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(C) 2012 Subsistence Marketplaces Initiative and Madhu Viswanathan Interviews

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The content on this publication are the copyrighted work of the Subsistence Marketplaces Initiative and Madhu Viswanathan, at the University of Illinois and contain proprietary trademarks and trade names of the Subsistence Marketplaces Initiative. This publication or part of it may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise – without the permission of Madhu Viswanathan.


Age. : 50 years

Gender. : Female

Marital status. : Widow

Number of children. : 2 female and 2 male (one male expired recently)

Type of business. : Buyer

When interview conducted : 11.08.04

Interviewee : Ms. Janaki [J]

Interviewer : Mr. Madhu [M] Mr. Venkatesan [V] Mr. Gajendiran [G] M. Thank you for providing your time and your participation in this interview. We

don't have any specific questions to ask you. It would be useful if you share about you. I mean, sharing about how do you face difficulties, what are the difficulties, what and how to buy and sell. If you share these we could learn from that. We would learn and try to make it beneficial to other people like you. So, you tell about yourself. You could share about your brought up... everything on your own style/words. We don’t have more questions. If we need, we would seek clarification on your sharing.

J Sir, we born and brought up at our native. My father expired when I was very

young child. We continued to live in the same village till my marriage. I was married and send to Madras. They arranged my marriage when I was sixteen years old. I had an uncle and my marriage was arranged through him.

M You were brought up in which village? J Sir, we were from the village near to Thindivanam. M Is it? J Yes M You were there for sixteen years, did you study anything there? J My family didn’t have means to send me to the school by that time. My father

expired when I was promoted from 1st standard to 2nd standard. I had two elder brothers and a younger brother. My family could not send them to school. Also, they could not send me to school. Since we didn’t have means, we could not get education. My younger brother and my younger sister alone had studied little. As I was the elder girl in my family, I could not get education. I was in a compulsion


to go for any job and earn due to (family) situation. So, I could not get education on those days.

M It means… earning means… J We had to go for job somewhere within or nearby our village. Jobs at agricultural

fields were the only opportunities available to us. Every one in the village had those jobs only. We attended works/jobs such as from planting to harvesting of groundnuts and paddy …. Then my marriage was arranged within my 16 years.

M In which age you started to work and did these kinds of jobs in your village? J When I was 9 years old. Since my father expired when I was around eight years

old I (had to go for jobs ….) M Ok, what you had to do, I mean you did a job in the beginning, isn’t it? You tell

me about that job because I don’t know anything about it. What job …. J That is what, everyone in our village would do cultivation such as paddy, ragi,

groundnuts, grains, etc. We both men and women would go and do those works for the cultivation of these items. We would sieves the paddy plants and they (men) would slap the sieved paddy plants on the stones to separate the paddy from paddy plants/thatches, we would assist them to separate the thatches and process it. We would do such kinds of works. We would be paid a specific amount as our wages to do that job.

M What and how much amount you were paid for those jobs? J That was … they would give/pay paddy if we go for jobs related to harvesting

paddy and give ragi in case of harvesting ragi related jobs. They would give groundnut if the works were related that jobs. They would give the particular grains in lieu of wages. In case of planting they would give seventy-five paise or one rupee. It was a big amount for us on those days. Minimum they would give us seventy-five paise. We would do the job for those seventy-five paise and manage our family within that amount. It was for everything including our foods. We didn’t have the support of any male to maintain our family. So, my mother and myself …(went to jobs), my brother and sister were small kids … we provided education only to these children in our family. We both used to go for jobs.

M Ok, you told that you could have studied but you went for jobs and learned these

jobs in your younger age (due to family circumstances). You learned mean, what you learned and how did you learn?

J That was … our neighbor used to go, isn’t it? Since they knew us that we were

poor and struggling, they would take us to the field and coach us how to do those jobs. They would coach us how to a particular job if we followed them. If we go


along with them, they would guide and demonstrate us how to do a particular job. If we continued and followed them for four or five days it would become like training for us and we could learn to do the job automatically.

M They would coach you on … related to that job. J Yes. They would coach on jobs related. When we first entered into the field to

sieve the paddy plants, we wouldn’t know to handle the sickles. If we go along with them they (experienced) would stand both sides and keep me in the center and help us to proceed the sieving of paddy plants. They would recognize our difficulties and support us to compete with them and proceeds. When we continue for four or five days it would become easy for us. As I was doing like this, I learned it and I didn’t find any difficulties later.

M You mean there were many people around you to provide such helps? J. All of them were acquainted persons, since they knew that we were poor and

struggling to manage our family they were very sympathy on us. They were the persons who took us to these jobs, helped us and coached us on these jobs. We didn’t learn by birth. Due to our family difficulties/problems, they took us and coached us.

M You said that they would give you the paddy in lieu of wages. What would you do

that? J We would boil the paddy, then dried it and convert it as rice. We would take it to

the rice mill, grind it and separate the rice. As we used to do the other jobs for money …for example they would pay cash only, for planting paddy seeds or nurseries. They would pay (kind) paddy only when we go for harvesting/reaping related jobs. They would pay cash for other jobs and we would use that money to buy the items such as dhal, etc. We used to plant and grow few items and vegetables such as brinjal, ladies finger, etc in our house yards. The garden would be big in size. People used to collect those items from their garden. They wouldn’t buy most of those items from outside/market. They would grow more than half of the items they needed to meet their family needs in their garden. They would manage their garden neatly and grow vegetables such as brinjal, ladies finger, plantains, green leaves/Keerai, etc.

M You were the elder daughter in your family, isn’t it? J Yes, elder girl. M Since you were the elder girl, you had more responsibilities … J Yes, since we lost our father, I had to assist my mother.


M What were other things … you assisted your mother, ok. You said that you used to go for job to earn, that was a kind of activity ok, what else you used to do?

J The other help was …I would do something in our house after returning from the

job or whenever I didn’t have jobs. If any one were ill, we would help or assist them in the house errands. We would do any job that required within our family. Always, we would have jobs/works. As we were using to work in the agricultural fields, jobs related to agriculture would be available through out the year. Usually, the groundnuts would be harvested in the rainy seasons and we would have tight work on those periods. We used to attend those jobs and they would pay for us.

M Ok. Had you purchased the items on cash payment, I mean the items that required

to your family needs. Would you buy those items? J My mother would go for the purchase of those items. We would not go to the

shop on those ages. They wouldn’t send us. She would go and buy the necessary items. Because, till I was nine or ten years old I didn’t know anything, I used to go for job and handed over my earnings to my mother. As we were the children, they wouldn’t allow us in our village to visit the shops to buy anything. They (elders) would go to the shop and buy everything depend on the money they have. They had to manage within that amount. They (mother) would cook the food. Even after attaining puberty, I didn’t know to cook. We used to attend few jobs as I mentioned, that was all we did in that age.

V Did you have own lands in your village? J We didn’t have own lands but we had own house. So, we didn’t do anything. V You had to attend the jobs and manage … J Had to attend the outside jobs to earn. My grand mother would help us. My

maternal grand mother’s family would help us little. They only would send rice or any kinds that we needed. We had an uncle he would send those items. We had to manage our family within that. Then they arranged my marriage when I was sixteen years old. My marriage was held in Madras. My husband was doing carpenter job here. He was doing carpenter job in Madras because of that I continued to stay here. My marriage was held in my sixteen and we have completed almost thirty-five years here. I have two boys and two girls. I lost a son only on last year. Both of my daughters got married. I lost my husband too. He was paralytic and lost his hands and legs movements and in bed for some times before he died. I provided education for both of my sons. My daughters attended the school up to eighth standard and worked in export garment companies. Since their father fell on ill and couldn’t walk, they went for job to earn and provided money to manage our family. Then they got married. My elder son expired last year. We educated both of our sons and helped them to get a degree. My younger son was given good education and he got a degree, now he has joined in Police


department. I am the one who don’t have education in my family. As I didn’t want my children to become like me, I provided them with good education.

M You have made them to settle well. J I provided education. Today they are in a good position. My elder son (who died)

too was working in a computer firm. Now, my younger son is working in police department.

M You have done good and made them to settle in their life. You had provided them

with good education to come up well. J My husband had completed only eight standard and did carpenter job here. He

continued to do the same job here. Since I realized that the income through my husband was not sufficient and we had to take care of the educational expenses of all our four children I attended housemaid job, even on those times when my husband was alive. Though we had our own house here … we had nothing else. So, I worked as housemaid, earned Rs.1000/- per month and met the expenses of my children. As I felt that I should have some money on my hands to meet our expenses I used to attend the housemaid job.

M You came to Madras when you were sixteen years old. You came to Madras after

getting married. How many years after settling in Madras? J We have completed thirty-six years. M Thirty-six years, ok. By the time, your husband was … J He was doing carpenter job. M He was doing carpenter job. You didn’t go for any job on those times? J Yes, I didn’t attend any job. M You didn’t attend any jobs here for how many years? Then your children … J I was (not attending any job) for two years … then I gave birth my elder son, I got

my first daughter after two years, two years after that I delivered my second son then I delivered my second daughter after three years gap. I have total four children.

M You had come to Madras when you were sixteen years old. We think that you

have come here at the young age. When we look at that we have few … I mean, you had working experience in the village but you didn’t have experience in buying or purchases of items while you came here after the marriage. How did


you manage your family, immediate after your marriage and what you did? What was he getting from the carpentry jobs and did you manage your family?

J Since he was the carpenter, he would get money only if he get job. When I came

here, both of my father-in-law and mother-in-law were with us. My husband had own house and a portion of that house was given for rent. I continue to live in a joint family for few years. I was living with my mother -in-law and father -in-law for more than two years. They used to visit the shops. They would give cash and ask me to buy the items from the shop. I practiced in the beginning as per their instruction and later I learned to go independently. My husband and myself moved to separate house after the birth of my first son. We three were living as separate family. My husband would attend the carpentry jobs and hand over his earning to me. I would use that money and buy the needs on every week, as I could. I would buy the weekly needs on every week at weekly basis. My husband was getting weekly salary. So, I would use it to buy the needs for the next week, on every week. Since we had own house, we didn’t need to pay the rent on every month.

M Like that… you didn’t do any job outside your home? J I didn’t M You were doing your own jobs at your home, you managed your family and your

husband would give the money to manage your family. It was going like this for how many years?

J I continued to live like that till I gave birth my third child. I continued for six to

seven years, like that. Then,… since I desired to provide good education to my children, I felt that I could earn at least ten rupees if I go for outside jobs and I could manage the educational expenses of my children. As we could do only the job that we knew, I did the job. I continued the job and managed to provide education to my children.

M What job you was doing? J I went for housemaid job. The salary was very low for the housemaid job on those

days. It was about fifty rupees or sixty rupees. But, now days we are getting five hundred rupees to one thousand rupees. We were paid only such amount on those days. But, we earned fifty or sixty rupees only on those days. Everything was less/cheap on those days. Now, the prices are high too. What ever it was, we had to manage our family based on our earning.

M Ok, you said, five or six or seven years after settling in Madras, you thought that

you should provide education to your children. When you required money to achieve that and decided to go for any job, did you think about the housemaid job alone or did you have any other plan?


J I didn’t have education, isn’t it? Since, we should be able to read and write to seek

any outside job and I didn’t know that … I choose the housemaid job, since it was the only job that didn’t require any educational qualification. Hence I decided that I could do that job, otherwise I could do few jobs at home like knitting basket, etc. and we could earn Rs.15/- to Rs.20/- to meet the education expenses of our children.

M Did you do that? J I did it for few days only. Then, many bags came to the market and every one

started to buy that. So, I knitted the baskets for few days and supplied. I knitted plastic wire bags such as the school children taking their lunch and other items to school. I did that job only.

M Did you go to the housemaid job after that? J No. I was knitting bags when I had leisure time at home after returning from the

housemaid job. I didn’t allot time to do this job, I was knitting bags and my hands would be busy when I was free at home in the evening times or watching TV or listening radios, etc.

M When you made the wire bags, what would you do? How did you do, would you

buy the wires and knit the bags? J Yes. If we buy two bundles of wires at the rate of eight rupees each bundle we

could make two baskets. If we make two baskets, we could get two rupees or three rupees from each basket (as our profit). If we make two baskets from that two bundles and we get seven rupees or eight rupees, we could use that money and manage our family needs. I wouldn’t allot any specific time to do this job, I would do it whenever I was free at home after returning from the housemaid job and talking to neighbors, etc, my hands would be busy in knitting parallel to that.

M Apart from the housemaid job, you were doing that on one side, ok. Did you have

any fear in the beginning when you joined the housemaid job? J Nothing fear, after all it was the same job what we are doing at our home. M The same. J I had problem for ten days as I had to do the same job at my home as well as in

the employer’s house. Since, I continued the job it became easy. After continuing in that housemaid job, I would feel boring and feel why should I be at home if I would be at home without attending that. Since, I continued the job I didn’t feel anything.


M So, the income too … somehow useful to you to manage the school fee of your children, etc.

J Yes, yes. M By the time, your husband was doing carpenter job, isn’t it? J He was working even at that time. M He was doing job J Only in the recent past …about eight years back he could not attend his job and

fell on the bed. Four years ago he expired. He was in bed rest only for four years since he became paraplegic. By that time, my two children (daughters) were working. My elder son too was working. Since they were working (and earn money), we were able to control (/manage the family expenses). Since, he was ill and unable to attend his job, both of my children (daughters) attended job in Export Company. Both of them studied up to eighth standard only. Both are girls and knew tailoring job. Even now, they know tailoring job and stitching cloths at their home. They are fine and don’t have any dearth/deficiency. Though they got married, they are taking care of their children as well as stitching the orders they get at house.

M Ok, when you were attending the housemaid job in the beginning, what kinds of

works they would give you, would they send you for any shopping? J Yes, yes. They would send me in rare occasions. They would buy everything in

bulk. Suppose, they need to buy the vegetable or flower or betal nut … they would send me, that’s all. They wouldn’t send me to buy more items. They themselves would buy their needs. If I go in the morning, I would wash the vessels, clean the house and wash their cloths then I would return to my house. Again I would go in the evening to wash the vessels and clean their house once I completed that job I could return to my house.

M You do the housemaid job for how many years? J I have been doing this job for more than twenty years. M You are attending this in nearby places? J Yes. M Besides that you did that basket knitting too.


J I did that too. I used to do that because all our four children were small in age and economically it was difficult to provide education from the earning of single member, isn’t it?

M Yes, it would be very difficult J So, as I was interesting to educate my children … we haven’t studied… I had

none to support my school education… At least we should give good education to our children. I had such interest, so I provided education to my children. I thought that though we face difficulties in our life, we should provide them with education. I felt that they should not face problems without education, like us. Hence, I provided education to all of my children.

M Now you said that you didn’t studied, when we look at the responsibilities and

your works from the age of ten, even the educated couldn’t have that experience and compete with you. You came to Madras when you were sixteen years old, … perhaps, it may be difficult for you to remember it, … when you recall the events you would have learned many things even though you were illiterate. You may think that you learned such and such in your sixteen years though you had no education. What did you learn in those periods?

J As I was new to Madras when I came here, I didn’t know anything. Since I was

from the village, I didn’t know to go out and move freely with others. Mainly, I didn’t have experience to visit outside of the house. My mother-in-law and father-in-law wouldn’t send me to out of house; they would keep me within the house. Then, my mother-in-law who used to knit the baskets at home coached me. This is what they coached me personally. But, I didn’t do that with my own interest. She did that basket knitting but I didn’t do that for earning, as there were other members to take care of the family. When we faced problem, we had to take up that job to manage the expenses within our income. Usually, I wouldn’t do any wasteful expenses. I wouldn’t do any extravagant activities or borrow loans unnecessarily.

M Now, you said that you were in the joint family for two years. Few of them who

were interviewed earlier told us that they never experienced the joint family but few told that they were in the joint family for one year or something. Please, tell us about that. What you learned in the joined family system, from joining at the age of sixteen. What you learned? There may be some thing good to share with us, tell us about that.

J I came here at the age of sixteen. I was the last daughter-in-law in our (husband’s)

family. My mother-in-law had four children and I was the last daughter-in-law to her. As I was the youngest/last one she wouldn’t send me anywhere. She desired that I should be always with her. Like wise, my sister-in-laws too. My mother-in-law’s daughters became my sister-in-laws, isn’t it? They too were affectionate with me. My husband was beloved one to every member of his family. Since he


was the last child to his parents he was brought up with special care. Everyone, all of his sisters and brothers cooperated well and adjusted with us. Still now, they extend the same love, affection and cooperation. I get more support and cooperation from my husband’s family than my own parent’s side. Every one in our street knows that we are fine now. Today he (husband) is no more. Suppose, we have any problem in our family … his sisters and brothers I mean my husband side, are helping us when we are in crisis. Though they have their own problems in their family, they would help us. When we were in crisis, they worried about his brother’s situation, gave/spent up to one lakh rupees and saved him for four years from the illness. Nothing remarkable in our joint family but everything happened was advantageous. Every one in our family had good faith and good opinion on us. No quarrels in our family. Whatever function held in our family, every one would attend in mass and share the responsibilities and tasks. Either it was held in our family or their family, we cooperated each other and conducted the functions. We never quarreled. It was one of the happiest things I enjoyed in my joint family and share. I used to share that very proudly among the members of families where I have taken brides or given my daughters. I would tell them that they should be alike, as I was. I would advise them that not to listen other members even if they say something negative. Always do and follow good things. Tomorrow, others would say that the daughter of particular person was living like that. This is what I like most.

M It is very good point. You said that you didn’t studied but we couldn’t expect this

even from those who are with good education. There are variations between education and these good points.

J We had been struggling from our childhood. It should not be repeated to any

others. Wherever we would be, every one would come to us and live happily. We should be with good name and happy life as long as we are alive. Others would spell/quote it in future. Though my son expired a year ago, the other children in the street cried for him for two days. They wondered and cried that it was rare to see such person like my son. So, either my children or myself would be calm in the family and other could not notice our presence in the house. Every one in this area knows about my son. He was such a nice boy. He died when he returned from the job. He was working at Mount Road. It was stated as foreign company, US Company or some thing … he was working as computer operator for eight years. His superior told that his MD shocked and sad to hear his death news. He has stated that the loss was equivalent to loosing one of his hands. He had shared that my son would listen every instruction and say “ok sir”. We learned that the company was wound up after his death, we felt sad when we received that news. Nearly 1000 staffs were working in that company. They had been doing the accounts preparation related jobs and sent it. Now, all staff have lost their job, they lost their employment on 8th month of last year. It was under strike for some time. They had employment till my son died.


M Now, you said that you have faced lot of problems and difficulties and that is why you are able to recognize other’s problems. Few may think that I have struggled lot so, I need not worry about other’s problem, they may have such principle. I mean, we could go in both direction from the same experience, either we could go this way or opposite way. How did you choose this principle? Was it because of the problems you faced from the childhoods days … or do you remember any incidence that made you or inspired you to adopt this principle or you acquired this naturally/spontaneously.

J The death of my father when I was eight years was one of the reasons. Then, I

didn’t have any brothers in my family to take care of me and fulfill my needs. It is a kind of good thinking I have that others should not face the same though we are facing problems and I feel that it should be ended with us. These kinds of problems should not be repeated to any others. There are people with problems worse than us and we could not deny that. We should coach/guide those who need help, to our level best to overcome from their problems and it is good for us too. We could not live on other’s earnings or assets till the end. If we work hard, we could get few amounts as our balance. We could have a happy life from that hard-earned money. But, we could not see any progress in our life, if we depend others and others give us everything continuously. This is my thinking and principle.

M Is there any question about the purchases or about their life? G How do you buy the items to your family and for what prices? J Sir, what items, is it the provisional items or cloths and dresses or jewels and

ornaments? What do you mean the items? M Have you visited the shop recently? When did you visit the shop recently and

what did you buy? J I would buy provisional items once in a month. Now days, if I give order once in

a month, they supply the items and deliver it at my house. However, parallel to this we would visit the shop to buy anything that we needed urgently. I would visit market to buy the vegetables alone. We would buy from the local shop if we could not go to the market due to ill health or any other reasons.

M O, that … J Market means, we could go to Koyambedu. There is MGR Nagar market too.

They dump the vegetables in number of bags/more quantities and sell it. Suppose, we wish to go to Koyambedu, we need to travel some distances. The same could be purchased here in the (MGR Nagar) market. Suppose, a quarter kg vegetable is sold for Rs.2/- in the market, the same would be sold for Rs.3/- in the nearby shops. Suppose we go to the market, we would buy the vegetables for a week and keep stock. Mainly, we would buy the vegetables like topiaco, alocasio, onion


items, etc, in bulk and store it. Since, it would become waste if we buy other perishable items in bulk, we would buy the perishable items like green vegetables, etc, for once in two days. What to do if we could not visit the market? We would buy a quarter kg from the nearby shop and manage.

G Ok, what type of shop is available nearby here? J This is small provisional shop. G Small provisional shop, ok J Yes, only one shop is available here. G Is it the only shop here? J Three shops are here, besides that there are shop at the downside of this road. We

wouldn’t go to such distant places. We would buy only from the nearest shop for urgent needs.. Now, we use to buy one or two small items from the local/nearby shop only.

G Would you buy from any particular shop alone or from all shops? J I use to buy from the particular shop only. G From the same shop … J It is because of acquaintance shop, also the rate would be less like wholesale

rates. So, I use to give bulk orders and buy the items. I use to buy the items from the local shop that was not available in the particular (wholesale) shop or the items to be bought for one or two rupees. Here there is a shop opposite to my house, I would buy from that shop. As I think that it wouldn’t be nice to skip the near by shop and visit the next shop, I use to buy from the nearby shop. I would visit the next shop if any item were not available in the nearby shop.

G Is it the opposite shop? J Yes, from the opposite shop. G Do they sell only to you for lower price or generally their rates is lower than other

places? J Generally, it is a fair price shop, we could not get it less than that rate in other

places here.


G Do you remember any recent purchases from the nearby shop? It might be on last Sunday or Saturday. Could you say that you bought from the nearby shop? When did you buy recently?

J Recently I bought 2 kg rice, even that rice was over today. Today, immediate after

the stock was over, I have ordered a bag of rice. M How many days are over after the purchases? J Which one, do you mean the two kg rice we bought? It was only three days ago. M Three days completed, ok. When you visited the shop, did you buy anything else

on that day? J I bought only the rice. I bought it and found that the lunch prepared from that rice

was not good. So, I returned it. Now I have bought a bag of rice. Bag mean, we would order around twenty-five kg. Suppose we buy fifty kg rice, it would come for two months.

M You bought that rice for what price? J I bought it for sixteen rupees per kg. I paid thirty-two rupees and bought two kg

rice. The rice was very thick and not nice to eat, none of our family members liked it to eat. We would buy two kilograms very occasionally and use it to cook single time. Usually, we would prepare tiffin item for the rest of two times in a day (both for morning and night). The lunch prepared from that rice was not good. So, we ordered for a bag of rice and they supplied it today only. We had to buy two kg rice in loose due to the delay in delivery of rice bag. Whenever we have sufficient money, we use to buy rice in twenty-five kg or fifty kg bag. If we buy sixteen rupees or fifteen rupees variety in bulk in bag, it would be nice. It wouldn’t be nice, if we buy the rice for same cost in loose sales.

M How do you decide to buy a particular variety? You have bought rice from the

same shop in earlier occasions too, isn’t it? J Yes. M How did you decide that you should buy the particular variety? J Do we go and enquire them? We calculate the quantity for a month and buy. We

buy once a month or once in two months. If we buy twenty-five kg we would go on every month to buy. If we need for two months we would buy fifty kg rice. As we tell them to supply good rice, they would suggest that the particular variety would be nice to prepare lunch item and ask us to return it if we found the lunch prepared from that rice was not good. We too would pick sample rice, crush it on the hand and then bite it by teeth to check the quality. One or two would make


sound while bite it by teethes. We would check it like that and buy the nice variety.

M What you say is not the practice at the wholesale shop but it is in the nearby shop,

isn’t it? J We use to buy two kg rice in loose from the nearby shop and it wouldn’t be good.

We would check the quality in the wholesale shops and buy the rice in bulk. M Is it? J Yes. M Now, you don’t buy much from the nearby shop? I mean, you use to buy from the

provisional stores (wholesale), once in a month. J Yes, from the provisional store. M Where is it? Where is that provisional shop? J There is a provisional shop at Sivialingapuram, they supply the items at wholesale

rates. I use to buy from that shop for the past two to three years. Before that I used to visit Parrys corner to buy the items. When our family had more members and lived together (after the marriage, her daughters settled with their husbands), I used to visit Parrys. I used to visit parrys at least once a month, bought all items from there and transported to our house through bus. I always used to visit there and buy the needy items from there.

M Would you buy from a particular shop? J From the same shop M What was the use to buy from the same shop? J The price would be little less than the rate what we are buying here M The price would be little less. J The price would be less and the items would be little clean and quality. So, I used

to visit there on every month without fail. Only the travel was difficult and nothing else was problem to us. But, the items would be good. If we buy the dhal here, it would seem to be green on the outer layer. If we go there and buy, we wouldn’t find that and it would be good and neat. Because of that reason, we would visit there regularly without fail. We would go there on every second or third day of the month, buy the items in bulk and keep store at our house. It would be little more in quantity and could be used/last for few additional days. If we buy


those items at the local shop as and when, we could not use it for more days and save/store it. When we face shortage in the middle or end of the month and in urgent need, we use to buy a quarter kg or hundred grams or something from the local shop and adjust it. Suppose, we had a function or special days in a month and we had spent little more than the usual quantity, in such circumstance we would buy little from the nearby shop to adjust the needs at the end of the month. We would buy all items including salt and coffee powder from Parrys only and we wouldn’t buy from the local shops. Now, the items are supplied for the same rate from a shop located nearby here, it is like a wholesale shop and a Muslim runs it. They give so. If we submit the list of items we need, they would supply it to my husband.

M You would buy from the same shop at Parrys and you wouldn’t buy from any

other shop? J Sir, it became practice to us. We buy from a shop, use to visit the same shop; it

became routine to transact from the same shop. We didn’t get any thinking to switchover to other shop. The items were good too. Even if we go to other shop, they too would give the same. They are wholesale shop, have more items, they became known person, aquatinted well and they wouldn’t hike the price. If we approach a shop as a new person, they might tell the prices after adding one or two rupees extra in the rates. If they are the known shop, we could ask them why do they charge this much when they supplied for this much on the previous month. They too would say, “Ok, now, the prices are increased and you could reduce fifty paise per kg and the reduction in rate (this concession) is only for you”.

M Oh, if you ask like that they would supply for reduced rate! J If we tell them that we come from such a distant place and ask them why they

have increased one rupee in the rate, they would reduce one rupee in the rate and supply the items.

M You have that experience? J Yes, yes. M Now, from the wholesale … even now you use to buy more from the wholesale

shops. Few years ago, you visited Parrys and bought the items. Before that, have you bought from the nearby local shop?

J Yes. I used to buy from the nearby local shop when our family was small in size. I

never visited there, when my children were small. We didn’t go there since he (husband) got only weakly payment. I used to buy from the small shop depending on our meager income. Small shop means … if we go to MGR Nagar market, it (price) would be less than the rate of local shops located nearby here. They (MGR


Nagar Market) would keep more quantity and varieties of rice and sell. We could see and select the variety and buy the item what we need. Suppose, we wish to buy rice and visit the market, they would have five or six varieties for the sales. Here in the local shops, they would have one or two varieties alone and they would sell on fixed rate. At the same time, if we negotiate with the wholesale shops to reduce one or two rupees in the price, they would reduce at least fifty paise. So, we use to visit such places and buy. When our family became big in size, children became grown up and we started to earn little more and had regular income, we decided to visit such wholesale shops with sufficient money and used to buy the items in bulk.

M The weekly payment was … when your husband was alive you got the weekly

payment … J My husband got weekly payment. M It was weekly payment. So, you managed to buy from the nearby shops J Yes. M When it became as monthly salary? J It was after providing good education to my children. He (husband) never

received monthly salary. The wage was very low then. Even, getting fifty rupees as wage for a week was difficult on those days. Even after working whole days in a week, earning fifty rupees was a big amount on those days. Now days there are increases in the wages, isn’t it?

M Children’s salary … they too earn. J Yes, the salary of our children and his (husband) salary too increased, isn’t it? The

salary was increased ten years ago. He received hundred rupees per day. If you calculate his earning per week at the rate of one hundred rupees per day, he would get seven hundred rupees for the seven days. He would give me at least six hundred rupees in a week after taking/reserving money to manage his own expenses. If he would give me six hundred rupees for a week, I would wait two weeks for accruing enough money to buy the items at wholesale shop. It was easy for me to visit the market once in two weeks and buy the necessary items. But, we couldn’t visit the wholesale markets or a big shop when he was earning fifty or sixty rupees per week, isn’t it? So, we visited the big shops when there was gradual increase in the salary. We were six members including four of my children and we the husband and wife and we needed at least two kg rice for a day. We made such calculation and used to buy from the outside shops.

M So, when we look at your statement … the salary of your husband was increased

one side. But, the there was inflation in the cost too, isn’t it?


J Yes. M Do you say that his salary hike was higher than the general raise in the market

prices? J It was high M High, ok. J The salary for carpenters was one hundred rupees to one hundred and fifty rupees

on those days … also my children (daughters) were working and earning money. I too started to go for the job, isn’t it? Even, if I was left with five hundred rupees in a month I could buy the provisions. If you see our position on those days … he could give five hundred rupees and I could take five hundred rupees from my earnings and I could buy the needy items from those one thousand rupees, isn’t it?

M One side, your children were growing and their expenses too became more and

more. J Yes, yes. M So, you … J I went to job, started to earn and we both adjust the expenses together. M How did you decide that you should buy from the wholesale shop? Was it a

sudden decision in a day or … J That was … once I felt that we buy regularly from the nearby shop and it cost

more, why don’t we too visit parrys and test it as everyone is visiting parrys to buy the items. Every one would visit Parrys on those days. Even the small shops would visit parrys to procure everything. I got an idea then that we should make a visit to Parrys, enquire the prices and check the gains/benefits from buying there. We learned by that time. We, two to three people from here went to Parrys together. When we enquired the prices, we found that we could gain two rupees from the purchases of soap, two rupees from the purchases of dhal, and so on. We calculated the differences and gains from purchasing the items at Parrys. Suppose we gained fifty rupees from the total purchases and we spent ten rupees on travel and other expenses, had we gained forty rupees as net profit? If we spent ten rupees and save fifty rupees from the visit, could we use that balance forty rupees to buy something else useful to our family? So, we calculated such a way and used to visit Parrys for the purchases.

M Did you do or experiment it after someone suggested you?


J No, no we tried ourselves. Because, we had to manage our family …as every one in our family go to job (and have little money to test it). I desired that we too should experiment it. All shop owners go there and buy the items in bags, we would go there and enquire whether any place/shop is there to sell us in Kgs. Because I decided that we should check the differences in the price between nearby shops and the shops at Parrys, I visited there.

V You buy the items in Parrys as well as from the nearby shops. Have anyone done

mistakes either in price or supply the items … J Yes sir. I bought a soap item. I could tell you even now, the soap is twelve rupees

in the wholesale rate shop at Sivalingapuram. The same is sold for thirteen rupees or twelve rupees fifty paise in the nearby shop. If we feel bad to walk a little distance (to reach the wholesale rate shop), we would lose fifty paise and get angry. Like that, we would calculate for each item and buy. We could save ten rupees, if we buy the items in bulk and keep stock. We use to buy the monthly requirement (at a time) in advance. Then, we should manage the other expenses within our income, for example we have to pay the electricity bill, buy dresses, etc. Immediate after receiving the salary, we would buy the provisional items need to our home and then we use to buy the vegetables. Depending on the balance we could buy few snacks items and keep stock.

G Do you buy the items in packets, what would you see in that packets? M (Before that) I didn’t understand one thing, you said about bitter experience.

Could you explain it further? J Suppose, we go to the (wholesale rate) shop located at the opposite road to buy an

item. When we go there, we could learn that it is available there for fifty paise or one rupee less than the rate of nearby shop. The selling price of that item in the nearby shop is fifty paise or one rupee more. In this case, would we consider paying higher price or visiting the wholesale shop to save one rupee? We would think how to save one rupee and use it to buy any other useful item, isn’t it? If we worry to walk, we would lose one rupees, that is what …

M That is the agony, ok. But, any mistakes in the purchased items? J Both are same. M Ok J Hamam soap … the item is same there as well as here. M Oh, we paid one rupee more and purchased here … J Paying one rupee more is distress.


M Do you have any experience like you purchased an item and found that it was not

good and you realized that you were cheated? Do you have such bitter experience?

J Generally, I would check all items before deciding to buy it. I would check the

price of different item, either it would be purchased at Parrys or here. We should enquire the price of the dhal, etc. We buy the items after enquiring the rates. So, there is nothing to say that this or that spoiled. Do we check well and buy the good items?

M So, it was like that …Ok, now you ask about the packet … G As you said the soap was twelve rupees, how did you verify or identify that price

and bought? J The rate would be correct in the pocketed items. The retail shops would sell for

higher rates than the wholesale rate shops. However, the item would be the same and there would be no differences. The distinction here is the retails shops would add fifty paise more in the rate, to gain their profit. But, the transaction would be heavy in that shop (wholesale shop), they invest and store all items in plenty of bags, do wholesale business and earn more profits. Here, the retail shops would get business, only when people like us buy any item. Income would be less in the retail shop. So, they would charge the rate what is printed on it. The wholesale shops would give/supply us at least fifty paise less than the rate prescribed on the pocket. Then, no other problems are there. Everything would be correct and the bill would be given for every items.

G What do you think about the dates? J Now you see, the items should be used once a year (within a year). So, we should

check whether the item is in good condition or spoiled. It could be (old stocks) found in the retails shops. But, everything would be new arrival in the wholesale shops and we couldn’t see that. All retails shops are buying everything from wholesale shops and sell it again (to its customers). They buy from there, add fifty paise in the rates as their margin and sell it. They (wholesale shops) supply the items to us for the same rates supplied to the retails shops. They give us since we became regular and known buyers. This (retail) people could get profit only if they add fifty paise in the rate. If we need to buy more items we could go to wholesale shop and buy it. Suppose, the stock is over and we need to buy single soap only … if we feel difficult to walk and buy from the nearby shop (retail shop), it would cost fifty paise more.

V How did you gain these experiences? I mean, the knowledge to buy only from the

particular places …


J That is … we wouldn’t be idle, we are four to five persons here … we would plan like, today we would go to Parrys to buy the provisions or we would go today to T.Nagar to buy dresses… people are talking that it would be cheap if we do the purchases such a way … is it costly when it is purchased on credit, the saree salesman say Rs.400/- per saree … we could buy the same for Rs.200/- if we go to T.Nagar. We could check and select the items to buy as we wish and then buy it for the money available with us. If we go there … color sarees are available for lower price… Even, we could buy a saree for hundred rupees and give it to our children. It is our experience and we should learn it. Depending on the changes in the society … we could get experience only when we visit and see different places. So, it is little more …

V Interest to learn J Yes. But, I have no literacy. However, I would learn these things. If you say any

accounts, I would calculate orally and tell you the answer. They would say that I don’t know and I don’t know anything. But, I would do my level best. I have little difficulties to spell out the calculations. I don’t know to read. I could write my signature alone. If I say that I am an illiterate, none would believe it.

M None would believe you an illiterate. What are the problems because of lack of

education, either as a customer or … what are the difficulties? J Is it because of uneducated? M Yes, because of lack of education J When I hear any news now, I would interestingly ask others to read (the news

papers or books) and share with me. I feel that I could read myself if I am an educated. My children are there to read and tell me, I would show the paper and ask them to read what they have printed. For example, the fire accident at Kumbakonam (school) was reported on the papers and the number of deaths were shown on TVs. I would pay my attention on such general news. I would ask them to tell me what they have printed below (the pictures). My children would read it and explain me. My worry is, as I don’t have that (education). I feel that I could manage myself if I had little education at least. I would think that none should suffer like me. This is the only one I don’t have in my life and worry about.

M Do you have any difficulties while buy the items because of lack of education?

Now, we asked about the packets. On packets … J I know about the dates to an extent. It is important one. It is belongs to which

years, it is over (expired) on this year … I would check little all those on the packets, if it were sealed (printed) and I don’t know if it was not sealed. We could identify from the sealed (printed) packets. Such things could be checked, if we needed.


M What would you check on that, I mean the dates? J Yes, whether the date is printed on it, such as 2004 and second month or third

month, etc. Suppose a product is come for sale. It is over (expired) by third month but fourth month is running now. In such cases, we say that we should not consume it, isn’t it?

M Yes, yes J Based on that we would study it. We would point out that it was over (expired) by

last year and ask them to supply us the current year product or we would question them why do they supply the expired dated products when the date of expiry was last month.

M Is there different dates or it means the same? J Date means the same to my knowledge. I know only one meaning for the dates. M Only one meaning and it would be sealed (printed). J The month and the year, it is the date. I know that’s all. M You would check it and tell J I would tell only after checking that. M Ok, what else? I mean the education … because of uneducated what else, while

you check the packets … what else would you check on the packets? What are the other difficulties?

J As for as I am concerned … Sir, as I don’t know all … I desired to study in my

childhood but my mother couldn’t provide it. At that time, it didn’t strike on my mind that I should be an educated at any cost. My family had no means to provide me with education. Now, I worry about my lack of education. I feel sad when I realize that I could not read even small news items about the day-to-day incidents in the country. I don’t consider anything else as important to me. I become aged, what I am going to do after this. If I need anything my children are there to take care. They would read and tell me if I ask them about anything. I have little satisfaction. The only worry is that I could manage myself if I had studied.

M Do you have any hesitation to enquire anything on the shops due to education

problem? Suppose you need to enquire anything from the shops … J Sir, I don’t have anything such. Sir, I would question them at the moment. I

would ask “Damal, damal”, though I ask in Tamil. But, I wouldn’t question every


one unnecessarily. Suppose, I need to enquire about an item or bargain the rate or complain about the quality of purchased item, I would do so. I would return the rice if the supplied quality was not good. We would exchange words like these and we wouldn’t talk anything else unnecessarily. At the same time, we are not in a position to question them after reading or checking the printed matters.

M Ok, could you check the price after verifying the packets? J I could read it M You would read that J I know little to read all those things. I would read the prices little and little. Since,

they show on TVs and my children are here … I would keep those in my memory and do the needs.

M Now days are they print MRP on few packet items? What it means? You said that

you would check the dates; like that… they use to print MRP on the packets do you know about that? I mean, do they print MRP on the price, do you know what it is?

J I don’t know what it is in Tamil. I don’t know the Tamil meaning of English

words. If it was printed in Tamil (it is ok)… M Ok, you have managed your family for these many years, when see the education

… how do you maintain the accounts? J Accounts are … I was paid wages from my childhood days. I would be given

salary if I attended any works, isn’t it? I used to collect those and calculate the amounts, suppose my salary per day was Rs.2/-, what would be the amount for ten days work? I would calculate that ten two rupees are equal to twenty rupees. I learned the calculations one by one. I learned through such simple calculations. I would make all calculation orally. Now days I conduct chit collection. I enroll members in monthly chits and conduct bids on every month. They should pay after deducting the discount on bid amount. I would calculate the monthly chit amount to be paid by individual members after deducting the discount, amount payable to bidders after deducting the beat amount (agent charge), etc.

V Chits means …? J You see, do we conduct ten thousands rupees chits, collect thousand rupees on

every month for ten months, isn’t it? Don’t you know it? V We don’t know it clearly?


J You don’t know. Suppose, ten members join in a ten months chit for ten thousand rupees, each member has to pay thousand rupees per month for ten months. On first date of every month, we would invite all ten members and invite bidding to decide the member to take the month’s collection. We would mention the chit amount and invite bids from the members. The beat amount is three hundred rupees (Beat amount is chit conductor’s charge/commission). Depending on their need members would mention their bid amount. It would go like thousand rupees or two thousand rupees. Suppose a highest bidder asks for two thousand rupees, particular member would be given the balance eight thousand rupees only. If the beat amount three hundred would be deducted from the bid amount two thousand rupees, the balance would be one thousand and seven hundred rupees. This amount would be divided into ten and shared with all ten members. What each one would get? …

V Rs. 170/- J Yes, Rs.170/-. Like that there is calculations, isn’t it? When we have such

practices, all accounts would become easy, isn’t it? V You would calculate all these by yourselves? J Yes, yes. I would calculate myself. I used to conduct weekly collections at the

rate of five rupees then ten rupees. I have been doing these chit collections from those days. Now, I conduct ten thousand rupees chit and fifteen thousand rupees chits. I wouldn’t conduct chits for more than that amount, even if I a compelled.

V You wouldn’t conduct? J We could not bear and repay if any one run away. It is thousand rupees for fifteen

months; it would come fifteen thousand rupees. It is like that. This figures and calculation is lucky one to us. So, I used to conduct ten months chits.

V How is these accounts … would you write and maintain the accounts? … or … J I maintain a notebook and write down the names of members with the help of my

children. They would write down the bid amount and collections on every month with date wise. They would help me on every month.

V Your children help you J My children who ever available on that time. I would ask them to enter the

amount against the name of members, including the due, deductions any, paid amount in case of bidder, etc. I would maintain the correct details on date wise. If I conduct the bid on every 3rd of the month, I would settle the amount by 10th of that month.


V You have gained lot of experiences and learned many things after settling in Madras. You think that you should question at the appropriate times, you visit places, enquiring the details, etc. How did you feel when you moved to Madras from your native village?

J It was very fearing. V Suppose, you needed to buy an item and visit shop … J I wouldn’t go (to shops). It would be very fearing to go outside. Our people in our

village used to say on those days that it is big task to be at Madras. They were worrying to send me and get married at Madras. They arranged my marriage later. I feared to go outside of our home on those days. My mother-in-law would buy everything and provide at my house. They reared two milking cows and we got sufficient milk. They would buy and provide me whatever I needed. We got rent from four or five portions of our house. She would buy and give me the provisional items. My only job was cooking. I feared even when I was going to cinema halls. My husband used to take me to the cinema theaters. But, I would fear when I look at the new atmospheres. It was rare in our village to visit the cinemas. Even, if we visit cinema theaters, we would sit on the mud floor and watch the shows. We would go to cinema shows once in a year especially during the festival timings. We should go to the neighbor village to see the show. Only on the festival day, we all in our street would go together to attend the temple festival and watch the cinema on that day. Since we were so in the village before moving to here, it was very uneasy to sit on the chairs and watch the cinema at modern theaters at Madras. It all feared experiences. Later, gradually it became easy. We never walked with chapels/shoes at the village life. We knew nothing. Only after coming to Madras we learned everything by getting exposures and listening other people and different life styles. Secondly, I got nice family and good family members here. Everyone in my family was affectionate with me and very cooperative, they extended all helps to their level best. It would have difficult for me if they were opposite and negative. Still, I have four sister-in-laws (husband’s sisters) and get their cooperation. I don’t have any difficulties. Now, I am the all in all in my family. I would get warm reception from all my sister-in-law and brother-in-law families and every member would respect me. They would treat me, as their beloved and call me as “sister Janaki” My elder brother-in-law would treat me like his daughter.

G Do you attend the job now? J Now, I am not attending the job after the death of my son. I continued to attend

the job till his death. Now, I have constructed a house with concrete ceiling roof. I arranged the house warming ceremony on last 04th. One of my sons died on 18th. My son came and told me that I need not go to job. We arranged the marriage of our daughters and they have settled well with their husbands.


I suggested him that it would be good and we both should earn. If I get at least Rs.500/- in a month it would be useful, secondly we were constructing a house, it needed money to complete the works. He too decided that he should construct the building without buying any loan. Within fifteen days (of house warming ceremony), it happened. Then, my younger son told that I should not go to any job. I have brought back one of my married daughters temporarily to my house. I have two grand sons and one grand daughter.

G He don’t want you to go for any job due to sufficient income in your family or … J He says that I don’t want to go. Income is sufficient. G Income is sufficient, ok. Did you feel in any occasion while you were attending

the housemaid job that you should not have come to this job? J I never had such thoughts at that time because, I was with strong commitment/

vow that I should do a job, earn money and develop my children in life. As I say … at least my children should not suffer like me and I should bring them to a developed stage in their life.

G Did you feel in any occasion that why did you come to this job? J Sir, I never felt so. I tell the truth and I didn’t think so, because still today I

wouldn’t demand a particular thing. Everything is for my children and my children should have happy life. My children too like that. Even after his death my son gave us three lakhs rupees. We got the amount from his office after the death. We had to pay loan/debts for two lakhs. I paid that debt amount. I shared and give fifty thousands each to my daughters. I have balance fifty thousand rupees in my account. I should arrange the marriage to my younger son. My son who died had kept in his mind the memories on all my hurdles and difficulties faced to take care of my children and acted accordingly. He used to wear the dress whatever I purchased for him. He would accept whatever I say. Even he would hand over his entire salary amount to me and ask hundred rupees or something whenever he needs money to go out. Now, my younger son uses to put his salary amount at the bottom of the photo of his elder brother immediate after reaching home on the salary date. Now, my family members use to put their salary first at the bottom of the photo of my elder son who died recently. I should not share my sorrows to others and I should keep my family well. I thought and acted that I should provide every need of my children before they ask it. Whether it is dresses or any items, I would buy and provide them immediately. Still even after his death, he pays me Rs.1300/- on every month. I get pension from his PF account. I have reasons and meaning (enjoy the fruits of) to my struggles in the past. Now, they keep me at home and provide my food. Here after I have no need and necessity to go for any job. I don’t think so and I do so. My son who expired gives me Rs.1300/- per month through his PF account. His company had insured him for one or two lack rupees. We would get that claim amount. We would get claim


for his vehicle met with accident. Even, recently I bought a credit card for him from Bombay for five thousand rupees. Here after, what I am going to earn and for whom and for which? I arranged the marriages of my two daughters well and gave them fifteen sovereigns gold as dowry. I have two houses for both of them. They were given only vacant land, now I have constructed the buildings and given to them. That’s all. My only worry is loss of son. I feel sad and worry about the sudden demise of my son. I feel sad more about the loss of my son than even my husband. I don’t have any problem in my life now. He arranged from his earnings to pay me to meet my needs even after his death. Wasn’t the Rs.1300/- sufficient for me in a month? Sir, a single room in my house is enough to meet my needs. My younger son could earn and take care of his family and his children. I need not worry about him. If my daughters would come to me, I could give them ten rupees from my savings and manage the rest of my life. If they come to me what would they expect, after all they might need food. I am not going to eat for all Rs.1300/-. That’s all; I don’t have any other problem. My only wish is that none should suffer like me and don’t loss their child like me. Oh, I lost my child, he died, sir he was in good color, he was reddish in color and he resembled like (cine actor) Vijay. None believed his death. Immediate after the accident I went to Royapettah hospital where he was admitted. I received a phone message by 4.45 pm that he was met with an accident and slight fractures on his hands, nothing to worry and he was admitted in the Royapettah hospital with the help of his friends. We take the vehicle that was available at our house and I went along with my younger son. My son in law too came by another vehicle. He told me that nothing happened and need not to worry; just he had wounds on his hands. Glucose (IV trip) was administered on both of his hands and bandage was seen on both hands. I believed that he was out of danger and stood behind him. Again my younger son visited the hospital in the early morning on next day. He told his younger brother that nothing to worry and said it was a small accident and asked him to take care of the mother. Suddenly, he felt toilet problem and shouted as doctor please administer injections, doctor please administer injections, and died. It was the only and very tragic incident in my life. I lost all my hard works. I don’t think … I always thought that I should work hard till I have stamina and save my children. Secondly, the death of my son was big shock to me. Even now, I am not keeping quiet I provide food to many people like children, aged people, etc, and give donations to the needy on his birth and death days. I would distribute something like halwa to the children. His birthday was on last 11th day of 12th month. His divasam fell on 6th day of last month. I donated Rs.750/- to a place, ten-kilo rice and Rs.250/- to a place, I bought and I distributed fifteen packets biscuits to a place. It was all for mental satisfaction and prey for his sole to attain “shanthi”/peace and rest. I decided that I should continue this every year and follow it. I have asked my children to continue it after my life. I know that they too would continue it.

M Now, when Gajendiran asked you about did you have any sad feeling while

continued in the housemaid job, you said that you wouldn’t think like that, your sufferings should not be repeated to others and you wanted develop your


children and bring them to a high level in the society. You said you were being with such belligerent mood. When you were in such a mood, nothing else was …nothing was seen as difficult one …

J Yes, I didn’t see. I didn’t realize any hurdles due to that belligerent mood. Now,

we should not keep my children in poverty but jealousy on your wealthy condition. It was an aggressive plan to make my children to become like you. We should not worry that our children are in such a condition but we should try and make efforts to make our children to become like you sir. Was it aggressive plan or not? They, the children wouldn’t know our sufferings on that age. They wouldn’t know what kind of difficulties we face. When we developed our desires to buy and present a wristwatch, a gold ring or gold chain or good dresses or a vehicle to our children, we didn’t find any hurdles or sufferings (to continue in the job). As for as I was concerned, sir I didn’t feel that I was doing hard work or sad about the job. Every year when he received bonus amount from his office, he used to hand over the amount to me and suggested that he wish to buy this item or that item. By that time, I would have deposited in chits and saved some amounts apart from his bonus money. I bought TV and presented him, I presented vehicle, cycle, and I presented him tape recorder. I arranged the marriages of my two daughters and met the expenses. If I had thought that I could go for cinema shows, buy new dresses, have nice foods, spend for lavish expenses from the earnings of my children …that family could not develop and come up. We should not divert our attention on such extravaganzas, we should maintain our family and concentrate on ways for the development of our family. We could get interest only when we maintain the family on such a way. The children too would like us more when they see our productive efforts. They would feel that their mother is doing everything even within those struggling conditions. They would feel that their mother is struggling for the sake of children and decide that they wouldn’t spend unnecessarily, shouldn’t waste the time and roaring with friends. If we expect such responsibility from our children, (we should be the role model) it would be based on our own approach and activities.

M It is depending on our own actions. We coach those things too and guide them to

come up in their life. We coach them on these positive things and we try to being as role model.

J It is needed. Like that my children too wouldn’t leave me alone. My children

wouldn’t take hotel foods and have tea at teashops. If there was necessity and they stayed with or held up with their friends, they would ring up and inform me that it would take time to reach home and need not worry. They would tell me not to worry about them. I have brought them like that. Still today, my children are practicing such habits. Few children would return to home after their work as they wish or when they wish. If my son go to his job by 06.00 am in the morning he would return to home by 02.30 pm. If it reaches 02.45 and he couldn’t return, he would ring up and tell that he is going with his friend to buy gift items and no need to search him. I would be free and relax after receiving his message for the


delay. I would be worry if he fails to return on time. I bought a phone connection mainly for that reason, since my children are going to job. My children are good. In the morning they would do the newspapers door-to-door delivery job. My younger son studied in the Loyola College. He joined in the fire service department after his collegiate education and went for three months training. After returning from that training he had applied for the job in police department. Once he got appointment in the Police department, he resigned the fire service job… it show his “Verithanam”/aggressive planning, isn’t it? If we do hard works, our children too would follow it. He felt that he has to sit and spend his time freely at the fire service department for most of the day. He decided that it was not good. First he accepted that job since he was unemployed at that time. He had applied for both jobs. Once he got opportunity at police department, he resigned the fire service job and joined the police training. He is very courageous like me and not interested to waste his time as lazy. My elder son learned his job at Tambaram after completing his +2 education. He joined in a job for Rs.550/- per month. In parallel to this job I paid Rs.600/- per month to join him in a computer course. I paid Rs.50/- additionally and helped him to complete his six months computer course. After completing the course he joined in other company. He got his degree through joining in distance education program. He got two degrees, he never failed in any subjects and he did waste any year. He did hard work and completed the courses within the time. Younger son studied in Loyola College for three years. He had to waste a year after completing his +2. He couldn’t join the college immediate after completing the +2. He joined the college after a year, he too in a good position now. If we work hard it wouldn’t waste. Whether it is our case or our children case, definite result/benefit would be there for all hard work.

M Because you struggled from your childhood days, and struggled to bring up the

children too, isn’t it? You had shouldered responsibilities from your childhood days. You didn’t spend any money for your sake in the brought up stage too.

J I spend for them alone. I spend for them and I looked after them. I looked after

them since I desired to bring them up well in their life. Like that I had spent lot to my husband while he was ill and lying on bed. I had spent more than a lakh rupees at Sri Ramachandra Hospital alone. He had sugar complaint. His hand and legs were swelled, since we failed to notice/diagnose the diabetic problem in the beginning and take treatment on time. He couldn’t speak. We took him to the hospital, admitted in the intensive care unit, provided treatment and bring him back to the home with improved health condition. He survived for more than five years after that treatment. Then he died since the diabetic afflicted his kidney over the period. Since his kidneys were affected we couldn’t save him. But, he was walking well till he died. He would walk and take bath with the help of us till his last days. Even he would go to toilet at the midnight around 01.30 a.m. independently. Morning by 05.00 a.m. he was talking well. I didn’t understand how his sole was taken away suddenly. He demised suddenly.

M How did you managed that expenses?


J Other family members in our family gave little amount and helped us. My sister-

in-laws and brother-in-law, each one gave me little amount and helped us. Apart from that my two daughters were attending job at that time and my elder son was in a job. Besides that I conduct the chits, isn’t it? I had little savings from that. Though we borrowed little amount we repaid it later.

M Have you borrowed loan? J If at all we borrowed, we wouldn’t buy it for interest. If I have jewels I would

take it to bank and pledge it or other wise I would borrow as rotation amount without interest. I would tell the possible date to repay the amount and borrow as rotation money. I didn’t borrow loan against interest.

M You didn’t borrow J I didn’t borrow but bought once while I constructed the house. I repaid it

immediately after short period. That was the only loan we received. Besides that my elder brother-in-law’s son gave me some amount. I wouldn’t buy from outsiders.

M But, you would pledge the jewels. Pledging jewels mean how it is, please tell me

about that? J We would take the jewels and pledge it at the banks. The bank interest would be

very low. Suppose we pledge our jewels for ten thousand rupees …the interest rate might be 2% or 1.5% or 1%. The bank has special schemes for jewel loans and interest rates.

M After pledging the jewels … J We should get the money. M You would buy ten thousand rupees, ok … J Yes, we would buy ten thousand rupees. Suppose the interest for ten thousand

rupees would be Rs.200/- per month, we could pay the interest amount Rs.200/- on every month.

M Ok. J When we have money we should repay the ten thousands and get back our jewels. M You would get it back from the bank. J Yes, from the bank.


M You wouldn’t pledge it in the shops? J If we pledge it in the shop we may have to pay higher interest rate and we may

not interest to pay the interest on every month. M Yes, yes. J If we pledge it in the bank we would pay the interest promptly. Interest wouldn’t

accumulate. If we pledge it in the pawnshop, the interest would be Rs.300/-. We wouldn’t serious to pay the interest on time. If we miss to pay that Rs.300/- for ten months it would be accumulated Rs.3000/-. If you add that interest with the principal loan amount it would come to Rs.13, 000/-. We have to pay the amount in lump sum and redeem the jewels, isn’t it? Suppose we pledge the jewels at bank they would ask us to pay the interest on every 5th of the month. If we miss to pay the interest within 5th of the month, the amount on interest account would be bulged. We would try to pay the interest on time due to that fear and redeem the jewels when we have ten thousands rupees. It would be less burden and easy for us to pay the interest on every month.

G In case of pledging in other shops, wouldn’t they accept the interest on every

month? J If we borrowed from outside we should pay the interest, if we miss to pay the

interest … G As you said that the bank is accepting the interest on every month, don’t the other

loan providers accept the interest on every month? J (They may accept it but) we may not think and serious to pay it. We might use

that amount to meet some other expenses and compromise that we could pay it in the next month. We wouldn’t be serious and think to pay. In the case of bank, we would be serious/fear.

M Have you pledged your jewels in Settu shop (private pawnbroker shop)? J I didn’t pledge M Never pledged. You would always pledge at the bank. J I never. Only for few years… We never used to pledge the jewels earlier. We use

to pledge it at bank only for the past ten to fifteen years. Ten to fifteen years ago, we didn’t have much jewels and opportunities to pledge it. The total income was sufficient to meet the day-to-day expenses, on those days. We had to manage the family needs within our income. We used to borrow fifty rupees or hundred rupees from neighbors or known persons, in case of emergency, that was all the


debts or loan transactions we had. We didn’t use to visit Settu shop, that much. Suppose, we need ten thousand rupees for any purposes such as arranging marriage to our children or else, we could pledge the jewel and receive the required amount as loan to complete our tasks. Then, we may participate in the bidding in chit to take that amount ten thousand rupees (if we had joined in the ten thousand rupees chits). Apart from this, since we are the chit conductor, we could take the collection of second month without competition. If I start a new chit, as I am the chit conductor as well as one of the member among the team I could take the collection on second month without any discount. Since, we could anticipate the amount in a particular month, we could borrow or get loan from banks or pledge jewels for any urgent needs that may arise before that. We could pledge the house too.

M Do you ask any other questions? Thank you so much, you shared and explained

well about the life. Though I am an educated, I learned many more from your life experiences and principles. Your principles are very good than (having) the education. Thank you so much for sharing this. We would use it in the training package. Once again, I thank you.

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