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Whenever I see jaggery, my mind goes as far back as four decades to
an image, which, I am sure, should be familiar to my
contemporaries in Azhagappapuram. That image is none
other than that of a 70-year-old woman jaggery-seller
who sold her produce in and around Azhagai.
Clad in
white saree, she would come over to the village daily in
the morning on foot from a far away place, sweating
profusely, with a palm-fronds-woven basket containing
more than 20 kilos of jaggery pieces on her head,
pronouncing "karupatti karupatti." If she were late,
she would simply jog her way down to the village in
time. She exuded an aura of liveliness. I routinely
observed her for years and was struck by her exemplary
style of working.
Of course, she evoked sympathy for her having had to work so hard
at that ripe old age for her living. Perhaps nobody
knew her personal situation. Maybe she was well off, yet
chose to work so hard as swayed by her innate habit.
Nonetheless, what was amazing about her was her resolve
to go on and on about her arduous business, in spite of
advanced age and frailties. She walked and ran daily
around 20 miles with a heavy load on her head. One
wondered what powered her through those eternal years of
toil. Besides, she had to contend with competition.
She displayed honesty and uprightness in her trade. She
endeared herself to our people who made it a point to
buy jaggery from her customarily. She was a model being
for hard work and resilience. I am sure she was a
source of inspiration for many to work hard with a
never-say-die spirit in their respective fields.
I remember the teachers at Azhagai in those days would invoke her as a shining example for hard work and
sincerity of purpose for students to emulate. Man learns
more from fellow beings than from books and mass media.
Such learning is deeper and everlasting.
Those who constantly complain of age, joint pain, tedium and so
forth, could do well to replicate such lives as the one
lived by that vivacious lady, and live ever so actively
and productively.
I salute that remarkable woman for her grit, determination and
the inspiration that we drew from her work ethics.
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