Perseverance and Selflessness Create Warmth with in a Storm

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Dear Amma,

I am reading this letter on behalf of myself, Kirthika and Manikandan.

Today, 31st of July 2018 is an important day in your life, as it marks the end of a long perseverant journey which you so boldly shouldered after Appa left us. We, as kids definitely did not realise back then how extremely challenging it must have been for you. But today, when we reflect on the past, we are able to see how Selfless, Affectionate, Noble, Thoughtful and Inspiring (SANTI) you have remained for our sake. We can’t thank you enough for all that you have done for us but can only make an effort. On this special day, we would like to present you with a painting to commemorate your journey through our eyes.

Perseverance and Selflessness Create Warmth with in a Storm

Painting Credit: Artist Katie.M.Berggren (www.kmberggren.com)

All (forms of reproduction in any media format) copyrights of painting reserved by Katie.M.Berggren. Contact her via her website or email.

This painting titled “Perseverance and Selflessness Create Warmth within a Storm” has been specially made for you in an effort to express you how much you mean to us. The following is the interpretation of the painting:

The left top corner represents our past. In the painting, you and Pattu are turning your backs on the past and are angled toward the future which is represented by the sun in right side. This indicates that life has to move on despite the circumstances and so you and Pattu looked ahead to lead us confidently into the future.

You are shown with your back more upright, as you were the one who was firmer than all of us! You are the backbone of the painting. You have a small happy and peaceful smile reflecting your belief in “everything will be alright someday”. Each of the three flowing pieces of your hair represents each one of us kids, showing that we are always in your thoughts. The turbulence around you shown by the white strokes on the blue background stands for the harshness or the “weight of the world” you carried on your shoulders. Despite the uphill climb you were facing, you never failed to protect us and provide us with shelter, love and care. You protected us with your own self exactly like your blue saree which covers your body as well as the three of us. 

The blue colour of your sari signifies you flowing like a river beautifully into the future taking us along with you, creating a way and a path for us (help with school, helping find spouses, etc). Just like a river cuts through rocks and harsh terrain (with its persistence) to always finds its path and doesn’t rest until it joins the ocean ultimately, you never rested in your duties as a mother and father. And one can only be happy to be in the middle of a big, beautiful river.

Rivers gives lives to billions of organisms and so have you to us, time and again, by supporting us and guiding us through tough times. River is made up of billions of water droplets, drops contributed by trees from their storage on the river side (it refers to our friends and well-wishers who did their part like trees by supporting us) plus showering of the god through rain. 

The pottu/bhindi/dot on your forehead represents love, hope and unrelenting focus.

The big flower on your left shoulder represents your love for gardening. On the edge of your sari wrapping us, are five flowers, with five petals each, to signify the unity within the five of us (and of course to also represent what gardening meant for our special family of five! Indulging in gardening and flowers certainly was a hobby from which we derived immense positivity, happiness and relaxation as kids and continues to do so even today.

The embrace of your sari, flowers and river aspects emphasize the fact that we kids were kept warm by you and Pattu together and that we find happiness in life despite the storm and chaos around us (because you two women are protecting us from it). 

Pattu is located behind you to show that she supports you and “backs you up” with chores, childcare and help. She is leaning more (compared to you being straight and tall) because she is the one who was a bit softer to us kids. Pattu has a larger smile because she was less strict. Her sari wraps around all of us kids and you, showing her care for us as well as her own child, you. 

The grains of white rice on the border of pattu’s saree represent her cooking talent. The green colour of her saree signifies that she helped enhance vision, stability and endurance in each of our actions.

Pattu and your heads are turned toward the right, as you are focused on us children having a good future. 

By this time you would have figured out which kid on the painting represents each one of us.

The boy close to Pattu is me. My face is shown to be tilted towards Kirthika and Manikandan, just as a big brother would. Also, being the eldest son, I am depicted to be turned toward the future – as I realize the importance of school and other endeavors that will guide my future into success and also to always be someone Kirthika and Manikandan looked up to.

Kirthika who is drawn beside me is shown with beautiful eyes, reflecting the beautiful person that she is, and looks out at the viewer, calm and serious but with a gentle smile. She is shown with softness as she looks out. She is in the NOW, the present. 

Manikandan, the youngest of us, is shown with mischievous eyes and smile to represent that he was and still is the naughtiest of us! 

The several tones of blues and creams signify warmth within the family while cluster of blue dots around us indicates our friends and well wishers.

The sun in the upper right shines on the family. Sun here refers to the guiding force/God. Beneath the sun there are two small white stars, representing Appa and Thatha- who left our family way too soon only to shower us with blessings from above.

The embedded spirals near sun indicating darkness, are shown in a flat boring colour field.  The sun spiral stand-outs more, and the stars too, indicating that the power of light, god and blessings is always higher than the darkness befallen us.

There is a storm eye (whirlpool) on the bottom left side. Pattu and your sarees are acting as a protective barrier between us and the storm, cocooning us to provide protection while the storm is “outside” (the outside world and extended family that didn’t support you or your journey). 

Storm eye also balances with the sun’s location – the sun and the stars represent Appa and Thatha’s love, shining over our family, and is shining over the FUTURE of all of us as well.

Bright white sparkles (dots), lines and spirals move through the space and saree as they represent the molecules of energy, love and life.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything you have done for us. If not for you, we would have never made it this far. From this point onwards, we will take care of you. It’s our turn now. It’s time for you to take a break from work. Wish you a happy retirement!

With lots of love and respect always,

Rajesh, Kirthika and Manikandan

(31-July-2018)