Mamie Ruhee + nostalgia

Last Tuesday, we went to bid farewell to our beloved Mamie Ruhee, a woman of poise, class and character, surrounded all her life by wealth and comfort. Mamou Ram and Mamie took great pride in having all members of the family gathered around them at new year’s. They would throw those grandiose dinners where everyone would bond and Mamie would also ensure each nephew, niece or grand child goes back home with a little token. Later the same night, I would carefully place everything in my piggy bank knowing how helpful it would be during the course of the year. Those little acts of caring, we carry in our hearts forever and try to replicate later as we become adults.

Looking at her house in Port Louis brought warm thoughts and beautiful souvenirs to me. It's funny how nostalgia often paints the past with a rosy hue, emphasizing the positive aspects and filtering out the challenges and complexities.

The souvenir of that bygone era serves as a tangible trigger in the form of childhood laughter, fashion, food and even the scent of a particular place - in this very specific case, the smell of the small tv room where we were introduced to advanced technology in the form of a betamax vcr and watched Zeenat Aman taking revenge after getting molested in 'Insaf ka Tarazu' (for the molesting part, all children were ordered out of the room, to go and play in the compound where they would come up with their own little theories). Life seemed simpler, more innocent, or perhaps filled with a unique charm back then.

Nostalgia can be both comforting and bittersweet, offering a sense of continuity and connection to one's personal history, allowing us to revisit the joys and sentiments of the past and providing us with a source of solace in the face of life's uncertainties. Threats and danger seem almost unavoidable in this rapidly changing world and as such, the selective souvenirs of a bygone era become cherished tokens, preserving a sense of identity and belonging. Embracing nostalgia can be a way to celebrate the richness of our personal histories and find meaning in the passage of time, a reminder of where we've been, how far we've come and the lessons we've learned along the way. True, we choose to set aside the challenges of the past, we choose to gloss over the hardships we've faced and we prefer to stick to an idealized version of reality but it is not merely an indulgence in sentimentality. After all, what harm is there in simply wanting to cling to things which make us feel good? If we think about it, it might actually be the only life buoy that saves us from insanity in this mad world.

Farewell Devianee poupou (as my father would call her), thank you for bestowing us with many moments of happiness and for all the lessons you’ve taught us about giving and caring, they will always be remembered.