Occupation: Paniyaram seller
It has been 15 years since my husband passed away leaving behind me and my three children. I am 50 years old now and looking back I feel happy that I have been able to successfully bring them up despite the struggle I faced. Earlier, I started as a farm labourer and the daily wages was sufficient to take care of my family. With little money I saved over the years, I bought a small piece of land and started cultivating it. I was growing millets and groundnuts. After the consecutive drought for the past three years, I have taken up to selling paniyarams. Agriculture is no more lucrative and I have put the land for sale. My day starts with making batter and mixing the right amount of jaggery with it for making the sweet dish. Everyday I make around 100 idlis and 80 paniyarams that I sell for Rs.3 and Rs.1 each. The villagers around Alagar Koil are my regular customers. During the Chitrai festival, the sales peak as many tourists and pilgrims stop by to eat. I run the shop round the day during the festival season. Once a month, I travel to the wholesale grocery market at East Masi Street in Madurai, to procure rice and dal in bulk for making the batter. For now, I am heaving a sigh of relief that I have married off both my daughters. I owe it to the grace of Lord Alagar. My son is studying in a city college. I hope he makes it big in life so that I can take a break from working for the family.
(A fortnightly column on men and women who make Madurai what it is)
