Roosapookaramma

(Rose Lady)

The moment I landed up with my camera at the flower market near mattuthavani bus stand in Madurai, I was expecting to take shots of various kinds of flowers for my collection. Frankly I did not realize that there would be a fantastic opportunity to get to know about some interesting persons who sell flowers.

Roses, Marigold, Jasmine, Lilly and many more flowers were all stacked up, yet something that caught my attention were the persons who were sitting behind the heap of flowers in their baskets and on their sack sporting a warm and cordial smile even at the odd hours of the day, I was there around midnight. The grit and determination of the flower vendors to have a rewarding sale by connecting with people despite the hardships they faced, was evidently surfacing from the surrounding even more than the fragrance of the flowers.

The delicate manner in which Sridevi was knotting a garland of Kadambam (a mixture of Rose petals, Marigold and Herbal Leaves which people use for their homes and offices ) was a sight to behold and could not be passed by without being caught on my camera. I asked her for a picture to be taken and she obliged, but it was sheer hard work and no smile.

Pondering why Sridevi did not smile I kept on moving around the flower market to lookout for some other persons who sold flower till I got some of them on my camera for a picture. Just then a voice called out for me and asked me why I was at the flower market at a very odd hour taking pictures. I looked around to the direction from where the sound came and got the sight of this lady who was sitting with a basket of Roses.

I walked up to her and was greeted with an instant smile that was warm and innocent. I took some pictures of the roses and then asked her what her name was? In a striking note she replied in Tamil with an authentic Madurai slang....Ennai Ellorum Rosapookaramma endru than kupuduvaargal ( All will call me as a Rose Lady). I smiled and sat down to have chat with her ...........

Rosapookaramma was very glad to pose for a photograph imagining that her photograph would be flashed in the next morning newspaper, as she mistook me to be a press photographer. I then took pains to explain to her that I am not a press photographer, but instead a writer & publisher and my purpose of visiting the flower market was to do a blog on the ‘Festival of Diwali in Madurai’, of course with a different purpose. But I promised her that I would publish her photograph in my blog.

It was hard to imagine that she sleeps and eats at the very place she sells her roses, though she hails from a neighbouring village around Melur. She goes home once in fifteen days to see her family, as this flower business in her main source of income being the only bread winner of her family. She had tears in her eyes while saying...”we have large agricultural lands back home, but there are no rains and we cannot either do farming activities or agricultural related work to earn our living”. My heart stopped for a minute.....just wondering how life could turn around. A family with lands but unable to earn out of it from their natural vocation is subjected to seek some alternative source of income generation. And that too in what conditions.....sleeping and eating in the same place where she sells her flowers. Literally living on the road.

What she said after narrating her story to me was the highlight of our brief interaction. She said ..........” I Sell Roses....and Roses comes with thorns....yet people like and love the Roses for the beauty of it, not bothering about the thorns. So also is our life....whatever difficulty we have or encounter to live we hide it as the thorns and only share the happiness to our customers by giving them a value for their money. We sell Roses with happiness and a smile, so that they go happily”.

I returned home with a bag full of Roses....though she wanted to present it to me for being kind enough to sit down for a chat, I insisted that she take the money for it, which she politely refused. But then, I managed to thrust a 100 Rupee Currency into her hands. 

She asked me to come back tomorrow to take some more fresh Roses for my Daughter. What an attitude?                                                                            

No wonder people called her “Rosapookaramma” it was hard to conceal the inner beauty that she radiated, despite living an extremely hard life day in and day out. 

I moved away from the flower market saying bye to her with a moist eyes and my heart reverberating the famous lines......“A Thing of Beauty is a Joy forever!”

Why NO?

The Archaeological  Survey of India (ASI) has decided to scrap its plan to establish a on- site museum at Keeladi  Village in Sivagangai District, where its team have excavated numerous items and materials that has deep historical evidence of the Sangam period is a rude shock to the citizens of the region, particularly to the historically significant city of Madurai.

The excavations that were found close to the banks of river Vaigai dates back to the period of 3 BC and 3AD, is just 15 kms away from Madurai, which is supposed to have a legacy of the Sangam period civilization. It is learnt that the ASI had earlier planned to establish an on-site museum at Keeladi Vilage so that the treasures found could be displayed and protected to showcase the historical past of the region. This would have been a welcome step, since the Keeladi Village is situated very close to the Madurai – Rameshewaram Highway in which thousands of tourists from India and abroad travel frequently. Moreover the on-site museum would have promoted the area as a popular tourist attraction in Tamilnadu, which is one of a rare kind. The excavation site has already drawn wide attention from the public, since thousands of visitors have visited the site and had a wonderful experience of witnessing how historical evidences are excavated, treated, restored and indexed. A large chunk of the visitors have been school and college students who have developed a pride that they have something like this close to the place where they live.

The proposed plan to shift all the artefacts and valuable materials excavated from Keeladi to the ASI Centre at out of the State of Tamilnadu is certainly not a welcome step. It amounts to packing history from a particular site, where it has deep rooted linkages and then transporting it to a place where its relevance will not be much appreciated like that of its original location.  The heritage of the site and its materials will be lost in transition to a regular museum, where people cannot have a deep understanding. History, Culture and Heritage always are better served when the land the legacy attached to it is preserved and maintained close it its originality. It is pertinent to point out that ASI functions and works hard to preserve all the materials that its officers excavate with a huge effort spent on the restoration part, which is what finally matters. The Call for an on-site museum at Keeladi is based on the similar consideration of restoring the past historical relevance of the land with the present and preserving it for the future.

Out of the 40 on-site museums maintained by the ASI in India, only one is located in Tamil Nadu, and that too in Fort. St.George in Chennai. The strong plea from the heritage lovers and the locals to the concerned authorities to establish an on-site Museum has not proved to be successful despite the unique historical importance and significance of the findings linked with the site. It is no secret that if further progress is made at the site, there could be many more findings and possibly new episodes of historical facts will emerge out of the soil.

The serious question that is emerging out now is “No to Keeladi On Site Museum?”

Festive Mood at Madurai

Madurai is an historical town that has many traditions and heritage connected to the social fabric of the region. Every aspect of the social life has a cultural significance which can easily catch up with persons who happens to visit the city. The imposing towers of Meenaksi Temple with all its splendour are a sparkling edifice that will capture the attention of people.

The city is ever bustling with festivals and ceremonies that are devotional, cultural, and heritage oriented. All through the year various kinds of festivals that are special to the town are celebrated by all sections of the people. Yet, during the Navaratri Celebrations that area around the Meenakshi Temple is decked with pomp and gaiety that adds colour and spirit to city. People flock to the Meenakshi Temple not only to offer prayers but also take part in the rich cultural festivities attached the Golu Celebrations.

The evenings are special and the best time to walk around the Meenakshi Temple, as it is lit up with eye catching lights and decorated with flowers that give a soothing effect to the eye and the mind. People who come to the temple seem more relaxed and calm to get themselves immersed in the spirit of Golu Celebrations, an aspect which is very appreciable. There seems to be a very positive vibration, since there is dance, music devotional speeches and a splendid display of dolls and varied articles that are uniquely significant with the Golu. We could see the young and the old participate with great enthusiasm and share a special bond of friendship all through the season which leads up the festival of lights ‘Deepavali’.

It is perhaps the best time of the year to be in Madurai and enjoy its beauty.