Last evening as I watched the Marathi serial Tu Maazha Saangati, I was yet again filled with admiration and devotion for man who truly practiced what he preached. But what is the connection to International Women's Day! Tukaram's wife, Avali has been branded as a cantankerous, ill tempered woman. By whom? by society particularly men.
What was Avali to do?
During the drought he distributed the grain in the house to villagers without keeping any for the family;
Tukaram the moneylender floated all the promissory notes in the river;
returned all pawned articles without collecting the money;
He would give provisions from his shop on credit and hesitated to collect money due;
He would invite people home when there was barely enough food for the family.
How was Avali to run the home? She had to feed her children, she had to clothe them? Where was the flour going to appear to feed an army of devotees whom Tukaram had invited home?
That was Tukaram, his complete faith in the Vithuraya that makes him a saint which is why I love him, but my heart goes out to Avali, everytime Tukaram turned away from material prosperity, she saw the innocent faces of her three children and their need for clothes and sweets!! The otherwise compassionate Tukaram did not allow her the luxury of indulging their children.
Devotees of Tukaram and posterity who criticized Avali, didn't once consider what she went through!! Their own homes, hearths and wife were secure!
Because Avali, Kasturba, Kamala and more recently Jashodaben, made sacrifices we have Tukaram, Gandhiji, Pandit Nehru and Narendra Modi (no comparisons only examples)
