SERICUL TURE AND THE PROCESS OF CHANGE - Institute for ...

interaction are attended to by her brother who is at the same time
accountable to her at all levels. Kuberan is 26 years old, an illiterate, but
a knowledgeable young man. He himself is a silkworm rearer though he
does not possess any rearing shed. He rears either in his sister's house or
in his o\\n house. There is no electricity connection to his house though
her sister's house has been connected. He extends his sister all possible
help. He spends most of his time at his sister's house and takes his meals
either at his O\\n house or at his sister's house. He O\\nS about 90 trays
and 30 chandrikfs which are commonly used by both households.
J..:.annamma starts her day's work with cleaning the cow-shed and
then s\\ eeping the front portion of her house. If there is rearing, the first
feed is given by her brother in the early morning before dawn. By that
time, the boys in the house get up and attend to their morning duties. She
then twns her attention to the kitchen to prepare something for morning
and for noon. The common staple food in the morning preparation
would generally be that of spiked millet. The boys attend to the feeding
needs of the cows and then take their breakfast. If her brother is around
the place, he also joins for breakfast. After that she takes her breakfast.
During the days of rearing and when she takes up morning wage labour,
the cooking is mostly done by one of her sons, especially the younger
one. On such days, one of the boys carry the morning meals to their
mother. v.. nen she is a\\ ay from house on some purpose or have some
other work to be engaged in, the YOWlger son does cooking while the
elder son goes for grazing the cow. In normal days, she does the
cooking. The staple food at night is rice.
Kannamma generally attends to leaf picking work along with her
mother and brother in the morning and evening either in her O\\n or in
her brother's garden. She helps her brother in feeding the silkworms. All
other activities are taken care of by her brother. Kannamma depends
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