JOIN US What made it more special was when the eldest grandmother of the house looked at the 5th generation kid through ‘golden lamp light’. Rarest of the rare moment was observed by the crowd with utmost curiosity and contentment.
Bangwadi’s Metthinamane Venkamma Shedthi (102) witnessed a rare occasion recently.
As a co-incidence, the total number of family members (102) who took part to view the happy moment, matched with her age. Four generation members in this family live across the world working as doctors, engineers, scientists, advocates, teachers, bankers, businessmen and the like. Yet all of them lovingly call Venkamma Shedthi as ‘Abbi’ in Kundagannada.
Parvathi Shedhi (85) is the eldest daughter of Venkamma. Her daughter Malathi S Shetty (48) has a daughter Shilpa S Shetty (29) who is married to Sukumar Shetty. Shilpa and Sukumar Shetty’s new born baby is Sanvi who is 4 months old.
With the entry of new guest, the 5th generation kid Sanvi into the family, the function was arranged in Metthinamane. As per Bunt tradition, the 1st generation member Venkamma looked the baby through ‘golden lamp light,’ followed by another custom wherein all the 5 generation members in a row were made to sit on ‘Hadimancha’.
Though having crossed her 100th year of life, Venkamma Shedthi is bestowed with a very sharp memory, so much so that whenever the name of her family members is uttered in front of her, she could even recollect the good old days of her life.
In an age when the elderly people are sent to old age homes by their children, on the contrary youngest son of Venkamma B N Shetty, considers himself as lucky to have aged mother at home. He is currently working as Personal Secretary for cabinet minister Mallikarjun Kharge.
“We are proud of ourselves for continuing the joint family tradition in our family. Let our family which has worked for the society’s good, be a model for others,” says B N Shetty.
DH News Service