Her, my greatest granny in the world

2nd June, 2016.

Hari Maya Bhatta, 82 (Baseri, Dhading-07): 

On a normal day when you meet her, you will see an old lady doing the household chores like cooking, cleaning dishes, sweeping the house & washing clothes despite of her 5 broken ribs which won't let her stand properly. Yet, she believes that 'everyone should find a way to smile away from the pain' , said Harimaya with a big smile.

This is her story. Hari Maya Bhatta, now in her mid 80's is a mother of 17 (With 9 alive now). She loves making gundruk (Traditional Nepali fermented spinach), chaana and sukuti (from spinach and other vegetables), grinds grain in jaanto (a pair of grinding stones). She makes ghee for everyone send them to her children houses. She lives with her eldest son and his wife where she finishes the majority of households which gives other to spend more time in their fields. She seems to be happy with her cell-phone which was recently gifted to her and expressed gratitude for the technology (Which she tucks in her patuki) for connecting her with her children. She says she doesn't have any complaints with her children and is content with her life. The only things she can't stand with is when someone asks her to quit smoking. She said that a packet of cigarettes was the last thing her husband handed over to her as his memory and it holds a special sentiments values.

Further she adds, "I've already come to my 82nd spring with these cigarettes. I won't regret even if I die tomorrow." These words stopped me from even trying to suggest her to quit smoking. During our talk of about an hour, she had already puffed 7 cigarettes.

She didn't speak a word about the pain and struggle in her early days and she says she's happy with what's given to her. Only thing she wishes is to die prior to her children.