My daughter has written a beautiful passage about Alex, her dance tailor from Mylapore, and I would love all of you to read it in these days of pandemic.
Here is what she wrote:
“Over the last few days, as I prepare to go back to work, I have been thinking about those workers whose lives would have been highly disrupted by the pandemic. One such person, close to my heart and art, is my dance tailor Alex.
Obviously, dancers have lost their primary source of income, in not being able to perform to live audiences, but there is a whole host of workers, whose craft sustains the dance community, from the crafts people in Kumbakonam who make the small brass bells in the salangai (ankle bells), to those that make our jewelry and costumes, and the technicians that ensure good sound and light on stage.
Many of these skilled people, cannot re-train to do other jobs, many like my dance tailor Alex, are 3rd or 4th generation in their family to carry on in their line of work and they excel at it!
Earlier this week, I was asked by one of my lovely dance students Isabelle, to film a short dance sequence for one of her Ashram's online programmes. I had chosen the dances to perform and was looking for a suitable costume and my eyes fell on the one that I am wearing in the photo.
This costume is wonderfully made, lined with heavy cotton, which makes it 'fall' beautifully and rather than being made from a saree, it is made from two 'pavadais' or skirt bits, from Rasi, a Mylapore institution. I remember Alex advising me to keep it simple and not have a huge fan in the middle and making a contrasting blouse out of spare material that he had in his workshop. He could have easily refused my request that without the full sari a costume was impossible. But the artist in him made him think laterally and make me happy! He has an impeccable eye and even today, if I suggest something less than elegant, he gently and politely, but very firmly steers my tastes in the right direction! This costume was made in 2003 and still looks fresh, crisp and timeless. On a lighter note, I am so thankful that it still fits!!
For me, no trip to Madras is complete without a visit to Alex, my husband will vouch for the fact that Alex is the first person I arrange to meet when I arrive, and the last person to see before we leave, as he has the charming (and slightly alarming) habit of bringing the finished costumes, just hours before I have to leave for the airport!
Alex now makes costumes for my entire dance company of 16 ladies, and shows the same dedication to mass stitching, as he did, all those years ago to my single costume!
The point that I am trying to make, is to ask all of you, my friends, to give business, if you can, to people like this, who have no other means of earning an income, who have families that depend on them, who unlike most of us will not be paid for not working, who would have had to close their business temporarily because social distancing is impossible in their workshops etc. If you know anyone in your circle who is in this situation, please make sure you continue to support them.
I have already planned to give a whole new commission from my dance class, to Alex, I just hope that he manages to survive the disruption of the pandemic until then.”
As I read this in the Facebook, I was reminded of an incident that happened not long ago when a man came home and knocked at our door. I couldn’t recognise him. Who is this? Is he one among the fraudsters who want to cheat you under various garbs in the name of some non-existing institutions, orphanages etc.? They usually carry a printed note requesting donations. But this man smiles at me and enquires about the welfare of both of us. Slowly but surely, I recognised the man. He was the book-binder in our organisation. As the income tax department could scrutinise our records, it was necessary to maintain the records for at least 10 years. Added to this, there was the requirement of the quality department regarding the production process documentations. The binder’s work was perennial. His earnings so good that he has built a house for his only daughter and invited us for the house warming ceremony. As I was standing inside the gate wearing my corona mask he was standing on the other side. Our tete a tete went in this manner for some time and I bid farewell to him with the advice to take care of his family’s health.
“Did you give him some money?” my husband asked when I told him about the binder and I blinked and shook my head. His question indeed made me think what if he had come to me for some money. I was all the time thinking of the invitations he extended on various auspicious occasions and assumed that he should be a well to do person. “What if he had invested his entire saving on the house in anticipation of similar income in the future? What if his only daughter is unable to help him now for various reasons? With no job from various institutions his expectations should be a shattered one. I regretted my behaviour! I don’t have his phone number and my enquiry with other colleagues too failed. Then I thought of a person who lives in a village closer to his. I explained to her about my dilemma and she assured me that she would contact her friend in the other village and ask him to meet me. The amount I gave might not be much but, for that man who was in need every single paise, it counted. I wished and hoped that with the opening of many organisations he would again flourish in his trade!!
In the prevailing Pandemic ambience, we in our small way would have thought of people in need in our own surroundings. We would have paid full salary for our maid servants even if they couldn’t come for work. The usual bargaining with the vegetable vendour will not happen. The regular auto driver would be thought of. Drinking water would be provided to the sweepers who work under hot sun. Similar generosity might be happening from inside the house. We would also think about the selflessly serving volunteers and pray for their welfare. Let us give our might during this emergency and make it into a social happening!
