An APPLE a day..

The following is from my email archives. It is a true story about my then 81 year old mother who spent part of the summer here with me in 2004. She wrote about her 'adventure' herself, and I later edited and modified it. My Mum had already been featured in the Deccan Herald, I think two years prior to when she wrote this.

An APPLE a day: Adventures of a Hyderabadi Grandma in America.

By Vimla Madan

Once upon a time, East meets West was a phrase often used to describe some exotic meeting of minds or ideas. Today, technology has made the world one big Global Village, and the East West phrase is almost obsolete. We have crossed over to another century. 

Many of us in our twilight years have lived the whole gamut of this transition crossing a cultural divide. We have embraced the New World, and the bounties it offers. We have achieved this without losing our Indian Identity. I am happy to report that I am one such Senior Citizen of Hyderabad. 

Born in 1923 in Lahore, now in Pakistan, I was the fourth child in my middle class family with five children born in quick succession. Our father was an English Teacher who imbibed in us the importance of a good education and a love of reading. Our mother took pride in our love of learning. My older siblings and I completed our Masters Degrees, but the Partition in 1947 cut short our careers, as it played havoc with millions of lives across the Indian subcontinent. That chapter of History changed our Geography. 

Our generation was more than physically displaced and we grew up in a hurry, embracing change as a way of life. Life was about making ends meet. We also learned to be grateful. A lot of social taboos were broken. Society opened up, and strangers became the new friends. 

Women went to work outside the home as an economic necessity. I too joined the Government of India in July 1948, through a special scheme that provided jobs for Highly Qualified Displaced Persons. Office work was challenging, but most of all, it was inspiring. A good job gives more than money. At that period in time it also gave us hope. I supplemented my income by giving private tuition early in the morning, before going to office on my Raleigh Bicycle.

After my marriage in 1952, I lived the classic pressures of a middle class life balancing work and home. I raised two children, as best I knew how, putting them through good academic institutions. After 33 years of service I retired from the Ministry of Defense, in 1981. 

My retirement left me with a void in my life. Suddenly I had time I did not know what to do with. My love of plants and painting came to my rescue. I experimented with colors and different mediums, and started to paint all my own Greeting Cards for festivals and birthdays. The idea was well received by family and friends, and each one made some remark or the other about my handiwork. It encouraged me further and today my paintings have become bigger and bolder. My favorite subject is Lord Ganesh. 

In my spare time, I also started to read a lot. I needed to teach myself about herbs to tend to my patch of potted green. Somewhere along the way, books on self-improvement and alternative medicine stirred my interest and I discovered Chinese Medicine, Accupressure, and Sahaj Yoga.

Soon I had my own routine in retirement. I was always conditioned to be content and appreciative of the blessings we receive. My parents always encouraged us to focus on the positive. My children were married and raising their own families. I devoted my time to regular prayer, meditation, and a routine of gentle exercise and some Yoga. 

On a visit to my daughter in Australia in 1995, I met Bill Mackie (more about that here: http://veenubanga.blogspot.com/2014/09/our-own-platform-9-and-half.html) who said he had warded off a prostrate scare with diet. A kind and learned Australian gentleman, Bill introduced me to Ann Wigmore’s books on Wheat Grass Therapy. I added that to my routine, and noticed the improvement in my general health. This encouraged me to learn more about different alternatives practiced by people of different regions. Since then, I am hooked on reading up about these kinds of natural therapies, and have rejoiced in discovering more and more information about the several alternatives available. I always strive for self-improvement. 

After retirement I was now also travelling a lot internationally. My son took me to different parts of America for a holiday with his family in 1997. We visited the Niagara Falls, and till today I feel the wonder in that great white thunder of the wide waterfall whenever I think about it. We also went to many Amusement Parks in Florida, including Disneyland and Seaworld. 

In 1999 I again went to America for my granddaughter’s College graduation in upstate New York. This must be happiness I thought, I felt emotionally and spiritually complete. I had traveled extensively and seen and learnt so much. Life is good, and I felt that I have come full circle. I thank God for all the opportunities He has provided me to see and experience different parts of the world. It could not get any better. I then felt that I had experienced everything.

Somewhere up there, God must have been laughing. Surely He knew one day I would be sitting here in America typing on an Apple iBook Mac. If God would have told me this even five years ago, I would have laughed back thinking, surely the Lord must be jesting, having a laugh at my expense.

Life continues to surprise and amaze me. I marvel at the ability of the human mind, as it rises to meet the occasion. 

In early May, after casting my Vote for the National Election in Hyderabad; I came to visit my grandson who is working in America. While I was excited about my visit, I was disappointed to be away at this exciting time in Indian politics. Most of all I missed the action of the Elections in India. I wondered how the different political parties were faring in the States, and whom the results were favoring. How many were dethroned, how fast fates were changing. I missed the thrill of the unexpected, and the breaking news. 

The print and broadcast media in America covers our part of the world sporadically and intermittently. It can be frustrating for someone like me who likes to keep up with current affairs. 

My grandson Adi felt my sense of futile agitation and came and put his arms around me, as we both sat on the sofa. Then he dropped this sleek ‘thing’ of smooth white plastic on my lap, with a glowing apple engraved on its cover. It was the Laptop Computer I had seen him use. My grandson told me it operates on a wireless Network in their home. "Nanima" he said, "you can take it into your room and read your newspapers there, even on your bed if you wish!"

"Nanima," he insisted, "let me show you this iBook", as I mentally prepared for myself to learn yet another gizmo, after the Remote control and microwaves and mobile phones and all those conveniences that are a part of our daily lives today.

"This iBook has a Track Pad, and it is really easy", he said. I just looked at Adi, silent disbelief and hesitation written large on my face. "Really" he said, "let me just show you" and he held my index finger and placed it on the open computer with its small keypad. I looked at the small screen and sure enough I saw the cursor move in the direction of my finger. I felt a surge of triumph pass through my body, part magic, and part wonder. In that fleeting moment I tasted a new achievement. I knew I had done it.

While I was Internet savvy to a degree and could browse the web, I struggled with the mouse most times and this took the joy out of my browsing.  The track pad made for easier navigation. Sure enough, I was reading the Hyderabad newspapers on the Internet, including my favorite Times of India and Deccan Herald. I also read news on the BBC website, CNN, Apple News, and some others bookmarked on the Apple browser Safari. Now, I am utterly and completely hooked.

Adi shows no surprise and has also taught me to send e-mail using Yahoo. I think the young just expect it of life, and it is up to us to embrace what life in these hi-tech times has to offer. We must learn from the young, by accepting them, so they accept us as we are. If we open our minds to their points of view, we grow. 

We grow in stature with our own deeds, not by decimating others. I am grateful for all these continued blessings, and thank God that at 81, he has given me all these opportunities. I trust it is so I can go to GOD our Maker, as a better person.

As told to Veenu Banga.