25/03/2025
#15 Alaka ma’s lessons were filled with so much information and so many techniques that I was one of the first to come into her classes and left at the end so that I do not miss a word. Every word she said had the power to motivate, every expression spoke a million emotions and every sentence spoke a paragraph and every technique was perfection personified. If I could write a book on her, it would be hard to contain her in it. Her personality was so dynamic that you wanted to be around her. Her aura was very strong, “tejaswi” in hindi probably can come close to it. One could hear her powerful voice from the street outside. We cried, laughed, feared, listened, danced to her tunes and even detested her at times but one thing was very clear…WE LOVED HER as much as SHE LOVED US! Maybe her love for us was much more as her sole motive was to make all deaf kids talk, help their families stay united, save their money and make their lives worthy! So behind all those scoldings and her push was her TOUGH LOVE for us. She would frustrate more when we didn't get something right and to the point that she would be more upset. In the background, we would hear uncle say softly…Alaka slow down. These memories are precious.
One incident that I can never forget is the time when Prisha had high fever and it was also the monsoon season. I gave her the required medicines and such was my obsession that I took her with me to class. How could I miss the golden words? At some point, I have faded memories of the incident, she was upset at me and told me to get out of the class and go home. I kept arguing and she said she would not have me and I needed to leave. I took the umbrella out and held her in my arms and stood on the steps listening to her talk to other kids. She said “I have asked you to just go”. I said I can’t miss any words as they are important. She said there is nothing so important and big that I will miss anything.I persisted and I could sense that she was quite pleased with it but would not show. Then she said ok, keep standing there-with that typical style of her that I just loved. That is how we were trained to be with our kids. Not to give in to their tantrums but slowly steer them towards learning and a little ignoring helps. Of course I knew her heart was melting inside and I always hold that strong bond that I had with her in my heart. She loved us fiercely but her love showed in her extreme push towards our learning and honestly to me that was “prashad” for me every day.She empowered me and so many others. Her love shows in our daily life as it has trickled into us. She lives on within us. Isn’t her tough love amazing?
Missing her very much today. I feel as if she is around showering her blessings. All that I am doing is her giving.
