One time, Balraj and Selvam Mama came to our house
One time, Balraj and Selvam Mama came to our house.
“Mother, could you do us a favour?”
“Tell me, sons. What do you need me to do?”
“Mother, we need you to cook food for us. It is for the fighters who are stationed at the front lines. We need to capture the Mullaitivu military camp. Please cook the food and pack it into parcels. The boys will come and collect them.”
“Alright, sons. I will definitely cook for you. If we do not do something for our own children, then who else will?”
“Thank you, Mother.”
My elder sister’s family lived in the neighbouring house. I brought my sister’s daughter, Bama, to help me as well. Since we had to cook in large cooking vessels, I also brought in an experienced elderly man to assist us. All of my children helped without exception.
At that time, whichever vegetables were cheaper in the market would become the curry for that day. Preparing and cooking food parcels for between 500 and 700 people, three times a day, was not an ordinary task. With great dedication, we cooked the meals for our children.
A section of that community had prepared themselves in this way to liberate a people who had been subjected to oppression for a thousand years.
Translation by Hari
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