For the past two decades, I have been working as a cycle mechanic on the platform opposite to Thamarai Thotti. When I was 10 years old, my family shifted to Madurai from Vadamadurai. Though my father was a government employee, he couldn’t afford the education of four children and I had to drop out of eighth standard in school. After doing errand jobs at various places in the city, I learnt repairing cycles in my youth and ever since it has been the sole job for me. Everyday, I spend around seven hours repairing cycles and take home Rs.150 to 200. These days, the number of cycles has greatly reduced and I hardly make any money. There are times when I return home with no income or a paltry sum of Rs.50 or 40. Depending on the repair work, I charge around Rs.60 or 70. My wife Subbulakshmi is a diabetes patient and hence has stopped going for domestic work, which contributed to our family income. I have two college-going daughters and a school-going son. Though my daughters scored above 1100 marks in their 12th standard, I struggled a lot to get them into colleges. My elder daughter Rajapriya is pursuing BE at Alagappa college, Karaikudi, and the younger one Muthulakshmi is doing BSc at Meenakshi college, Madurai. Unfortunately I am unable to pay their fees for the coming academic year. So far, I managed by borrowing and taking loans. We also get threats from money lenders and live in a constant state of fear. All I am left with is debts and woes. Yet, everyday, I rotate cycle wheels hoping that some day the wheel of fortune will turn in my favour.
(A fortnightly column on men and women who make Madurai what it is)
