FAMILY HISTORY

FAMILY HISTORY OF A.V.N

Long time ago, Circa 1800 AD, there lived a pious lady by name SEETHAI in the small village of PUDUPPALAYAM, near Siddhilingamatham in TIRUKOILUR Taluk of North Arcot Dist. of erstwhile Madras Presidency, now called Tamil Nadu. The family was holding the local presiding deity of the village, “Sri Periyandavar”, as its Kuladeivam.  She had a son by name “SRIRAMA SARMA” and a daughter called “PICHAI”. They were very poor but they led an exemplary life. SRI RAMAN studied and became an erudite scholar. As it was too small a place with very little opportunities to prosper, they moved southwards to a place in Tanjore Dist. Called “Perumalkoil” next to “Aduthurai (also called Kurangaduthurai) near the more popular village “Ganapati Agraharam”. In earlier days, to identify villages having same names, it was the practice to prefix the name of the neighbouring village; and in this case the neighbouring village was Aduthurai (Kurangaduthurai-to be exact) and thus the village was known as Aduthuraiperumalkoil. In this village the presiding deity was Perumal  i e. Sri MahaVishnu.  Perumal,  in this place, is called Jagatrakshakan. This place is considered by Vaishnavites as one of the 108 Tiruppatis and it has another name as Tirukkudalur.  Slowly, by imparting knowledge and by honest work, Srirama Sarma prospered and in due time married “Janaki” a gem of a girl. In due time they became parents of three sons, who were named SRINIVASA, SUBRAHMANYA  AND  NARAYANA. Srirama Sarma was a large hearted and philanthropic gentleman. He was managing a Choultry (Chathiram) near the Perumal Koil. This Choultry was helpful to tired travellers who were passing by the village to have some food, rest and a shelter to spend the night so that next morning they could continue their journey further refreshed. All this was of course free. Srirama Sarma was doing this as a service to humanity, in addition to his regular duties so much so that he earned the Soubriquet “Shattarathu Ayyavayyar. The couple, Srirama Sarma and Janaki, grew old and passed away one by one, leaving behind their three sons. The choultry also seems to have become dilapidated for want of donations from large hearted philonthrophists. However when I (Giri) visited the place for the second time in 2011(the first time in 2009) I caught hold of an elderly person and requested him whether he was aware of any old Choultry in that village and if so where it was situated. He was kind enough to tell that there was in fact a choultry in existence but now the building no longer there. On further enquiry, I was taken to the site where the chathiram existed. It was on the street starting from the temple Gopuram and running parallel to the main road at a distance of about a furlong. About 5 years ago, in 2006, when the Jeeyar (Vaishnavite Jagadguru) camped in that place, the site was cleaned up and a Parna saalai was erected for him. Thereafter the place was again neglected and now briars and bushes have grown there. How I wish some local Philanthropist comes forward and resurrects the institution for common welfare. I was told that the place belongs to the temple trust.

SRINIVASA SARMA married Rukmini(d/o Narayanier of Perumal Koil and Alamelu @ Kozhandayammal) and had in all 3 sons and 5 daughters; called Visalakshi @ Salakshi, Pushpakavall i@ Pushpam, Alamelu ( Periya Ammulu), Swaminatha,Mangalam,Sengamma,2^nd son who died as an infant at 3 years and S.A.Ramayya ( Ramayya Sittappa ).

SUBRAHMANYA SARMA married Lakshmi @ Echammal (D/o Doraisami Ayyar). They had one son and two daughters called Saminayaki, S.A.Krishnaier & Alamelu @ Chinna Ammulu.

NARAYAN IYER married Sau Lakshmi (D/o Pichai Bhagavathar of Ammalagraharam, near Tiruvayyaru and Meenakshi) and they got one son and three daughters of whom only the son Vaidyanathan survived.

A. N. Vaidyanatha Ayyar and Bhavani Ammal( in the photo on the wall) and A.V. Narayanaswami Ayyar and T. K. Meenakshi Ammal.

Lakshmi died of small pox while delivering a child and the child also died. Thus she, at the young age of 22 years or so passed away as a “Sumangali” and naturally must have joined The Almighty. Narayana Sarma, father of the young surviving child Vaidyanatha, did not marry again and spent the rest of his life celibate, in bringing up Vaidyanathan and taking care of the ancestral lands. Narayana was of thin strong muscular build and extremely brave and courageous and a righteous person. In fact he had become a legend in the family. Once, the crops in the field were harvested and Narayana and his trusted lieutenant by name  Aaraan, were standing guard at night with a small hurricane lantern to provide light. In the middle of night some robbers were trying to enter the field to take away the grains. Narayana was an expert fighter with quarter staff (called shilambam) and so was his aide. Narayana thundered at them saying that those who ventured to set foot into the field will do so at the cost of their heads rolling down the next instant. The interlopers were bewildered. One or two who made half-hearted attempt, got thrashed instantly and all had to flee! Aaraan belonged to the so-called backward class community and as per customs prevailing over almost a hundred and fifty years ago; it was unthinkable for members of upper and lower caste peoples to enter each others’ households. However the affinity between Narayana Sarma and Aaraan was such that when Aaraan fell ill, Narayana would go to Aaraan’s home daily, prepare rice-gruel for him and Ayurvedic decoction/medicine and administer to him and thereafter used to return home after taking a bath in the Cauvery; before preparing food for himself and his only son Vaidyanatha (Our Grandfather).

God called Narayana Sarma also to his side early enough, just when the solitary scion Vaidyanatha gained a footing. Having graduated from the Madras University, (When Lord Connemara was the Vice Chancellor), Vaidyanathan entered Govt. Service and rose to become a Sub-Registrar. He had a blemish-less record of service and his name became synonymous to Truth, Integrity, Efficiency , Straightforwardness and Simplicity.

Even when he was fifteen or sixteen years of age, he was married to a girl of 5 years called Bhavani (d/o. Ramabhadrar @ Ramachandran & Valambal @ Ablala).This young couple grew up in their respective homes till adulthood and then started their long tenure of house-holders-life (Gruhasthaasrama). They had two sons and six daughters as under:-

Bhavani & A N Vaidyanatha Iyer

NARAYANASWAMI @ Mottai (My Revered Father)

LAKSHMI @ Kunju

JANAKI @ Chinna

PARVATI @ Papuchi

SHENBAKAM @ Jambagam

SWAMINATHAN @ Pattu

LALITHAMBAL @ Papa or Lalithu and

THANGAMANI @ Thangu

Vaidyanathan (ANVaidyanatha Iyer) had maintained the traditions of joint-family by keeping in touch and rearing his cousins’ off-springs, treating them all as his own family members. He lived a fairly full life, as per life-expectancy in those days, up to 65 years; discharged all his obligations ensuring that his children were all married as well as his means would permit. He had maintained excellent relations with his Sambandhis. Bhavani out-lived him by almost twenty years to a ripe old age of 82 or so. Both of them just breathed their last, fit and active till the end.

 {Here I have a poser to our people. Nowadays there is a general opinion prevailing that it is unhealthy for the girl to be married before 18 and it is also against law because of western medical findings. My grandmother had parented all her children as normal deliveries and lived up to 82 years without contracting any chronic illness. The same has been the case of all sisters of my grandmother, my mother, my maternal grandmother, and also my paternal as well as maternal aunts. Nowadays when girls marry after 18 years, we find that most of the deliveries are either Caesarean Section or more complicated ones }

It will be worthwhile to note some traits ANVaidyanatha Iyer and Bhavani Ammal.

·         Whenever there were family get-togethers, like marriages & other functions or Rituals, ANV will personally first ensure that the small children, (who generally get neglected during such meetings), are attended to, and are fed by his own hands, till their stomachs were full. He would prepare curd rice ; make all the children sit in a semi circle in front of him, serve each child with a small ball of curd rice embedding piece of some pickle one after other, all the time entreating them to seize the opportunity , telling in Tamil  “ Ponaal varaadu laddu !!”

·         He was himself an expert cook and used to teach all budding young ladies/boys in the art. Since Bhavani herself was very young, he got her a book entitled “ Paaka Shastram” so that she can learn and try various Recipes

·         He used to commute to office & home by foot.

·         While on his way home in the evening, he would pick up edible green leaves from way side,

·         Wash them well and prepare the greens for supper fresh, cautioning people not to add a ‘cart-load’ of salt to avoid turning the taste into refuse. He advocated use of cheap seasonal fruits and vegetables.

·         A man of words; helpful to people as his means would permit.

   Bhavani Ammal always held her husband in high esteem. Her intelligent way of tackling people            became proverbial. It should be a lesson for all youngsters of today to note how, from the young age of 12,the girl Bhavani endeared herself to the family of her husband, brought forth as many as eight healthy children, herself remaining healthy throughout, all with very limited means.

A N Vaidyanatha Iyer as Sub Registrar-Standing 1st Row, 2nd from Right

AVNarayanaswami-Our Father ( though his father ANV used to lovingly call him by his pet name “Mottai”)graduated in Arts and Law, took to legal profession, wherein he shone as a luminary by winning trend-setting cases. He had a commanding personality and physical strength and noted for his courage and bravery. His hand-writing was excellent & irreproachable and his approach to any subject was logical and methodical. He had mastered the languages of URDU; SANSKRIT; HINDI; HINDUSTANI; and TELEGU all by himself in addition to TAMIL and ENGLISH. He had imbibed TRUTHFULNESS, STRAIGHT-FORWARDNESS and RIGHTEOUSNESS from his father in full measure and commanded great respect from his professional colleagues; bench as well as kith and kin. The three initials “A.V.N.” became synonymous to anything that has to be done the right way. For example : whether it is up-bringing of children; their behaviour in society; towards Elderly people; teachers; guests & others; inculcation of good habits and above all building up good character in them. However he believed in the dictum of not sparing the rod to correct the behaviour of his sons and while bringing up the girls in a loving way. He was indeed a strict disciplinarian. Notwithstanding his stern exterior, in his heart of hearts he was full of affection for his family and well disposed towards his friends and relatives. All the years spanning 4 decades before and 3 decades after our National Independence, with an economy in turmoil and at places and environments where gossip-mongering was at its worst, and our minority community was being targeted by the majority in every field, he maintained sensible customs of tradition, displaying at the same time liberal cosmopolitan attitude in practice at home. His friends and clientele had crossed the barriers of caste and religion. He was an authority on Mohammedan Law. His Moslem clients were quite at home when he conversed with them freely in their mother tongue and so were those who were from Telugu –Speaking area. (In fact, many may be aware that in pre-independence days, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada people were all living together in erstwhile Madras Presidency and there was no separatist feelings as it is now; thanks to enactment of States- Reorganisation-Act on the basis of language which was necessitated due to Potti Sri Ramulu’s fast- unto -death and creation of Andhra Pradesh. This political compulsion resulted in formation of so many States Maharashtra/Gujarat/Haryana/Punjab/bifurcation/trifurcation of Uttar Pradesh/Madhya Pradesh/Bihar and what not. Our dream of one free India has resulted in formation of so many States; thereby creating Inter- state river water disputes/Border town disputes like Belgaum etc.-)

In due time at the age of 24, A.V.N. married TKMeenakshi , eldest daughter of  TNKrishnaswami Iyer of Tiruppattur (Huzur Sheristadar & later Deputy Collector, who after retirement was appointed as Dewan to the erstwhile kingdom of Bobbili now in Andhra) and Mangalam Ammal.

Meenakshi, affectionately called “Ponnu” at home, had an elder brother TKNagarajan (later “Katteri Mama” for her children, as he was Foreman in the Cordite Factory /Power House located in that place in Nilgiris).

The following brothers and sisters were all younger to her.

Parvati @ Chinna, Sundarambal @ Kutti, Jayalakshmi @ Jeje, Viswanathan @  Payya, Bhageerati @ Papa, Bhanu and Sampoornam @ Champa.

Both the parents, TNK and Mangalam were very fond of their children; and the brothers and sisters were also very much attached to each other. It was probably their family trait to be Mitabhashi(ni)s. None of them ever had the habit of shouting or speaking loud. The nature of duties of TNK, at the turn of the 19^th/20^th century, involved touring from place to place on bullock driven carts, called “Circuits”; On such tours even members of the family used to move along with him, travelling through forests and jungles, frequented by wild animals like Tigers, Jackals, Wolves etc.- Very adventurous indeed!

TNK was also a gifted Water-diviner. Plenty of villages with parched fields and rain-starved areas were the beneficiaries of his in-born talent. The villagers adored him as a messenger of God. On one such occasion he had asked the people to dig a well in a certain spot and proceeded on his journey. On his return, the villagers had dug up to a certain depth and stopped digging further as they encountered rocky bed. They had lost all hopes when TNK assured them that there was definitely water below and they should not give up hopes. He waited there as the digging was recommenced. When the villagers were almost tired of breaking the rocky bed, suddenly a crack developed and sweet started springing out of the crevice much to the delight of all!

TNK was fair-complexioned, an expert horse-rider and a lover of music. He had arranged for Veena-tuition for the child Meenakshi from the age of five. The tender fingers used to get cut by the strings. But unmindful of this, she learnt the art very fast as she had a penchant for handling the instrument so nicely that by the time she grew up to 12 years, she was an expert player good enough to give even music concerts. When she married AVN, she was just 13 and entered the new household. No wonder, her remembrances of short but impressionable period of possibly the first 7 or 8 years with her parents and co-borns have been always sweet and green in her memory.

My Mother T K Meenakshi @Ponnu, as a girl of 8years

At the same time she assumed her responsibilities as the eldest daughter-in-law in the husband’s family and endeared herself to all her in-laws & their children as “Manni”; At that point of time there should have been at least a two-score children and as many adults and all were living together happily each assisting the other whenever the help was needed.

In course of time, AVN & TKM had as many as nine issues of whom only six survived;  5 sons and 1 daughter called:-

A N Ramachandran @ Thambi

A N Rajagopalan @ Chichu (also affectionately called ‘Dheeran’ by AVN)

A N Krishnamurthy @ Krishnan (named after our maternal grandfather)

Pankajakshi @ Chinnu (died as infant)

Daughter (died as infant)

A N Vaidyanathan (Bapan) (named after our paternal grandfather)

 A N Bharadwaj @ Baja (died after living for about 2 years)-He was a beloved child and very active. It is said that the child, when just 10 months old used to crawl on from the hall, move further through a corridor (called Rezhi), climb up to the father’s office room situated on the Front Pyol and enclosed by expanded metal frames and crawl further below the big Office table and shake the revolving chair on which father (AVN) would be sitting. Mother was also fond of this child. Unfortunately, no photo was ever taken of this child before he was snatched away by Fate. Seeing the picture of a child on a calendar sheet resembling almost like Baja, Mother adorned it with a silk cloth and did glittering “Jigna” work sewed on to that and got the picture framed. This has been the only likeness to remind us of the boy -child, especially for me and my sister who never had the good fortune to see him. (Mother used to say that at the time of passing away of Baja; Krishnamurthy who was then 7years old, saw some spirit-like apparition moving out of the window.)

A N Sapthagireesan @ Giri (the scribe of this anthology) and

Neerajakshi @ Nirmala (affectionately called ‘Guntsie’ by AVN)                                  

(It is suggested that reference may be made to the genealogical tree which is forming an Annexure to this Family History)

                                                                            CHAPTER-1

S A Srinivasa Sarma & A V Narayanaswami (circa 1899)

A V N as Law College Student

AVN Standing 2nd Row 5th from Left (Principal was Skinner)

A V N(Standing 2nd Row 3rd from Left) as BA student in Madras Christian College(1914-15)

The History of the family has been picked up around the turn of the 20^th century, when my Father    

A V Narayanaswami Ayyar (AVN) was a six –year-old boy. He had been off and on living with either his father (ANV Senior) who was on transferable government job as a Sub-Registrar, going from place to place like, Nagappattinam, Pakala, Madras etc;  or with his grandmother Ablala. Being the eldest in a family of eight siblings, that too a son, right from younger days, he was groomed to take over the responsibilities of the household. It seems he should have been a pet of his grand -mother Ablala, in later life too, in the 1950s , when we were youngsters, her name used to be mentioned lovingly by him. As our grandfather ANV (later on referred to as Periya thatha by us) was maintaining cordial relations with his cousins; Viz. The

Progeny of his paternal uncles “Srinivasa” and “Subrahmanya”, AVN too continued this trend by treating his father’s cousins’ sons and daughters as his brothers and sisters. Thus it was that S A Swaminatha Iyer was called Swaminatha Periyappa and S A Ramayya was called Ramayya Sittappa, Visalakshi as Salakshi etc. And similarly SAKrishnaier as Kitta Sittappa and Alamelu as Chinna Ammulu. 

S A Krishna Iyer

A K Sundaresan

(L to R) A V N-Melattur Viswanatha Iyer-S A Venkataraman(Dhaman)SASrinivasan(ChinniPeriyappa)-Floor (LtoR)SAGovindarajan(Nattu)-Lalithambal(Papa AVN's Sister)-(Major )TRamachandra(Summanji -MappillaiPattu's Elder Brother)

AV N & Chinni Periyappa(AVN's cousin)

Similarly, AKSundaresan, N Sambamurthy, SASrinivasa Sarma @ Chinni, Rukmini as Chelli, Alamelu as Beecha, SAVenkataraman @ Daman, SAGovindarajan @ Nattu, Mahalakshmi @ Chitti were all as close as own brothers and sisters to AVN, so that we the issues of AVN referred to them as Sambamurthy Sittappa, Chinni Periyappa etc and their children were as good as our own brothers and sisters.

On AVN’s Mother BHAVANI’s side also, the kinship was maintained well. It was a family of a Brother and four younger sisters called TVJagadeesan (Senior), Dharmambal @ Ammanna, Bhavani, Meena and Kamakshi @ Kamu.

As Jagadeesan’s son Viswanathan ( Later on called TVNathan and also Mappillai Pattu ) was married to AVN’s Sister Lalithambal @ Lalithu @Papa; and as Jagadeesan’s sister Dharmambal was married to SASwaminatha Iyer (ANV ’s cousin), these two families were linked again.

One of the early recollections of the Boy-AVN of his maternal uncle Jagadeesan is that he was a very outspoken person good at heart but somewhat quick- tempered. (AVN himself, having grown into man’s estate, was no exception to these qualities). The story goes-The daily chores of ladies of the household included bringing potable water either from the river or from nearby wells. Generally they carry two pots, one held on the left waist supported by the left hand around it and the other smaller one carried held on the right hand hanging all the way. By the time they reached the home, the right hand will show sign of fatigue. Potable water pot cannot be kept on the road even for a second to ease the aching arm. So, it was that one evening, Jagadeesan’s wife Madurammal after entering the house appeared to have left the smaller water-filled pitcher at the door-step of the courtyard and went into the kitchen which was farther inside to keep the bigger pot which was on her left waist. Meanwhile Jagadeesan entered the courtyard and as it was somewhat dark, he stumbled against the small water pitcher and got wild. Losing his temper and yelling, “Who kept this pot here?”  He gave a strong kick to the pot as a foot ball from the door step to a corner of the courtyard. Not satisfied, he went to the place where the pot was lying and gave it another kick. Such was the intensity of his rage that he did this seven to eight times till he cooled down—by which time the pot of course had been completely knocked out of shape. In the process he probably sprained his ankle and aunt had to massage the affected foot with a healing unguent.

AVN during his school-going days was reported to be well up in Mathematics. In the class, whenever the teacher gave any problem to be solved, A.V.N. was the first to do it and show to the teacher. When rest of the class drew blank, teacher will call out, “Narayanaswami, go to the board”. And A.V.N. would then write the solution on the black-board.

Another recollection of A.V.N.’s boyhood days is like this. In earlier days, Slates and slate-pencils were only used for solving problems or for practising Hand-writing etc., because of the unaffordable price of Paper Note-books and graphite pencils and erasers. A wet cloth-piece was used for erasing. When one writes on the slate, a noise is created. While putting slate-pencil to the slate for putting dots dashes etc., “Tut, Tut” noise is produced and continuous writing produced screeching sound. In mathematics, as there are more figures and symbols than need for continuous writing, a series of “Tut, Tut” is produced, as one used to solve a problem. When a problem is given, and no sound is coming from the slate means, the owner of that slate is blinking or still thinking how to solve. A.V.N. had a class-mate called “EKAM” short for Ekamreswaran. This boy, though not mathematically adept, he was resourceful. Whenever a problem was given in the class, he will immediately get busy “Tut-Tut”-ing on his slate. All his colleagues and the teacher will be wondering how quick he was to think out a method and started solving. But all “tut-tut”-ing would be of no avail and he never solved any problem. So if any of us, later in life, used to make noise on the slate, when given a problem, A.V.N. will ask, ‘Do you know how to proceed or are you merely doing “Eka- thattu” on the slate?’

Another younger day episode of A.V.N. related to his classmates taking a sort of revenge with a teacher “SIVA SAMBU” who probably displeased them. This happened in Thiruvidaimarudur. The teacher used to take a short cut to his home during afternoon recess, entering through one Gopuram of the temple and getting out through the other. In Noon-time this route used to be desolate and there was a rumour that spirit of “Chozha Brahmahathi” was haunting that place. One noon, when the teacher was taking this route, the affected student hid himself behind a pillar and in a deep garrulous tone uttered the name, “SIVA SAMBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.!!!”, tapping his throat at the same time. The words uttered in that baritone during the mid-day solitude, bewildered the teacher to such an extent that he ran non-stop to his home without turning back; because the belief is that if turned back the spirit will kill. The poor fellow got high fever and delirium. It took him a couple of days to rally round. Thereafter he did not take that route for his after- noon visit to home.

Another interesting episode during AVN’s growing years pertains to a South-Indian Preparation called “Morkuzhambu”. There was some function at home and a feast was in progress. Normally the order in which items were served on the plantain leaves will be thus. The serving will start with a spoonful of Payasam, then Dhal, Pachadi (salad with curd), two or three varieties of vegetable preparations, Papad, Chips, Vadas and Rice. There will be four courses of Rice viz.-Rice with Morkuzhambu (Kadi), Rice with Sambhar, Rice with Rasam. After Rasam, there would be different varieties of Sweets, like Boondi-Ladoos, Jangiris, Gulab Jamuns, Burfis, Payasam, Athirasams, Pathirpenies and other mouth watering preparations. Thereafter the fourth course of Rice would be with curd with a few varieties of pickles like Puli-Inji, Mavadu, Veppilai-katti, Mor- Milakai etc. There was one guest by name Shri Jambunatha Iyer. He was no doubt an epicurean but his favourite item was Morkuzhambu with Ladies Fingers (okra) pieces in it. As you know this is the first course with Rice and that day it was on the menu and was very well prepared. The gentleman had quite a few helpings and had a few rounds of this course, so much so that his stomach was almost full before he came to the next course of Rice with Sambhar and he went through that with great difficulty. When Rasam came, he could just drink it in a cup and now his tummy was literally bulging and there was no more available space. At this point came the turn of servings of special sweet- items like Ladoos, Burfis, Jamuns etc one after another, spreading their distinct welcome aroma, each more tempting than the other. But poor Shri Jambunatha Iyer could only see them pass by helplessly and rest content with the visual pleasure and could not taste! Thus it became proverbial, in later years in our family circle, if any of us had a second helping of any item, there was always some good-samaritan’s word of caution going round, ’Aye, be careful, Remember Jambunatha Iyer ! ’.

While on the subject of food, during AVN’s younger days (in 1900), it is said that he had an uncle-relative who had a weakness for Thosais (Dosas). The gentleman used to send out one of his sons with a carefully chosen 2-anna- piece for fetching some thosai’s from a nearby hotel and enjoy eating them whenever he felt hungry, in between regular meals time. When the child brought the hot crisp Ghee-roasted Thosais along with tasty side dishes of Cocoanut Chutney/Milagappodi-gingili oil mix, spreading the welcome aroma, he would open the packet and start consuming the whole lot himself, in front of all surrounding children salivating and looking on eagerly but helplessly! Probably this incident must have left a deep impression in the boy-AVN’s mind, because later, when we were youngsters (1945), and used to carry hot and crisp thosais prepared by mother from kitchen to him, while reclining in the Easy-chair in the corridor (Thavaram) near the central hall of our Mettu Street Home in Salem Town, he (AVN) would tear off the crisp portions from the periphery of the thosais and feed them in our (Giri and Nirmala) mouths.

A.V.N. had his High School Education at Trichy (Tiruchirapalli) and stayed at the Hostel on the banks of Cauvery. Physical exercise, including Yogasana and playing of games were part of his routine. He attached great importance for Good Hand-writing (Cursive) and physical Exercise. According to him two subjects were of paramount importance. MATHEMATICS for developing analytical thinking and SANSKRIT, which is a storehouse for Morals and essential for shaping one’s character and conduct for leading a blemish-less life with promotion of spiritual thinking as expounded in our Vedantic philosophy to attain God. Every language, whether Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Telegu, Malayalam etc become more chaste and pure by using Sanskrit words with the respective vernacular grammar. He ensured that all his children had these two subjects in their academic career. Incidentally A.V.N.’s second language in school was Tamil and not Sanskrit! His mastering of Sanskrit subsequently spoke volumes of his interest and enormous efforts.

While at Madras for higher studies, as he could not afford to stay in College-Hostel, he had to share accommodation with a few friends in private premises, by hiring an almyrah for keeping Books and Notebooks and sleeping on floor. His favourite frugal meal included occasional Sada (Ordinary) Thosais prepared by a neighbouring old woman, on stone pans, with ‘Vatral Kuzhambu’ to go with it. While doing Law, A.V.N. and his cousin SAVenkataraman ( called Daaman at home, who had by then joined the Presidency College) took a room in Victoria Hostel and were also room- mates. This hostel was not attached to any particular college but was meant only for students. That is how some of the students of one college became friends with students of other college, as they were all staying together.

As one reviews A.V.N.’s life, one could observe , notwithstanding the vicissitudes, ups and downs through various stages of his life, the under- current of inculcation of spiritual thinking and creating a taste in Vedantic philosophy, not only in himself but also in those around him, had been flowing constantly.

Some of A.V.N.’s Class mates /boyhood friends, 1900 to 1915 with whom links were being maintained till 1967-68 were as under.

(MOTTAI) SRINIVASA IYENGAR was much senior to him but his sons were either of the same age or slightly elder or younger to A.V.N.’s sons.

(VENGARAI) SRINIVASA IYENGAR was his class mate. Later when A.V.N. shifted from Madras to Salem on health grounds, we found that VSI was also staying next door to Mithadar N sundaresa Iyer’s house in Mettu Agraharam Street Salem Town. VSI had the habit of taking a very small amount of loan of say, one rupee from AVN; return it as promised after a month; again take a loan after 2 days; return it in one month and so on. Probably this way he wanted to keep in touch with his classmate!

P A Subramania Iyer @ Uppani was another, who was professor of English at Annamalai University. He had done his M.A.in English Literature and also again in Economics. He started his scholastic career rather late, after undergoing Adhyayanam in Gurukulavasam. This accounted for his proficiency in Sanskrit.

Association with him got renewed when A.V.N.’s 2^nd son A N Rajagopalan (Chichu) was doing his Mathematics (Honours) course in that University during 1942-45.

Shri Uppani used to pay occasional visits to Salem. The last memorable visit was in 1954-55, when A.V.N. & family were living in Habib Sahib Street, near Kottai (Fort) Perumal Kovil. Uppani is noted for his witticism and humour. More-over his rendition of Sanskrit Slokas in the respective metres (Chhandas), like Arya vruttam, Shardulavikreeditam, Anushthup etc. used to be a treat to hear. These two friends were meeting after some 10 or 12 years. While he entered our threshold, he paused and started staring at AVN. When asked, what the matter was, he replied, “I was first stunned and wondered how Nagapatnam Sub-Registrar  A N Vaidyanatha Iyer materialised before me! (Thus, indicating that AVN resembled his father ANV in looks now!)” Then AVN just passed the remark over with a smile and asked him with concern, why he was somewhat limping. The answer was in the form of a short Question-Answer- session:-

Uppani:-Have you seen the picture of Rama Pattabhishekam?

AVN :-     Yes

Uppani :- Who is holding Rama’s feet with reverence therein?

AVN: -      Hanuman

Uppani: - His father is holding my feet;that is the reason.

We all burst into peals of laughter.

(Hanuman’s father is Wind God Vayu. Rheumatism is caused by Vayu as per Ayurveda)

Thereafter we did not know how the time passed till the evening when he took leave of us.

Another boy-friend of AVN, whom we chanced to meet during AVN’s 4^th son ANVaidyanathan’s (Bapan) marriage in 1968, was Mr KRAppalachari, probably after 50 years. They used to play Ball-Badminton during their college days! (The credit for locating and identifying this gentleman goes to AVN’s Eldest Son A. N. Ramachandran (Thambi) who incidentally had inherited the good quality of his progenitors of maintaining relationships.)

AVN had graduated with a 2^nd class in English (Which was a rare distinction in those days 1913 AD). After taking his Law degree, he was Apprentice under a Senior Lawyer by name G. Krishnaswami Iyer at Madras, passed the Bar-Council Examination. First he was enrolled as High-Court-Vakil and later as an Advocate. Throughout his higher Educational Career, he could not stay long with his parents. Either he was in Hostel as Day-scholar or on account of his father ANV being in transferable Govt. Service. All his co-borns being younger to AVN, had always been respectful towards their eldest brother, addressing him always in plural. By the time he was 21 years he was a B.A., B.L.

                                                               

A.V.N. was first advised to enter the Government service and he joined the Accountant General’s Office at Madras. As was his wont, he used to attend to his work promptly and never kept any work pending. His table was therefore always neat and clean, uncluttered. Once he had gone for some discussion with his boss. AVN was asked to go and bring some file. AVN’s response was, “There is a peon paid to carry files”. After saying that he returned to his seat, wrote and produced the proverbial quarter sheet of Resignation letter and quit the government service to set up his private legal practice. Had he continued, he would have eventually risen to the level of an AG if not CAG. But he was not the one to be submissive and take humiliation, particularly when he was in the right. He believed in the poet’s words, “They are slaves who dare not be, in the right, with two or three”.

He started his practice in The Madras High Court in 1917-18 and was becoming successful as a “Mylapore Vakil”.

                                                                                    CHAPTER-2

                                                                             

Family of AVN’s Sister LAKSHMI@KUNJU

AVN's Immediate younger sisterLakshmi@Kunju(R) and 2nd sister Chinna (L)

AVN(Stg)-Kunju@Lakshmi(AVN's next sister(R)

In Chair-(R) AVN's BIL A Rajagopala Iyer(Kunju's Husband)

(Floor)Papa(Vaidyanathan) and Viswanathan both sons of AR Iyer

Vaidyanathan(Papa), Ramanthan &Viswanathan-Children of AR Iyer & Kunju

By then his immediate younger sister Lakshmi @ Kunju was married to Shri. A Rajagopala Iyer. He was an officer in the Audit and Accounts Service as Dy. Accountant General, at Simla around 1921/22. As he was a well-to-do person, the story goes that he had employed a masseur Ayyasamy, if I remember the name rightly, for massaging his body before taking oil-baths on Saturdays. Ayyasamy was man who knew his job well. As he was progressing with massaging he will be expelling the wind from inside the body. Whenever Shri. A R Iyer felt uncomfortable or embarrassed, for breaking wind, Ayyasamy would encourage him not to worry and pass the wind out, by the remark, “Neenga Paatle Pariyunga!” Fate was rather cruel in snatching away the life of A.R.Iyer in December 1923 in his prime within hardly ten years of married life of Kunju who also followed him three years later in 1926, leaving behind their four children, Viswanathan, Vaidyanathan@papa, Ramanathan and Saraswati. A R Iyer had willed that our grandfather ANV should be the official executor to take care of the family and the property. A R Iyer’s mother, as is the case with most grandmothers, was doting upon her grand children and trying to bring them up without much control. Whereas ANV being a disciplinarian and knowing that being lavish towards acceding to children’s all desires such as giving pocket-money, etc will spoil them, and also because he was the executor in charge to take care of the family funds/property etc., was quite strict. AR Iyer’s mother, with her blind love towards her grand children, thought that ANV was unnecessarily putting her grand kids to discomforts (forgetting that they were ANV’s Grand kids as well, who held the extra care and responsibility to ensure the well being of the parent-less  youngsters in the long run). The lady went to the extent of even casting aspersions on ANV’s integrity as to the safety of the property and funds of AR Iyer’s. As a self-respecting gentleman, ANV, that very day prepared and submitted up-to-date accounts and all papers pertaining to the properties and funds of that family in the court and washed his hands of the whole affair. One may imagine how much of heart-rending- grief ANV should have felt, in having lost his eldest daughter and son-in-law and now this wrenching away from the innocent grand children because of the irresponsible behaviour of the old lady questioning his Integrity. As the bard’s words’ put into the mouth of Iago in Othello “ Good name in Man or woman ,my lord, is the immediate jewel of the soul.”

Thus it was that an unfortunate break /rift with that family occurred. A.V.N., as a dutiful son, had to follow the footsteps of his father and hence he and his family were aloof from his immediate younger sister’s family. Later events were painful. Before his very eyes, ANV used to learn that those children were being unduly pampered and money and property were being squandered. The elder son ViswanathanS proved to be a failure. From affluence, a stage was reached when Viswanathan used to ask whom so ever he met to spare some cash. AVN’s son Thambi (Ramachandran) was one one of them who used to oblige now and then. This happened in the 1950s.

The 2^nd son of this family Vaidynathan @ Papa was studying for M.B.B.S., but as he could not complete the course, he could get a Certificate to practise. He appears to have set up private practice in Mumbai and had the good fortune to prosper well. He married and fathered seven children, 3 daughters and 4 sons. The families of AVN and late AR Iyer had no contact for almost three decades (1930-1960) and the younger children were not even aware of the existence of the other. Later on in the 1950s, one of Mrs AVN’s (Meenakshi’s) friends residing near our home in Mettu Street Salem (wife of Auditor Sankara Iyer) happened to visit Bombay. After her return, she informed Mrs AVN that she saw a girl of 9 or 10 years looking exactly like AVN’s youngest daughter Nirmala and asked whether we have any close relative in Matunga Bombay. So striking had been the resemblance that a 3^rd. party could easily identify and link. Thereafter it transpired that the Matunga girl was none else but Dr. Vaidyanathan’s daughter (possibly Sadhana@ Rajalakshmi). It took another 12 years or so, when Dr Vaidyanathan met AVN at Rajkot in 1962/63, for the first time after the unfortunate estrangement of the families and could pick up the lost threads. AVN was then 68/69 years and Dr Vaidyanathan say 42 years of age.

All these had been only hearsay for AVN’s 5^th son Sapthagireesan (Giri). In 1995, he had come across a gentleman by name Kalidasan, during one of the interviews he was conducting for the company he was working for at Jalgaon. Casual enquiries and talks led to the discovery that Kalidasan was the 3^rd son of Dr Vaidyanathan (of Matunga) i e. Giri’s paternal aunt’s grandson! (Such fairy tale happenings take place in one’s real life also).Thereafter we had the pleasure of a get-together in the evening dinner at home when the family information spanning a period of 70 years (1926 to 1995) was updated. Giri (this scribe) managed to keep track with Kalidasan till 2007-2009 when he was working for Plastindia Foundation at Andheri (E) Mumbai. It was learnt that Kalidasan lost his wife Melba around 2007 leaving behind a son named Akshay. It was also learnt that Dr Vaidyanathan’s eldest son, Viswanathan was probably in USA with his daughter PREMA, whose son was also employed in USA.

AR Iyer’s 3^rd son Ramanathan appears to have remained a Bachelor.

AR Iyer’s Daughter Sarswathi was married to one Mr Swaminathan, who came in contact with AVN’s 3^rd son A N Krishnamurthy at Calcutta in the 1960s and they have been in touch since then so much so that Mr Swaminathan, who after retirement, was staying with his son Krishnaswami in Melbourne (Australia), had sent Invitation card of celebration of his 90^th birth day in July 1995 to ANK. Thereafter Saraswathi seems to have passed away.

AVN’s 2^nd younger sister - JANAKI @ Chinna’s Family

Janaki@ Chinna(circa 1908)

Chinna's husband Nemam Sundaresa Iyer@Nemam Athimber with AVN(1950) at No2 Hensman Road T Nagar at probably AVN's 2nd son Chichu's marriage.

Janaki@Chinna(left) with her elder sister Lakshmi@Kunju (circa1900)

Chinna was married to Mr D Sundaram Iyer @ Nemam Sundaresa Iyer (affectionately called Nemam Athimber by AVN’s Children). They had a so called Venkatasubramanian @ Nemam Payya and a daughter Lakshmi @ Nemam Lakshmi. When both these children were young, probably 3 years and 1 year, their mother Chinna passed away. Nemam Sundaresa Iyer Married Bhavani Ammal, who took affectionate care of the family. She was called Nemam Athai by AVN’s Children. After losing his first wife, Sundaresa Iyer had a temperory period of mental agony. During these trying days the family was with ANV/AVN. Hence these cousins had become very close to AVN’s family. After normalisation, the family settled at Nemam where a small piece of land and a house in the Agraharam was able to serve their needs. Now there is a small comic interlude. During his trying period, Nemam Athimber was probably once mistreated by an old lady called Shanu Patti and he used to repeat the words, “Shanuppatti Vanari -Shanuppatti Vanari” again and again meaning Shanuppatti was a monkey! This had made an imprint in the young mind of 8 year old boy-Thambi (Ramachandran), eldest son of AVN. Thambi had scribbled in bold letters by chalk the Words “Shanuppatti Vanari” in Tamil on the low rafter of the roof covering the front pyol of the Mettu street house in Salem. This episode was forgotten by all and quite a few years passed. After recuperation return of normal health, Nemam Athimber visited our house in Salem. He was expected to rest on the front pyol after lunch.

Suddenly people at home remembered the pranks of the boy-Thambi and got busy wiping out the words in chalk on the rafter by a wet cloth hurriedly, while Athimber was having his meal, lest they may remind him of the disturbed days of the relative. By the way this Athimber and Athai had genuine affection for AVN and his family. Mrs AVN was ‘Selatthu Manni’ for Nemam Payya and Nemam Lakshmi. There used to be periodical exchange of visits between the two families. Nemam Athai was an expert in preparing Rice-twists called “kai-murukku” nowadays. She always used to bring with her a half-gallon tin full of crisp and tasty Murukkus or with anyone coming from Nemam to our home in Salem. Payya and Lakshmi were very much attached to AVN’s family till their very end. Nemam Payya’s hand-writing was very good. When he was a boy, AVN’s Mother Bhavani used to take his help in the purchase of vegetables for the family, as he was good in selection tender and fresh vegetables. His academic career reached up to Matriculation level. He joined a company at Madras and stuck to the job till retirement. He could build a house of his own in West Mambalam (1950s) with savings from his meagre earnings. He was married to a girl called Ganga (daughter of Sarabaraja Iyer of Edayathumangalam. One of the earliest recollections of the scribe of this narrative (AVN’s 5^th son Giri probably at his age of 2 or 3-- 1941?) is the journey from Nemam to Edayathumangalam on a bullock driven cart, while crossing river Kollidam (a branch of Cauvery) ,when in mid-stream, water entered the cart, I was passed on from the cart to the shoulders of AVN, who was crossing the river ,along with other elderly people on foot, by wading through the river. Nemam Payya and Ganga got a son called Janakiraman, who was educated to become a lawyer; and who after acting as legal advisor to company, started prospering well in the profession since 1993-94. Janakiraman’s daughter who has acquitted herself well in study of Computer Science is currently reported to be doing well in the USA (1996) and is also married. Nemam Lakshmi and Payya, as children had grown up along with AVN’s children for some time when we used to stay at the Bazaar House (Kadaitheru Aam).

Nemam Lakshmi was married to B.Ramachandran @ Binny, so called as he was working for Binny & Co.( Buckingham & Carnatic Mills) till his retirement. A matter of interest and information which came to light later was that our Binny’s father’s second wife’s sister’s son shaped himself into a famous Tamil Cinema Actor hero “Gemini Ganesh”91950-1975 period being his hey days when he earned the nick name Kadhal Mannan-King lover ! This Gemini Ganesh, amongst his other achievements, had fathered two daughters ‘Rekha’ who became a popular Hindi Film actress(1965-85) while her sister became the world famous first lady doctor in India to develop a Test – tube –Baby at Madras.

Initially for a few years in the 1920s-1930s, when my grandfather ANV was alive, father AVN used to spend a few days of annual summer vacation at Madras. After passing away of ANV, this practice was discontinued and in the 1940s, AVN used to visit Nemam once in a way. During these visits, whether to Madras or Nemam, AVN would take one or other of his sons along with him to spend the holidays. Each time, whose turn it would be, nobody would know till the departure. But who- ever was lucky to accompany him, should, on return, narrate the happenings describing their travel and stay in detail to other siblings at home. The experience will be somewhat reminiscent to Enid Blyton’s ‘The Map That Came to Life ‘. Actually on one occasion, 1^st son Thambi and 3rd son Krishnamoorthy together accompanied him and their travel story has to this day remained incomplete, because we had asked them to relate in detail and this detailed recountal took more than 3 days covering their journey from home till they boarded the bus at Salem!! Even myself, the youngest of the sons, got one chance at the age of eight to accompany father to Nemam.

Here another sub story needs to be told. It has been the custom in AVN family that all male issues will have to study at home without attending Elementary school and should take the admission examination at the High School for entrance into First form (6^th standard). There were two reasons for this. One was that children, during their impressionable years will have lesser chances of learning bad words/manners from other ill-brought-up kids. The other reason was that in those days there was age exemption possible at the time of passing School-Final Examination so that one could gain many months or even years while joining the college and graduating. Eldest son Thambi had passed his Matriculation Exam. at his age of 13 and Intermediate Exam. at his age of 15 years. That way all of us got exemptions, some more and some less months. In my case when my first and only trip to Nemam with father happened, it was the month of May and I was to take the Entrance Exam. for the First Form, on return in the month of June. So I had carried Mathematics and English texts and slate/pencils along with me for the purpose of preparation. This had been a mild dampener in the trip.

Yes. This being my first out- station trip alone with my father I had mixed feelings. Generally our image of father is of only terror because he was one who believed in the dictum of not sparing the rod in bringing up Boys. However whenever mother was not there, he will be a sober and loving person. There were occasions when mother had to go on short visits to Madras taking my younger sister with her. On such occasions, we will be left at home with only father to take care of us. On one occasion my brothers and I were taken to a film AMBIKAATHY running in The Central Talkies situated near the 3rd Railway Gate in Salem. Generally he preferred the 2^nd show because the picture clarity will be better since it will be dark outside. The film used to start around 10 pm and last till 2-30 AM, there being around 50 or 60songs. There will be colour slides of advertisements in the beginning and at interval. If the film gets cut in between there will be more intervals and more slides!  I was probably 5 years old then. When the picture started I remember seeing the Tamil Super star of those days MKThyagarajaBhagavathar singing “Ulaginil Inbam Verundo”. (God had gifted me with a taste for music and also knack of remembering the tunes from early childhood).After some time when dialogues started I dozed off. Suddenly some general shouting of “Soda”, “Orange”,  “Colour” in a cacophony and crowd disturbance woke me up and that was interval. After Interval a series of songs was going on and the heroine was putting one flower after another into a pot, I think, to keep a count on the number of songs Poet MKT had challenged to render and she made a mistake of counting the first Invocation song as Number one and therefore erred in total, and appeared before MKT who thought that he won the match. The king (the father of heroine princess) called the executor to behead MKT but by God’s miracle the sword turned into a garland. However the king took upon himself the task of punishing MKT and stabbed him in the heart with a dagger. This time no miracle happened and MKT had to die. The princess also followed suit by stabbing herself.  However both MKT and his heroine exchanged garlands in Heaven. And that was the last scene I remembered. I had a serious doubt and asked father why God did not help MKT for the second time. He convinced me saying that after all, the king had to keep his word; error or no error the total was one less than promised. However I felt it was not fair and MKT was capable of rendering many more songs. But as I was afraid that further questioning may result in father following the example of the king I had to keep mum! But till today I cannot reconcile myself to this act of the king who was expected to be a just person! As it was, father was kind in taking us to the film.

 I have seen father wear a turban while appearing in court in Advocate’s attire. Apart from this, he would tie his Angavastram covering his head on two other occasions, while travelling and while going out at night, for protection against cold; and a walking-stick is a must.

·         OK-Coming back to my maiden-journey from Salem-to-Nemam, first we boarded a passenger train at Salem Junction to Erode, travelling the 50 odd miles in about four hours, reaching Erode by midnight. At Erode we got down and reached another platform by a well- lit sub-way (which was a new experience). We had to wait for some time to board a train going towards Trichy. While there father brought a Green Halwa piece wrapped in a glittering paper from the platform stall for me. As I was about to open it, father’s maternal aunt Meena’s son Kunjitham (who was a Catering Inspector in Railways) happened to meet us and they started talking. The train arrived and we got in. As the train halt was for a long time, both of them stood near the window outside while I was sitting inside the carriage. The temptation to taste the Halwa was there but there were three of us and the piece was one. To ask was out of question and to eat it was not good etiquette. Probably sensing my consternation, father told me, “It is only for you. Take it”. Since both of them were already chewing Betel leaves and nuts, they would not take Halwa now. I obeyed the order with pleasure. The train should have steamed out of Erode by 2 AM .I dozed off. Suddenly around 5 AM I got jerked up. We got down at Trichy and boarded another train going towards Tanjore. It was again a passenger train called Shencotah passenger. I got a convenient place to stand near the window to watch the green fields at dawn. Soon we got down at a station called BUDALUR. (This place became noteworthy due to Budalur Krishnamurthy Sastrigal, the famous Gottuvadyam Player). Here we boarded a green coloured bus and stood near the entrance itself (luckily it had a door). I think father paid Five annas (Equivalent to 31 naye paise today) for both of us. We travelled around 5 miles and alighted at a small place called “TIRUKKATTUPPALLI”. Here both of us were greeted by an hotelier who gave us tooth powder & water for morning ablutions and also Vibhuti. The hotel was housed in a small but neat hut. Then he served us hot Idlies, Milagaippodi/ til oil/ cocoanut-chutney on plantain leaves. After this welcome and wholesome repast and making the payment, we started walking along a kachcha road on the south bank of Cauvery river, father carrying his steel brief box on one hand and walking stick on the other while I carried my bag containing a few clothes for change-over and mathematics and English books, a slate and slate pencil. Father was pointing to me the bamboos on either side of the road, cocoanut and banana plantations on the left and the flowing Cauvery river right far from the banks. Though it was summer, since there was no Cauvery water dispute in those days, the river had considerable water flow, justifying being called one of the seven JEEVANADIs of India. When we passed the first milestone, we saw a village called PAZHAMANERY. Here, father took a breather because the steel handles of the brief case hurt the fingers. After adjusting the fingers, we continued our trek for another mile and we passed by a temple, wherein father explained that the presiding deity was called AYRAVATESWARAR and this temple was situated on the outskirts of NEMAM VILLAGE. It was therefore the custom to name children in Nemam after this God and one may come across many people called AYRAVATAM in this place. From this point we took a left turn and followed the minor road leading to the Village. This was a muddy and sandy street which led to the Agraharam. The street was straight running East to West and about a furlong in length. As we walked through, both sides of the road were lined with row houses with native tiled roofs, all of them being contiguous to one another, with level platforms and pyols on either side of the respective front doors, the platforms called “Koradu” covered by low thatched roofs on bamboos. The pyols of all homes were having vertical white and ochre stripes as we find outside temple walls. Every house front was decorated with rice flour “Kolams” design displaying the artistry of the ladies of the households. As we walked half way up the street, father stopped at a house and called “SUNDARESA IYERVAALL!” It should be around 0830 or 0900 AM. Nemams Athimber had just finished his japam and we gave him a pleasant surprise.

After the joy of initial meeting, we settled down for about ten- days- stay. Daily routine used to be:-

Rise up just before sun-rise, take a towel and proceed to the river. Finish morning ablutions. Take river bath and also swim; by that time sun would also rise. Wash dhoti and towel, dig a spring in the sandy bed of the river. In Tamil it is called “OOTTHU PARIKKARADU”. After cleaning and washing the brass pot fill it by taking the fresh water using a broad but flat ladle-like gun metal plate called “THAALAM” and after covering the mouth of the pot with a filtering cloth, pour the water from the spring into the pot and fill it this way. Finally remove the filter cloth carefully; close the pot with the “Thaalam” and after washing the cloth well, spread it over the plate. The drinking water pot will be carried home by taking turns. While walking homewards, wearing the loin cloth and towel, we used to hold the washed dhoti overhead, the wind breeze will lift it to flutter and dry and in this process also provide shade from the sun. Then wear the dried dhoti on the way and repeat the operation for the towel. Thus by the time we reached home, we were fresh and in new clothes. By then, the time would be 08 00 AM. Then from an hour and a half would be spent in Japam by Athimber and father, while self would have consumed the curd with overnight soaked rice and pickles and read the English text and revise Maths. Around 10 00 AM, AVN & Athimber will go to the fields and return by 12 00 noon. Aunt would have prepared meals by then and we would have lunch together and then rest for some time. Thereafter by 4 pm we will have some light tiffin & coffee. While elders will be conversing about family matters and picking up lost threads, self with the newly introduced friends would spend time playing on the pyols or talking to the boys about their schools, teachers and other village gossip. Father and Athimber along with a few close friends will spend some time playing a harmless card game called ‘Bezique’ using sixteen packs of playing cards. I remember names of a few people viz:  Ayravatham Iyer, Pattamaniyam, Subramania Iyer. There was also an old gentleman who was short of hearing and earned a nickname “shevuttu Kitta”. Father really found it exhausting to talk with him loudly and at times I would help by repeating father’s words in a high pitch. Around 6 PM we would move out and go to the temple of Ayravateswara and enjoy the evening breeze and return by 7 30 PM. There was no electricity in the village. Only Kerosene lanterns or Deepams/Kuttu Vilakkus were used at homes. After supper there will again be a session of get-together in the front platforms of the house till 1030 or 1100 pm.

The street ran East-West .On the east was the temple and at the western end was a small Bhajanai Matham, with Lord Ganesh under a peepal tree. Bhajans would be in progress there. While elders’ meeting was going on, self with local friends Ramu and Kittu would go there. One youth named Vaidyanathan was singing. When my turn came, I sang “Radha Sameta Krishna”. Vaidyanathan also joined me in the song. After some time we returned home. Cocoanut-coir-rope-strung charpoys, used to be placed on the road itself for sleeping. As we lay down and faced the starry sky, father and Athimber would point to me the different clusters, Saptarishimandalam, simham, Makaram and also the various planets; how to identify planets from stars, the former by the steady glow as distinct from the twinkling of the latter.

Thus days passed by. Once we visited a cocoanut grove and had tender coconut water. Another day we visited a Sugarcane plantation, where the juice was being extracted and jaggery (gur) was being heated and poured into small conical moulds. After solidifying it was called “Achu Vellam”. I could taste some hot jaggery also. Soon six days were over and Aunt became busy preparing Rice twists (Murukkus) and Hard laddoos (Porivilangai urundais) for being sent along with us for people at home in Salem. After bidding a tearful farewell and entreating Athimber and Aunt to visit Salem, we left by a bullock cart from Nemam to Budalur, a distance of 7 miles. As we crossed the causeway of “VENNAAR” safely (as it was noted for robbers); father checked the time in his pocket watch, a product with markings of P-ORR & Sons Madras (which was memento from our grandfather ANV).

He felt that our progress was rather slow and told the driver who egged on the bullock which started running and we were just in time to reach Budalur station when the booking window was about to open. After bidding goodbye to the driver and tipping him for goodwill, father obtained the tickets for us for return. Soon the train arrived and we got convenient seats and reached Salem. The next 2 or 3 days I narrated details of our travel and stay. The taste of the edibles we brought is still lingering in our mouths.

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                                                                              CHAPTER - 3

PARVATI @ Papuchi was AVN’s 3^rd younger sister. She was married to Sri TRVenkataramas Iyer of Talainyayar, shortly known as T.R.V. He was serving in the PWD. They had their own house at No.65Nattu Subbaroya Mudali Street in Mylapore. They had a daughter by name Jayalakshmi, whose life Fate snatched away during her first child birth and the child also died. Thereafter they had no issues.

TRV is standing fourth from Right on the Top Row-Probably he was Divisional Accountant.

Papuchi had also some symptoms of Tuberculosis in early life. However she got cured and lived to a ripe old age of 73 or 74 years. TRV used to suffer from a nervous pain on one side of his face, but he too lived up to over sixty years or so. AVN’s mother Bhavani (my grandmother) used to stay with Papuchi, as each used to take care of the other. TRV couple adopted a relative’s child named Santhanam @ Ambi as their son and heir. The boy grew up in the household, qualified as a mechanical engineer, LME from one of the earliest batches of a Polytechnic college started in Madras in 1950s.

Whenever AVN visited Madras, after he had settled at Salem, he used to stay at TRV’s home only and thus “65 Nattu Subbaroya Mudali St” became familiar to our household. A wooden easy-chair with canvas (With letters T.R.V. painted in white on the back side of the head rest) was a present from TRV and it faithfully served AVN’s family for over 6 decades! AVN & TRV had mutual regard for each other which lasted till the end. While AVN’s last three children (Bapan, Giri & Nirmala) addressed her as Athai (Aunt) in plural with respect, for AVN’s first three sons, Thambi, Chichu and Krishnamurthy she was “Papu” and addressed in singular. The funny thing was Mrs TKM (Mother) would address her with respect as ‘Akka ‘ (elder sister in Tamil). They had a radio in their house with a rotary needle indicator, as in a clock. But I had never observed them hearing music, because they had always so much to talk to, during AVN’s visit and there was not much time for music. Of course youngsters were not permitted to touch costly equipment. There was a magnifying glass called ‘Reading Glass’ in which the lens would revolve into a metal case, to avoid scratches. This was a novel item for us youngsters to see printed matter magnified. This aunt would talk to us all in a sweet voice. She was also reported to have imbibed the noted cleverness of our grandmother Bhavani in full measure! As AVN’s immediate younger sisters Kunju and Chinna had passed away very early in their life, Papuchi and TRV were rather close to him. TRV, after his retirement, had “bequeathed” a couple of his cotton white drill trousers to be tried and worn by AVN’s elder boys. However neither ever suited any one because the size was odd and the fashion had changed. The waist would be too large and the trouser bottoms too narrow, almost like inverted truncated cones! Thus the pants remained as mementoes in the dress trunk over a period of 25 years, to be tried by each of the boys right through their growing years. There is a vegetable by name “Dhondaikkai” also called “Kovakkai” which was much liked by AVN. As this was not available in Salem and freely available in Chennai, the loving sister would cook this vegetable as a speciality for AVN, whenever he visited Chennai. Likewise when aunt visited Salem, mangoes and Omalur- Mavadus for which Salem was famous, would be carted to them Mangoes in baskets and freshly brought down Mavadus in Gunny sacks.  (Incidentally, i learn that the Mangroves of Omalur have been decimated and the town has grown in their place. TRV passed away in 1955. Thereafter Bhavani and Papuchi continued to live along with Ambi. Bhavani died in 1960. Papuchi lived on till 1974 till after AVN’s Sathabhishekam. Ambi meanwhile got married. He and his family continued to live in the house at 65 Nattu Subbaroya Mudali St.

After demise of ANV (grandfather), whenever AVN visited TRV’s house, that place used to become the centre of activity during the period of his stay. AVN’s other sisters, brother Pattu and their children as also AVN’s cousins and their off-springs would be calling on him and AVN would spend time with them, mostly listening to their problems and offering solutions. Brother Pattu, sisters Lalithu and Thangu were residing in the same locality, Jambakam, Nemam Payya and Nemam Lakshmi were staying slightly away.

Link with Santhanam (Ambi) was being maintained till as late as my eldest daughter Aparna’s marriage (in Tiruvanmiyur in November 1994) which he attended with his wife. AVN’s eldest daughter-in-law (Thambi’s wife Mangalam alias ‘Baby’) is trying her best to maintain contact with them still.

                                                                   ----------------------------

                                                                              CHAPTER-4

JAMBAGAM, AVN’s 4^th sister, should have been born around 1903. In due time, she was married to ANageswaran (@ Nagarajan), son of Venkatesa Iyer of Pudukottai (New Fort). They had two sons and two daughters-by name NVaidyanathan @ Vaithu, Lakshmi @ Thangachi, Narayanaswami @ Babu, and Radha (who died as an infant). Vaithu could study well and rose to a good position in Govt. Service and retired. After retirement, he was contributing articles to e-magazines, as he was good command of the English Language. His wife Meenakshi @ Meena, turned out to be AVN’s friend at Salem Mr Narasimha Iyer (Nazir in District Court), who was Meena’s grandfather’s younger brother’s son! (It was a small world even then!) Vaithu was blessed with 2 sons and 2 daughters—Daughters were named Bhavani and Ramaa .Unfortunately Ramaa, suffering from Blood Cancer, breathed her last in New Jersey in Sept. 1995- Names of the sons need to be updated.

Thangachi was married to Dr BSPadmanabhan and they are reported to have 4 daughters and a son. Thangachi also died in January 1998.

Babu was not bright in Academic studies and did not g to higher classes after passing School Final. Vocational line was advisable for him and he got trained in Type-setting and acquitted himself well in Printing Press. Babu got married to Sau Padma who was working as a School-teacher. Jambagam, Babu and his wife continued to live at their place in Audiappa Mudali St in Vepery, Purasawalkam while Vaithu and family were moving round as he was on transferable job. Jambagam had a soft corner for Babu because of his poorer economic situation. Sau Padma turned out to be a dutiful and loving wife for him and they led a simple, contented and reasonably happy life. They have no issues. As it generally happens to innocent people, a minor accident somewhat partially paralysed Babu. He was travelling in a City-bus, occupying a window seat gripping the window railing. Another bus coming in the opposite direction grazed past this bus, crushing a couple of Babu’s fingers. This affected the nervous system and he was paralysed partially, luckily not totally. He could attend to his personal needs with assistance and otherwise talk, hear and speak normally and could even walk with help of a walking stick. Thereafter they shifted to their own small house in Tiruvallur, a far-away suburb. The last get-together he attended with his wife was My (Giri’s) 1^st daughter Aparna’s marriage at Tiruvanmiyur in Nov.1994. He was very happy to be amongst all relatives and spent time well. His end came on Nov.26, 1997 (9.20 AM). Probably his wife Padma must be staying in Tiruvallur. Of course she has her brother to be of assistance in times of need.

                                                                ------------------------------------

                                                                                   CHAPTER-5

AVN’s younger brother, A.V.Swaminathan @ Pattu Sittappa for us, took after ANV for his looks, but was lean and tall in build, probably after his grandfather Narayana. Unfortunately he was not very bright in academics. AVN’s policy of not sparing the rod was not of much avail and he had to be content with a pass in Matriculation. He got entry in the press of The Hindu as a Lino-type-operator and was loyal to the paper till his retirement. He was yet another person who was affectionate with AVN’s family. Whenever he visited Salem, he would bring some novel toy or doll to the youngsters. AVN’s 4^th son Bapan used to recall a big black wasp toy, operated by toy, which while moving would open and close its wings rolling its eyes as if it was real; so I am told. Thambi, Chichu and Krishnamurthy were rather close to Pattu Sittappa and they will address him as Pattu and in singular. By the time we younger three (Bapan, Giri and Nirmala) grew up, Pattu Sittappa’s visits became fewer and far between.

In due time he was married to Sau.Kunjammal @ Kunju, who was none else but younger sister of  Jambagam’s husband Nagarajan. Though by height the couple was not a proper match, by heart they were well disposed towards each other. Initially they had quite a few issues, who all died in infancy. Then ch. Vaidyanathan was born and he was called “Pichai” as mark of gratitude to God. Another boy was born who was named Sairam. Pattu Sittappa used to be fond of keeping household pets, like dogs and cats. In fact once Grandmother Bhavani got so much fed up and arranged through a servant boy to bundle half a dozen kittens, in a gunny bag to be left in a far off forest area in natural environs. Even as she was heaving a sigh of relief, the very next morning, all those kittens came mewing back into the house!

By and by, from the savings of his meagre income, Pattu could build a small house of his own in West Mambalam on Lakshmi Narayana Sastry St.  Pichai and Sairam both grew up to become good dutiful sons. Both learnt short- hand and type-writing and they became expert stenographers. The two brothers married two sisters respectively. Pichai and family live in the west-mambalam house while Sairam and family live in their staff quarters in Pallikkaranai Narayanapuram, near his work place the Guindy Race course. In 1998, Sairam has also become a grandfather. We are maintaining touch with them. During Jitu’s -Yagnyopaveetam-family-get-together-function at Swami Hall in Mandaiveli (2009). Pichai made it convenient to participate.

A S Vaidyanathan married Seethalakshmi.

They have a son ch V.Venkateswaran and a daughter V Bhuvaneswari.

Venkateswaran is married to Sau Srividya and they have two sons Elder son is Ch Sai Arun and Younger son is Ch Sai Krishna

Sau Bhuvaneswari is married to Ch T L Murali and they have a daughter Kum M Aishwarya

Ch A S Sairam is married to Sau. Vijayalakshmi

They have two Daughters Sailakshmi ad Bhavani

Sau Sailakshmi is married to Ch Gurumurthy and they have 2 sons ch Sivasubramanian and ch Sai Ganesh

Sau Bhavani is married to Ch Krishnamurthy and they have a son Ch Karthik.

                                              --------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                       CHAPTER---6                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Lalithambal @ Papa @ Lalithu--AVN’s 4^th younger sister was almost a child, at the time of his marriage. Mrs AVN recalls that Papa had a very sweet voice and used to sing well. She was given regular tuition in Carnatic music, so much so that by the time of her marriage she had attained good proficiency. After her marriage she used to give programmes in AIR in the 1930s.

She was married to her maternal uncle Jagadeesan’s 3^rd son T.Viswanathan, a Bachelor of Arts graduate from the University of Mysore. He was also called Pattu in his home, and to distinguish from Pattu sittappa he was referred to in our family circle as ‘Maappillai Pattu’ (as he was bridegroom of our family)! And this name prevailed till the very end.

They had four issues,3 sons and a daughter; eldest was son named after his paternal grandfather as T.V.Jagadeesan @ Rajamani, next was also son named maternal grandfather as T V Ramachandran@ Chinna Chichu (As distinct from AVN’s 2^nd son Chichu); 3^rd issue was the daughter Bharati and the youngest was  son named after his maternal grandfather as T V Vaidyanathan @ Thambi. The affinity and love that existed between these two families can be gauged from the fact that even the names and nicknames of the children Chichu and Thambi were same. The descendents of this Aduthuraiperumalkoil family had a common distinguishing feature of possessing large prominent eyes. Since my mother (Mrs AVN) was Manni (Bhabhi) for all my aunts and uncle, we also called our mother as “Manni” only. The children of our aunts called AVN respectfully as “Anna Mama”. Rajamani was adept in playing flute. He had provided a special contrivance like a whistle at the blowing hole (when flute is played sideways unlike the straight -way as Nagaswaram. Being bestowed with the gift of the gab, he shaped himself into a successful Sales person rising to become Regional Sales Manager of an MNC. In due time, he married and became father of two boys. Soon after his retirement, he lost his wife. He has settled down in Malleswaram in Bangalore.  He developed a hobby of painting on canvas and the theme was ‘Temples of India’.  A frank and outspoken person, Rajamani has a heart of gold. Mappillai Pattu owned a double-storey house called ‘Malathi’ at Bazaar Road, Mylapore where they lived till the very end.  Aunt Lalithambal had a loving way of talking to children, addressing them as “Kannu” (Tamil for Iris or Ankh- ke- tara or Darling). She also had the habit of giving small presents to us. In 1947, after my eldest brother Periyanna’s (Thambi’s) marriage, at the time of her departure from Salem, some of us had accompanied her from Salem Town to Salem Junction station to entrain her in the Broad gauge train “Blue Mountain Express to Madras and to be of assistance for loading the ‘Mavadu’ sack. Just before the arrival of the train, aunt slipped a One- Rupee Coin (It used to be bigger in size than our present Ten Rupee coin and containing real silver) in my pocket as a gesture and told me to keep it safe and take home. On another occasion when newly married I visited her with wife Jayalakshmi (1970), she gave us small replicas of Shankara and Parvati. These are gestures of one’s affection and leave a lasting impact.
{Sri TVJagadeesan's message on perusal of this History-

	11/26/12
to me

Jagadisan Tiruvadi tvjagadisan@ya My dear Giri,I am astounded by your knowledge of our families.Very interesting to read and as I go along,envision the Dramatis Personae.Life was so good then in spite of our families being just middle class.I have a few corrections my ego wants to put before you which I shall send by e mail later.My boundless praise for the effort you have taken to reconstruct our clan.May the ALMIGHTY bless you   With best regards T.V.Jagadisan----- Jagadisan Tiruvadi 5:35 PM (15 hours ago) to me My dear Giri, As i read through your reminiscences,each character came alive before my eyes I even looked into the deep well in the Mettu street agraharam house and almost tasted the basket of Naduchalai mangoes  Anna Mama used to bring to Thallakulam, Madurai where Papuchis husband 'Athimber ' was the manager in a govt office. I also seemed to hear Payya telling Anna Mama in reply to a question as to what work he did  for the day "Maadikku Man kooja thookinen. what family unity was there and what culture.Today one has to fix an appointment to visit ones own son !! Ithink I and salem chichu or Periya chichu are the oldest members of the family.I would give my life t go back to Nagappa Iyer street in Triplicane Madras where Thatha  and his huge family lived.and the GOLU for Navarathri where we used to act as watchmen to preent other children disturbing the display.May God bless youfor the effort you have taken in bringing old time memories.How green was our lives then!   Yrs affly Rajamani With best regards T.V.Jagadisan ...

Chinna- Chichu entered Indian P&T Dept as an Engineering Supervisor and steadily rose to retire as a Class I Officer. He was married to daughter of Mahalinga Iyer Madras. He was living with his family at Ashok Nagar. He is no more now.

Bharati, who took after her mother for good looks and complexion, was married at proper age to Krishnamurthy, an Engineer and they have two girls by name Kala and Vidya and a boy named Sridhar. Both girls underwent training in Bharatanatyam in their young age and gained appreciable proficiency. One of them is married to a boy from the household of Easwaran (of the famous EASUN and Co. of Madras).  Link with this cousin, Bharati & family is being maintained. She, along with her son Sridhar, attended Aparna’s (My Daughter) marriage at Tripurasundari Kalyana Mandapam opp. Marundeeswarar temple in Tiruvanmiyur in Nov 1994 and my 3^rd elder brother Krishnamurthy’s son’s marriage at Hotel Kanchi,  Egmore in Jan.1998.

T.V.Vaidyanathan @ Thambi, their youngest son did his B.Sc. and became Station Engineer in A.I.R. and he is married to Sau Jayalakshmi. Both of them are of helpful type. When he came to attend my daughter’s (Aparna’s) marriage in Tiruvanmiyur (Nov 13/14 1994), after preliminary greetings, his very first words were, “OK. Anna, now you tell me what work you have assigned for me. We have come here to be of assistance to you”. They participated fully and remained till the very end and after satisfying that the function was successfully over he left for his place. He has taken premature retirement. They stay in a Senior Citizens’ home on the outskirts of Chennai viz- Sozhinganallur. We are in close touch with each other.

Mappillai Pattu’s other brothers were:- 1- Major T Ramachandra or Brahmachari Ramachandra or simply Summanji  for his close kin including AVN.

2-T.Jagannathan;3-T.Sundaresan @ Appa Payal and 4-T.Padmanabhan @ Babu.

Summanji after retirement from the Indian Army, was holding a senior post in Bharat Sevak Samaj and in close touch with Jawaharlal Nehru and others. He used to wear only Khadi clothes and wash and dry them personally even if he was travelling by train. One of his last visits to Salem was in the Mid-1950s, when we were living in Fort area (near Kottai Perumal Koil) Salem. AVN and Summanji hugged each other as long lost brothers and picked up the lost threads and kept on talking till small hours of the night.

Jagannathan and Padmanabhan were civil contractors working as partners of a firm called “Jagam & Babu” and got along well. Actually, Bharati’s marriage was celebrated at a Pandal erected in the open space in front of their bungalows which were located nearby each other. My-self (Giri) and my sister (Nirmala) attended the marriage along with our parents (1949?). An incident comes to my mind. If nothing else, I was a good player in Caroms (having been trained by elder brothers Krishnamurthy and Bapan, executing their ideas of how to play to such an extent that I used to clear the board with my opening stroke and subsequent strokes in that chance). In the marriage house (Jagannathan’s), a carrom game was in progress; players being T.J.Doraiswami (son of Jagannathan & lead-player) and his younger sister on one side and Babu’s son and another boy on the other. As an interested observer, I could not help giving ideas and explaining some suggestions as to how to play certain strokes to the weaker side; such as Charging, Cannoning, attempting Quadrangular shots etc. Probably they heard these terms for the first time. Soon enough my-self and my sister replaced the two boys. We needed only four boards to win the game from Zero. Naturally the session was wound up thereafter!

Another incident I remember about this marriage was:-Rajamani and Chinna- Chichu were taking grocery, vegetables and luggage in a truck from Bazaar Road to the marriage venue in the late evening around 6-30 pm. Myself, sister Nirmala and Thambi (Aunt’s youngest son)were also put in the same truck. Driver having lost the way, entered a narrow lane where the truck got stuck up for some time. Rajamani and Chinna Chichu could get down as they were in the seats near the driver whereas we three were behind along with the provisions. When the driver was struggling to get the vehicle out, it was getting dark and Thambi being the youngest among us started crying. In about half an hour’s time, which seemed like ages, we were again out in the main street where Rajamani coaxed his crying brother and ourselves frightened by this experience, with some peppermints; and soon we reached the marriage venue and heaved a sigh of relief.

In her later years, aunt had to undergo an operation, involving opening up her skull, from which she recuperated well. ‘Misfortune never comes singly’ -Oliver Goldsmith’s words rang true, aunt suffered a fall fracturing her thigh from which also she recovered. Mappillai Pattu passed away on March 31, 1985. Thereafter Rajamani had arranged an acquaintance of his, who was a working chap, to stay as a reliable helping hand, for purpose of cooking food etc and stay with her. After a few days, she was not well and Rajamani took her along with him to Bangalore where she breathed her last at 4.50 pm on Oct. 16, 1990.

There is a link between AVN’s family and TNK’s (AVN’s FIL) through this family-How?

Mrs AVN’s maternal uncle’s wife viz. her mother Mangalam Ammal’s mother’s (Gnyanambal’s) sister’s son Natesa Sastry’s wife N.Kamakshi Ammal @ Chinna Mami for us (Freedom Fighter and Founder of Salem Maadar Sangam situated at Cherry Road) was Summanji’s cousin.

Also Summanji (therefore Mappillaipattu’s) mother’s (Jagadeesan’s wife Maduram Ammal’s) brother was S.Appuswami Ayyar Advocate Madurai (husband of Kutti/Jeje, sisters of Mrs AVN)—In short, AVN’s Shaddagar S. Appuswami Iyer was AVN’s maternal uncle’s wife’s brother.

                                                           -----------------------------------------

                                                                             CHAPTER--7

AVN’s youngest sister was named as SAMPOORNAM and was called at home as Thangamani or simply ThanguS   .

When AVN set up his legal practice in SALEM and we were living in the Chinna Kadaitheru home, she was of Elementary school-going age, 6 or 7 years. Her bitterest pill was school-going. Bhavani (my grandmother) would depute Mrs AVN (My mother) for the job of escorting and leaving Thangamani at the school. My mother would first talk to her sweetly, coaxing her to follow her by taking a few steps in the direction of the school. Thangamani would not budge. Next Mother would gently pull her and Thangamani would resist by trying to drag mother in the opposite direction. Ultimately mother would be left with no option but to gather Thangamani along with the school bag  in her arms and physically carry her on her waist up to the school, throughout  the way receiving a shower of blows, pinches, scratches, each administered by Thangamani with a respectful epithet of curse, “Manni  will you be well?”(Manni Neenga Nannaa Iruppelaa?”, “Manni Neenga Vaazhvelaa?”). On reaching the school, mother would gently deposit her on the school bench in her class and return home dishevelled and bruised. Though my mother was herself possibly 15 years of age then was too young to carry a grown up girl of 8 years. Nevertheless, she would reminisce about this instance more as a loving elder sister than as a complaint. In fact, after attaining woman’s estate, Thangamani when she was over forty years, would express to Mother “Manni, I used to trouble you, while going to school so much in those days. How did you endure all that?” She grew up at Salem for a few years and then at Madras, along with ANV after his retirement. In due time, she was married to Mr. A.S.Krishnamurthi.  Though initially there was some incompatibility, but soon amelioration took place.

They had two daughters called Kamala @ Kamalu and Rajalakshmi @ TP.  Kamalu was married to a Professor in Karaikkudi and they were blessed with a boy and a girl. Son, Murali was reported to be prospering well in cinematographic field while the daughter, a Post-Graduate Mathematics Degree- Rank-Holder of the University and is probably a lecturer in a famous Ladies’ College (Ethiraj?) in Madras. TP is married to an Officer in an Ocean-going vessel and they are well off with two daughters. ASK and Thangamani are no more. Kamalu’s husband also passed away in 1996 or so. Link with this family is also maintained. Kamalu attended marriage of Aparna (My eldest daughter) in Tiruvanmiyur in November 1994. Now and then telephonic contact is kept whenever we visit Chennai.

                                                                      ----------------------------------

                                                                                   CHAPTER—8

“Marriages are made in Heaven”---- So the saying goes. It proved to be right in case of AVN’s Marriage. It was like this. When AVN’s marriage was being contemplated in 1918 or thereabouts, probably there were two are three proposals on hand. T.K.Meenakshi, “the Tiruppathur Girl” was approved. Meanwhile another alliance had also reached an advanced stage and so my maternal grandfather TNK was given to understand that the other match was getting finalised and so he may take action accordingly. TNK who was at Madras in that connection informed home in Bobbili of the failure of the mission and was scheduled to leave Madras back home. Meanwhile, as divinity had ordained, the other proposal fell through due to some reason. Next day when TNK had come to the Madras Central Station and was about to board the train for Bobbili, he was accosted by S.A.Srinivasa Sarma (Chinni Periyappa-SAV’s elder brother) who apprised TNK of the turn of events and prevailed upon TNK to re-approach A.N.V.by referring to their conversation, and finalise.TNK was pleasantly surprised; came to meet ANV but in his absence met Bhavani and exchanged Thamboolam formally with Ganapathi Sastrigal (Bhavani’s younger sister  Kamu’s husband) as male representative on behalf of ANV; finalised the marriage of A.V.N. and T.K.M. and telegraphed home(Bobbili) conveying the happy outcome of the visit. The Girl’s side people in far away Bobbili were also puzzled in receiving telegram after telegram, one conveying that the proposal was off and another intimating that the marriage was settled. What greater joy could have been there in that family than this, at that time! Thus it was that on the auspicious day of

                                                                                                                              

The marriage of A.V.Narayanaswami and T.K.Meenakshi took place at Nellore.

                                                                         CHAPTER--9

Now, let us try to know the “WHO-IS WHO” in Mr T.N.Krishnaswami Iyer’s (My Maternal Grandfather’s Family).

Standing-(Lto R) T K Meenakshi(MrsAVN),Mrs AlameluNagarajan,TKNagarajan,Chinna@Parvathi,
Sitting-Bhageerathi(Papa),Mrs TNK(Mangalam) with TKBhanu,TNK,Jeje(Jayalakshmi)
Floor--Kutty and Payya @ TKViswanathan (Champa@TKSampoornam was not yet born then)
( circa 1922)

TNK’s paternal Grandfather was VEERARAGHAVA SARMA and Paternal Grandmother MUKTAMBAL @ Muttammal.  Their son was Nanjunda Dikshitar, who was married to PARVATI. He was reported to have performed a Yagam, because of which he was entitled to suffix his name with the word Dikshitar. He also used to recite Sanskrit Slokas and explain the meaning to my mother (his grand- daughter) when she was a child. They had one son KRISHNASWAMI (TNK) and two daughters, both younger to him. The sisters were married and lived in Tiruppattur itself with their respective families. One of the sisters had two sons called RAMUDU (who was later called RAMUDU ATHAAN) and BhavaniSankaran and a girl named LakshmiDevi.

Another sister of TNK (Name not available) had 3 sons, named CHENGALVAROYAN, MAHADEVAN and GOPALAN and a daughter called RAJALAKSHMI. Chengalvaroyan had come to our Mettu street House in Salem in the 1940s/1950s. Chengalvaroyan later settled down in Jabalpur in the 1970s when the elder of his 2 sons was a Bank Manager in a place called SAGAR while the younger son was in some private firm at Jabalpur.

Rajalakshmi had 2 daughters. After AVN’s marriage in 1918, when my mother was just 12, there was not much of a link with TNK’s Co-borns and their families, except through passing references in the course of conversations. In a span of almost 40 and odd years (1919-1962), which was spent at SALEM, only Chengalvaroyan visited us once or twice and there was no occasion or scope for any interaction with these families. This being the situation, in 1953 or thereabouts, i.e. after a gap of over forty years, my mother, during one of her evening visits to the temple, observed two young girls performing “Katha-Kalakshepam”(musical religious discourse). Mother was impressed and her enquiries revealed they were none else but her Athai’s (father’s sister’s) granddaughters, who were escorted by their uncle maternal uncle Mahadevan. {By the way, ladies-giving- musical- discourse, was a rare feature in those days. After BANNI BAI, these girls were the ones. Then in the 1970-74, I had heard the Kathakalakshepam by SIVANANDA VIJAYALAKSHMI at Jabalpur.  Now after a gap of another 50 years, we have “Visakha Hari” and a few more lady performers of Harikatha}

Mother brought them to our house and introduced them to father, self and my sister Nirmala. It was a surprise evening family get-together. The girls rendered some songs and we also sang. They left that evening itself. After about a couple of years, it was learnt that Mahadevan married the elder of the two sisters. Thereafter we had again lost touch with the family, till 1971, when it was once again by a coincidence, during our stay at Jabalpur with parents, we discovered that Chengalvaroyan and family were also resident at Jabalpur. Then we could exchange occasional visits during 1971-74. After our shifting to Jalgaon, we have again lost touch with that family.

TNK’s wife MANGALAM (my maternal grandmother) was daughter of Seetharamayyar (Vakil at Mayavaram) and Gnyanambal.  Seetharamayyar’s father was Subbayyar who was holding the post of DUBHASH in EAST INDIA COMPANY who were the original rulers that handed over the administration to the British Crown.

Mangalam had two brothers, 1-Krishna Iyer who was a Vakil at Sirkazhi (Shiyali) and 2- Venkataramaier who was Salt Sub-Inspector. Mangalam had a sister called ALAMELU whose husband was KARNAM at PANDANALLUR (ANDANAINALLUR). Mangalam’s mother Gnyanambal (my maternal great grandmother) had a sister also called Mangalambal who was married to SWAMINATHA IYER of KOZHIKUTTI (KOZHUVATTI). By the way Kozhi (The bird Cock) is depicted in the Banner (Flag) of Lord Subrahmanya (Swaminatha). This couple had 4 sons and a daughter named—Sevvaipettai Subrahmania Iyer (Vakil Salem), S.Rajagopala Iyer (Tahsildar), Sivaraman(who died due to drowning while in college), Natesa Sastri (Vakil, Salem) and Kunjammal(widowed at 9 years of age).

As soon as AVN set up legal practice and settled at Salem, Sevvaipettai Subrahmania Iyer and his wife Nagalakshmi visited our house, saying that they have been told that GNYANAM’s grand-daughter had come to Salem and they had been asked to look up and give any assistance needed. This laid the foundation for an association between our two families from 1920 to 1962 at Salem and continued still by the descendents of both families in the next generation. Sevvaipettai Subrahmania Iyer became “PERIYA MAMA” and Nagalakshmi “PERIYA MAMI” for AVN’s Family. Natesa Sastry therefore became “CHINNA MAMA” and his wife KAMAKSHI AMMAL (Freedom fighter, who used to refer to INDIRA GANDHI as “Child Indu”) our “CHINNA MAMI”. Periya Mama has always been a respected and trusted elderly relative to AVN who consulted and took his advice in important family matters, particularly in astrological readings in which science he was an authority.

PeriyaMama and PeriyaMami had 3 daughters and 1 Son named as under:-

Bhagyalakshmi @ Bhagyam; Rajalakshmi @ Rajammal; Kamala and Ramaswami @ Ramamurthy.

Bhagyam was married to G.K.Venkataraman of Ganapati Agraharam and they had 5 daughters and 3 sons –Their names:-Rajammal; G.V.K.Murthy; Kamala; Kalyanaraman; Kamakshi; Rukmini; Lakshmi and G.V.Subramanian.

Rajammal was married to Balasubramanian and they have a son Seetharaman, who works for TOSHNIWALs at NASIK (Nov. 1996); GVK Murthy was married to Lalitha; Kamala to Subramanian; Kamakshi to Venkatesan; Rukmini to Vishnumurthy; Lakshmi to R.Nagarajan.

Bhagyam and GKV had spent their life in Hyderabad. There was a general feeling that Bhagyam was suffering much in her place; Never-the-less, as may be seen, she has been able to bring up a large family.

Rajammal was married to K Sitaraman. Both had literary pursuits and poetically inclined. Rajammal had brought out quite a few books of poetry with devotional content and patriotic songs on Independent India, set to music conforming to Raga and Tala with notations. One of the books I had come across, in the 1950s, was titled, “INNISAI KAVI MALARKAL”. One of the songs, ‘JAYA JAYA SWATANTRA BHARATA BHOOMI, JANA NAYAKA BHOOMI’, was set to music as a Ragamalika by Sangeeta Vidwan Gana Kala Chandra SALEM G DESIKAN, who popularised such songs in his concerts over the All India Radio and other public concerts and also taught them to his pupils (including NEELA, E G Jayalakshmi, my sister Nirmala and others). This couple lived in Madras and had no issues. After the demise of Sitaraman, she was joined by her mother, Periya Mami (Because Periya Mama had also passed away due to old age). After Periya Mami’s passing away, Rajammal had shifted to a farther place from Madras, called PAYYANOOR, near MAMALLAPURAM, as she had to make both ends meet with her meagre resources.

 Now let me recall a strange incident. My mother TKM (Mrs AVN) had posted a letter to Rajammal’s Madras address in 1988; after getting redirected, it reached the PAYYANOOR destination (which is about 40 km from Madras) in 10 Years time! Rajammal replied to this letter in 1997-98 to my mother giving her present whereabouts. Then she was presumably running 91 or so and my mother was 96 years and she had requested for a photo of TKM’s father’s (MY maternal grandfather T N Krishnaswami Iyer’s) portrait, to whom she wished to dedicate her latest publication of tamil songs, which was ready to be released shortly. Accordingly I had picked out his portrait from the old family group photo and sent it to her. Rajammal sent us the booklet, which carried the photo of grandfather with her tribute expressing her gratitude and appreciation of TNK’s good nature, true affection to his kith and kin and his encouragement to classical music and poetry. A few weeks after release of this publication the lady breathed her last. I am preserving these books as mementoes.

KAMALA, PERIYAMAMA/PERIYAMAMI’s 3^rd daughter was married to Balasubramanian @ Balan of MELATTUR. Balan served the Central Railway and rose to a fairly senior position, which entitled him for a Saloon coach, for his official tours. They had 4 sons and a daughter—by name RAJAGOPAL @ RAJU; RADHAKRISHNAN; RAMACHANDRAN @ RAMU; SHANTHA; and RAGHAVAN.

Raju and Radhakrishnan had tragic ends as young lads, when they got drowned in CAUVERY RIVER, which was in spate and was flowing just touching the back door of their house. This was rather a bad shock for all. (If we refer to the Family Tree sheet No V-5, Periyamama’s younger brother Sivaraman was also reported to have died by drowning when he was in college. These boys were PeriyaMama’s grandsons.)

Ramu served the Neyveli Lignite Corporation, in various capacities and attained a senior position. Ramu was married to Sau. Mythili, daughter of a Mirasdar.  They have four children SRIDHAR, SABITA, SUJATA, and SOWMINI.  

SHANTHA was married to A.KRISHNASWAMI{S/o AYYASWAMI IYER (Nagpur)}. At the time of marriage Krishnaswami was an Engineer in Babcock and Wilcox and later became a successful Consulting Engineer. Out of the many projects he handled, a Galvanizing Plant installed at Mettur, in the year 1957-58 is probably still going strong. They had no issues. Krisnaswami, however fulfilled his dutiful responsibilities of fixing up and celebrating the marriages of his three nieces, who had lost their parents. Mr Krishnaswamy’s characteristic expression used to be-“I am always precise”-pausing for a little while on the last syllable “SSSS......”  While I was at Jabalpur (serving in the Telecom Training Centre there during 1970-74), A.Krishnaswami and Shantha were also there in connection with a project and were living in a bungalow called “GULMOHUR” on the road leading from Sadar to River Gaur or on the road to Marble Rocks, which I have forgotten. Again, while we were at Jalgaon from 1976 onwards, Mr Krishnaswami paid us a couple of visits. On all these visits, he would always bring lot of fruits while paying his respects to our parents. When father’s(AVN) ‘Sathabhishekam’ was performed at Madras, on which occasion the “Upanayanams”  of Ch Ramesh ( My Periyanna’s-AVN’s Eldest son Thambi’s son)  and Ch Swami(AVN’s 3^rd son Krishnamurthy’s son ) were also celebrated, A.Krishnaswami attended and covered all the events by taking photographs, himself being an expert amateur photographer. He was kind enough to present us with not only a complete set of all photographs but a well-stacked set of Negatives for us to take extra copies. Once again an example of God’s trials of good people occurred in his life also. While on a train journey, for some ordinary fever, a doctor administered an injection, probably affecting a nerve. What went wrong nobody knew. He was paralysed for rest of his life. Over a period of 19 years he was bed-ridden. Initially he was continuing his consultancy with the help of Shantha and by employing a Stenographer. But by and by as time passed, his bodily movements were slowing down; Shantha had been taking care of him as a dutiful wife with loving care. We used to visit them at their Residence in Canal cross cut road in Tiruvanmiyur now and then. And lastly, in June 1994, as soon as my daughter Aparna’s marriage was fixed, Aparna and myself had been there to apprise him of the good news and take their blessings. At that time, though his voice was reduced to a whisper, his mental faculties were very sharp. He conversed with Aparna about her Education, job, her would-be husband, their future plans etc. He also enquired me of my profession, parents, and other members of the family. After Aparna’s marriage in Nov 1994, both Aparna and Karthik(her husband) could call upon him and spend time with them. Later in Feb 1996, he expired. Shantha continues to reside in the same house. Recently in 2009, she also attended Aparna’s son (my grandson) Jitu’s Upanayanam at Swamy Hall in Mandaiveli (RK Mutt Rd).

Kamala predeceased Balan. Balan lived to a ripe old age of 96 or so.

Kamala’s youngest son Raghavan was married to Janaki and had 2 sons KRISHNA and RAVISHANKAR. Unfortunately Janaki passed away leaving the two children motherless. Raghavan then married Vijayalakshmi, who not only fondly brought up the two boys but also bore a son named Raju. They are reported to be living in SION Mumbai. Raghavan attended my 3^rd daughter Shailaja’s marriage at Matunga in March 2001 when my mother was present as the eldest member (GOM) of the Family.

ANOTHER LINK WITH PeriyaMama’s FAMILY-----Balan is cousin- brother of A N Krishnamurthy’s (AVN’s 3^rd son) Father-in Law Mr S.Ramamrutham.

PeriyaMama’s only son S.Ramaswami @ Ramamurthi (Born 1911) – did his BSc and joined the Central Railway with Hd.qrs. at BOMBAY. He was married to Sau Janaki. They have two daughters and two sons named:- VATSALA, CHANDRASEKHAR @ SEKHAR, BALACHANDER and MALATHI;

 Vatsala is married to P.R.SUBRAMANIAN and they have a daughter called KALPANA.

 Sekhar is married to ANNAPURNA and was at GUNA in Madhya Pradesh (1998).

 Balachander’s wife is SARASWATI. Balachander is serving in The Central Bank of India near Flora Fountain Mumbai (1998) and their child’s name is HEERA.

MALATHI is married to RANGANATHAN and they have two boys by name AMRIT and ABHISHEK. They live in the opposite bungalow of SHANTHA’s place in Canal Cross cut Street in Tiruvanmiyur, Madras.

Ramaswami along with his elder daughter Vatsala attended my daughter APARNA’s Marriage in Tiruvanmiyur and blessed the couple. In February 1997, Ramaswami visited Jalgaon to pay his respects to my mother (TKM) who was 5 years elder to him. He was, though aged 81, was still keeping his interest alive. He had brought some of his paintings and drawings, which were very nice. He had also brought with him some old family photographs of PeriyaMama/Mami and his family; stayed for a couple of days with us picking up the lost threads with mother. At that time he was using a hearing-aid as he was somewhat short of hearing. He updated the genealogical tree and carried with him a copy of the same .After reaching Bombay, he wrote to us how delighted he felt going through the same and expressed it was interesting to learn how the following celebrities were our relations.

RUKMINIDEVI ARUNDALE (who established Kalakshetra in Besant Nagar and who gave Bharata Natyam a respectable place) PAPANASAM SIVAN---The Poet and Saint ; MGRamachandran-Tamil Actor and Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu; GEMINI GANESH-Film Actor; R.Venkataraman-President of India.

Our Family was not close with PeriyaMama’s brothers S.Rajagopala Iyer or his sister Kunjammal and their families. Please refer to the Family Tree (Sheet No V-5). However his younger brother NATESA SASTRY whom we called CHINNAMAMA who was a Vakil staying SRIRANGAPALAYAM( EXTENSION) and his wife N.KAMAKSHI AMMAL whom we called CHINNAMAMI were close to us. Chinnamami had special affection for our mother and the children. Their’s was a Bungalow with open space around and enclosed by a low compound wall. Chinna mama had developed a garden with lots of Flower-bearing plants, hedges, bowers etc. We always liked a trip to their house which used to be once in 3 or 4 months. From Mettu street we used to travel by Horse-driven cart (Jutka); Spend our time lazing round the garden while mother as talking with Mami and Mama-picking Manithakkalikkai and Malai sundaikkai. We also used to notice snake’s (sloughs) shed outer skin. Chinna Mami’s house- keeping was impeccably neat and tidy. Rows and rows of glass jars and containers, arranged in order of size in which mouth-watering pickles, sugar candies and other grocery items would be stored and displayed. A vertical oblong mud water pot with lid on the top and a gleaming brass water tap at the bottom containing cool water in which aromatic herb bunch of Vetiver or Khus-Khus will be dipped. In the after-noon she will prepare some hot snacks like Pakodas or Bhajjis or Adais for us. She had a portly and benign demeanour. Kamakshi Ammal took active part in Satyagraha as per Mahatma Gandhi’s call and participated National Freedom Movement. She was even jailed by British Govt. She established the First Ladies’ Association called “MAADAR SANGHAM” It is located on Cherry Road SALEM even today. In their house they had electric lights with curved lamp-shades that could be raised or lowered, as per requirement, being provided with counterweights. The walls of their hall were adorned with rows of large Ravi-Varma pictures notable among them being “Gangaavataran” depicting Lord Shiva ,standing with arms akimbo and wide-spread and fluttering matted hair, holding the descending waters of Ganga on his locks, while Bhageerata was watching this from the right and Parvati standing in front of Shiva.

 Chinnamama’s hobbies included ‘Bee-Keeping” and he used to maintain an apiary. As youngsters, my brothers Thambi, Chichu and Krishnamurthy  had seen him don gauze-mask and gloves, and take out honey from the honey combs and offer the extracted honey to them in fascinating jars shaped like cat, pistol etc. Chinnamama also had Radio (valve-set) with a dial type tuning indicator for hearing news coverage. He was also somewhat short of hearing. Unlike his elder brother (Periyamama), he sported a moustache, which was a cross between Stalin’s and Hitler’s. He had the habit of using snuff powder, whenever he visited our home at No 21 Mettu Agraharam St Salem Town. He would talk about his research on the similarity between Greek and Hindu Mythologies. A few samples are:-  ChinnamamaS would ask AVN, “Who do you think your HERCULES is?” AVN would reply in gesture,(since he would not like to shout back, as Chinnamama was short of hearing)as if asking him back, ”who?”. Chinnamama would say, “HERCULES is none else but Our HARI- KULA- EESHA!”. Next question he would shoot, “What do you think your ADDISABABA is?” AVN would repeat his earlier gesture and lips and hand movements. Chinnamama would declare with pride,” Addis-a-Baba is nothing else but our AADI-EESHA-APPA-APPA!” After a couple of more such questions and answers, AVN would ask mother to continue the conversation on his behalf, excusing himself for attending to his office work. Chinnamama, while talking would also be pacing up and down the verandah (Thaavaaram), running along the length of the Hall, the separating lintel being supported by two cylindrical truncated -cone-shaped sturdy teak wood pillars, called ‘THOON’ in Tamil. Mama would be normally using his special hand-kerchief for wiping off the excess snuff from his nostrils; we would be having doubts that he might have used the pillars for this purpose. So after his departure, the pillars would get a wiping by wet cloth! I may relate more episodes on Periyamama and Chinnamama in a later chapter in this narration.                                                                                                   Chinnamama/mami had no issues. After Chinnamama in the 1950s, Chinnamami sold their bungalow and shifted to Kadalangudi Street in KUMBAKONAM.

Chinnamami had her relatives CHANDRU, LALITHA and VIMALA. Lalitha was married to Dr Bala Gangadhara Tilakam; who was brother of K.V.Sundaresa Iyer Advocate Salem (who was residing at a house opposite to Chinnappayyan’s grocery store near Salem town Railway station. Incidentally Chinnappayyan (Real name Ramasami Chettiar) was younger brother of Pazhani Chettiar who was having his shop next to our house in Chinna Kadaitheru, opposite to Mallur Mariya Pillai’s Herbal stores (Naattu Marundukkadai). Lalitha, Thilakam and family were originally put up in an out- house of Chinnamama/mamas’ bungalow in Salem. Later they shifted to a house near the main vegetable market originally called Silver Jubilee Market and later renamed after  Indian Independence  as Va-oo-Si market (short for the freedom fighter V.O.Chidambaram Pillai who started Swdeshi Shipping Company thereby putting an end to British Govt. Monopoly). After a few years of private practice, he shifted to Delhi, as a Medical Officer in a Government Hospital as VD Specialist (1962). We lost touch with them. Chinnamami, while at Kumbakonam, during the evening of her life, was looked after by Srivanchiyam Ramachandra Bhagavathar, trained in Melattur Bhagavathamela style, nick-named as Natana Bhagavathar. In 1970, AVN (father), Bapan (my next brother Vaidyanathan), his wife Saroja & Child Vijay Gopal, my-self and Wife Jaya visited her at Kumbakonam. At that time, as Chinnamami was elder to father by six days or so, AVN prostrated before her and received her blessings. We were all treated with tasteful and sumptuous lunch. Chichu (AVN’s 2^nd son Rajagopalan and his wife Tripura ie-2^nd daughter of Uncle TKNagarajan) along with TKN and Mrs TKN, also visited Chinnamami, when they were proceeding to Thyagarajapuram. Later in 1984 or so, Thambi (AVN’s eldest son Ramachandran) and Chichu visited her at Chandru’s house at Madras. After a few years she passed away.

 Many years later in 2011, when myself and wife visited Shantha Krishnaswami (Periyamama’s granddaughter) at her residence in Canal cross cut street in Tiruvanmiyur,  she showed me a News item in THE HINDU which paid tribute to Mrs N Kamakshi Ammal (Chinnamami) for her services to the Nation as a Lady Freedom Fighter from Salem and also for establishing the first Women’s Club (MAADAR SANGAM) in SALEM.

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                                                                             CHAPTER---10

T.K.NAGARAJAN – was the eldest son of T.N.Krishnaswami Iyer (my maternal Grandfather) and elder brother of T K Meenakshi Ammal (My mother). Mother’s recollection of elder brother is one of warmth. TKN had the habit of explaining things in a very loving way. When mother was receiving the Veena tuition at home , TKN, by observation, would play running his left hand fingers from the top (as Gottuvadyam ) instead placing the left arm below and bending it around from the front. He was a quick-witted person and entertained people with a fund of jokes. He was one of the earliest members in the family to study Engineering; but due to family problems could receive a Certificate on completion of the course. He joined the Govt. Cordite Factory and  Power House at Katteri initially as “Chargeman” and later promoted as “FOREMAN”, which earned him the sobriquet Katteri-Mama referred to lovingly—A small explanation:”Katteri” (Kattu+Eri) means Jungle Lake in Tamil, but the word “Katteri” taken as a whole  referred to a Jungle imp or demoness ! Later TKN moved to ARAVANGADU; both places situated on the beautiful and picturesque mountain-rail-route from COONNOOR and OOTY. TKN was also a good Lawn-Tennis Player.

TKN was married to ALAMELU (daughter of Ramachandra Iyer of Tiruvarur and Meenakshi). Ramachandra Iyer’s father was Narayanaswami. Ramachandra Iyer had visited us at Salem quite a few times. As a boy of 8 years, I recollect him as a good elderly gentleman. One of his legs was afflicted with elephantiasis. In those days Kumbakonam area was infested with Filarial mosquitoes. ALAMELU had two elder brothers called T R Thyagarajan @ Thaachu (who was Advocate at Madras) and T R Sundaresan who joined the Collectorate at Chengalput and retired as The Head Clerk there. Sundaresan resided at his Father-in-law’s bungalow named as “ASHRAM” located at the junction of Hensman Road (now called Kavignyar Kannadasan Road) and Venkatanaraya Road in T’Nagar, Madras. Thyagu was married to his paternal aunt’s daughter. ALAMELU had a younger sister called Rukmini @ Rukku who was married to a Mirasdar (Landlord) in Thyagarajapuram.

Uncle TKN had five issues-2 sons and 3 daughters; named SRIKANTAN @ Srikandu, ANANTHALAKSHMI @ Pattu, T N NARAYANASWAMI @ NANU,TRIPURASUNDARI @ TRIPURA and RAJESWARI @ RAJAM.

SRIKANDU was shaping into a promising, healthy all-rounder, good in academics as well as Games. While doing his PhD at Bombay, one day he got drenched in rain and was laid up with fever, which turned malignant and snatched away his life all of a sudden, in the prime of his youth. This tragedy had been a great shock to all of us in the family and took a long time for all to recover from the sad event.

PATTU was married to Dr S.Sundararaman DM&S. As newly married couple, they had come to Salem where Dr. S was attached to the Central Jail, with residential quarters in the Jail campus, opposite to District Court. Pattu had a very frank, open and loving nature with a kind heart.              —Permit me a digression here- In those days, prisoners undergoing jail terms would be given the duty to do menial jobs at the residences of jail authorities. That way one prisoner was attached to Dr. S’ residence also. Let us call him “APPU”.  Pattu used to pity at the plight of prisoners in jail and so offer Appu tasty edibles, many times hot and fresh from the frying pan. Whenever Dr. S had night-duty, Pattu would come to our home in Mettu Agraharam St, because in those days the area where jail quarters were situated was a desolate and lonely.  On one such occasion, myself and my brother Bapan had been to their quarters to pick her up almost at dusk. Pattu carried with her the excess milk in a vessel and Dr S had also come to the Town Bus stop just at their gate on the main road. Just before the bus arrived, the milk vessel which was hung on the break lever of Dr S’s new NORMAN Bi-cycle handle- bar, fell down and the entire milk spilt out and immediately absorbed by the sandy soil. However we three got into the bus and reached home.   Next morning when Pattu was getting ready to return to her quarters, surprisingly Dr Sundararaman arrived at our home on his bi-cycle wearing an out-of- the- normal dress of Khakhi Half Trousers, socks, shoes and shirt tucked in. We were shocked to hear a bad news. When he returned from night duty in the morning, he found that the house was burgled. The burglar had entered the house by bending the window bar and took out the only trunk containing a few valuables and dresses. The earlier day the prisoner, APPU, who was assigned duty to work in their quarters, was released from the prison on completion of his jail-term. He could not be traced. Notwithstanding receiving such nice treatment, he proved the proverb true viz. “Kulattalave Aagumaam Gunam” meaning that “Virtue is as good as one’s lineage”. My mother said that “spilling of milk” always boded evil and this was also proved correct. We shuddered to think that if only Pattu had remained at home what would have been the consequences. In normal circumstances she would have left her costly waist-band in its circular container at home. But by sheer sixth sense, she had chosen to wear it while coming to our home. The thief’s main object seemed to be to steal that waist band; this was later evidenced from the dented circular container which was found thrown with anger by the disappointed burglar.

Incidentally, Dr S.’s Paternal Uncle’s son happened to be Mr R.VENKATARAMAN, who later became Industries Minister of Madras State and PRESIDENT of The INDIAN REPUBLIC. Except that this is a factual matter of information, we had no connection with him otherwise.

PATTU and Dr Sundararaman had 3 daughters and two sons. They were called KAUSALYA, CHITRA, CHARU, SRIDHAR and RAVISHANKAR. After the birth of KAUSALYA, Dr S got transferred to a place called PALAKKODU near Hogenakkal Falls. On one occasion, Mother TKM, Nirmal and myself visited PALAKKODU and stayed there for a couple of days when Dr S had taken us to Hogenakkal Falls in a Taxi whose driver’s name was Madaar. One peculiarity of starting his vehicle was by joining two wires and later disconnecting them for switching off the engine! At Palakkodu, Pattu had developed friendship with an elderly lady whom we called as “AVVA” which probably meant Grandma in Telegu. Her son was a Police sub-inspector and once they also visited our home in Salem on Motor bike (Sub inspector, his mother and his son). From Palakkodu Dr S got transferred to Chengalpattu, Tiruvannamalai, Trichy etc. Kausalya is married to Ramachandran, Chief Engineer, Neyveli Lignite Corporation and they have a daughter. Chitra chose teaching line and is probably a principal now   and her husband serves the Indian Army as Captain and they have a son. Charu is married to Rajagopalan (RV’s sister’s son) and settled in Dalmiapuram. Sridhar @ Dwarkanath works for Brakes India Ltd. Ravishankar is married and has a daughter called Soumya.

When they were at Chengalpattu, uncle TKN’s 3^rd daughter Rajam’s marriage with V Gopalan @ Gopu, was celebrated (1958).

 I could personally witness Dr S’s practical ability as an experienced doctor at that time. One evening I accompanied him to the Govt. Hospital, where many patients were waiting for him. It was probably a Sunday and no assistants/nurses were available. One farmer had dislocation of his jaw. Dr S, in presence of all of us, gripped the patient’s lower jaw and fixed it in place in a matter of just 30 seconds, much to the great relief of the patient! Dr S (probably in his eighties) and Pattu graced my brother A.N.Krishnamurthy’s son’s marriage at Hotel Kanchi in Chennai (Jan.1998 ). Now both Pattu and Dr S are no more.

T.N.Narayanaswami (called initially as Naanu and later as Narayanan at home) did his MSc. He had imbibed his father’s witticism to the full. So he was a good conversationalist. He married Saroja. Saroja served the All India Radio (AIR) as a News Reader in Tamil. In course of time, her name her name SAROJ NARAYANASWAMI became so much popular in Tamil Homes, so much so, uncle TKN in his usual humorous way introduce himself to new-comers as Father-in-law of Saroj Narayanaswami! The first few words of news reading used to be “Seidhikal- Vaasippadu Saroj Narayanaswami”. She has had the opportunity of interviewing many luminaries and celebrities, including the erstwhile Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu “M G R” and many others. It may be remembered that  those were the days when A I R and Doordarshan were the only public broadcasting media of the country. They are blessed with a son called JAYAKUMAR @ RAMESH and daughter called RADHIKA.

 Here a digression may be permitted an instance is worthy of mention in this context. In August 1997, after attending AVN’s 4^th son BAPAN’s Elder son VIJAY GOPAL’s marriage at VASHI,NAVI MUMBAI:  Chichu (AVN’s 2^nd son Rajagopalan)and wife TRIPURA; Krishnamurthy (AVN’s 3^rd son) and wife SULOCHANA, Hamsa (AVN’s daughter Niramal’s daughter) were to catch Rajdhani Express for Delhi from Mumbai Central and I was escorting all of them in a car. On the way, while crossing the creek ever the newly constructed bridge, we were caught in the heaviest monsoon downpour and deluge of the season, which totally paralysed all road and rail traffic and we were caught in traffic jam. Having left Vashi at 2 PM, we reached Bombay Central at 2 AM. The entire area was under waist-deep water with all trains cancelled. Thus stranded we managed to accommodate the travelling party to Delhi in near the Upper Class waiting Room for spending the remaining hours of the night and for getting refund of the tickets to be cancelled. It was remembered that TNN’s son Ramesh was put up somewhere nearby and luckily he could be contacted on phone. Around 7 AM, he came along with his friend in two cars and took charge of the stranded party and assured me that he would emplane them all to Delhi, by next available flight and did it, much to the relief of all.

RADHIKA is also married.

After demise of TNN, Saroj Narayanaswami is reported to be staying in Mumbai with her son Ramesh and family in Bhulabhai Desai Road area. We are not in touch thereafter. She may be aged 76 years or thereabout now- 2012)

Uncle TKN’s 2^nd daughter TRIURASUNDARI @ TRIPURA had spent her childhood in ARAVANGADU (NILGIRIS) and had her education in a convent school/college there and at Trichy up to Intermediate. A frank and open type, she had inherited the sprightliness and cheerful disposition of Uncle TKN to a great extent. Trained in Carnatic music, she could also handle with ease the ‘Veena’ instrument. She was married to AVN’s 2^nd son CHICHU (ANRajagopalan i.e. my 2^nd elder brother whom we call CHINNANNA). Thus my uncle’s daughter became my “Manni”. They have 2 daughters and 2 sons; three granddaughters; one grandson and a great-grand daughter. More details about this family will be covered in a later chapter of this narrative.

TKN’s 3^rd and youngest daughter’s name was RAJAM. Her childhood was also spent at NILGIRIS only and so her schooling was also in a Convent school there. Her college education was probably in Kanpur and Delhi. Uncle TKN, after completing his long tenure in Nilgiris, proceeded to Kanpur where he retired from service in Ordnance Factory. Thereafter he had some shorter stints of post-retirement jobs in Engineering Colleges/Hostels at KENDRAPARA (ORISSA) and DELHI. While he was at Delhi, RAJAM’s marriage got fixed up; and it was celebrated at CHENGALPATTU, where his Son-in-law Dr S Sundararaman was serving in The Govt Hospital. Rajam was married to Mr V Gopalan, a healthy and handsome person, who was employed in the organised sector occupying a senior position. Later on, he had been moving from place to place, being on his own; some time in Orissa, sometime in Pondicherry etc. They were blessed with 2 daughters by name REVATI and RENU and both are reported to be married. After their marriage (1958), I could meet Mr V Gopalan only during the marriage of Sau INDIRA (2^nd daughter of AVN’s 2^nd son Rajagopalan @ Chinnanna) at Delhi in 1988 i.e. after a gap of 30 years.  Rajam was suffering from breathing trouble and passed away .Mr Gopalan also breathed his last after her demise. Now we have lost touch with that family.

Uncle TKN, after having discharged his domestic obligations, wanted to settle down in the peaceful environs of a calm South-Indian village and started living at a place called Thyagarajapuram,a mile away from Narasingampettai. Having led a busy life throughout and being an active person by nature and as one who loves people and company like any engaging conversationalist, he soon realised life in that remote hamlet was not suitable to his temperament. So he shifted to Delhi with his wife to stay with their now only son, Narayanan. Thereafter with Delhi as Head Quarters, they used to periodically visit their kith and kin, far and near. One day, while at Delhi, in the month of January 1979, when my mother Mrs AVN (TKM aged 91 then) happened to pay a visit on her elder brother &family, he was found doing some mental calculations. Being an expert astrologer, he was just mentioning to my mother, either this-----day or next------day. At that time my mother could not get the import what he was referring to. On the next date predicted by him, he breathed his last. It was January 21, 1979. Aunt followed him after a few years.

                                                                    -----------------------------

                                                                            CHAPTER—11

TNK’s Eldest Daughter T.K.Meenakshi @ ‘PONNU’ (My Mother) was born on Feb 02, 1906 (Vishwavasu Varsham, Makara Masam (Thai) 21^st day, Friday Sukla Paksham) at ANAKAPALLI (in present Andhra Pradesh, erstwhile Madras Presidency). Much of her childhood days were spent at Bobbili, Jeypore and Vishakhapatnam. She had some elementary school education and home tuitions in Veena by expert Vainikas of that time in that area; till her marriage at the age of 12 to AVN in 1918

Mr and Mrs TNK had in all Nine issues, six girls and three boys.  More details are given in separate chapters later.

                                                    -----------------------------------------------------------                         

                                                                                      CHAPTER--12                                                                                                                                                                                                   TNK’s 2^nd daughter PARVATI @ CHINNA should have been born around 1908. She being immediately younger to TKM, TKM and Chinna had been close to each other.

TKM recalls one younger day incident. When they were small girls together in a Bobbili school, there was a running-race in which Chinna had participated. After the start of the race, Chinna had taken the lead; mid-way in the course, Chinna’s foot trod over a thorn, and so both Chinna and her immediate follower, who caught up with her, together breasted the tape at the same instant!

In due time, Chinna was married to Mr V.Srinivasan, B.A., L.T., of Ganapati Agraharam. He was a teacher in HINDU HIGH SCHOOL, Mylapore, Madras. He had 2 brothers called Narayana Iyer and Ganesa Iyer. Narayana Iyer had married Lakshmi, who had a pet name “KOTTAIPPAAKKU” (Meaning BETELNUT In Tamil).

Ganesa Iyer had a son VENU and a Daughter THAYYU through his first wife and THYAGU and CHINNA RAJU through his 2^nd wife.

CHINNA’s husband V Srinivasan was also related to AVN in another way. Srinivasan’s paternal uncle’s son was A.Rajagopala Iyer (AVN’s Sister Kunju’s husband). Thus there was a link between the families of ANV and TNK (My paternal and maternal grandfathers).ANV’s Son-in-law and TNK’s son-in-law were cousin brothers.

CHINNA and V.SRINIVASAN had 2 daughters and three sons called CHELLAM; PADMANABHAN @ PADDHU; TRIPURAM; SEKHAR (died as a child); RAJAGOPALAN @ RAJU.

Miss S Chellam, who did her B.Sc. (Hons.) in Botany, had an overseas assignment for a few years at Point Pedro in Ceylon. On return to India, she joined KING INSTITUTE at Madras as Water Analyst and served that organisation till retirement. A very miserable incident had occurred in her life which made her slightly limp throughout her life. When she was a young girl, a doctor performed a surgery in her ankle and by mistake some nerve got cut in the operation. This caused a permanent disablement making her limp for rest of her life, including her youthful years, all because of a surgeon’s mistake and carelessness. An otherwise good-looking, fair-complexioned, healthy person, she had to spend her life single and un-married. It was indeed a pity when one comes to think of it. Fate had been rather cruel to her. She spent her life in the service of helping her mother and co-borns, since her father V.Srinivasan died prematurely, soon after the marriage of TRIPURAM, leaving the family almost destitute. The family struggled to remain afloat after the initial shock, through the help and guidance of AVN on one hand and V.Srinivasan’s brothers on the other. V.Srinivasan was considering a change from Madras to Goa to join a better job with higher salary, prior to his sudden demise. At that point of time, all children were in schools and colleges. Paddhu in his junior intermediate, Chellam in her final year and Raju in the 5^th class, I think. Chellam was once laid up very seriously in the 1979 or so when she needed some close relative near her and had written to me whether I can send mother TKM from Jalgaon. Accordingly I escorted mother from Jalgaon to Wardha and entrained her into Delhi –Madras GT Exp going towards Madras. Mother stayed with her for as long as required till Chellam recovered. In 1987 or so, after her retirement, she made a tour which included Jalgaon also. She was very happy in the company of my children Aparna, Nikhila and Shailaja and of course her Periyamma , my mother TKM. That was her last visit and thereafter she again fell sick from which she never recovered and breathed her last at Madras at the Rakkiappa Mudali street (Mylapore) residence where she had lived for a fairly long time. She had endeared herself as almost a member of our family.

S.PADMANABHAN –after passing his Intermediate, learnt Short-hand and Type-writing and became an expert Stenographer. He joined the Central Secretariat at New Delhi and served there till retirement. Padhu   had imbibed from his father in full measure, the helpful attitude and to be of assistance to others, particularly in times of their need and misery, at times even if it would result in his own privations. This has been part and parcel of his life throughout. He had been blessed  with an ever-pleasant disposition of not taking small irritants in life seriously but always looking at the positive side of everything and being practical. He married Sau. Sivakamu. She was also a Government servant.  Again, she is also, by nature, a helpful type. The couple has been getting along well with all members of the family and relatives. Both rose to respectable level before they retired. After retirement they have been keeping themselves busy with some active occupation. They have two daughters and a son by name, SANDHYA, VIDYA and SRINIVASAN @ Cheenu. All are married and well settled. They stay at Janakpuri (Central) in New- Delhi.  Cheenu and his wife Savitri are now emulating the spirit of being of help to others, which has now become almost their family tradition. (They have two daughters called VAISHNAVI and VAISHALI.)

Just to name a couple of instances: In 1997, when AVN’s son-in-law T.V.Gopalaswami (husband of my younger sister Nirmala) had suddenly passed away in his Janakpuri flat, Cheenu was one amongst a few who rushed to help and assisted as well as he could in all the proceedings till the 13^th day of Subhasweekaranam. On another instance when my mother (Mrs TKM aged 92) was staying with my sister Nirmala at Janakpuri, she had a fall and hurt her forehead resulting in a deep gash of 3 inches length and loss of blood. Cheenu was on the spot, in addition to her grandson Ch DAJOO (A.R.RAMANATHAN SON OF CHICHU AVN’S 2^nd SON) to be of help to take her to doctor and have the wound stitched and bandaged. This apart he also helped in taking her daily/alternate days to doctor for examination and check up till the stitches were removed after a week.

Sivakamu had an accident during a bus journey in South which affected her spinal cord making her mobility confined to the home. Padhu also was suffering from cancer and was almost bedridden for almost 2 years and the family passed through difficult times. Even as I write these reminiscences, news is to hand that Padhu had passed away on JUNE 4, 2012.  Sivakamu who was admitted to ICU due to Heart problem has since been discharged but her health condition is reported as serious.

S.TRIPURAM was married to R.SEETHARAMAN, (Asst. Director of Tamil Box office hit VAAZHKAI(LIFE) in which VYJAYANTHIMALA made her debut as heroine and also LALITHA and PADMINI in supporting roles, and a few other films. Seetharaman also appeared in two cameo roles in the film VAAZHKAI, as a fisherman in two scenes who rescues the 2^nd heroine SriRanjani (?) from drowning and as a Doctor, administering blood infusion and an injection, in the last scene, saving the life of SriRanjani. He was a good vocal singer with soft well- functioning vocal chords. He gave a sample as to how a popular Hindi song of ANMOL GHADI (Jawaan -hai -Mohabbat, haseen haai zamaana lootaaya hai dil ne khushi sau khazaaana) sung by Noorjehan) could be dubbed into a Tamil song  in the same tune with words ‘Iravile Vandaan, Inba chuvai Thandu Maruviye Chendraan, Ammaaya Kallan Yaar’ ! Their marriage was attended by me (8yrs), sister Nirmala (6yrs) and mother at Chennai. On the evening of their marriage, after a procession of the couple and supper, they were seated in a swing and as requested by all ,  Seetharaman obliged the invitees by singing the then popular Tamil song of Film SRI VALLI (sung by P.A.PERIYANAYAKI) ‘Chinthai Arrindu Vaadi’, a Ragamalika, with additional imaginative sangatis.

After the marriage, the couple stayed in SIMLA and thereafter shifted to Calcutta to join a private firm. He spent a fairly long tenure there. While there Seetharaman continued his directorial talents as a hobby in staging many amateur stage dramas. While there, he experienced fluctuation of fortunes but his sense of humour never left him.

Four daughters and a son were born to them—VASANTHA, KANAKA, SUDHA, VIJI and RAJAGOPAL @ JOJO. One very good quality of TRIPURAM is her mild nature, again an inheritance from her maternal grandparents VIZ:- TNK and Mrs Mangalam. She brought up all her children by correcting them with soft words uttered in a persuasive way. (We brothers and sister also enjoyed similar treatment from our mother also, as juxtaposed to the stern leonine exterior of our dear father AVN!)

VASANTHA acquitted herself well in studies and did her MBBS creditably, mostly under the care of her maternal aunt CHELLAM at Madras. Rest of the children were all studying in Calcutta. Suddenly one day in 1961 or 1962, the company for which he was working had some problem and closed down. He laughingly informed my brother Krishnamurthy (who was also in Calcutta at that time) in a casual way that he would be a free man from the next day! After learning the details, k informed his FIL Mr Ramamritham (who was having a post-retirement assignment in Rourkela).By his timely guidance, Seetharaman got a suitable footing and continued his life’s journey. When the education of VASANTHA was over and she became a full-fledged Doctor and other children were near about their graduation, he just got a breather to move out of Calcutta for a trip on vacation; He visited us also at JABALPUR (1970-74). At that time parents AVN & TKM were also staying with us i.e., myself, Wife Jaya and Child Aparna. At that time he was quite relaxed and happy. Soon after his return to Calcutta, he expired suddenly due to heart-attack. Luckily by then, Dr. Vasantha was able to shoulder the responsibility of the family and all children were able to complete their studies. In due time, marriages also took place. Dr. Vasantha was married to Mr Muthuswami, who was a Faculty Member of the Administrative Staff College at Dehra Dun. They have a son.

KANAKA @ Vanitha---

VIJI married A CHANDRASEKHAR @ A.C.Sekhar (Son of Arunachalam, husband of Seetharaman’s sister) who is in the Computer Business.

RAJAGOPAL @ JOJO married Sau. Raji and they have a daughter called VIVEKA.JOJO was in the sals team of MADURA COATS Company to start with. Then he ran his own business under the name and style “VISTA INDFAB ENTERPRISES” for a few years. Now we learn he has again joined a corporate. VIVEKA is a Techie in TCS Chennai (as of 2011).

SUDHA ,the 3^rd daughter of TRIPURAM & SEETHARAMAN,a very promising girl, had the misfortune of being administered an injection by a doctor, while being treated for some ordinary fever, got paralysed in the legs and the child, since then, had to depend for her movements and mobility on others. She does whatever work she can by her hands, including Tailoring, stitching etc. Tripuram is currently aging (May be 79 in 2012), her hearing and eye-sight not being as sharp as before. Tripuram and Sudha are sometimes staying with JOJO (CHENNAI) and some time with VIJI/SEKHAR(MUMBAI). Incidentally JOJO and BHANU MAMA stay nearby each other viz. Kottivakkam and Kannappa Nagar (about 1 km from Tiruvanmiyur Bus Terminus.

CHINNA’s 4^th Child was called Sekhar but he died in infancy.

CHINNA’s 5^th child was a son called RAJAGOPALAN @ RAJU. He should have been 8 years or so when his father V.Srinivasan suddenly died. Brought up under the care of CHELLAM and Padhu, he studied in Madras and did his MA in ECONOMICS and MA in Geography. He was a voracious reader of English novels. His favourites in the 1958-1960s were, PETER CHEYNIE, ERLE STANLEY GARDNER, Ernest Hemingway and AGATHA CHRISTIE. It took a little time for him to settle down in life as he wanted a job to suit his tastes. Ultimately he found it in the Indian Institute of Management at Ahmedabad, where he joined the Publication Cell (Case Unit) and had a long tenure till retirement.  RAJU married SEETHA, A Trained Graduate Teacher. They have a girl named EKA and a boy named RAHUL.  EKA is married and lives with her husband at PUNE. RAHUL, after completing his education at Ahmedabad, is working at Delhi. He is also married. RAJU developed his interests in some hobbies. ORIGAMI is one. He has liking for printing and he even purchased a Curio-like looking but functional printing press, one-man operating system with a cranking pedal, moving ink-roller and a disc etc. He has developed a taste for listening to and appreciating both Carnatic and Hindusthani Classical music. He possesses a Record player and a good collection of LP Records of eminent musicians like Shruti Sadolikar and Maharajapuram Santhanam and the like. In his younger years he would not sing but whistle tunes of his liking one of which is Hemant Kumar’s song in film PATITA, “YAAD KIYA DIL NE KAHAN Ho Tum” and he would also tell the story which will be out of the normal but true. He has a subtle humour. He would say, given a choice between watching a TAMIL FILM and a HINDI FILM, he would prefer the latter. When I asked him, “Why, we don’t follow a single word in HINDI”. His reply was-“That is Why!”

This reminds me of my acquaintance Mr Arun Chatterjee of Bhusaval (1976-till date-A character built on the lines of Bertie Wooster of PGWodehouse novels). In the 1980s we had the only one Doordarshan Channel on TV all over India and there were no alternative channels as of today. People used to look forward to Sunday –afternoons. Every week a regional film from any Indian state will be telecast. If it is our mother tongue, we sit through. If not we turn off and feel happy to take a nap. But Arun Chatterjee made it a point to see all the films irrespective of the language. His explanation was that he turned down the volume to zero and watched the film as a silent movie, which is more interesting!

RAJU, having been brought up in Madras City, would also familiarise us with some epithets which are specialities of “Madras Tamil” like “ Enna Nayinaa”, “Enna Vathyaare”,”DINNU Kattippiduven” etc. My mother TKM had special attachment for all children of her sisters and so too with these children of Chinna Chithi, probably because they lost both their parents early in life. In reciprocation they too loved and regarded their “PERIYAMMA” (Big Mother) very much.

                                                                        CHAPTER-13

TNK’s 3^rd daughter SUNDARAMBAL @ KUTTI (meaning ‘small one’ in Tamil, similar to expression “GUDDI” in Hindi) must have been just 7 or 8 years old at the time of TKM’s(my Mother) marriage and departure to the in-law’s house.

                I do not have much information on her childhood except that she too was trained in VEENA. In due time, she was married to S.APPUSWAMI IYER, B.A., B.L., Advocate, MADURAI. He was from AYYAMPALAYAM. Incidentally he was also related as AVN’s Maternal Uncle T.V.Jagadeesan’s wife Madhurammal’s brother. After the delivery of the first child, SUNDARARAJAN @ RAJA, KUTTI died. In order to take care of the small child, Kutti’s younger sister JAYALAKSHMI @ JEJE was given in marriage to APPUSWAMI IYER as 2^nd wife. When RAJA was 8 years old, two children were born one after another, a daughter ANASUYA and a son KRISHNASWAMI @ AMBI. After the birth of the 2^nd child JEJE also died. Thereafter Appuswami Iyer was both father and mother to the children, and RAJA took care of his younger sister and brother. Thus they all slowly grew to adulthood. My mother TKM had special attachment for these children too being her younger sisters’ off-springs and mother-less from childhood. These children were also much attached to their (and our) maternal Grandmother Mangalam Ammal (Mrs TNK, also known as Mambalathu Amma). In 1947-48, when there used to be family get-together in TNK’s Bungalow, Sri Ramakrishna Niwas No.2 Hensman Road (Now called Kannadasan Road) T’Nagar Madras, Raja will ask Grandmother to sing the song composed by some anonymous poet of Madras, describing the journey from Madras Beach Station to TAMBARAM Station, when suburban Electric Trains were introduced on Metre Gauge lines, at the turn of the century 1900-1901. A couple of lines go like this,” Kandomadi Saidappettai, Kaanudhadi Parangimalai” meaning, SAIDAPET has gone by, and St Thomas Mount is sighted. There are two stories as to why St Thomas Mount is called Parangi Malai. Parangi in tamil means Red Gourd (Cucurbita Maxima) and we were under the impression that the hill was reddish in colour and shaped like a plump pumpkin. Actually it was not so. The English- men had some official residence and church there. The Foreigners were referred to as ‘Firangi’ in Hindustani which later got into ‘Parangi’ in Tamil -!

               Allow me a small diversion here. While on the subject of instances where English or Anglicised names got converted to different words in vernacular with different meanings, let me give two interesting examples. In Mylapore, Madras, there is a bus-halt by name, Barber’s Bridge. This was an important landmark in earlier days, when the backwater canal was being used for navigation an transport. It was named after a Britisher by name HAMILTON. The word underwent following changes in Tamil by progressive usage as “AMILTON”, then “Amtan” and Lastly “Ambattan”, the last mentioned word meaning “Barber”. Then it came to be known as “Barber’s Bridge”, after transliteration and got shortly referred to as “BB” in City Buses. BB was also a City bus terminus. Another example is the Railway Station “Makudan Chavadi” near Salem originally named as McDonald’s Choultry got converted into the above word which led to the meaning Crown Choultry; (MUKUT, MAKUT= Crown and Choultry meaning Chavady)

                RAJA studied up to Intermediate and entered service in Central Bank at Madurai. He was married to GOWRI daughter of Devaraja Iyer of SALEM. They have two sons, SURESH    (working at Madras) and BALAJI (working at Dindigul). RAJA and GOWRI have settled at DINDIGUL. RAJA keeps staying 6 months in Dindigul and 6 months with Suresh at Nanganallur near Pazhavanthangal Rly. Stn.

               ANASUYA studied up to college level at Madurai and was married to M.S.Venkatasubramanian, her paternal aunt Ananthalakshmi’s son. MSV served the Indian Audit & Accounts Dept. Bombay and later he was on deputation at KOTA for a fairly long period. He even had a house of his own named “GURUKRUPA” with the idea of probably settling down there. At a fairly late stage in his life, it was learnt, in order to help out his brother SAMBAMOORTHY from some financial problems, he had to dispose off his house. Thereafter he had to move to Delhi and again to Bombay where he suddenly breathed his last on MARCH 25, 1984.

                They have three sons, DIVAKARAN @ DIVA, RAGHU and SHANKAR. DIVA is married to KRUPA and they have two children SWATI & SAHIL. RAGHU is married to SUBHA and they have two children, SAURABH & PAVITRA. SHANKAR is married to MALA. All of them are put up at Thane (W). ANASUYA along with her son and grandson visited JALGAON to see her maternal AUNT Periyamma (Mrs TKM i.e. my mother) in 1997. Her 2^nd Daughter-in-law SUBHA’s sister JAYANTI and her husband Suresh Panchapakesan @ Panchu (MARICO) and child MEGHNA were also staying at Jalgaon at that time. Incidentally, Subha’s Mother’s Grandmother, happens to be my (Giri’s) mother-in-law Lakshmi Narayanaswami’s father YAGNYANARAYANAN’s sister. SUBHA & JAYANTI are both good at Carnatic Music as also TIRUPPUGAZH, the sacred hymns composed by Tamizh Saint ARUNAGIRINATHAR, as they are also related to the Famous Tiruppugazh RAGHAVAN. Jayanti is reported to be conducting devotional music classes at JALGAON, explaining the meanings of the Tiruppugazh songs, as a service and friendly help to interested Tamil-speaking girls.                

                A.KRISHNASWAMI @ ‘Madurai Ambi’ did his MA; B.L. He continued in his father’s profession of practising Law, from their Mela Avani Moola Veedhi home and was doing well. He is married to his paternal aunt Ananthalakshmi’s son (ATTUR) Sambamoorthy’s daughter KANNAMMA. They have five children called—JAYASREE; SAMBHO; VITTHAL; PATANJALI; and PARAMESHWAR.

               JAYASREE, whose looks as an eight –year- old, used to resemble her grandmother JEJE, as seen in a photograph of hers taken in the 1930s.She is married to Chandrasekhar( who was working for TATA-Unisys) in 1991. APPUSWAMI IYER is no more now. Appuswami Iyer’s father was Sundararaja Iyer and mother NARAYANI. Sundararaja Iyer’s brother became a Sanyasi saint called Subbiah Swamigal @ Odha Swamigal, who had SIDDHIs.

               There are two real life anecdotes about him. He was a Sanyasi and a Dikambara (not wearing clothes). A local administrator, hearing that a person was moving on the road naked, ordered his soldiers to catch him and bring him to his presence. When the soldiers asked the Swamiji to stop but he continued to walk. A soldier got angry and chopped off his right arm from the shoulder and the arm fell down to the ground. Unmindful of the loss, the Swamiji continued to walk. Some by-stander took the severed arm and carried it to the Swamiji and gave it to him saying that his arm was cut. Swamiji took his severed arm by his left arm and, attached it to his Right Shoulder as if nothing had happened and continued on his journey. Seeing this wonder, the soldiers ran back to the administrator and narrated what happened. Then all of them rushed to the Swamiji and flat before him and sought his pardon. He blessed them and continued on his walk!

               On another occasion, one Tehsildar was walking along the street. In those days, over a century ago the Tehsildar’s post was a very respectable and honoured position. As he was majestically walking with two people in the front and a peon behind him holding the umbrella, himself dressed in zari-bordered Dhoti, silken coat and zari turban, wearing a fine pair of slippers; from the opposite side Subbiah Swamigal , representing an exact antonym in all respects, was coming. As they crossed each other, the Swamigal  picked up some filth from the road and flung it at the Tehsildar. The gentleman became furious and red with anger and shouted why he did so.  Swamiji asked him to smell. He smelt it. What a wonder! The filth exuded fragrance of a perfume which pervaded the whole area. Yes. The tehsildar’s attire was complete now with that perfume!! IN DINDIGUL,, the shopkeepers have this to say. Every shop-keeper would pray that the Swamiji should enter his shop, because the day Swamiji visited, that shop used to register the highest sale on that day. EVEN today, one can see the picture of Subbiah swamigal displayed in their shops in the Bazaar- street of DINDIGUL.

               The cave at the foot of the hillock at Dindigul, where the Swami used to meditate, is being maintained by Raja. He had taken me to the holy place in 1978 and showed me how the cave faces straight the Pazhani (Palani) Hill, on which Lord Subrahmanya’s temple is situated.

                Ambi’s Son Patanjali is so named because from birth, the boy has on his chest, a natural mark like an imprint of a tiger’s pug.

              Appuswami Iyer, Raja and Ambi have all been devotees of AYYAPA and used to observe the rigorous discipline associated with the pilgrimage to the holy SABARIMALAI, every year. To my knowledge, Appuswami Iyer had completed one complete cycle of 18 years, for the eighteen holy steps and was going through his second cycle. One of the last get-togethers in which Raja, Gowri, Ambi and Kannamma had participated was my eldest daughter APARNA’s marriage function in November 1994 at Tiruvanmiyur. Kannamma and Ambi congratulated me on the occasion and heartily expressed that the pair was a good match.

                                                                                    CHAPTER--14

              TNK’s 2^nd Son T.K.Viswanathan @ PAYYA (Payya Mama for us AVN’s Children) should have been born around April 19, 1918. He grew up and became the first Agricultural Graduate in the family. When Grandfather built ‘RamakrishnaNiwas’ at No 2 Hensman Road, T’Nagar, Madras, Payya Mama assisted him in planting and raising a garden and fruit-bearing trees in the open area of the compound which included following:-

               Mango Varieties- Banganapalli; Romani;

               JACK FRUIT Trees:-3 to 4 varieties

               Cocoa-nut Palms

               Lemons

                Arecanuts

                Crotons; Hedges; Jasmine; Rose etc

                He was the first to successfully introduce ‘grafting’ technique and won prizes in many fruit shows.

                In the evenings, he would wear white shorts, Tennis shoes with long socks and collared Sports Banian and walk up to the Thyagarayanagar Tennis Club situated at the Panagal –Park- end of Venkatnarayana Road .He would take with him, me(Giri) and Raju (Chinna Chithi’s son) if we happened to be  there. Payya Mama was a good tennis player and had won many games against some of the State/National-level players like P S Seshadri & others. He would be occasionally getting us discarded tennis balls which would be sold by the club authorities at moderate rates. He had the habit of keeping a group cheerful and lively such as leading a picnic party etc. During my younger days, he had displayed this quality on 3 occasions.

               In 1948, at the time of my eldest brother A.N.Ramachandran’s (Thambi’s) marriage at Sirkazhi (Shiyali), a traditional 4-day event, many of the relatives chose to walk a three-mile distance to the holy shrine of VAITHEESWARANKOVIL. Payya Mama made the group into a ‘BHAJAN PARTY’ chanting Gods names as they walked along, by which the distance was covered without fatigue.

               On another occasion at SALEM, PAYYA MAMA and children of AVN, from Krishnamurthy downwards up to my sister Nirmala undertook an hiking expedition to the 4000 foot –high mountain resort YERCAUD. We took the newly started town bus service in Salem and boarded a  bus at Salem Town Railway Station and reached the terminus at the gates of MODERN THEATRES, situated near the foot hills of SHEVAROY RANGE (Servaroyan Malai). After alighting there, gathering suitable tree branches to serve as walking -sticks, we started our seven-mile- climb by a short-cut, Payya Mama started the strain “Sanaathana Seetha Raama, Jaanaki Pathe Raama”. Where the climb was stiff, he passed around lemon pieces to bite into, and quench the thirst and supply energy. Bapan and Krishnamurthy carried by turns the haver-sack containing prepared food of tamarind rice, curd rice fried crispies like Vadaams etc.; when Payya Mama offered to carry the haver-sack, he realised it was quite heavy and wondered how Bapan and Krishnamurthy were able to carry it uphill; thereafter for rest of the distance he carried it till we reached a suitable idyllic place to bivouac.

               On the 3^rd occasion, it was a trip to METTUR DAM; this time it was the same party with an additional member CHELLAM (Chinna Chithi’s daughter).There was a long walk from Mettur Railway station to Mettur Dam site. After walking along the surplus canal bridge and crossing the river on the lower side, via gardens, reaching the distant end of the Dam, we came to a ramp which led down to the famous Stanley Reservoir. On the top of the slope, ‘under the greenwood tree’, we spread out our picnic basket; mother had prepared ghee-parathas, potato curry and Curd rice. In the meantime, Payya Mama had a swim and came refreshed with added appetite. First we were exclaiming why mother had packed us so much food. However within minutes, the contents vanished!

                Payya Mama was also one of the very few relatives in the family circle who went abroad in the 1950s. He was officially deputed to FLORIDA for advanced training. He stood First in that group.

               When Bapan, Purushothaman(our family friend; father’s colleague Advocate Muthuswami Iyer’s 2^nd son and Bapan’s College class-mate) and myself were at Rajkot (Varma House Later called Bharat Kunj in Sadar Bazaar) occupying a single living-room with attached Kitchen – cum- bathroom tenement, Payya Mama gave us the pleasure of his visit and company for a day. We used to get Hotel Meals (Gujarati type) in tiffin-carrier at home and supplement it with our preparations. Purushothaman had prepared on our Primus Kerosene Stove SAMBHAR with OKRA (Ladies Fingers) vegetable pieces. Payya Mama relished it so much that he always used to recall his visit to Rajkot along with this Sambhar prepared by Purushothaman. He had a sunny and pleasant laughing disposition with an open heart always; so we used to refer to him as “A Hazzzzz...”with a tremolo ! Payya Mama came all the way from Madras to Jalgaon to meet his eldest sister “PONNU” (my mother) in the 1980s when she was the Grand Old Lady of the Family at that time.

                Payya Mama was married to Sau VIJAYAM. They have a son and 3 daughters. They are named T.V.KRISHNASWAMI @ Banjulu, GIRIJA @ Giri, Sathyabhama @ Bhama and Geetha.

                Banjulu had entered The Indian Army and rose in ranks to become a MAJOR. After retirement he settled in Bangalore with a post-retirement job. His wife’s name is Sau.Vijaya and they have a daughter by name PRIYA who is married to Ch Padmanabhan (June 8, 1995).

               GIRIJA is married to Mr G Venkataraman, who served the Indian Air Force and rose in ranks to become Wing Commander and settled in Bangalore after retirement. They have a daughter called APARNA and also a son.

               SATHYABHAMA is married to Mr Srinivasan @ SRI who was also serving The Indian Army and retired as a COLONEL. Col. Sri is a very amiable type of person and absolutely informal and modest. He would like to address relatives by their relationship rather than by name. He also maintains the tradition of respect to elders. These are some of the qualities I could find in him during the couple of occasions I came in contact with him. They have a son.

               GEETHA is a Bank Officer and is married to Mr Shankar. They have a son whose marriage was attended by my eldest daughter APARNA ARCOT at Chennai in 2011.

                Sri TKV was a member of a trust for free medical aid to poor people at Besant Nagar and was keeping him-self active, after retirement, in service to society. Payya mama’s wife Vijayam passed away on December 24, 2004, one day before Tsunami hit Tamil Nadu. Payya mama lived for a few more years and was staying alternately, a few months at his flat in Besant Nagar and a few months with Banjulu at Bangalore. When his eyesight was becoming poor and old age weakness was slowly catching up with him, Banjulu kept his father with him till the end at Bangalore.

                                                                                         

                                                                                         CHAPTER-15

               TNK’s 5^th daughter BHAGEERATHI @ PAPA should have been born around 1920 or so. Not many details of her life as a child are available, except that she too was given some training in VEENA. She was married to Mr K.S.VAIDYANATHAN, B.Sc. (Hons.)

K S Vaidyanathan & Mrs T K Bhageerathi

Papa Chithi & KSV

(Above)Papa Chithi and her child and (Below) Bala and his wife

Bala (dressed as a girl and as a Boy)

KSV-Papa-Bala and his wife Sau Kamali

KSV was with the TATAs at Tatanagar for a fairly long tenure of almost 20 years and more. Thereafter he joined DASTUR & CO. as a Consultant at Calcutta. He was still active till he was over 80 years. KSV’s father was SIVARAMAKRISHNA DIKSHITHAR and he was a Mirasdar(Landlord) at KALPAGANUR near ATTUR on SALEM-VRIDDHACHALM Line. KSV had four brothers called-Sambsiva Dikshitar, Dandapani @ Dandu, Sundaresan @ Sundu and Chandrasekharan.

               KSV & PAPA had two children. Their first son died as an infant. Their second son is called BALASUBRAMANIAN @ BALA. He grew up to become an Academician, with graduation in Matallurgical Engineering and further Doctorate in a specific field. He was a Professor in IIT Powai Mumbai and had been to Russia (USSR as it was called in those days). He married Sau Kamala @ Kamali, whose father was also a Professor in Banaras Hindu University. Kamali was also a faculty member. Bala and Kamali have a son and a daughter who are reported to be in the USA. Bala and Kamali live in BOMBAY, probably in Ghatkopar.

               Some younger-day memories- Once Papa chithi and KSV had come from Tatanagar to Salem, could be 1945-46 ( I was a 7year-old and my younger sister Nirmal  was a 5 year old then). Nirmala was her favourite and I too caught her attention as I could sing some of Chembai’s songs on Gramophone records. They had taken us for a short 2-day visit to Kalpaganur for stay with KSV’s parents. It was purely pastoral environment with a couple of hills and a shady tree in between their meeting point. A small brook with waist deep water was flowing from the hills with clear water. KSV show us how to catch the small fish using a towel and then put them in a puddle for some time and then putting them back into the brook. Nearby there was an open well which was in disuse with lot of strong grass-growth. In Tamil this was called ‘Korai pul’. However much we may pull, it cannot be drawn from its root. Later after a year or so, I had another trip to this place along with my immediate elder brother BAPAN, about which I shall narrate later.

              Aunt Papa had undergone some major operations in her life time. Once her stomach and on another occasion her skull were operated and she successfully withstood all these. Another phenomenon was that their house always used to be target for housebreakers, wherever they lived. Once in Calcutta, at night some robbers fumigated their house with soporific gas while they were sleeping, and entered the house by forcefully opening the door and stole away all articles of value. On another occasion, when the couple were old and in their seventies, some misguided teen-agers entered their house in Karpagam Gardens in Madras under the pretext of asking for drinking water, increased the audio volume of TV, beat them black and blue and took away whatever cash and ornaments they could lay their hands on. They survived this assault bravely. Later the culprits were caught by the police at Madurai and brought to their house at Madras. The old couple requested the police to let them off saying that they were after all young people and misguided by someone.

              

               Another coincidence---In June 1994, I had come to Madras along with wife Jaya and eldest daughter Aparna to Uncle TKBhanu’s residence in Kannappanagar in the morning. In the afternoon the “Girl-seeing” meeting was fixed up there with my would-be son-in law Karthik, and his father Prof. A K Prasad and Karthik’s brother Ashok. This matter was known only to us. Papa Chithi who was living in Karpagam Gardens seems to have come to Marundeeswarar Temple in Tiruvanmiyur and also casually dropped in to see her brother Bhanu.  She just entered the house singing some song with the words Kalyanam (meaning Marriage in Tamil). I was indeed overwhelmed by arrival of this Chithi as a Sumangali, that too in my mother’s place, as a good augury.  That afternoon “meeting” was successful and the marriage was finalised!

               One day in February 1997, Papa Chithi had kept the stove on the floor and was doing some work in the kitchen. While cooking, her clothes caught fire. She got partially burnt before she could realise and remove her clothes. She was laid up in hospital for a few days and while she was reciting hymns on God, her life departed. Then KSV must have been around 83 and left alone, was being taken care by his brother’s daughter at Madras, since his son Bala and Kamali had settled down in Ghatkopar BOMBAY. KSV also joined the majority soon after.

               During her visits to Salem when I was young, Aunt Papa would sing for us many Hindi Film Songs of those days (1944-48) like:- “Tum Ne Mujhko Prem Sikhaaya”—“Dheere Dheere AA Re Baadal Dheere Dheere AA, Mere Bulbul So Raha Hai Shor Tu Na Macha”, “Beena Madhur Madhur” etc having Veena for Sruthi. Her favourite Tamil songs used to be, “AAsai Konden Vande”—of NCVasanthakokilam and “Giridhara Gopala Bala”—Of MSSubbulakshmi.

                                                                                         CHAPTER—16

              TNK’s 3^rd and youngest son T K BHANU @ SURYANARAYANAN (BHANU MAMA for us) was born in 1922 had grown up and graduated in Mechanical Engineering. He was also good Player in Lawn Tennis and Cricket. He entered TISCO and retired from that company, staying at JAMSHEDUR throughout his service. My eldest brother, PERIYANNA (ANRamachandran @ Thambi) during his peregrinations in his service-life (1940s) who was busy installing Carrier Communication Systems all over North of Undivided India, from Karachi and Rawalpindi in West to Calcutta and Gauhati In the East, during The Second World War, happened to spend some time at Jamshedpur also, whereby his association with Bhanu Mama, Papa Chithi and KSV Chithappa had strengthened the bond between our families. Bhanu Mama has a deceptively innocent calm facial expression, with explosive humour stored in.( Like Surendra Sharma shall we say?). His marriage to Sau Lalitha took place in Madras in 1948/49(?) They have one son Balasubramanian @ Mani who is an Engg Graduate from REC. After serving TATAs he is currently a consultant. Mani is married to Sau Shantha who is serving as a Teacher. Mani and Shantha have two sons Ch. Jayant and Ch Prashant. Jayant also studied and became an Engineer. He was also a very good Cricket Player. Jayant is married and the couple live in the USA. Prashant did his MS in USA on scholarship and has returned to India with a view to settle down in India.

               Bhanu Mama used to sing for us Popular Hindi songs of those days sung by K L Saigal, Pankaj Mullick, Mukesh, Surendra, Talat Mahmood & others. Notable among them were:- NAIN HEEN KO RAAH DIKHAO PRABHU (KLS); DIL JALTA HAI TO JALNE DO (Mukesh-Pehli Nazar); Ab Aayi Basant Bahaar(Pankaj Mullick); Woh Yaad Aa Rahi Hai (Surendra-Anmol Ghadi); Tasweer Teri Dil Mera Behala Na Sakegi (Talat)

              {Some of these songs are tape recorded and kept in our archives. I  wish to upload such recordings of family members, in this Family- history and also incorporating photographs with links, so that this becomes complete and comprehensive- I pray to God to grant my wishes before He recalls me to His side!} .

               Bhanu Mama and Mami have been closely in touch with us.  In 1988, when Periyanna (Thambi) was laid up in Apollo Hospital at Madras, both uncles TKV and TKB used to visit the Hospital every day regularly and stay with us right through day-time, for almost two months. Their elderly presence gave us the much needed moral strength to all of us during that trying- time.

                Bhanu Mama and Mami have been active members of the Jamshedpur based Kanchi Acharyal Bhikshavandanam Trust and they have been very dutifully performing the Kainkaryam, keeping all members well informed of the activities. They had visited even JALGAON twice when my children Aparna, Nikhila and Shailaja were young and they had felt quite comfortable moving with them. I am particularly grateful to Bhanu Mama/Mami  for the readiness with which they came forward to help in the logistics of the performance of my eldest daughter Aparna’s marriage at Tiruvanmiyur in Nov.1994, right from the time of the formal Boy-Girl Meeting ( which was also held at their house       “JAYENDRA” in Kannappa Nagar on June 26,1994. Their elderly guidance in the nitty-gritties contributed to the over-all successful conduct and celebration of the function, in no small measure.

               When my mother (TKM) wrote to her brother (Bhanu Mama) appreciating the help given, Bhanu mama/mami replied with modesty that they had not done anything extra-ordinary, but the normal duty as expected from an uncle. Incidentally one should not forget their advance age then (both around seventy +/-. They were young at heart!)

               Bhanu Mama’s Shathabhishekam took place in time and he was healthy enough till he was 85 or so. When he experienced some tooth-ache, the Dentist felt it advisable to remove all his teeth. Thereafter he became somewhat weaker and was bedridden for a few days. After showing signs of recovery, he passed away peacefully due to old age. Bhanu Mami/Mani/Shantha/Prashant are in Kannappanagar. Mani who had experienced severe knee pain, underwent a course of Swami Baba Ramdev’s Pathanjali Yoga Hospital Ayurvedic medical treatment and a few yogasanas and he is cured of his ailment. He therefore recommends this treatment to similar sufferers. Also the cost of the treatment is affordable. He had asked his mother (Mami) also to follow this treatment and she too finds perceptible improvement even at her advanced age (78 or so).

                                                                                              CHAPTER—17

              TNK’s Sixth and youngest daughter T K SAMPOORNAM @ CHAMPA was educated up to Matriculation and accomplished with taste in Music. She was married to one Mr. SUNDARESAN, who was also employed in Jamshedpur. Initially her married life seemed to be going on all right. Her mother-in-law was also reported to be an exceptionally good woman. The couple visited South India, including MADRAS and SALEM in 1947/48. In fact Mr Sundaresan even presented me (a youngster of 9 years) with a yellow coloured Banian with a collar (similar to present-day T- shirt). Immediately thereafter, what went wrong, nobody knows. They did not live together.  The husband started living with another lady. It was also learnt that he adopted Buddhism. There was a court case which ended up in divorce. This unfortunate aunt had since then been living with co-borns, sometimes with Chellam,(Chinna Chithi’s daughter)who was also unmarried because of a minor limp in one leg, caused by a surgery in her younger days. Notwithstanding help from kith and kin to get her settled in some gainful occupation, she could not get to terms with the realities of life. Thus her life had withered away and when age caught up with every one she too had become an unwanted guest every- where and had to be admitted in an old-age home. My mother TKM used to become very sad at the predicaments of her youngest sister who was not even born when mother was married and left her Maher.

              The last family- function which she attended as a cordially invited elderly relative was my daughter APARNA’s wedding in Tiruvanmiyur on Nov 13/14, 1994.

              Once she seems to have come out of the Old-age home for a visit to town when she had met with an accident and admitted to Hospital. After a few days of suffering she had breathed her last.

              I shall be uploading the photographs of my relatives. You will all find that none of them lacked in good-looks. Still Fate had been unkind to some of them, out of which Aunt Champa is one; Chellam is two;.

            

   

             

              

              

              

                                                                                            CHAPTER-18

                                                                      THE ILLUSTRIOUS FAMILY OF AVN

               A.V.NARAYANASWAMI AYYAR-B.A., B.L., ADVOCATE, SALEM---Madras Presidency.

               I shall pick up the story of AVN Family after AVN had started his practice at Madras in 1918.

                He shifted to Salem probably in 1922 or thereabouts and set up his practice as an Advocate there. Initially the family stayed at Shevapet in Appu Chetty Street. After a year or so there, he was on the look- out for a fairly more commodious house and a house was to be let in the Chinna Kadai Theru; Thermutti (meaning Chariot Chowk-Where the Huge Temple chariots called Sivan Ther and Vishnu Ther were parked) this road junction was also named as Anju Laandhal-where a lamp-post with Five lanterns used to stand Opposite to Narasu’s Coffee Powder shop). The house was a typical medieval fashioned one, with three wings on ground floor and also with upstairs rooms. It was lying vacant for about 10 years because there was a tale that it was haunted, as a person reportedly committed suicide in that house long ago. However Grandfather ANV(then a retired person) was not a believer in such stories as he was morally strong of character and mentally courageous. He took my mother (Mrs AVN) for help for washing the house which had remained uninhabited for such a long time. He used to draw water from the well, bucket after bucket and when mother poured it on the floor, the entire content just vanished in the accumulated dust and it was very difficult to sweep the dirty water down the drain. Some -how by the time the house was washed both were awfully tired, when other family members and the household articles started arriving from Shevapet house.

               Grandfather ANV had, by then, retired from service and my Grandmother Bhavani ( who wanted to be addressed by her name and not as Patti !), my  aunts of younger age viz. Lalithambal and Thangamani and my uncle Pattu Sittappa were all in school-going stage and were staying with AVN family. My elder aunt Papuchi (Parvathi Ammal) and her husband (TRVenkatarama Iyer) also came down to Salem and were staying in First Agraharam, since she was suffering from mild TB and Salem Climate was reported to be conducive for recuperation. My eldest brother ANRamachandran (whom elders called as Thambi and youngsters like us called Periyanna), My 2^nd Elder brother ANRajagopalan(Who used to be called as ‘CHICHU’ by elders and youngsters like us called as Chinnanna)and my 3^rd brother ANKrishnamurthy(called Krishnan shortly by all of us) were all born in this house. AVN family stayed in this house from 1922 to 1932 approx).

A V Narayanaswami Ayyar B.A.,B.L.,Advocate Salem

              The entire story of stay of AVN family in this Bazaar street house is narrated, as related to me by my elders from time to time, as all this happened much before my birth(1938) or for that matter even before my next two elder brothers birth (ANVaidyanathan@ ‘Bapan’ -1933; and late-Bharadwaj @ ‘Bhaja’-1935).  Professionally this period had been a very bright one for my father AVN when he used to have three Vakil’s Clerks (Vakil- Gumaasthas, as they were called) simultaneously. He became famous as “Thanjavur Vakil”. He used to maintain up- to- date accounts of his Income and Expenditure on a daily and time- to- time basis throughout his life. In fact, his habit of maintaining regular accounts saved his name once. I shall come to this incident later.

               AVN had his office room upstairs. Outside the office room there was a long balcony across the width of the house with a protective balustrade facing the road. Anyone, standing there, could have a commanding view of the entire bazaar street from Veerabhadraswamy temple at one end to Kanyaka Parameswari Temple at the end of Big- bazar -street. AVN’s bed room was also reported to be upstairs behind the office room.

              Mother (Mrs AVN) used to say that all processions would take that route. In those days night-long Nagaswaram recitals in such processions could be heard almost un-interrupted! She would recall one such procession when T N Rajarathnam Pillai, in his younger days, had participated and she was hearing the music standing near that balustrade for hours together throughout the night. It had been such an unforgettable and wonderful experience for her that even after some 35 years in 1955, when I happened to play TNR’s Todi Records on the gramophone, she remembered and referred to the first recital she heard in the 1920s and said that even today the sweet music was still ringing in her years because it was so soul-stirring and as she was saying so she got goose-pimples. Such was the power of his music and my mother’s appreciation of good music.

              AVN, a believer in and practitioner of the dictum of not sparing the rod while bringing up Boys, had deep affection in his heart of hearts for his children, though he would not show it off outwardly. Once, when my Chinnanna was just three year old, he had lifted his leg to have his way. The ‘father’ in AVN, started correcting his son’s action by caning the three year old.  Chichu did not put down his leg. Caning was going on and the leg was not coming down; even though tears were welling up in the child’s eyes and the child was holding up his cry.

                Ultimately a higher authority in the form of Grandfather ANV intervened, who admonished ‘his’ son AVN ‘Is this the way to treat a small child?’ In the house of AVN, elders’ words were always respected and obeyed. Father stopped the operation and went silently to his office-room. (After all he also should have been feeling sorry but he had to do his duty of correcting his erring child, his way!) As usual, it was for the loving mother to take the child in her arms and soothe him from his wounds. This is just one instance of AVN’s method of disciplining boys. Also instances of AVN’s subtle love and affection for his children are evidenced from the following instances which readily come to my mind.

               Gamages, the mother of all latter-day- Super Bazaars had just taken its birth in London and became popular at the turn of the 19^th /20th Century. It had the widest range of articles on sale. AVN first requisitioned the GAMEGES catalogue, which was a big hard bound volume of 480 x 656 (Google for Gamages for more details). It contained a systematic description of each article, its reference number for ordering, its cost etc. including its image. (The book was serving as a pastime for us in later years till we wound up our Salem establishment in 1962). He used to choose items from that catalogue and import by sea, for my first three elder brothers when they were young -1925-1930). Some of the items he got like this were:

L'Attaque Board Game

Stereo -scope

Logo of Huntley & Palmers Biscuits 

Van Houten's Cocoa 

Rowntree's cocoa

My Sin Perfume(Even P G Wodehouse refers to this in his works)

Bagatelle

              CHESS; DRAUGHTS; L’attaque (now called Stratego); Meccano; A Shipping Trade round the world game which we used to call in Tamil as Kappal Aattam; Huntley & Palmers Biscuits (The Tin Box was still serving as a container for Agarbattis till late 2000 in our home); STEREO SCOPE (predecessor to present day View Master) and a set of twin photos cards (printed by Kilburn Brothers or Kilburn & Co NH); Van Houten’s cocoa; Rowntree’s cocoa; My Sin Scent. and the game of Bagatelle.(see image appended) Etc. (Gamages was closed in 1972 and the present Harrods is its successor). All these show his love for his children. This attitude continued unabated even when I was 12 years (1950). ----Once I accompanied him to the District Court by the newly -introduced Town- Bus of Route No 3, plying between Victoria Market and Modern Theatres. We boarded it at Town Railway Station and got down at Dist Court. That day some money due to him was received from the Court and we returned by bus.  At the beginning of Mettu Agraharam Street, there was a corner house originally occupied by one Dr Angar. (By the way this lady Doctor was the one of the first women we had seen in Salem to ride a Bi-cycle!)  After she moved out, a Grocery Store called ‘Commercial Corporation’ was functioning there. Father took me inside the stores and he enquired for some good biscuits. The Manager- in charge recommended a brand called “Maruthi Biscuits” and gave a sample. We tasted and found that it was butter biscuit. He took half a pound and we came home. When it was certified by people at home that it was good, he sent me back to the store and asked me to get one more pound. This was another such instance.--- Due to an accident on the day prior to the Intermediate Examination, I could not answer well and had to complete it subsequently. My father, who had studied Mathematics only up to Matriculation, started studying Algebra, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry and Calculus and taught me these subjects in his spare time. He solved all problems along with me not only from our prescribed text Books but from additional books brought from Library. All problems from S L Loney ‘s Trigonometry were solved. When both of us had doubts, we used to write in an Inland letter to my Elder Brother ANKrishnamurthy (who was a genius in Maths-A Presidency First in his BA (Maths) and University First in His MA (Maths.) from Madras Christian College) who was stationed  at Calcutta at that time.He would  solve the problem from and reply to us. Such was AVN’s love for his children.

               Another instance of his respect and obedience to his father’s (ANV’s) words would be  clear from the following instance which happened during AVN’s stay In Bazaar Street House in Salem. My eldest Brother Periyanna (ANRamachandran who was probably 6 years old) was an eyewitness to the following scene. One of AVN’s cousins with whom he was quite close, was to get married. AVN  wanted to attend the function in person. However earlier, when Grandfather ANV was approached for his consent, he being the  eldest member in the family before finalising the alliance, ANV did not give his approval, for reasons best known to himself. AVN got prepared to proceed to the marriage and he descended the staircase with his travel brief-case in one hand and walking stick in the other. On the ground floor he encountered grandfather who asked him, “Mottai, enge kilambindrukke , i.e. Where are you leaving to?”.

               AVN replied, ‘ I thought of attending the marriage of -------‘.  For this, Grandfather ANV’s response was in action first and then in words.

              He drew out his towel from his shoulder, spread it on the floor in between him and AVN and jumped across it. Then he told AVN, ‘Now if you still wish to proceed, cross this towel and then go’. (I do not know why Grandfather had reacted in such a strong manner ;  probably because he had some very valid reason for disapproving the alliance which he could not openly tell, at that point of time, in the general interests of all concerned. Later events in that cousin’s life had proven how farsighted his vision was). AVN, seeing this stern posture of his father, took an about –turn, crest-fallen. This was at a time when AVN was at the zenith of his professional lifeand the undisputed head of the family!. But for AVN, respect for his father was supreme. He did not ask for the reason; though as a professional advocate his job was to ask questions! But now he Implicitly obeyed. That was AVN.

              During stay in Bazaar Street house, My Paternal Grandmother Bhavani (Mrs ANV) used to sit on the front Pyol and keep watching on the fast movement of life on the street when she was somewhat free from household work. Once she saw someone selling iron chairs for one rupee each (!). She had purchased two of them (in 1922 or so). They are still (2012 after 90 years) existing, in the same shape, serving our needs, despite being knocked about in two House- shifts (From Bazaar street to Mettu Agraharam st and from there to Habib Saheb st Fort) and from Salem to Rajkot by goods train and from Rajkot to Jabalpur; from Jabalpur to Jalgaon and five house- shiftings there;  from Jalgaon to Virar;  and from Virar to Thane (W) our latest abode!  During all these years, the only maintenance needed was a coat of Black paint once in 1996 and once in 2005. In those days, things were made to last-Indeed!

              Coming to the subject of inflation---

               In my great Grandfather’s time, (1850s) salary was paid in coins of small change in a container made of Palmyrah leaves. The monthly salary was Rs 3.5 (Three Rupees and eight annas) called a pagoda; as old-timers will remember, one rupee was equivalent to 16 annas and each anna was equivalent to 12 pies. So One Rupee was equal to 192 Pies.( That is the reason why we had to  memorise the mathematical multiplication tables up to 16 by heart). Small coins were of denominations of one Pie, Quarter anna piece called Kaal anna in Tamil and One Pice in English; Half anna Piece called Araiyanna in Tamil; One anna Piece called Oranna; Two anna piece called Randanna or One Dhuddu in tamil; Four Anna Piece called Naalanna; Eight anna Piece called Ettanna or Arai Rupa and One Rupee coin  called Oru Rupai . The quarter anna and upward denomination coins contained real silver. The needs of the entire family for one month used to be met with Two Rupees and the saving per month was One and a half rupees! i e  75% of salary.

              When my father settled in Salem in 1920s, the cost of a basketful of Brinjals cost quarter anna; (In Tamil , father used to say “Kaalannakku Koodai Kattirikkaai”) It could have been 1.5Kg.  My maternal grandfather had sent Two hundred rupees for the first Deepavali after marriage of Father with mother as per custom. As a principled person, father did not accept and returned to himthe amount, keeping in mind that there were three sisters- in- law (at that point of time) to be married. In later years, whenever AVN happened to casually mention about this incident, mother would retort saying her father felt very sorry on return of his Deepavali   gift. However later on when mother went to her parents’ place, that amount was used for purchase of Gold waist band of sixteen sovereigns (128 grams) for Rs 200/- in 1919.

              In 1958, when I passed out of College, in Salem, the cost of one Ghee Masala Dosa Roast cost two and a half annas ( 15 naye paise) and a coffee cup (4 times the quantity being served now) for two annas (13 naye paise). Tea was comparatively cheaper at one and a half annas (9 naye paise).

             At Rajkot, in 1962, in Manhar Lodge Opposite Jubilee Vegetable Market, Manubhai was providing lunch of unlimited Gujarati Vegetable Thali 2 times a day per month at Rs 30/- On Sundays lunch was with Mishtan(Sweets) and if it is Mango season, Mango Juice and Purees unlimited. On my monthly salary of Rs 150/- I could save Rs 75/- (50% of the salary)

              In 1975, at Jalgaon, I used to save Rs 50 per month and got one gram gold disc for this money. 

                1981-at Mumbai, at BEST tea stall near the Museum, one hot vada paav and a cup of tea were available for 50 naye paise : at the Udipi Hotels, Breakfast of 8 small purees and Vegetable(potato) was available for One Rupee: One veg Lunch Thali  was available for One rupee and 75 nP.

             In 1987, at Chennai, a glass of tea was available for 50 naye paise (half a rupee) at Pondy Bazaar way-side stalls.

            In 2000, one veg. lunch Thali was costing Rs 35/- in Mumbai Fort area.

            In 2012, one Veg. Thali costs Rs 80/- Gold Rs 30,000/- per Tola (Rs 3000 per gram). The above digression was just to review about our Economic Progress.

          Coming back to AVN’s family life in Bazaar St House days, AVN had the habit of munching a few salted and roasted Ground nuts after supper, while reading some book before retiring to bed. The Ground nut shop was called “Baali Kadai”, where all roasted grains (like rice, beaten rice, grams etc) were available.

                There was no Electric light and even street lamps were oil lamps. Every evening before sunset a municipal employee would come to the Anju Laandhal Lamp post, climb up, refill oil and trim the vicks and light up the five lanterns and return. At sunrise in the morning , he would  open the lamps and blow off the light. So, at home also there were Kerosene lamps of various designs and glasses for the different purposes. Table lamp for office work at night, Fire- Hand Brand Hurricane Lanterns for hanging on hooks suspended from the ceilings for general illumination of Halls and rooms, Four-sided glass lamp with a hinged tin shade for one side to avoid glare (Called Naalu Pattai Laandhal), Bicycle lamp (with a big lens in the front for spreading the light on the road and one green glass shutter on the right for giving side for overtaking and one red glass shutter on the left for not overtaking from the left as ‘Keeping left’ rule is followed in India),  Wall-lamp for kitchen, and small bedroom lamps.

               A water keg called ( ‘Kooja’ in tamil, half filled with Mud-pot cooled water, so that when the tumbler is used as cover, the lower side does not touch the surface of the water in the Kooja) will be kept within arm’s length from the head-pillows.)
                                 AVN used to have the pastime of Playing -Cards. He had evolved an improved game of Bezique, with 16 packs of cards from which the Jokers/numbers 2 to 6 were removed to be used as counters. Sequential combinations and bezique combinations, King and Queen pairs, specific combination of Ace/No 10/King /Queen/Jack of same category, a set of four cards of same status, etc were given values and accordingly scoring were done. It is individual performance and no partnering as in Bridge or Twenty eight is allowed. For 2 players, the game is for 5000; for 3 players 3000;for four players 2,500 and so on. Thus whosoever reaches 100 points will celebrate by offering lunch to all. This may happen once in 3 months or so. He also taught us a few types of solitaires. Our family doctor and friend Dr S.Krishnamoorthi Rao had a cousin, who used to pay occasional visits to our home also. He taught us a solitaire which we christened as “cousin”. My brother Krishnamurthy further evolved two improved versions called “New Cousin” and “Newer Cousin”. Thus a cycle of solitaire games comprised of five games, “Open or Obverse” (In tamil ‘Nimirthi’); “Reverse” ( in Tamil ‘Kavuthu’)’; then the ‘three cousins’.

               Then elders like grandmother, aunts, mother and also boys would have pastimes using Big and small Couries (Sozhi-in tamil); Four squares(Naalu Kattam); Ten squares (Pathu Kattam); ‘Pallaankuzhi’; Mukkai played with four numbers of medium sized couries and again an improved version thereof by Krishnamurthy, called AIKKAI played with six medium sized couries; a game called ‘Pathinettaam Puli’ (Eighteenth tiger); An old version of Snakes and Ladders (a game called ‘Paramapada Sopaana Patham) specially played on the night before Vaikuntha Ekaadasi or on Shivarathri to keep awake.

               Some unforgettable incidents that happened in Bazaar House (1922-33)

            * My eldest brother, Periyanna, as a four-year-old boy, meddled with father’s pocket watch, in his absence, and dropped it .The dial glass got cracked. To hide it, he smeared writing ink on the glass to conceal the crack!

            *When Chinnanna was a small child of about one year or so (1926), one of my aunts was holding him in her arms near the upstairs parapet wall, above the backmost wing of the house. Mother was as usual busy with household chores. While answering some-one calling aloud, who so ever was holding the child, placed him on the parapet wall and rushed downstairs. Mother finding that the child was upstairs, went up and looked for the child; and he could not be seen. She went up to the parapet wall and just by chance looked out and her heart leapt into her mouth. The child, with no one to hold him, had fallen outside and rolled down the tiled roof and by God’s grace he was sitting at the edge of the roof. If he had inched out a little more, he would have fallen below. On the ground below, there was a pyol of the backside house, which served as a goldsmith’s working area, where a fire place was used with burning embers for melting and shaping the precious metal. One shuddered to think of possible consequences. Shouting also was ruled out because the child might have taken aback and fallen down. Some- how the blacksmith’s attention was drawn and the child was carefully caught and carried home to safety.

               *Once my third brother Krishnamurthy, as a boy of four(1931), bolted the door of  a room(situated near the hall) from inside. Unfortunately that room had no other opening like window etc. He was guided from outside as to how to open and when he unbolted successfully there was a great relief and joy!

              *The story of Aunt Thangamani being taken to the school, has already been narrated in an earlier page.

              *The House had a Room called “Nilavarai”. Those were the days when a notorious dacoit called “Koozhan Kaalan” (Lame-legged) was roaming around unchecked . His hide-out was in the Shevaroy Hills. He used to announce in advance which house he was going to burgle at what date and time, and would keep his word, despite whatever precautions one could take. The later-day movie, entitled “Malaikkallan” in Tamil and “AAZAAD” in Hindi were based on his life. In one of the rooms, in a dark corner, there was a wooden door on the ground, which, when opened, led to a staircase and an underground passage to the opposite house, serving as an escape-route in case of a ‘strike’ by the dacoit. Much later after vacating the house in 1932, and after spending 20 years (1932 to 1952) in our Mettu Street house, when we were again on the look-out for a house, mother took me (14) and my sister Nirmala(12) one evening to the bazaar street house just to show us the house and check up whether it was available for rental. As we were taken round the house, mother enquired about the existence of the “Nilavarai” room. We were taken there but the entrance was now sealed with cement and the secret passage was closed as insects and vermin started infesting the passage. We had gone to the owner’s house which was situated in a lane branching off from the bazaar on the opposite side. Probably one of the sons of the landlord was called “Ishvaran”. The house was being used as godown for vegetable and fruit vendors. When I visited the house again in 2006 or so, the upstairs-rooms were occupied by a small family, while the ground-floor-area continued to serve as storage space for vegetables and Fruits.   
 *Plague and Evacuation in Salem – I do not know exactly the year—May be 1924/25 – Once Salem town was infested with Plague and the Municipality warned people no to stay at nights in the town. Most people shifted to nearby villages.  Office- goers, and other professionals visited the town during daytime and returned to their temporary accommodations before nightfall. AVN and family shifted to a village called NAATTAAMANGALAM and were camping in improvised huts. At nights, Kerosene lanterns were used. AVN had a licensed Gun to be used for protection from wild animals. On one night after meals he was taking a round and in the darkness saw some dark figure moving at a distance. He mistook it for a wild animal and fired. Luckily he missed his aim and it turned out to be mother who had come out to throw trash leaves after supper! The tamil –proverb meaning that “ Even elephants can skid! Yaanaikkum adi sarukkum”.

               Some close Relatives, Friends and Neighbours while in Bazaar House (1922-1932)

              M.N.Ramakrishna Iyer  (Of Mannachanallur)-This gentleman was a friend of Grandfather ANV and his family was as close as Relatives. He was a contractor executing Railway works. At that time SALEM to VRIDDHACHALAM Metre-Gauge line was being laid.

             MNR’s family: Sons-M R Ramadorai; M R Narayanaswami (with pet name Ambi) Advocate at Madras;  Daughters Mangalam and Chakku (whose husband was probably Tahsildar in Salem and residing in Maravaneri Extension in the 1940/50s/60s); and others.

               Among them, MRN and Chakku were rather close with children of AVN.

             Kadai Pazhani- He was running a successful grocery shop in the adjacent premises to our house. Later on, he started dealing in Tobacco products on a wholesale and retail basis and was flourishing well. During Deepavali seasons, he will start a temporary outlet in the front portion of his shop exclusively for selling Fire-crackers and Pyrotechnic devices. This section would be in charge of an outgoing salesperson by name VEERAPPAN, who would effectively market new products by describing histrionically to customers young and old. ( My brother Bapan once overheard him humming P U Chinnappa’s then popular song ‘Kaasinatha Gangaadhara Karunai Seidhiduvaai’  and from then on we, at home, referred to the song as Pazhani kadai Veerappan’s song!). We were maintaining touch with Pazhani till we wound up our SALEM Establishment in 1962 after the marriage of my sister.

              PERIYAMAMA (Vakil Shevvappettai SUBRAMANIA Iyer) and family about whom I had narrated in the earlier pages were of course our relatives and they were also so close that both families partook in the happy and sad events in each other’s lives.

              R.ANGANNAN –Proprietor of Cloth shop called “WHITE STAR” on Big Bazaar Street. He was a great admirer of AVN.  We all used to maintain cordial relationship with him till as late as 2002/3 when I had the pleasure to greet him on his 81^st Birthday and he had also replied in his own Handwriting to my VIRAR Address. His son had partitioned the shop into hals and had sold it and retained the other half.

            DARZI Abdul Azeez –Friend and Proprietor of a Tailoring shop adjacent to WHITE STAR. He was our family tailor. God had favoured him with one eye only. But his shop was running well in those days. Father used to purchase a complete roll of a desired design of shirting cloth. That way it used to work out cheaper instead of selecting separate pieces from different rolls.

                Darzi had also a tactful way of convincing his customer to his point of view. On one evening prior to Deepavali night, he was to deliver a new Half-arm shirt to my brother Bapan, and both he and myself were waiting in his shop, as the shirt was being stitched by his assistant. All his other 3 or 4 Assistants were also busy trying to complete the Deepavali-rush jobs. Around 7 pm, one new customer, aged 16 or 17 from probably a nearby village, dropped in with a new piece of cloth and asked Darzi to get it stitched immediately into a shirt for wearing next morning . No doubt Darzi wanted to do the job but first he replied to that boy that it was not possible at all, in view of lot of accumulated pending orders. Then the boy moved to the nearby tailors who also expressed their inability, came back to Darzi and now started requesting in an endearing tone. Then Darzi, gave a disinterested look and took the cloth- piece, measured the length and asked him what he wanted to do. The boy said he wanted a full-sleeved shirt with side-pockets. Darzi told the boy that he could stitch only a half-sleeved shirt in the given cloth and asked him to come after two hours. The boy while going said he should provide tennis-collar to his shirt. Then Darzi told him that he cannot have both side pockets as well as Tennis collar in the given cloth and said he can take back his cloth. The boy relented. Thus Darzi made him agree to his terms!

             “PAATTU SIR” VENKATESULU @ Venkatesthwa – Aunt Lalithambal @Papa’s voice was reported to be sweet and it was decided to impart oral music tuition to her(1923). AVN’s younger brother AVSwaminathan (Pattu Sittappa) informed that he had a classmate (who was of course a few years older than him) was well versed in Carnatic music and was taking tuition classes. Father called him home and fixed him up. Since some members of the family viz. my mother, Father, and my Grandmother were musically sound, and since Venkatesulu was young in age, he used to feel shy. He was also a beginner in playing Nagaswaram instrument. One evening it was discovered by Pattu Sittappa that Venkatesulu was playing the pipe for a small procession coming on the bazaar street and the news spread like wild fire in the house. The entire population in the house raced up to the first floor balustrade and was peeping out the heads. As the procession was coming nearer the house, Venkatesulu raised his head along with the Nagaswaram and the sound ceased emanating from the pipe! He saw all familiar faces of AVN family craning over the balcony and stopped blowing the pipe. There after the Thavil (Drum) Player had a field –day till the procession passed out of sight!! Around two years after this, the music tuition came to an end, as Lalithambal shifted to Madras for her marriage and settling down there. We had lost touch with Venkatesulu for almost 25 years thereafter, when in 1947 or so, my younger sister who was 7 years was to be given music tuition. Father and Mother remembered him and asked my next brother Bapan to scout for him with little particulars available with us. Bapan scouted out and discovered that Venkatesulu had stopped giving music tuitions by then and had set up a successful smithy in Kichippaalayam behind Silver Jubilee Vegetable Market (Later renamed after Independence as Va.U.Chi Market, in memory of Freedom Fighter, V.O.Chidambaram Pillai with the attribute “Kappal Ottiya Thamizhan” the Tamilian who started the first Swadeshi Shipping Company). However he was very happy to establish again connection with us and agreed to take up tuition for my sister. The nominal monthly fees payable to him was Seven rupees and he very consciously used to come to our home daily in the morning at 7AM and the class lasted till 8AM. The story of Sri Venkatesulu will be continued when I come to the narration about my sister later in these reminiscences.

                SHIFTING OF OUR RESIDENCE FROM BAZAAR STREET TO 21 METTU (AGRAHARAM) STREET-NEAR SALEM TOWN RAILWAY STATION MUST HAVE TAKEN PLACE AROUND 1930. This change can be said to be a mile-stone in our life at Salem.

              Around this time, AVN’s father shifted to Madras along with AVN’s younger sisters and brother-who all were married in due time. After discharging all his duties, our grandfather ANV left this world, in the natural order of things. Grandmother Bhavani chose to stay with AVN’s younger sister Papuchi, who was recuperating from her illness and settled in No 65 Nattu Subbaroya Mudali St. Mylapore . Papuchi’s husband, Athimber TRV had also retired on medical grounds as he had a nervous problem in his neck. Their only daughter Jayalakshmi passed away after marriage at the time of childbirth.

            

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CHAPTER 19-

Life in 21,Mettu Agraharam Street Salem Town