Till 1985 Parthasarathy was shunting between his village and Turaiyur. He wanted to buy the
house where he was residing, but had no money. So he suggested to Bama that she could move to a rented house and sell the houuse she was living in and utilise the money to buy the house at his village on the banks cauvery.But Bama flatly refused saying,"This house was bought by my mother. I will ot allow it to be sold in my lifetime." Parthasarathy got disappointed. He was buying time from his landlord. Even after 60 Pathasarathy was very
strong and sometimes used to go to his village by cycle covering a distance of 50 Km. One fine morning he left for his village (by bus).
But cameback within hours. He was in a state of shock and could not answer Bama. He had lost his speech. Bama sent a word for Shri.Avadhani, Parthasarathy's friend. Shri Avadhani also could not get any information from him. He guessed that something has happened at his village and left for his village. After few hours Mr.Avadhani came back with Parthasarathy's belongings in a truck. His
landlord had vacated the house and dumped it in the front room and then sold the house. Parthasarathy never expected this. His village had let him down. Even after few days Pathasathy could not speak. Bama took him to a Psychiatrist in Trichy.Doctor diagnosed him
to be in a state of very high depression and he was hospitalised for a week. He slowly recovered his speech and there was a huge memory loss.He became a child almost and never ventured out. Along with her grandson Bama took care of this 62 year old
child also.In 1986 Vijaya took back her son and put him in a school at Trichy.
Bama did not have any difficulties in marrying off her sons. The first two sons were married in 1986 and the third one in 1988. In all the marriages she ensured that Parthasarathy was at Centre Stage.
During 1990 Bama became Head Mistress of her School among stiff resistance. She took all the challenges with all humility in her own style. The school management wanted to post it's own relative as HM,but as per rule she has to decline promotion as she was the only
eliogible teacher. But management did not ask her directly. The person who was to benefit approached her directly. He offered to pay the difference in salary every month.She politely said that she had no objection to him getting the post but declined to give in writing and expressed that any monetary compensation. "Let the Management post you, I will not make an objection or go to court. You can take my word for this." But Management could not do like that and she was promoted.A leader emerged from within Bama. After a long gap the school saw a tough HM with a heart to help children. Bama already had few admirers among her colleagues. They rallied behind her and helped her in managing the school accounts and liaison with Education Department etc.
The first challenge was to build up the strength. The school's capacity was 800 students, but only 600 were on roll. The management had to either surrender few posts or rebuild the strength.Bama made a door to door campaign and asked people to send children to her school citing that she had become HM.There was overwhelming response fron the people.In the process many poor children got an opportunity to go to school. She enrolled about 200 students within a year. She took tough disciplinary measures against erring teachers and the management lent her full support. When she retired in 1993 she declined to have a send off party as she was hurt by the malicious campaign by a group of teachers. But the management stepped in and gave a warm send off to her. There were two eligible successors for her and it was the management's discretion to select. They selected the person groomed by her for the post.He was a good teacher. She had motivated him to complete the BA and also B.Ed when she was HM.
Being a female and having an ailing husband she had difficulty in travelling, in those difficult times this gentleman would perform the duties of HM. Bama was very happy to hand over charges to him.
As a parting gift Bama arranged to paint all the classes with all the information that was appropriate for that class at her expenditure.
On 31st May 1993 the colourful teaching career of the great lady came to an end. But she pursued her tution classes whereever she was. Even now she is taking classes. Parthasarathy stole the charm from her retired life inadvertantly because of his illhealth. Her struggle in nursing him is yet another saga in her life.
..................Will be continued.
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The story of a mother - part13