Mother Mary

Acclaimed photographer Raghu Rai, who took pictures of Mary Kom at her home in Manipur, says she made quite an impression. PICS INSIDE

“I met Mary Kom in Patiala where she was training and then accompanied her to Manipur when she went back to see her family. It was part of an eight-page assignment for a British magazine. I found Mary very focused. The presence of the press and photographers doesn’t excite her.

Some people start performing when they see the press. She isn’t like that. Kom is to the point and doesn’t waste time on discussions and doesn’t jump up and get excited. She’s a woman of few words, which is good because people who talk a lot end up dissipating their energy!

One-from-the-album-Mary-and-Onler-Kom-on-their-wedding-day

Her sons and her mother came to receive her at the airport. She tried to hug her kids but they were lukewarm – it was like a normal scene in a family where the mother has been away for some time and the children are looked after by the grandmother. Mary’s close to her mother and resembles her so much she’s almost like a mirror image. I’m sure she supports her mother too but I didn’t bring that up because it’s too private.

Supermom: Kom serves her visitors (writer Rahul Bhattacharya) and her husband Onler a sumptuous meal comprising chicken and fish curries that she cooked herself, while younger son Khupneivar snoozes in his pouch.

At home, Mary is like a good wife and mother. She’s like a normal Indian housewife. She cooked and served us delicious food. It was made of local chickens and fish and it was very good. I don’t eat non-vegetarian food but the people who were with me enjoyed it and I also took some of the gravy! Her husband (Onler Kom) has figured out that his wife is somebody special and that if she is allowed to have her freedom, it’s good for the whole family.

Kidstuff: Mary Kom's sons play in the Imphal boxing ring where their mother used to practise. The two girls keeping a watch on the children are aspiring boxers at the Kom's academy.

They run a boxing academy in their home. Actually, their house, which has two-and-a-half bedrooms and a kitchen – nothing very fancy – is joined to the school. One room, which is about 8 x12 feet, is filled with all kinds of awards, including gold medals.Nothing is locked and students walk in and out.

“Someone can loot this!” I said. Mary just smiled. Her husband also trains the young people at their school. I saw about 20 people waiting to be trained. The feeling is if she can do it, why can’t we? Most students come because of her name. I’m sure her husband believes that as long as Mary wins, the school also benefits.

Family ties: At the family home, while Mary cuddles her younger son Khupneivar, her first born Rechungvar prepares to throw a jealous tantrum.

- Photos from this series were first published in Intelligent Life Magazine.

As told to Manjula Narayan

Padmashree awardee and a protégé of Henri Cartier-Bresson, Raghu Rai's photographs have appeared in many leading international publications