"Thank you so very much, Claire!" What exactly is an "ayah"? >From your dear elaboration I'm getting a "grandmother"? or mid-wife turned second-mother in the Family? In my culture we have what is called tina/mother --tina=teen/nah-- next would be the eldest girl which is called sika/sister otherwise known as the second-in-command <grin>. What is "memsahibs" and only "white"? --Manaia ++++ --- On Mon, 7/14/08, Claire Bradley <claire.bradley@hotmail.com> wrote: > Dear Manaia: > > Wow and wow again! How did you happen on this list? Not > that there's a > password for entering this (mostly) benign list, but > definitely a love and > cherishment of things British and Indian during the Raj > era, however pro or > con your views. > > Which brings me to Arvind's note "As to loving > ayahs let me state my take > quite frankly. Ayahs were loved no more and no less than > Uncle Toms were > loved in plantations in the Southern States of the US. She > was loved so > long as she knew that she was an Ayah and kept to her > station . . . . . . > > I might be kicked off the list for this but, Arvind, it was > well-known that > 'ayahs' thought employment by white memsahibs a big > step up in the > employment world. India is STILL known as a country in > which even servants > can have servants, and do. The Indians are/were far tougher > in payment and > care for their servants. Had an office mate who hadn't > been 'home' in years > and was told off by her family for giving her ayah a pair > of socks during > the cold weather! > > There aren't any British memsahibs left in India, of > course, but the past > love of their ayahs by English children is undeniable. I > myself recall > seeking refuge behind Ayah's sari when Mum came after > me -- probably with > good reason. But here is where Arvind's warning breaks > down: During a visit > 15 years after leaving Poona, dear old Ayah showed up with > GIFTS for > Clairesy Baba. And I wish I could express the depth of > both my love and > sorrow at being unable to respond as I should have. > > This may wind up in the dustbin, but I had to say it. > Claire