i used to be quite a poet in my teenage years, able to write off hand, some interesting poems.
This is my way of getting back to writing, and what can i write better, than my own story?
Born on August 25th, 1981, in Pudukkottai, a small town in the state of Tamilnadu, India. i am the second of three girls born to my parents. They were hoping for a son, after having my elder sister, but God decided I would be better off as a girl.My mother gave birth to me in the hospital of the town's famous female gynecologist(and who knows, probably the only one then). Her name, as i know it, was Balamani. I am told by my mother, that all 3 of us were born in the same hospital, attended to, by the same doctor. My elder sister was born in 1976, my younger sister in 1983. And yours truly, in August 1981.
So, apparently, my birth brought great joy to everyone. The birth o a new baby does, mine more so, because i was born bonny, chubby, and quite fair. My mother being dark skinned, this was the greatest wonder at that time. My aunt and uncles, who were in college and high school then, were so happy, that they carried me away from my mother, to cuddle me. This is not a narcissist view. All this is what I have been told by my mother. Before I digress, let me tell you about my mother and father.
The family tree begins, to my knowledge, from my paternal grandfather, K. Kalyanasundaram. Also known as KKS, my grandfather was the youngest of three brothers. Of all the three brothers, i never had a chance to meet either one. My elder sister would have, but she was too young to remember. My grandfather, KKS, passed away around the same time i was born, or I was a year old or so. He left behind his wife, and 3 children, a daughter and two sons. My grandmother, Nagalakshmi Ammal, was known as Vepagu in the family. She was the sole survivor of seven childrenborn to her parents. As was the custom in those days, the surviving child was named something bitter, (Vepagu, meaning leaf of the neem tree). Neem leaves taste bitter, and are used in herbal remedies. So my grandmother's parents thought, if they called their only child a bitter thing, she might live on to ripe old age. And she did, but that is besides the point. So, KKS and Nagalashmi Ammal, had three children. The daughter, Rajammal, elder son Venkataraman,and younger son, Ramasubramanian.
My family was originally from the state of Andhra Pradesh, but my grandfather's parents moved down to Tamilnadu sometime in the late 1800's, and decided to settle down in the town of Pudukkottai. My grandfather, KKS, was one of the select group of English educated Indians of the early part of the 20th century. Therefore, befitting his education, he was hired by the British government in India, as a naval customs officer. My grandfather had the adventurous job of catching crooks who tried to smuggle things into the mainland of India. He was posted mostly near the coastal towns, and did quite well at his job.
His cousins, also settled in Pudukkottai. One of them was a gifted instrumentalist, and taught the Queen of Pudukkottai, to play the veena.(Pudukkottai was an independent princely state, until it accessioned to the Indian mainland). The veena, is a long stringed instrument,native to South India. Veena makers, and players are gifted artists,and now,a rarity in India. To us kids, he was known as Veena peddanaina. His wife , whose name was also Rajam, was better known to us as "white Peddamma". She had amazingly clear, beautiful, fair skin.To enhance her beauty, she used face powder quite liberally,making her face glow white. Therefore, my elder sister(as a child) christened her white peddamma, to distinguish her from our own aunt, Rajammal. The name stuck.
So far, it has been about my dad. Now let me go to my mother's side.
Rajammal grew up, and began attending the local Balaiah School. The only school that gave free education for ALL children at that time. Balaiah School was set up by Thiru Balakrishnayya. Family legend has it that he begged for alms and donations from door to door, to set up the school. It began only as primary school, but under his auspices, grew up to middle school. Sothey taught classes 1-8. So, Rajammal was a student in this school, and a bright intelligent girl. She also was gifted with a musical voice that everyone stopped to listen to. So one day, she sang in the school's morning prayer assembly. This was when she was in class 5. That very evening, Thiru Balaiah's family, came knocking on her parents door, asking for her hand in marriage, to their elder son, Balasubramaniam. The offer was accepted. Much to Rajammal's chagrin, she was stopped from going to school from the next day.When she questioned this, she was told that girls who are about to get married do not go to school. And so, the formal education of a bright girl was thus ended. Soon Rajammal, and Balasubramaniam, were married. Rajammal was 10 years old, her groom was 17. Rajammal went back to stay with her own parents until she reached pubertyfollowing tradition. Both husband and wife went about their own lives, meeting only in the presence of elders, and only when allowed to, by elders.. Rajammal learnt household chores, Balasubramaniam went on to a college degree,and help his father manage the school. Time passed, and Rajammal attained puberty at the age of 14. With a big ceremonial procession, she was formally led to her husband's house, and she would stay there from now on. This was her home now. She could come to meet her own family only when permitted by her in-laws. Rajammal and Balasubramaniam are my maternal grandparents.
