Coimbatore:

V Vedavalli, who was leading the life of an orthodox housewife from a middle class family that was reluctant even to let her work, responded to a bigger calling at the age of 60 and started writing books. Her first book was released at the age of 64. Now at 70, she has completed the draft of three books – one on Indira Gandhi, one on Buddha and the other on Velunaichiyar, the valiant queen who fought the British.

She says at the age of 59 when she looked back at her life, she realized that she hadn’t achieved anything. All she could see was that she had been a daughter, a wife, a mother and a home maker. “I wanted to leave my mark and do something that would remain long after I am gone,” she says. Interested in history, social science, politics and spiritual studies, she wrote her first book on Mahabharatam at the age of 60.

Vedhavalli belonged to a very orthodox family and was not even allowed to work after marriage. “Only when we faced a financial crisis, was I allowed to work as an accountant in a company. After the company shut down, I indulged in some handicraft. But I always loved reading and writing,” she said.

But when she decided to write a book, everyone including her family mocked at her. “Everyone laughed and asked me if this was necessary at this age. As I came from humble backgrounds, nobody took me seriously as well,” she said. Not one to be discouraged she started reading voraciously and after reading over 100 books and travelling to various universities to get help from professors, she completed her first book ‘Vedhavalliyin Mahabharatham’. With little knowledge of computers and internet, she said her main aim was to ensure that her book was error free. She was even felicitated for her book by the Tamil Sangam. “When my first book was published, I was on top of the world. I felt I had achieved something and that is when my family also started taking my work seriously,” she said.

She has also written three other books and has travelled extensively for those. She is working towards getting these books published. “I got very little support from my family and so I struggled a lot in my research work. I would get up at 4 and write till 6.30 am. Then after completing my household chores, I would visit libraries at 4 pm and return by 6 pm. Again I would start writing at 11 pm and work till 12.30 am on my book,” she said. When she had to stay for 14 days in Madurai alone to research for her book on Velunaichiyar, she said she was very scared. “I had never lived alone before. That was a challenge and I am glad I have overcome it successfully,” she said. Her book is available at the government libraries. “The other three books will also be published by April and will be available at government libraries,” she said.