mentioned on her blog – “Qualified in Journalism and Public Relations, she is a prolific writer and has published more than 1500 articles in the genre of features ( including features on offbeat topics), interviews, humorous essays, travelogues, children’s stories, book reviews etc. in mainstream newspapers and magazines like The Hindu, Indian Express, Femina, Eve’s Weekly, Woman’s Era, Alive, Eve’s Touch, Ability Foundation etc.”

(Meera’s book launch at Landmark)

As I interacted with Meera, I came to like her immensely for various reasons – her pleasing smile, her ease as a home-maker, her sponatneous affection, her joy at whatever she accomplished. But what captured my attention most was her relationship with her mother-in-law. They were a perfect pair. Their comfort with each other was a lesson in human relationships. Meera called her ‘Aunty’, so I came to call her by the same name.

All of us have seen people meditate in silent corners with eyes closed. It is an inspiring sight no doubt. But after meeting Aunty, my notion of meditation shifted. Most of the times, she would sit by her window on an easy chair with a cloth in one hand and a needle and thread in the other. My strongest memory of her is that serene, peaceful expression she held while she embroidered away. After meeting her, the word that always springs to my mind in connection with embroidery is – ananda, bliss!

It came as no surprise to see Meera’s first book’s first chapter dedicated to her mother-in-law. Titled as Madras Mosaic, its light-hearted, humorous style makes it a book one can read anytime, anywhere.

I met Meera recently after a long gap of time, and as we got chatting, it was but natural for me to ask her for a tribute recipe. So here it is, Meera’s tribute to her mother-in-law. We are glad to feature their beautiful affection in this space where we remember our own serene-faced Pedatha all the time.

TRIBUTE TO MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, SMT. AHALYA BAI (1915-2003)

By Meera Raghavendra Rao

Born into an aristocratic family, my mother-in-law studied in a convent School. Being the only girl child, with two younger brothers, she had a pampered childhood. Yet when at the young age of 15, she was married to Shri Nandagiri Rama Rao, a chartered accountant, she soon settled well into her new, large family. Despite having a handicapped first born, she was never one to moan her fate or make others in the family miserable.

(Meera as a young bride seated next to her mother-in-law)

From the very day I entered my husband’s family as a young bride, I felt a part of it as my mother-in-law enveloped me into her fold more like a grand daughter (she used to plat my hair everyday), than a daughter-in-law. We truly shared an excellent rapport.

A good Samaritan at heart, she always placed others’ interests before her own and went out of her way to extend help to those who needed it.

When we had get-togethers at our house, she would enthusiastically become scorer for the games organized, ready with a pencil and pad to write the scores of participants.

Among relatives she was addressed as Ahalya Akka, and her friends called her Ahalya Maami. I used to call her aunty. She welcomed all those who came home with a warm smile and would never let them leave without accepting her hospitality. Above all, she had a soft corner for the poor and believed in parting with whatever she could to make their lives a little easier and bring a smile on their lips.

She loved sweets so much that sometimes she would even make a meal of payasam and laddus. But when my father-in-law passed away (she was in her late sixties then) she gave up eating those very sweets which were so dear to her. When asked about it she would say it was a very small sacrifice she was making as a tribute to my father-in-law, with whom she had shared her life for more than five decades.

She wore only Madurai Sungadi sarees and patronized Rangachari Store on Luz Church Road.

She was very good at sewing, especially smocking and kutch work  besides embroidery. She would gift smocked frocks to newborns and hand-embroidered bedspreads and smocked night-wear to newlyweds. A number of ladies, half her age would learn the art from her and her handwork was often displayed at various exhibitions.

Her culinary prowess was remarkable, her specialties being cashew nut cakes, and wheat halwa among sweets and bisi-bela-huli-anna (a dish of Karnataka) and stuffed brinjals.

When she passed away at 88, six years ago, she left a great void in my life (having lived with her for 33 years). I felt I had suddenly aged by 20 years. I am happy to share one of her favourite recipes here in this wonderful space for tributes.

STUFFED BRINJALS

Brinjals, small-sized (light green or purple variety) – 250 gms

For the stuffing:

Chana dal—3 tablespoons

Urad dal—1 tablespoon

A small piece of hing (the hard variety)

Red chillies – 5-6

Dry coconut – 1 tablespoon, grated

Coriander leaves – 1 tablespoon, washed and chopped fine

Gingely oil – 1 tablespoon

Salt to taste

1) Dry roast the above ingredients for the stuffing and grind into a coarse powder. Mix 2 teaspoons of oil into this mixture to bind it.

2) Remove the stalks of the brinjals and make criss-cross slits from the top. Wash the brinjals and immediately stuff the mixture through the slits.

3) Shallow fry the stuffed brinjals in gingely oil, tossing them occasionally. When the brinjals have cooked well, take off the flame.

4) Alternatively, you can steam them for 5 minutes and then shallow fry them in oil.

5) If any of the mixture for the stuffing is remaining, sprinkle them over the cooked brinjals.

Serve with rotis or as a side-dish in a meal.

INTRODUCTION BY PRATIBHA, TRIBUTE BY MEERA RAO