Bama was riding high upto 8th the standard retaining her first rank,learning vocal music from her sister's music teacher,composing dance programs for Annual Day etc. At 15 she attained womanhood and in thosedays the practice is to keep the matured girls at home and marry them off at the earliest. Hence Bama's schooling almost came to an abrupt end. But God sent a benovolent neighbour to her rescue, One Mr.Subramani who was living in the same compound offered to escort Bama to school along with his own daughter. Bama resumed her schooling with delight.

In ninth standard Bama lost her rank to some other student scoring zero in Hindi.The child wept like anything and approached her HINDI teacher for remedy. The teacher offered to take Tution for girl's like Bama during lunch break for Rs 2/ per month. Bama had given up her music classes as she hesitated to bother her mother for fees. But Hindi was different. It affected her rank. Kamala readily agreed for her Hindi classes and the most important learning of her life went on for the next 6 months. Bama cleared Prathmik in First class and also won her rank back. Her uncle presented a Hindi Dictionary appreciating the feat. Bama and her friend Thangam cleared the next two exams 'Madhyama' and 'Rashtrabasha' merely using the dictionary without even Tution. This mastery of Hindi granted Bama a decent means of living for the rest of her life. After completing Rashtrabasha she started taking Hindi tution which she is continuing even today at the age of 74. Bama completed her schooling with flying colours and securing School First. Her father did'nt even know that his daughter had made a big achievement and innocently asked her',Bama, people keep congratulating me on the street. They say you have secured good marks. Is it so?'

Kamala was both proud and relieved that she had  redeemed her only child from penury.(Bama's elder sister Sita passed away while delivering her second child when Bama was doing her 9th.). After completing her school Bama came into direct contact with harsh realities of life and decided to help her family using her knowledge.

The picture depicts Bama with her Hindi students when she was still in school. She is seated second from left.

.................. will be continued.