JOIN USShe began her career in her thirties as one among the housekeeping staff in a women’s college. A widow, with three sons and a dependent mother, she had to fend for herself. Being illiterate, she had to contend with cleaning, dusting and mopping. Her demeanour, cheery disposition and wit was noticed by the supervisors and administrators. Eventually, when a department was looking for a laboratory assistant, her name was suggested by enough members that she was transferred in a wink.
Even though this evoked some envy and animosity in members of her group, she won them over by continuing to meet them over coffee breaks and lunches. Taking care of four laboratories didn’t seem to tire her. She had created these pockets of rest where she would crochet mats and draw rangolis in note books.
The mathematical precision necessary for these designs came to her naturally and she could transform them into lovely colourful floor art during events in the college. So much so, that she became a permanent member of the ‘Stage Committee.’ Her valise with boxes of coloured powders nestles happily among tests of ability and personality in a laboratory cupboard.
Then one day, an ugly truth came out inadvertently. Her repeated queries regarding relevant files to store questionnaires that had arrived from the printer, was not lost on a faculty member, who asked her if she couldn’t read. The answer was torrential tears. After overcoming the initial shock, the faculty member assured her that it was never too late to learn and that there were ample opportunities to seek guidance.
Just a few days later, she would vanish at a prescribed hour with a note book in hand. Having found a faculty member in the Women’s Studies department, she had begun her lessons in right earnest. Weeks rolled into months and she stopped asking for directions regarding labels and titles. Nobody even seemed to remember that she had traversed from vacuum to empowerment.
Last week, she was seen reading a controversial Kannada book by an acerbic author. Perceiving my admiration, she explained that the author had spoken about the book on television and having just assisted the librarian with annual stock checking, she knew where to find the book. Even though she possessed no library cards like students and faculty, the librarian had lent it to her happily.
With a sombre expression she explained how the maudite heroine in this book was not accepted by the hero and how their son suffered the consequences. With tears for her ilk’s sufferings, she offered to lend me the book after she had devoured it the second time! It was with determination and an all-inclusive positive nature that she had overcome the primary disadvantage of gullibility and vulnerability; the curse of illiteracy.