My Baby

If you would like to read this in Tamil, you can read it here.


I had gone to Uthamapalayam, (a small village town) to visit my Brother in Law and his family with my five month old baby.

My Brother in law, Krishnamurthy, was a salesman for Brooke Bond Tea Company. He usually leaves at 4 in the morning to start his work.
Soon after he left for work, the baby had a high fever! So my Sister in Law, Kamala and me were so scared and called an elderly neighbour over to come and look at the baby.
She came over and looked at the baby and said, "nothing is wrong, don't worry!".
She asked us if we had 'Kasthoori Tablet' at home. We had it and brought it to her. She rubbed the baby's hands, feet and back with the oil and said he will be okay. But the situation got worse and at one point, the baby became cold!
Kamala and myself, started crying out loud! It was a quiet morning and the whole street heard our cries and every one came to the house, asking what happened!
Everyone had their own theories, as to how to cure the baby. One of them went and called a Doctor. His name was Dr. Sargunam. In those days, we didnt have pediatricians, just one doctor for everyone. Dr. Sargunam came right away amd took one look at the baby and said, "He's not doing very well. If you want to inform your relatives, please let everyone know. He will not survive for long!"

Hearing this, the neighbors started preparing the items needed for the funeral process. Kamala and myself were helpless and crying.

By this time, my youngest Brother in law, Gana, ran out of the house to call my Brother in law (Krishnamurthy) who was around 10 kms away,

Krishnamurthy, came cyclng back as fast as he could, with an old man, sitting behind him.

As soon as he came home, he took the baby in his lap and called that old man, "Paattaiya! Come her and look at this child!"

Pattaiya was a local painter who used to paint homes. He took a small box from his dhoti folds, opened it and took something out from that box with his finger and put it in the baby's throat.
Suddenly, the baby screamed out and vomited and started crying. Everyone was praising Pattaiya!
My Brother in law was so happy, he hugged Pattaiya, and said, "Pattaiya! Am so happy today! Ask me anything and I will give it to you!"
Pattiya replied, "Give me two rupees, *sami!"
He gave him 100 rupees!
and then he saw all the stuff that was ready for the funeral and shouted at everyone, "Please throw all this and go back to your homes!

I can never forget that day!
Pattaiya gave something called, "Kasthoori Mezhugu", a siddha medicine to the baby.

This happened in the year 1948.
That baby is now 68, and he is Janakiraman!!

*sami is like calling someone sir, with respect.