THANJAVUR GRANDPARENTS

 

 

 

 

Please see the attached photograph. At the extreme left is mum and on the extreme right is Periappa. You can see the grandparents in the middle. This photograph was taken probably by papa. The year must be early fifties (anywhere between 1952 to 1956) Periappa was working abroad at that time and this was taken during one of his visits to Thanjavur. I remember him many times travelling alone to Thanjavur (without Periamma).

 

Thatha and Pattima ( as we used to call them) would always take us to "Pandithar Thottam" on our visits to Thanjavur. This was taken at the "Pandithar Thottam". As far as I can remember it was not a fenced area but there used to be a thatched shed (you can see it partially on the right side background) where we would sit and have some eats (taken from home). You can also see Thatha's Ford car (at the left side background).

 

Thatha was one of the persons I admired most in life. He had an impeccable record in his Government job and retired as Deputy Collector. Soon after his retirement the Pudukottai Maharajah appointed him as his Estate officer to look after all his properties. The princely states those days enjoyed many benefits which were later totally abolished by Indira Gandhi. One of the benefit was each Maharajah had his own registration number in the car. Thatha's car given by the Maharajah had the number like this " Maharajah of Pudukottai 5 " . The background color of the number plate was in red and the letters in Golden color". He served him for couple of years and then settled into a quiet life in Thanjavur even selling his own car. His wardrobe had couple of white dhoties and white cotton slacks. He also had a white starched pant which he would wear sometimes. He also had a white canvas shoes which he would wear whenever he wore the pant. He would personally apply white Blanco on the shoes and would maintain it spotlessly white. Ramola once presented him with a blue checked shirt which he started wearing quite often.

 

Thatha would wake up every day at 4 in the morning and lying in bed would sing many Tamil Keerthanis. The first one would invariably be "Varumayya Pothagaray". He would then kneel with his palms folded in a prayerful position and  pray for a long time. I know all this because I used to share the room with him whenever he visited Neyveli. Then he would spend an hour or so reading the Bible. He would have his breakfast exactly at 8 in the morning and proceed to read the newspaper. He would spend more time reading the "Letters to the editor".

 

I admired him most for his simple life. Prayerful life. Always giving. Nothing for himself. He lived on his Travelling allowance, saved money for both his son's education abroad. He gave away all his properties to his sons at an early stage. HIS TRUST IN GOD WAS JUST AMAZING. All the blessings we have is because of his prayers.

 

Pattima was an ideal wife to his. I have never seen even once any argument between them. She managed every aspect of the household. Whatever we wished to have she bought and gave us. I remember all her stories which she would tell us every night after dinner sitting in the Thanjavur verandah.