Occupation: Watchman
I have donned many hats to earn a living. And at the age of 72, I continue to work to make ends meet. I was 13 when my father passed away. I was in class six then. With four sisters and a widowed mother, I was forced to drop out from school to start earning.
I worked in a teashop and then started one of my own. I ran a cycle repair shop, a murukkan kada, set up a small provision shop… Finally I learnt tailoring and that is what helped me to marry off my sisters and raise a family.
I had my own place at Puthuveedumele, near Mangattukadavu. For 40 years I worked as a tailor and had two assistants. Day and night I laboured to take care of my family. During Onam, I would work all day long and sometimes in the night too.
My wife, Vilasini Amma, is a homemaker and we have three daughters. All are married and live in different places in the city and I have five grandchildren.
Four years ago, I developed fits of giddiness and a medical examination revealed that I had problems with my spinal cord. Years of bending over the machine and toiling for a living had taken a toll. The doctor advised me to take a break. But people like us cannot put up our feet and rest. Only people who have had a government job can do that because they get a pension.
I must work. So I started moonlighting as a painter but after a fall from a ladder I gave that up. That is when a friend told me about this agency that arranges watchmen for various establishments. So I signed up and started a new line of work, this time as a watchman.
My hours are from 5.30 p.m. to 8.30 a.m. I leave after my colleague comes in the morning to relieve me. My mother-in-law stays with me and so she and my wife keep each other company. This is not a difficult job. I have a scooter and I reach here on time. I bring my dinner with me since I cannot afford to buy dinner every day. I have it around 10 p.m. We don’t take any holidays or leave unless there is some emergency or illness.
My wife had an accident a few months ago and we incurred debts of over Rs. two lakh. I had to pawn some gold and I have to repay that. So I am trying to save some money. In the morning I still do a little bit of tailoring.
This collar that you see on my neck has become a part of me now. I wear it on my doctor’s advice. But if I do too much, my back and neck starts aching. My tailoring shop has been closed for now. The machines are all there.
Two of my daughters are now learning tailoring. When they were students, they were busy with their studies and could not find the time to learn. But now they are interested.
Do you know I am a member of a feudal family that once lived very well. But we fell on evil days and now I have to make sure that every Rupee earned goes a long way. Fortunately, all my sons in law are teetotallers like me and good men. So they help us whenever they can. Although two of my daughters did do well in academics, they were unable to get a government job.
I hope my grandchildren can do well for themselves and get a government job somewhere. As for me, I plan to continue working in some capacity or the other as long as my health permits.
(A weekly column on the men and women who make Thiruvananthapuram what it is)
