Age Is Just A Number! 85-year-old ‘Idli Amma’ Makes & Sells Idlis to Migrant Workers and Needy for Re 1
Coimbatore: Old is Gold!-that’s right. We don’t believe age is any more than a mere number. As they say that “Ageing is not ‘lost youth’, but a new stage of opportunity and strength”- there is no age limit when you are still capable of doing great things in life, either in co-curricular activities, entertainment, or sports. No matter what age someone has reached, they are all still young in their minds and there is a huge need for a redefinition of how we see age. Ask a young person to describe someone in their 80’s and, whilst the words ‘experience’ and ‘wisdom’ might be used, so would ‘armchair’ and ‘television’. And here we have a “Young Woman” who is just 85, and even today, she starts her work at 5.30 am, to make and sell idlis to the migrant workers, needy and low-wage workers, who had faced hardship during Covid-19 lockdown.
Seniors are not invisible; they’re invincible! Women in their 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s are no longer waiting to be noticed. They use their voices and presence on social media to show how informed, global-minded, outspoken, opinionated and tech-savvy they are and seek like-minded friends and confirmation of their ideals and goals. Remember: Intelligence, a sense of humour and self-confidence are the sexiest things about them. And kudos to Ms K Kamalathal, fondly known as “Paatima”(grandmother) hailing from Vadivelampalayam in the outskirts of Coimbatore-Tamil Nadu, who houses Paatima’s small idli shop, for showing the rest of the senior flock, that age is just a number, and everyone can be still young and work as long as you can, and be like her if there is a way and will.
Yes, 85-year-old Paatima, even today makes and sells idlis to migrant workers in Coimbatore despite the heavy losses that the lockdown has caused to her business. Despite the nationwide lockdown imposed in view of the coronavirus pandemic, healthcare workers, government workers, and essential services are functioning non-stop in order to ensure that the basic needs of citizens are met. With a few trains up and running, migrant workers are travelling back to their hometowns and villages. However, many more workers are still stranded in other states. Owing to the shortage of food, many NGOs and individuals are coming forward to help these people.
And Paatti or Paattima or ‘Idli Amma’, is trying to help this hardworking population in these difficult times, with her idli and sambhar. This comes despite her business being severely affected by the lockdown. “The situation has been a little difficult since coronavirus started but I have been trying my best to provide the idli at Rs 1. Many migrant labourers are stuck here and there are more people coming. There are people who are coming and helping me. They are providing essentials which I am using to make Rs 1 idlis,” Paattima said to media. Many people are coming forward to help Kamalathal with the raw materials so that she can sell these idlis at a very economical price. She said the migrant workers themselves are also coming forward to help her. Her efforts were recognised by Indian Michelin Star Chef, Vikas Khanna who tweeted on his page about Ms Kamalathal, wanting to connect with her.
From the last 30 years engaged in this business and committed towards her work for the longest time, she is not sure for how long she could continue working. Paatima works for six and a half hours starting at 5:30 in the morning, she sells at least 800-1000 idlis in a day, earning a profit of Rs 200-300. It is learnt that there is nobody with her in family, lives alone, starts working from 5:30 am till 12 noon, and doesn’t expect profit out of this. “Only little which I get, I use for my livelihood, by selling around 1000 idlis daily” she had told to media. Living alone at 85, Paatima sets a great example for old age independent individuals.
Narrating his story to media she has said, “I have sold idli at 50 paise for 10 years and Re1 for the last 30 years. I used to cook on a traditional stove, but I have recently received an LPG connection. Although the raw materials are expensive, I manage to make a Rs 100 – 200 profit each day, it takes approximately Rs 300 to make 500 idlis. I decided to open my own business because if I would’ve worked for another person, I wouldn’t have made any more money than I do now.” Positive about her dedication to serving people she had said, “I have never had a loss, I am a businesswoman and I make sure that I don’t go in loss. At the same time, I am happy with the minimal profit I make. There are more idli stores nearby but I don’t fear any competition, they do their business in their own way and I do mine in my own way. Serving the low wage workers, migrants and poor is my motto”
Paatima’s works and efforts were acknowledged by Chairman of Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra. He tweeted about Paatima and asked businesses to invest in it. Impressed by Paatima’s dedication he also made a request for an LPG gas cylinder for her. Replying to his tweet Bharatgas Coimbatore said that they have issued an LPG connection to Ms Kamalathal. Paatima has been cooking on a proper gas stove with LPG cylinder since then. Earlier she used a wooden-burning stove. In addition, a private firm from Mumbai also gave her a commercial wet grinder to prepare idli batter. After videos and news reports of M Kamalathal, became viral, praise and help have been pouring for her from all quarters. Apart from help coming in from Mahindra and Bharathgas, union minister of petroleum and natural gas, had said, “Salute the spirit and commitment of Kamalathal. Glad to have helped her through local OMC officers in getting an LPG connection. Society must empower such hardworking people who defy all odds.”
Indeed an Amazing Woman at this age, a true hero, and Indian patriot! What she has been doing for the past 30 years – providing idli, sambar and chutney for Rs 1 to EVERYBODY who wants, is something that is so selfless! It would be a great help to many, if other women also follow in Paatima’s footsteps, do what she has been doing, and make a difference in the society.
Inputs from IndiaToday
Video Source: The Hindu
