Amma's story

1. 
   Lakshmidevi was born on 5th May, 1927, at Shimoga city, to Venkatasubbiah and Venkamma. Shimoga was the residence of Venkamma’s parents : Anantiah and ‘ammanakka’. Former was an advocate, well known. Had some lands; large house (larger than Mysore home of amma’s father, Venkamma’s husband].
   
   Amma’s grandfather’s house was a large one. It had a large room, with sloping wooden steps, where mangoes were laid out in summer, to ripen. Her grandmother would make cauldron of ‘seekarne’ [mango pulp, milk and sugar]. Amma’s young brother, Seenu, was very fond of sweets, and would eat even jaggery. His teeth fell out at an early age [amma would remember this often in 2007, while she was bed ridden, and giggle remembering the past].
   
   Venkatasubbaiah was a lecturer in Bangalore University [present day Mysore university]. Venkamma passed away at the age of thirty, when amma was only six years old. Amma and her siblings were taken away by grandmother to Shimoga, where they stayed for one year. Venkatasubbaiah married again after one year, and took the children with him to Bangalore. Venkatasubbaiah had a transferable job, which took him to Tumkur, then Bangalore, and finally Mysore. He taught Chemistry at Mysore University. .
   
   Amma’s stepmother’s name was Gangamma, and Venkatsubbiah called her Lalithamma. She looked after her stepchildren like her own; she never scolded them.
   
   Amma went to school till 5th form [high school of today]. Passed Lower Secondary exam, at the age of around 13. she could not appear for Higher Secondary Exam, as she got married. Ammakka insisted that her granddaughter get married soon, since she was worried as to what would happen to them in case her son, Venkatsubbaiah, died (his salary was only Rs.75/-).
   
   
   
   Appa’s paternal uncle .Narayanaswamy lived near ajja’s house. He suggested his nephew as a suitable match for amma. The wedding was duly solemnized, and celebrated over 5 days at Ajja’s house.
   
   Appa was a stenographer in Hindustan Aeronautic Limited [HAL], Bangalore. He lived in Karnik Road with brothers Seetharamu and Puttonu [Narsimhamurthy]. It was an ‘outhouse’ , a hall and single bedroom. Puttonu was unemployed, and a typical ‘loafer’, sitting around, doing nothing. He would eat first, before his brothers got home, and then add a handful of salt to the food, so that amma would be scolded by appa and others, for bad food.
   
   Amma’s first child was a still born girl. Next came twins, who did not survive beyond a few days. By the time of amma’s third pregnancy, she was very frail, so appa was advised by others to leave amma at her parental home in Mysore for delivery, fearing that amma would die and bring a bad name to her in-laws. So amma duly arrived at ajja’s home in Mysore. Then, before she delivered [this time, it was Nagendran, our eldest brother], appa was transferred to New Delhi.
   
   Amma was under the care of a doctor in Mission Hospital, Mysore. Amma credits him with saving her life, when she was carrying, and very frail. The doctor advised her to take calcium tablets, and eggs with milk, and a course of injections. He motivated her, saying that she would deliver a ‘bouncing boy’. His words came true, magically, and the ‘bouncing boy’ is still bounding around Arakere, full of energy. Nagendran was born in ajja’s house before the ambulance could take amma to the hospital. Mid wife had also been summoned. Amma’s grandmother , who was visiting her son in Mysore, also had been called, that early morning [5 am].
   
   Amma’s first published book was ‘Sanna Kathe Galu’ (1954). Masti Venkatesh Iyengar, who read some of her stories, was impressed with them and took the manuscript, saying he would publish them sometime. Amma did not take this seriously, as she had not even dreamt of publishing book. Some of her stories had appeared in some magazines, but that was it. She used a pen-name ‘Umadevi’ , so that people would not talk about her. Her mother in law was horrified at the thought of amma’s sister studying medicine, and would not take kindly to amma’s name or photo being published.
   
   One fine day, appa got a parcel through post, while he was at work. It contained 10 copies of ‘Sanna Kathe Galu’. Masti avaru was kind enough to publish the book, and told amma and appa to pick up as many copies of the book as they wanted when they visited Bangalore.
   
   ‘Sanna Kathe Galu’ was prescribed as a text book by Mysore Riyasat Hindi Prachar Sabha for two years
   
   Books
   Sanna Kathegalu – short stories (1954)
   Stotra Rathanakara (1958)
   Stotra Makaranda (1967)
   Surya Kanti (children’s stories) (1967)
   Kumbarana Adrushta (children’s stories) (1967)
   Minchu Gudugu (children’s stories) (1970)
   Adalu Badalu (translation of plays) (1975)
   Udaya Raga – collection of Prayers (1994)
   Idgah (translation of stories by Premchand) (1995)
   Utsava mattu itara kathegalu (1996)
   Anugraha (stories) (1999)
   Manga Muti (children’s stories) (1999)
   
   She received ‘H V Savitramma Memorial Award’ for 1995 from Karnataka Lekha Kriya Sangha, Bangalore.
   
   She was always frail and suffered from asthma, but the last three years of her life were defined by multiple ailments. She had enlarged heart (LVH) and her movements were severely restricted. During check up prior to cataract operation in December 2007, anemia was discovered. Repeated transfusions failed to stabilize haemoglobin level; she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in February 2007. A fall in May 2007, led her to becoming bed ridden.
   
   Lalita became her care giver, refusing to employ a nurse. Only her dedicated care and knowledge of nursing, which she picked up, kept amma alive, I think.
   
   In spite of her suffering – she had constant pain due to cancer, and frequent episodes of infection, needing injections through IV line, for which to find a vein in the frail hand was a challenge – her face was radiant; she was always at peace and cheerful.
   Her wedding anniversary was always observed on Vara Mahalaxmi day, sixty sixth anniversary fell on 15 August 2008. She was too tired to let Lalita drape a saree for her.
   
   Amma succumbed to a heart attack in the evening of 16 August 2008, surrounded by her family, at home.