Chairman of the Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra had earlier shared an interesting story with us. We all must have known about the 1-rupee idly vendor, who sells idlies to the needy daily.
At an age where people take bed rest and wake up late in the morning or sometimes in the afternoon, K Kamalathal wakes up even before the sun rises. She takes a bath, performs her daily prayers and then goes to the farm with her son to collect fresh veggies.
She sells over 1000 idlis per day and while speaking exclusively to India Today about her food she said, “Profits are not my priority but feeding the people is what drives me to work.”
She brings out the traditional hand grinder all by herself and she puts in fresh coconut, salt and other ingredients to prepare chutney. She cuts the vegetables required to make sambar, puts them in a pot and then sets it on the firewood stove to cook.
At 6 am each day, this resident of Vadivelampalayam near Perur in Tamil Nadu gives space for customers in her house. Her loyal patrons line up to savour the fluffy and puffy idlis with hot sambar and spicy chutney for just 1 rupee per idli. She runs her shop from her house only.
“I started selling idlis 30 years ago in Vadivelampalayam. I belong to a farming family. Every day, my family members would work in the farm leaving me behind. I was alone, bored and wished to start making idlis for the locals. Now I have loyal patrons in daily wage labourers who stop by to have a healthy breakfast at a nominal price,” says Kamalathal.
Having grown up in a household where they used the conventional stone grinder to make batter and masalas, Kamalathal planned to continue the same when she started the business. She did not find the need to afford a wet grinder.
Anand Mahindra gifts promised house to Idli Amma
“Only rarely does one get to play a small part in someone’s inspiring story, and I would like to thank Kamalathal, better known as Idli Amma, for letting us play a small part in hers. She will soon have her own house cum workspace from where she will cook & sell idlis,” Anand Mahindra tweeted in 2021.
Just as he promised, he gifted the house to Idli amma of Tamil Nadu and the entrepreneur received a tremendous response from the netizens. On Mother’s day, Anand Mahindra gifted the house to the elderly lady.
“Immense gratitude to our team for completing the construction of the house in time to gift it to Idli Amma on #MothersDay She’s the embodiment of a Mother’s virtues: nurturing, caring & selfless. A privilege to be able to support her & her work. Happy Mother’s Day to you all!”
Netizens heaped praise on the industrialist for his philanthropic work. “This planet has a few good people too, that’s why we still have rains. I don’t know why, Ananji touches my heart and brings tears too… Thank you, Anandji… From Coimbatore…”