Episodes from the life of Paul Nesam

Interesting episodes from the life of Paul Nesam Thangasamy as narrated by her grandson, son and nephew

a) PAUL NESAM PATTI (Patti means Grand mother): by her grandson Jeyakar

Paul Nesam Patti had to take up family responsibility at a very young age. She had to look after her brothers and her sister. She had to raise them. The whole family burden came on her shoulder. She did it very well. After marriage, she had to look after her five children and do her household work which was not at all easy but she did it well without making any fuss about it. After thatha's death, she single-handedly managed her family. She raised her children and gave them good education and got them married. Paul Nesam Patti was very brave, energetic, self willed, strong, hard working, never give attitude. She was tough on the outside and on the inside as well. She sacrificed her life for her brothers and sister and her children. She was an excellent cook. She never gets tired of cooking for any number of persons at any time. It was a good virtue. She treated well her children and her grand children. She cooked for us, grand children, many delicious dishes. She had a garden nearby her house and looked after the garden very well. She grew all the vegetables in the garden. She watered the plants and she looked after the ducks, hens, chicks, turkeys, etc..at home.

She lived for others. She was a very good teacher. Many of her students were placed very well in society. She took tuition to earn her living. She was very active. She was behind Thangasamy Thatha (Thatha means grandfather) in helping him at home by looking after house affairs, children and helping him as well. She was a woman of discipline. She used to discipline herself and her life. She was never afraid of anyone. She was straight forward. She used to tell people their mistakes on their face. She had no face value. She was so brave that she used to chase elephants and wild animals that come to her house. She was very protective of her children and her house. She was every healthy even during her old age.

b) Innocence of Paul Nesam, my mother: (by King Calvin, her son)

One day Paul Nesam, My mother, asked me to go to town to get some things that was urgently required. But I slipped and fell down on the way and sustained injury in my knee. Hence I returned home crying. On hearing my cry, all the neighbours including my sister came out and gathered around me. My mother also rushed there. She immediately came with a Colgate tooth paste, in a hurry. She started applying it in my injury thinking it was the penicillin ointment! I thought to myself that toothpaste also may be applied in absence of the medicine. On seeing this, my class mate in the crowd, one girl named Pappa exclaimed to my mom, "Why are you applying tooth paste, Leela Amma? (Leela Amma means my sister Leela's Mother). She was known by this name in the neighbourhood). Only after this, did she realize her mistake. Then, my class mate, Pappa brought the ointment from our cupboard and applied it after cleaning the paste from the injury.

c) PAUL NESAM ATHAI (Athai means aunt): (by Noble Chelladurai)

Paul Nesam Athai's life can be divided into two parts. She was brave, freedom loving and a modern woman. She used to read news papers regularly. Her sister in laws criticized her behind her back but were afraid of her. They painted her as selfish woman. She had to manage five children and a generous minded business man. She had to cook for the whole household workers. Business and generous mind never go together. That is the first part. Why she took to religion is still a mystery.

My dad recollected this episode. At Nallur, they were studying.. Athai must be in her teens. A young velalar man, it seems, called my father and handed him a lemon and told him to give it to his sister. My Father carried it to his sister faithfully. She threw the lemon away and scolded my dad. Athai must be dark and pretty at her young age.

Among the five children of Mariammal patti, the girls were brave, original, modern and united. There was one thing in common between Paul Nesam Athai and Paul Durai is the lack of humour