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early they arrived each morning — she was always there first. For this young girl with a straight back and a quick pace, her every step was gentle and full of awareness. Even when sitting her back didn’t rest against the chair. She was filled with energy, despite her wiry appearance. Her hands were the big hands of a worker not *petite* and elegant like some women. The skin of her face was taut and smooth. Her eyes sparkled reflecting the compassion and sincerity within her heart. They were the kind of eyes that cast a spell over everyone who met her. They called her ‘Chandra’¹ - the family’s surname being ‘Khonokyoong’² - daughter of a family of moderate means. There was thirty-five rai³ to the family name. She had been born in the early morning of Thursday 20 January 1909. It was a time when the monks were out on almsround - something that traditionally foretold she would have to work hard all her life. Her father was called Ploy and her mother Pan. She was the fifth-born daughter in a family of nine children. Her father came from a relatively poor family compared to that of her mother. Chandra had no chance for a formal education, because in those days there was no state education. Like most of the girls of her era, it was more common to be occupied with home duties, instead of being allowed to go to school. Chandra tended both the home and the field - something which demanded great fortitude from her. As a character, Chandra was very sincere but demanding of little. Before dawn she would get up at three or four o’clock in the morning, taking the buffaloes out to graze ___________ ¹ meaning ‘the moon’ ². meaning ‘Peacock feather’ ³.14 acres