The Maid Who Stole Idlis
This is a memory of a woman and a tribute to all the women whose struggles go undocumented in history. A Powerful Name and a Powerless Existence Her name was Karthyayani, a synonym of the goddess of power in Hindu mythology. Yet, she was one of the most powerless and vulnerable human beings who lived in our village half a decade ago. Karthyayani was our maid when we were children. She was dark with curly hair and a stout and short body, and the villagers did not consider her attractive or good-looking. Yet, even as a kid, I remember seeing a rare beauty in the smooth blackness of her skin, her sparkling eyes, and the way she talked with a hint of cheerful sarcasm. She was married to a man who just disappeared when she was in the prime of her youth leaving her with three small kids to take care of. Though she belonged to an upper caste community that was generally landlords, her family was poor. As the husband, the breadwinner, unceremoniously left, she had no other option to survive th...
