KEEPER OF FAITH

For 31 years, Arputham Ammal—the mother of Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict A.G. Perarivalan—never lost hope

- LAKSHMI SUBRAMANIAN

As she walks into a Chennai apartment complex with her son to call on a prominent Tamil nationalist leader, Arputham Ammal—in a white sari with big, blue printed flowers—cannot stop smiling. “Let him live his life. I will not interfere. But I will advise him when he is wrong,” the 74-year-old says about A.G. Perarivalan, also called Arivu, a convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The Supreme Court recently ordered his release; he had spent 31 years in jail.

Arputham Ammal’s signature shoulder bag and anti-death penalty badge were missing. “My son said the bag was dirty and I had to wash it. It is at home,” she says with a smile. She also used to carry books for her son in the bag. “No, no. I cannot go around without my bag. I will reuse it,” she insisted. As for the badge, she says: “I am always against death penalty. Be it my son or anyone else, human life matters a lot.”

For the time being, she holds a small handbag. In it is some money and an old Nokia phone that rings nonstop. “I am overwhelmed by people’s support. I want to thank everyone who stood by my son,” she says.