All Varalu wants is to work hard, and earn
for her three small children. She needs to bring up three children on her own as her huband deserted her. She does with complete sincerity any work we can show
her.
Annapurna, 29, victim of
an abusive marriage has been trying to rebuild her life. She would procure, pack and parcel tamarind to
the shops were were able to suggest to her in Chennai. She sourced groundnuts and cleaned, deseeded,
packed and sent them.
She got amla from the nearby forest and made whatever products we suggested. Our ayurvedic doctor Dr. Girija procured from her, and the patients swore by the effectiveness of this. She does a neat, through, honest job - as do all villagers.
Annapurna and Varalu are making
pickle and bringing it to Chennai. Tasty, homemade Andhra pickles.
And we owe it to the people that they have an honourable livlihood. That is all the people of my village have ever asked for - for work. never for doles. We need to give work to the unemployed of the couuntry, and buy only those goods that give them a livlihood.
( The friend wrote to someone who asked him what was special about the pickle, " ... they are made by a poor woman who is trying to keep her family afloat with meagre income."
No !
The pickles are special. They are made with much love and care. They are very tasty. And when I tell Varalu and Annapurna that people her appreciate their pickles, they beam down the phone, and the room lights up here 200km away. We buy the pickles because the beams light up our lives. And the pickles jazz up our meals.
And Varalu is not "a poor woman who is trying to keep her family afloat with meagre income". She is a generous soul, who despite being abandoned by husband, and having to bring up three tiny children, has equal concern for every other disadvantaged child in the village. She gives time and love and mentoring to all in need. Yes, she has to earn to bring up these children, and is willing to work hard on anything we can suggest she does. And she's hardly a woman, more a child - maybe 22.
...if we buy what the poor make, we need to remember this. We are doing ourselves a favour, by doing what we ought to do ... that is all.)
She got amla from the nearby forest and made whatever products we suggested. Our ayurvedic doctor Dr. Girija procured from her, and the patients swore by the effectiveness of this. She does a neat, through, honest job - as do all villagers.
Annapurna and Varalu are making
pickle and bringing it to Chennai. Tasty, homemade Andhra pickles.And we owe it to the people that they have an honourable livlihood. That is all the people of my village have ever asked for - for work. never for doles. We need to give work to the unemployed of the couuntry, and buy only those goods that give them a livlihood.
( The friend wrote to someone who asked him what was special about the pickle, " ... they are made by a poor woman who is trying to keep her family afloat with meagre income."
No !
The pickles are special. They are made with much love and care. They are very tasty. And when I tell Varalu and Annapurna that people her appreciate their pickles, they beam down the phone, and the room lights up here 200km away. We buy the pickles because the beams light up our lives. And the pickles jazz up our meals.
And Varalu is not "a poor woman who is trying to keep her family afloat with meagre income". She is a generous soul, who despite being abandoned by husband, and having to bring up three tiny children, has equal concern for every other disadvantaged child in the village. She gives time and love and mentoring to all in need. Yes, she has to earn to bring up these children, and is willing to work hard on anything we can suggest she does. And she's hardly a woman, more a child - maybe 22.
...if we buy what the poor make, we need to remember this. We are doing ourselves a favour, by doing what we ought to do ... that is all.)
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