COIMBATORE: Coimbatore’s ‘idli paati’ K Kamalathal, 85, whose 1 idli caught the fancy of the internet, is now a house owner, thanks to billionaire Anand Mahindra. On Sunday, Kamalathal was gifted the house built by his company at Vadivelampalayam on the city outskirts, at a cost of 12 lakh.
The 300sqft house comes with a dining hall, a single bedroom with attached bathroom and a living hall. Kamalathal’s benevolent act even in Covid times went viral two years ago as her eatery was of great help to guest workers and casual labourers. She has been selling idli at 1 for the past 10 years.
“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,” Anand Mahindra tweeted.
Made idlis without grinder and on a wood-fired stove
BJaikanth, 40, her neighbour, recalled how Kamalathal used to sweat it out to make idli on a wood-fired stove, as she didn’t have a gas stove. She also didn’t have a mixer-grinder. Even the n, Anand Mahindra had helped her with a gas stove and grinder. “Initially, she was selling an idli for just 25 paise.
Later, the price was hiked to 50 paise and finally to Rs 1 m ore than a decade ago. The financial crisis during the Covid-19 pandemic didn’t deter her from selling idlis for Rs 1 and she went on to feed many stranded guest workers in the district,” Jaikanth said. The Mahindra group chairman announced that he would build the octogenarian a house and his company bought 1.75 cents land at Vadivelampalayam in April 2021. The land was registered in Ka- malath al's name. Construction began in February this year and was completed last week.
“Our chairman has fulfilled the promise to provide a new house, including a workspace, to Kamalathal amma.” said K MPugazhendhi, chief executive officer, Mahindra Water Utilities Limited ‘Idli paati’ thanked Anand Mahindra for providing her a new house with all facilities. “I am healthy now and I can serve people for the next 10 years. I won’t increase the price till my last breath. I am planning to run the business from the n ew house in the Tamil month of Vaikasi.” She said she had applied for drinking water co nnection and was awaiting approval from Pooluvapatti village panchayat. Last year, former municipal administration minister S P Velumani too had bought 1.75 cents of land for Kamalatha l, which is adjacent to her new house.
