You’ve heard a little about her in my posts…and know that she is someone I hold dear to my heart. A friend, philosopher, woman with progressive ideas, she has walked the talk on change, just like my mother has.

Mummy has stories of spending her childhood holidays in the Konkan region. Of boats that left from Bhau cha dhakka in Mazegaon, Bombay, and deposited her, and her siblings, to 70 kilometres away from the village, from where would start an overnight ride, by bullock cart, to her Aaji’s place.

Today, Mummy manages and works on our Kadam Farm, not far from where she spent her summer holidays, but not before traversing a long, arduous journey, of over 60 years.

Family is our dearest & most precious asset. This we firmly believe, the both of us. She, & my father in law, moved out of a very busy life in Bombay, to build their dream, Kadam Farm. Near Ratnagiri, and touching the Bombay – Goa highway, Kadam farm is our refuge from the madness of the world.

Life has come full circle for Mummy. From being the first born girl who was shunned for a while by family till luckily for her, she proved lucky for them, she now dotes on her four grandchildren who visit her when they can. But she dotes a little more on her grand daughter. She hungrily learns the workings of the iPad mini, and it’s functions from her grandson, my brat, so she can email the photos of the first bloom of a lily, or her experiments with basmati rice, or the first alphonso on the tree, to me.

And then, when she can, she sends parcels of those mangoes and cashew and Kadi patta and theplas for us. And sneaks in gifts of a saree or a Khun blouse piece, or bangles, for her daughter in law.

And the day I don’t answer an email, I get a gentle message on the phone : “Email dekha ?”

She does her farm research on crops and irrigation, pays her bills, manages her bank accounts, all on the internet. She manages workers, property, her Bombay house and all its workings. She works hard from morning to night. She cannot sit still.

She is also on speed dial for all puja/date/havan/and what should we do about the children venting. She calms me down.

Today, Vijaya Kadam turns 70 years young.

Happy birthday, Mummy ! I’m wearing a saree gifted by you. And I am surrounded by your strength.

I hope we, Khayaal and I, will make you proud too.