Kavitha- a bundle of talent!

Kavitha is fifty! I can`t believe it. Kavitha- my first child was born on 2nd March 1973, within 13 months of my marriage with Prabha. She was a small dusky baby with lovely eyes and lots of hair. A friendly baby, she was full of fun and quick to learn anything. By the time she was 6 months, she started talking and by 8 months, she was walking. She was only one year old when she was repeating the slokas that my mother taught her. What a joy she brought to the family,

Over the years  Kavitha has turned out to be a very creative person. We discovered her rare talent during one of her school functions. Sishya had a Project Day every year (it still does), where senior classes are  given a topic, and students of the class are expected to study and present the same in the form of charts and mock-ups, This is done at an exhibition to which the parents are also invited. As part of a project, Kavitha was given the responsibility of making a model of a Cathedral, based on a paper cutting with a black and white picture of the Cathedral. She was only 13 then. Without any background or training in the subject, she prepared a very realistic  model (the type the architects prepare) using cardboard, paper mache and  colored glass paper for windows to give the effect of stained glass. It was fantastic and became the talk of the school that year!

 

I realized that my daughter was growing to become a powerhouse of talent— what ten fingers could do, be it painting, cartooning, Tanjore painting, cloth dolls, you name it, and she could do it. She did all these based on sheer instinct and a natural flair. As the creative genius in the family, she would be highly critical of her own efforts and sought perfection in whatever she did— the hallmark of a true artist!

 

Prabha and I started encouraging her by providing the materials she required to work on her talent. I remember returning from a trip to the USA with Prabha in 1988, we had one bag full of materials required by Kavitha to pursue her hobbies.

 

Her inherent talent was honed at Stella Mary`s college and she passed out with a Gold Medal in Fine Arts from Madras University. Unfortunately, both  Prabha & I could not attend her graduation ceremony to see our talented daughter getting recognition as we were out of station. However, the whole family was proud of her.  My father who attended the ceremony on behalf of the family was literally jumping with joy at Kavitha`s achievement. I still deeply regret that Prabha and I were not there at this important event. How disappointed Kavitha must have felt!

 

An early marriage to RU (with `Raja Kalai` as my late father described him on the engagement day) witnessed her  becoming a part of an extended family who showered on her  their love and affection in abundance. At the wedding, almost all the guests felt that RU & Kavitha looked like `made for each other  couple`. They continue to be popular couple in their social circles. Kavitha is lucky to have a husband who has encouraged her to pursue her many dreams  that she has evolved over the years as a multifaceted personality.

 

With  Creativity, Empathy, Communication, Team Management & Planning as her strengths, I find that she is trying to make effective use of her skills to make an impact in every organization she is associated with. Kavitha has really come a long way  since her early days as a talented artist.

Because of her soft-spoken &  friendly nature and willingness to help anyone needing help, she is very popular among her social circles. I feel thrilled every time I hear good things about her in the company of common friends. Most recently the welcome address that she gave at two of the family functions I had organized has come in for much praise for the confidence and poise with which she delivered the talks.

I am also proud of her ability to face the toughest and often very daunting situations, which have been plenty in her life,  with a cool head and confidence and coming out of every problem with her head held high.

With a supportive husband and intelligent and talented kids, Arul (26) and Nila (20) with right values, she is a blessed person with divine grace and elders' blessings. I am sure Prabha is watching her from heaven and is equally proud of her first daughter`s achievements.

On her landmark golden  Birthday, I pray to god to bestow good health on Kavitha so that she continues to realize many of her dreams in life.