M Kamalathal, an octogenarian idli seller at Vadivelampalayam village near Coimbatore | Photo Credit: PERIASAMY M
Industrialist Anand Mahindra gifted a promised house to octogenarian M Kamalathal, affectionately known as Idli Amma (mother), on Mother’s Day. A resident of Vadivelampalayam village on the outskirts of Coimbatore, she sells idlis for ₹1 each, making them affordable to migrant workers and other needy customers.
Three years ago, a video of Kamalathal toiling over a wood stove to prepare hot idlis went viral on social media and caught Mahindra’s attention.
One of those humbling stories that make you wonder if everything you do is even a fraction as impactful as the work of people like Kamalathal. I notice she still uses a wood-burning stove.If anyone knows her I'd be happy to 'invest' in her business & buy her an LPG fueled stove. pic.twitter.com/Yve21nJg47
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) September 10, 2019
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 (1/3) https://t.co/vsaIKIGXTp
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) April 2, 2021
Kamalathal sells around 600 Idlis a day, with sambar and chutney as accompaniments. The octogenarian works on her own, right from preparing the batter to making the idlis.
🙏🏽 to the @MahindraRise team for understanding from Kamalathal how we can 'invest' in her business. She said her priority was a new home/workspace. Grateful to the Registration Office at Thondamuthur for helping us achieve our 1st milestone by speedily registering the land (2/3) pic.twitter.com/F6qKdHHD4w
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) April 2, 2021
The Mahindra @life_spaces team will soon start the construction as per Kamalathal's requirement. Once again thanks to BharatGas Coimbatore for providing her a continued supply of LPG. (3/3) pic.twitter.com/NO6YtWr9b5
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) April 2, 2021
A year later, on Mother’s Day (May 8), Mahindra shared a video showing ‘Idli Amma’ entering her new home.
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! pic.twitter.com/LgfR2UIfnm
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) May 8, 2022
Earlier, in October 2019, responding to a viral video of Mysuru resident Dakshinamurty Krishna Kumar, who left a bank job to travel 48,100 km with his mother on a scooter as he wished to show her the length and breadth of India, Mahindra said he would like to gift a Mahindra KUV 100 NXT for the mother-son duo’s next journey. A year later, Kumar received the promised vehicle.
Published on May 10, 2022
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