I always say that my Mom is good in cooking. Even at her old age these days she is good at cooking many dishes. The taste, aroma and texture were quite implecable and no one matches her. Like my Mom many elderly women were too good at cooking. You will see around your home and can say this easily. Older generations grew up in eras with fewer modern conveniences, pre-packaged meals, or fast food options. They learned to prepare whole, fresh ingredients from the ground up. Elderly people often excel at cooking because of the experience, habits, and traditions they developed over a lifetime. Many of them have dedicated half of their life in cooking at their respective home. But is it good to bring the age old experience hand for cooking on street.
Sitting alongside a busy road , this old lady is too busy in herself cooking some local dish. I have seen this old lady recently, cooking passionately near a bus stand. While their young kids were trying to sell their recipe to to all commuters. Making use of elderly experience is good but in my opinion providing them with better facilities is too important. She is sitting on a small tool with minimum of things around her. At first I dislike the situation seeing such an old lady busy around the street, while the young ones were trying to make money of her experience. Instead of letting her cook, the knowledge should be transferred to other. She should remain a guiding force behind all these activity. But instead unbothered, she remain hooked to her activity as nothing is happening around. She is dedicated to her work. No matter what people talk about her. It was not a bit set up. Once I feel pity for this opd lady. But also appreciate her dedication and love for cooking. Somewhere she is the lifeline for some authentic traditional dish of the region.
India is full of surprises and this one is not different. I tried to ralk to lady but she is not well versed with either English or Hindi. She is fluent in Tamil. She was dedicated to her work that she is not ready to talk. I went around her and find making her banana fritter and one other local dish. Sitting atop a stool, and cooking on wooden Chula is not an easy things. But she made it look so elegant. Such scene can only be possible through age old experince. There could be various possibility if her working this way. But in my short stay at the location, I am unable to figure it out completely.
Cooking is often viewed as an act of care and generosity by seniors who express affection and hospitality through feeding family and guests. Seeing this lady working in presume there could be different scenario. Either she may be employed or she is running her own little shop on the street. But she know the unique business idea, that people are fond of experienced hand cooking. Because they able to get the best of cooking from anything. These old hands can spill the cooking magic on any dish they prepare. Or may be the young ones who were selling the item were trying to make use of her experience. Instead both confition, the comuters were in the win win situation because they are getting some authentic dish easily.
In good faith - Peace!!