Shivamogga: An elderly woman living in a pathetic situation finally got some respite when Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa himself visited her and made a promise to ensure that she leads a comfortable life.
AS Gangamma, a native of erstwhile Burma has been living in Shivamogga with her son VS Kumar, near Manjunath Talkies. Her husband A Subbanaidu was working in the British army and the couple hailed from Rangoon in present Myanmar. The British colony of Burma was part of the British run-state in India, the Empire of India, from 1824 to 1937. Burma was separated from the rest of the Indian Empire in 1937, just ten years before India became an independent country, in 1947.
Gangamma is now 95-years-old and it is not clear as to why and when she came down to Shivamogga. However, the thunderbolt and lightning couple of days ago unleashed havoc. She was one of the many flood victims waiting for help. With her son being paralysed, she has been living with the meagre Rs 2,000 pension that she gets, which also includes her son’s disability allowance. The nonagenarian is the ray of hope for her son, who is completely dependent on her. After paying Rs 1,000 towards house rent, the elderly is hardly left with anything to sustain and live a dignified life.
Gangamma had seen luxury as a young woman. With her husband working for the British army, she had toured many countries and even lived a comfortable life. The wrinkled face lights up when she talks about her meeting with Gandhiji and Nehru, her brief conversations with Netaji Subhaschandra Bose, but today all of these are only memories. Her bitter reality overshadows her sweet memories. When the CM met her and heard her story, he too fought back tears and announced that Gangamma will be given Rs 5 lakhs as compensation, a site and a house.
