I was one of the lucky grandchildren who would love to hear my grandmothers stories. My paternal grandparents lived on a sugar cane farm in Glendale, North Coast of Durban. They lived their simple life right to the end. I visited and spent a few summer holidays with them as I loved the farm life, its quiet, the serenity and most of all the freedom. I could walk or run or play and just be me. Most of my childhod memories were created on that farm. I miss my grandma, a strong, outspoken and most of all she loved me. She told me this story one evening during my vacation there. Story goes back to a little village in India, name of which I cant remember. Her mom went to the local store to get grain and some other food ingredients for their evening meal. On her way back she was picked up by British Soldiers. The next thing she knew she and hundred’s of other woman and men were on this ship. All she could think was of her little children with no food, a husband not knowing what to do or where she is. She cried for days until she could cry no more. Then they all came to a strange place. British soldiers, separated men and woman, inspected them as if they were cattle. Tatooed weird names on their arms. My grandma says that her mother was made to stand next to a man whom she hadnt met before and the next thing she knew, this man was now her husband. How is this possible she screamed. ” I have children and a husband, take me back” But to no avail. She had no choice. She was married off to whom we now know as my great grand father. She learnt to accept her knew life, but never forgetting the children and husband she left behind. How sad I felt when I heared this story. My grandmother was her only child as she couldnt have any other children. How many other woman had to go through such an ordeal. But had this not happened, would my father have exsisted or I or my siblings. Today I salute her, because he was strong. The All mighty did however reward her with the best husband, my greatfather, and my grandpa was the sweetest man alive.
I AM
Mala Ramdheen
