Daughter of Rosa and Porunju
Mooken,
Siblings: Thomas, Varghese, Rosy, Kochannam(Sr.
Martina), Jose, Marykutty
Husband: Puthur Chakunny Jos
Children: Michael, Mary, Teresa, Anna,
Rita, Alfons , Jibrael, Veronica, Alex, Litty
Thandkutty
Porunju Mooken, was born on August 2nd 1936 in Thrissur, a large temple
town in Kerala. Born in a devout Syrian Catholic family, her dad was a wholesale
merchant manager and her mom was a very caring and loving homemaker.
She
did her early education from Lourde Palli and Sacred Heart School. She did her
intermediate in Physics Chemistry and Maths. She went on to do her Bachelor in
Arts with a major in Mathematics from St Mary's College Thrissur. She was the
first person in her family to complete her graduation way back in the fifties.
Her
most cherished memories are of her days in school and college. Her interaction
with her sibling and friends, her activities in church and college, laughing
with cousins in her quaint little home in Moospet Road.
As
a child she played many games like ambasani (hide and seek), kavadi, card games
like rummy and twenty eight. She still remembers her brother’s pranks and her
ever caring sisters. She liked reading Malayalam detective stories and her
hobbies included singing, dancing and theatre. Some highlights of her early
days are:
- Acted as a blind person in a
play(class 6)
- Comedy Play (class 9)
- Participating with her elder sister in the church
functions at St Sebastian
- Dancing, Choreography
- Sodality Group Member
- Prefect for 5 years
- Film Association Secretary
Her
cousin once shared, when she steps on stage, a pin drop silence will be in
place and when she sings she would have the audience literally in a spell.
She worked two years as a teacher in a school. An interesting point to note is that she has three elder sisters and all like her were teachers. She
got married in 1957 to Puthur Chakunny Jos and hence came to be known as Rosy
Jos. They shifted to Delhi in 1958, they were the first Mooken and Puthur to
step foot in the capital of free India …. Others later followed their lead.
They
raised ten kids with a meager government salary and if I go into detail, it
will be a very thick book. The kids went to good schools, were active in the
church choir and youth group. All are married and well settled.
Yes
she is my mom, a mother who taught me the meaning of unconditional love, a
mother who taught me the importance of having core values, the need for
integrity, to be confident, self reliant, faith in God.(and not to forget Maths and Hindi Dictation). My earliest memories are of playing at
my home in Andrews Ganj and she played an integral part in most of them. Seeing
her cook in kitchen, the purchasing of a fridge in 1979, her Usha sewing
machine, pressure cookers at home, jealousy when my younger sister took most of
her attention, her scolding me for doing something wrong, giving Rs 1 for
buying Jet Ice Cream in 1981 (Class I), giving her share of Diwali Burfi in 1982, helping
me cook my first ever Maggi in 1983, her concern when I was unwell and many
more.
Even
as I grew up I had a lot of freedom, to go play with friends, cycling in the
neighbourhood(class III), staying back in school for sports(class V), church and
youth group activities, staying overnight in my friends place. Many will not
believe that I actually told her about my possible girlfriend even before my
first date. She wisely warned me, but on the same hand did not stop me, for
that I am grateful.
In
Delhi she played a pivotal role in keeping the larger Puthur, Mooken and
Tharakan families together and well connected. Mummy and Papa made it a point
to visit different relatives however far they may be residing and all of them
in turn did make a visit to our home. As a result Mayur Vihar, Faridabad and
Tamoor Nagar though two hours journey in DTC buses, were always close to our
heart. Even in Kerala, we used to visit all our cousins in Parappur, Nimini,
Thrissur, Pervallur and Kochi.
She
was the youngest child and did not do much cooking as a child but over the
years she became master class. Most of the recipes cooked at my home in
Bangalore are hers. Specially the fish curries and meat dishes, cutlets, dal
palak, masoor dal with that crushed garlic thadka, sambhar, avial and saturday
morning special “kadla with grated coconut”. This generation may find it hard
to believe but in Ravi Nagar along with Vellichechi(my eldest sister) she used to make acchappam, kuriappam, vattapam,
murukku, besan ladoo, payasams, halwas, diamond cuts, picham pudi, motta churul(love
letter) and most importantly her full range of pickles.
An
ardent reader and in spite of her tight schedule she has read all seventy
Agatha Christie's and many other novels. She used to join us kids when we played Anthakshiri, Badminton, Cards, Ludo, Chinese Checkers and even Dumb Charades (though
it used to be very funny). I still cherish the stories she used to narrate, the
Malayalam prayers songs we used to sing together and the way she lead us in
prayer.
An
actor, a singer, talented to the core,
An
ocean of love, a mother we adore
Grace
personified, Confidence in her stride,
Our
childhood, thanks to her, was a wonderful ride
An excellent planner
With an eye for detail
With
a tight monthly budget
Balancing wholesale and retail
Cutting
cost with great acumen and skill,
Stitching our clothes and paying the bills,
Cooking
our breakfast and packing tiffins
Knitting our sweaters and mittens
She
is a mother of
A deputy secretary for Government of
India
A chief manager in State Bank of
India
2 Professors and 2 Teachers
An HR head in the Australian Embassy
Russian/Japanese financial geek
A Google tech freak
And last but not the least
A spiritual one, who is almost a
priest
A
very loving grandmother and has spent hours taking care of her grandchildren,
including my two kids. She till date remembers everybody’s birthday and makes
it a point to call each one of them. She is 79 today and has spent the last 12
years taking care of my dad after his stroke. She is a role model when it comes
to being a friend, a spouse, a sibling, an aunt, a grand mom and a Christian.
So
there you have it my mother in a thousand word blog, but to do justice we
would really need Jeffery Archer to write a book, Javed Akthar to write a song and ideally an oil on canvas by Leonardo da Vinci. Rosy Jos is my mom and I am
very fortunate to be her son. Her love, prayers and blessings have brought me
thus far. Thank you Mummy, you are the best.
Other Perspectives
"I remember the late night look out from Sewa Nagar balcony for appachan's return from office, will sit with me however late as I had my dinner, worked day and night especially before we left for annual Kerala visits.
Try packing for 10 kids, hungry kids. I don't remember being stranded without food. We all felt the need to pitch in. No coaxing required, her example, her struggle was guidance enough.
Today she single handedly takes care of papa. With total devotion, with total love, with total concern. A friend indeed. Three cheers to our mummy, valia mummy, nani, chechi, kochamma, ammamma, ............" P J Michael (Eldest Son)
“An
all-rounder in the truest sense, that’s Mummy. From a homemaker, an artist, a
singer to a poised socialite who can converse on any topic. Into every role she
fits easily. What really amazed me and what I admire is this variety of talents”
Teresa Joseph( Daughter)
"Amazing how she managed ten
I can barely mange two
Was patient and kind with everyone
So honest and true
Courage perseverance and patience
She has in abundance
Loving caring and devoted
Despite being in situations so dense
Generations are progressing
And so are we
But better mother than my mother
Impossible to be!" Alfons Madoc(Daughter)
