Slice of Life: ‘I want to earn as long as I can’

Whenever a baby is born in a house in and around my locality, I am the most sought after person. They say that I have kairasi (good fortune). I am called to bathe the babies daily. 

One has to take care while bathing a newborn. I learnt the art from my mother, who was a midwife in Kancheepuram. I was raised in Kancheepuram with five other siblings. I studied till Class 4 in a Tamil medium school. My studies had to be discontinued after a bout of typhoid. I got married when I was 16 and moved to Chennai with my husband, who was employed at the bar in Boat Club. He was fluent in English and adept at housekeeping. 

After my marriage, I was frequently called by people in and around Austin Nagar to bathe the newborns and other babies. I can’t recollect how many, but I must have given over a 100 babies bath in the last forty years or more. I also give them naatu marunthu with tulasi and betel leaves for cold and  prepare orai marunthu with jathika and masika. I learnt a lot from experience. I am not able to do it now like I used to when I was young. 

People often approach me after a birth in their family. I agree if it is close by. I charge anywhere between Rs 3,000 and 5,000 a month for it. My husband passed away three years ago. 

Now, I live with my children and grandchildren in my new home that we built recently. My second daughter lost her husband. I am worried about her future. But my children are educated so I am sure we will manage. I also work as a maid in a house nearby. I want to earn as long as I can.