Chennai: Grand old woman turns 116, still going strong. Mrs.C.Chinna Chinakka at Ramakka of Onnalvadi village, 10-km from Hosur, on Dharmapuri-Bengaluru road via Rayakottai in Krishnagiri, is now much more than a centenarian. She purportedly completed the age of 116 on Wednesday, to turn a ‘mini cause celebre’ in the village.
The villagers have arranged ‘Kanakabhishekam’ for her, mostly participated by the local people and other relatives, as the woman has no issues.“The woman worked as the councilor for our village panchayat from 1965 to till 1975. She is believed to have reached 116 years of age and lives without taking any help for her routine activities or visiting the hospital,” 34-year-old N. Sekar of Onnalvadi told DC. He said, “Ramakka was married to Chikkana Gowdu, who died in 1999. She has no children.”
The local villagers have no definite documentary proof about her age, but they believe “she is 116-years-old” from anecdotal and circumstantial evidence like her statements about plagues that hit the country twice in the early part of the last century.
“Her age is premised from the grand old lady’s statement about the first plague incident in 1903. She told us that she was three-years-old then,” says N. Sekar.
According to Ramakka, the woman completed 17 years when the second plague incident was witnessed in 1920.“My grandmother wanted us to arrange for ‘Kanakabhishekam’ for her. We conducted the ritual to fulfill her wish,” Sekar said.He further explained, “in Hindu custom ‘Kanakabhishekam’ is performed for the people who have witnessed more than five generations. The fifth generation performing the rituals for the elders is a rare privilege enjoyed by few.”
Ramakka when asked about her routine said, “I wake up early in the morning and clean the street before taking bath in the village pond close to my house. Then, prepare my favourite food Kali (Ragi ball)”.She said God’s grace and blessing “is the secret of my longevity” and thanked God for this unique gift
of life.
