Maryktiyude ormy pushatam cover. | Photo Credit: Special Arrival
Marykutty Joseph, grandmother of eleven -year -old John Justin, has always been the core of her children’s stories. Since the early age, John has grown up and listened to countless stories that she shared as fairy tales, folklores and family history rooted in her ancestors in the Velianad, a village in the heart of Kuttanad.
From stories that warned against strangers to the Biblical Sighs, which spoke of greed and selfishness, Marykutty’s stories have become the leadership of lights and helped John understand life values. Looking back, they now realize how these stories were the subtle tools that his grandmother shaped his thoughts and imagination.
Today, however, the role turned. Marykutta, now 80, is fighting with dementia, and John found a way to keep his bond alive. This effort was born Marykuttiude Orma Pusthakam (Marykutty’s memory book), the chronicle of her life. The book follows her way from childhood in the agricultural family, through her marriage, motherhood, and finally to the chapter where John himself entered her story.
John Justin, an eleven -year -old boy who created Marykutti iga Pusthakam, a memory for his grandmother Marykutty Joseph, who fights memory loss. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
For John, the book became a bridge that maintains conversations alive with his grandmother. “I’m glad I can now read the same stories she once told me. The most important thing is that she understands what I’m saying,” says class VI with Pride.
The idea came from John’s aunt, geriatric care in the UK. After her design, he chose 100 key moments from his grandmother’s life and paired them with photographs, some renewed and improved AI and illustrations created with the same technology.
John, a student of class VI at SJB CBSE School, Nedumkunnam is also active on social media. With the help of her cousin in the UK, she runs Dream Y on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, where his grandmother often contains in her videos. A recent video about the memory book has become a viral and awarded from viewers, especially older people. Many of them shared that they reminded them of their own parents fighting dementia, some saying that the content even moved them to tears.
His parents are also glad that John and his grandmother continue to share things that they have always enjoyed together, such as eating side by side, cozy conversations and narration. “It places the disease in a safe context for both. The book even includes smart small scenes in which grandmother’s disease is gently overthrowed,” says Justin Joseph, John’s father.
“Since she got this book, my mother has blossomed. Now she spends time with her pictures and even shares them with us, the joy we haven’t seen since her memory loss,” he adds.
Published – 10 September 2025 20:49
