Malathi Chandoor's passing at age 87 hasn't got the due attention amidst a day of a high-profile Telugu wedding and the never-ending saga of Telugu state divisions. Malathi Chandoor has been a literary sensation in her own right for over seven decades. She inspired many women to move out of their comfort zones and become economically productive. My mother owes her formative years to becoming a die-hard fan of Malathi Chandoor since she began a column "Pramadaavanaalu" in Andhra Prabha weekly. That column, my mother says, had covered most FAQs in crisp capsules on topics ranging from The Consitution of India and Career Planning to History, Science, Economics, Astronomy and even Culinary sciences.
Over the years, she earned respect as one of the most-well-read and well-informed Telugu writers getting an audience that spans all ages. I remember "Vantalu, Pindi Vantalu" (Recipes, Traditional recipes) which my mother used to refer for cooking up delicacies we used to gorge on - Mysore Pak, Bisibele Bath, Sambaar - dishes that have now become commonplace. But in those days that book was handy for winning plaudits in the kitchen for womenfolk.
Malathi Chandoor wrote several easy-reading novels with clean fare that may not have found the dizzy appeal for cinema scripts like Yandamoori Veerendranath and Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani. But she had her mark that found her niche audience. She has also translated over 300 famous English and European language novels into Telugu; "Paatha Kerataalu" was one such successful column. Telugu novelists like Yaddanapudi have outgrown fiction to write lengthier treatises on self-help themes to cater to a wider audience but Malathi Chandoor stuck to her forte of penning the occasional novels but maintaining her sagacious grasp of matters that baffle us everyday - Personal Finance, Legal problems, Subprime Crisis, Corruption in Society, Received wisdom in bringing up kids, What to look for when marrying, How to balance work and life, Importance of learning history etc. In a world that's full of information, hers was a voice of clarity that struck gold with lakhs of readers. Often, the questions posed by her readers are longer than answers but you will never find an out-of-place solution to the dilemmas presented by her audience. Concise, practical and crystalline are her answers. "Swaathi" the Telugu weekly carries her column and many readers who grew up on her writings like my mother might be reading the columns to all family members at the dining table. For most of what my own mother achieved in her life be it taking up teaching, rearing up kids, making them read and study well, taking up Social Sciences, pursuing a Ph.D, writing articles and starting a Girl's college - she owes much to Malathi Chandoor. Infact, we now tear off the page of Malathi's column and make a bound copy of her summary on a diversity of topics. I strongly hope that "Swaathi" publish her columns into books. Ditto with Andhra Prabha columns.
Besides her versatility and knowledge, Malathi Chandoor was gutsy. She carved out her own cult distinct `from her husband Chandoor Nageshwar Rao who was a creative writer since age 20. She didn't give up her writing after her husband passed away recently as she traverses a range of topics. She recently protested against Ramoji Rao of Eenadu group for publishing false reports about Potti Sreeramulu University. Unlike many writers who became saints from questionable background (like Malladi Venkata Krishna Moorthy) or writers who built reputation on faulty pillars of values (like Yandamoori) or writers who created exceptional impact on the women of the Telugu society for a generation or two with nativised Western sensibilities (like Yaddanapudi), Malathi Chandoor lived a life of simple living and high thinking from beginning till the end. For her column in "Swaathi", she uses a tagline that goes something like this: "Human Happiness and Moral Duty are inseparably connected." That line itself says a million words without expanding much and that itself should seal the nobility and the timeless appeal of Madam Malathi Chandoor's writings. One only wishes Malathi wrote more books of non-fiction considering that her popularity could have outsold those who had lesser credentials.
She has always understood the power of a word, the power of a written word that can make someone's mental makeup right, heal someone, inspire a professional or nudge a housewife into budget planning or give hope to a Retiree couple. Incidentally, the last "agony" our Aunty answered was from an elderly couple who are living off EMIs coming from their house under "Reverse Mortgage" now getting pressured by both daughter-in-law and daughter to sell the home. Malathi's suggestion? File a PIL through an advocate against both of them to leave the old couple in peace. Hints and Tips like this are more than a household suggestion that can help millions of hapless old parents who are getting torn between affection and insensitivities of children. Mrs.Malathi Chandoor - you have been a writer that inspired many like my mom with writing that is practical, homely and clear. You were the original "agony aunt" for many readers like my mother. Cancer has withered you away but your worldly-wise nature will win you more fans in the other worlds.
