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Her anklets and the bell sound of her vegetable cart woke up the local residents every shining day. Everybody turned to Radhamma as a morning alarm as she strolled through the neighbourhood with fresh produce for people from all walks of life.
As she sorted her vegetables and laid them down neatly on her cart, while tending to her customers – the software engineer, the maami next door, the local school children flooding at the gates, she was so kind to each and every one. She was patient. But what set her apart was not her usual demeanour. It was the way she has an affectionate smile and love for the animals and a few of the stray animals leapt onto her with joy. Animals recognize an aura and she had it.
On her way, she came across animals like cows, dogs and others, tiny and big. She used to feed them with the home-cooked food and also picked a variety of feed off her cart, that satisfied the animal’s hunger, petted each one of them to make them happy. She never batted an eyelid and gave them selflessly one after another. Even the local monkey made a dash for her bananas. Radhamma never ever shooed them. She never was impatient, not with customers, and definitely not with her four-legged companions. Even the cow, squirrels and birds got their daily water from her.
Everybody observed her. The kids, the elders, the school teachers off to get to their classes started and kept telling each other how she was equal to all. The local watchman, Rangaiah, teased her that she wouldn’t have anything left on her cart if she kept doling out to these fine stray creatures. With a fine glow, she affirmed, “They are my true friends. I learnt from my elders, to take care of animals, no matter where we are, it is our responsibility for the betterment of everyone, is it not?” What a thing to say!
There was grumpy Wadia and the cycle repair shop Rajanna. They both had a thing to say and thought cats, dogs and cows had their places and that’s where they should be. Radhamma never corrected them. She just smiled and continued to do her thing. Her own kids adopted a dog’s puppy and took care with utmost care. During the course of time, Wadia started donating to Radhamma for their dog’s care, less grumpy and more positive.
Watching her, the school kids started taking care of these beautiful animals. The elders started putting out good food in food bowls at the gates of their houses and apartments. The security watchman made sure our furry friends got their fair share. First came the food bowl, some good food and then some tasty tidbits. Then it was clean water bowls at the same gates. It was uplifting of a conscience.
The teachers at school kept encouraging the children to add animal care to their daily play and study routine. Some teachers even shared videos of how easy it was to make the world a better place through adopting animals and filling the local school water bowls outside each of their school’s “in” and “out” gates. The kids returned from school and put out fresh water bowls at their apartment building entrance too and went out to play. Both teachers and parents smiled, learned and appreciated this habit.
Rahul, a software developer, spoke to his company about animal welfare steps that they could take as a corporate social initiative. He bought his daily veggies from Radhamma and was truly inspired by the simple woman.
The conscience of Radhamaa took over in a profound way.
Friends, there are Radhammas out there. We might miss them sometimes in our daily bustle. But as Mother Earth takes a beating each and every year due to various factors, all of us lookout for that next best thing. That next right thing to do. That next pleasant thing to push us forward, both in inner and outer conscience, being more moral.
That next best thing is being a Radhamma. Whatever walk of life we are from, this is sure to boost our happiness. We all have innate goodness that can be focused on making animal lives better, by providing food and clean water to homeless animals in the community. It is our responsibility to take care of them as we humans destroy their habitats. Let’s all be a part of it here!
Credits: Ayushee Patil (Artist), Amritha Alapati (Story Writer), Harish Edamadaka (Reviewer), Lakshman Molleti (Concept)