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An ode to a golden oldie
Rednam Satyavathi.
Many women do not get the chance to think really about what it means to be a woman. International Women's Day provides the opportunity for us to stop and think about what it means to be woman: what is good about it and what a struggle it is.When the whole world celebrates the 93rd International Women's Day today, can our Vizag be far behind? The multi-faceted dynamism of the city is fringed with true life stories of its wonderful daughters. Some of them have not stopped their crusade into excellence despite their being well beyond the ''prime'' age for work. Ranging from the never-say-die attitude of much deserving and acclaimed educationist, Indrani Jagga Row of Mrs.A.V.N. College, through the hand-that-rocked-the-cradle attitude of the ideal grand mother, Sarvalakshmi Subba Rao, wife of the Bar Council of India Chairman, D.V.Subba Rao, or even the shy and complacent looks of Lulu Gomes, editor of several cookery books for Naval wives or the staid and prosaic 60-plus businesswoman who drives around in her scooter, Joya, Vizag is indeed blessed! The effervescence and warmth exuded by Padmini Chengal Roy, retired pathologist and now head of the city branch of the Bharat Scouts and Guides, can never be matched by any younger woman. When people usually retire at 60, some of these women have blazed a new trail in their fields of activity and started their glorious innings in the twilight zone.One such a stalwart is 83-year-old Rednam Satyavathi. Wife of the famous eye surgeon, Rednam Surya Prasad Rao, she could not study beyond Intermediate because of bad health. While her famous husband was busy serving the visually impaired, she took up the domestic reins and took care of his home, his clinic and all medico-legal issues. Her receptive mind and undying energy levels helped her carve a niche for herself, and she picked up the strings of business right from taxation law to tenement procedure. After 57 years of marital bliss with her spouse, Satyavathi became all alone in 1998. Her stint with tongue cancer in 1984 had left her physically weak, but her victory over carcinoma had left her mentally stronger. Seeing her chances of slipping into melancholia, she took up the anvil to busy herself and took over the 60-bed Venkateswara dormitory in Dwarakanagar. The enterprise had been set up earlier but was unsuccessfully run. For Satyavati, the dormitory had to run against all odds. As the landlady of the portion which lodged this unit, keeping it vacant in such a commercial zone would have been sheer madness. In 2002 she stepped in as the proprietor and also set up a 40-bed boys hostel in the fifth floor of the same complex. She was fortunate in having good managers and wardens, but still insists on keeping all controls in her hand.While women of her age are spending time with grandchildren or in spiritual pursuits, Satyavati's day begins late and ends with her daiily trip to check on her business after 8 p.m. She spends two hours daily on planning and administration. This scribe caught up with her at her palatial home, which is more like a heritage home, replete with ethnic furnishing and antique pieces - vestiges of a distant past.The slightly hunched-with-age veneer does not seem to keep pace with the youthful twinkle in her eyes. Her toothless mouth, matched only by the dimples that show up when she smiles, are evident as she talks of her favourite moments and things in life. Reflecting about women's lib she feels happy to see the gigantic strides made by the modern woman. She is happy about the 'narrow domestic walls' that have crumbled with the passing of time around the Indian woman. Her innate interest in history and politics and in-depth knowledge of the life and times of Hitler, Churchhill and their tribe is as keen as her penchant for mythology and religion. Her designer puja room testifies to her pious nature and she spends a lot of time 'unwinding' here. ''Sonia Gandhi is her favourite woman of the day and she admires the 'bahu' attitide with an easy acceptance. However, she is very clear that for AP, Chandrababu Naidu is the chosen leader and most capable administrator. Her other interests are playing on the violin and listening to M.S. Subbulakshmi's songs.In her words, ''the greatest attribute I have enjoyed as a woman in this city is the freedom and independence I have been given. Truly, I have been the sole monarch of my life''. Her supporting sons have been ideal men but she has no interference in her thoughts. She has good memories of her sojourn around the world and proclaims that the US is the most beautiful country she had visited.At 83, Satyavati is restless. She waits to complete this meeting and move on to her daily visit to the dormitory. She also has to plan her Income-Tax schedules and investments before the month ends. ''I am no heroine,'' she adds with a naughty glint in eye. ''I am just keeping busy, after all, most of my aged friends have departed, and I want to live on gracefully!''
MEENAKSHI ANANTRAM
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