Two of the three daughters of Chakrapani Iyer - Sita and Sambu (my chitties) still live in Pollachi, in the houses they built on ancestral land. What was once a farmland, with a spacious cottage, has now turned into Venkatesa Colony -II , an upscale residential locality, where my chitties live on a street named after their father - Chakrapani Iyer. This was how the municipality honoured him for having gifted a portion of his land for the road.
Photo taken on way to Thirumurhti Malai temple. The three sisters - (from left) Mangammal, Sambu and Sita. Mangammal, the eldest of them, and my mother stays with us in Mysore. She retains her Pollachi house, rented out to a school for the handicapped children.
Following photos were taken during a family trip to Pollachi a couple of years ago.
Sita chitty, as she stepped out of her bath. She had seen better days, when her husband Ramaiyer was alive. He was in the railways, posted as station master to some exciting wayside stations, such as Rameswaram Rd.(this station is no longer there; the railway line closed after the Boat Mail to Danushkodi stopped running, and the port town itself was destroyed during a cyclone in the 60s). Those of us who were studying/working up north, Bombay and New Delhi, used to look forward to spending vacation time with Sita chitti, wherever she was posted. I remember spending some enjoyable days at Thirukadiyur, Rameswaram Rd., Chettipalayam, Pulamkinaru and some other places.
Sambu chitty,who in her younger days was playful and a jolly good company, at her kitchen, where she spends much of her time. Her husband Padamanaban, my chittappa, retired as sirasdhar at the local court. He is now just as busy, as he was in service, taking care of the interests of the Chakrapani clan members who retain links with Pollachi. Visiting clan members camp in his place; and Mr Padmanabhan is ever ready to facilitate their stay. He devotes so much time to social service that he, at times, neglects his health, and the interests of his own family. A neighbour of mine in Coonoor has dubbed him SSP - social service Padmanabhan.
Visit to Thrumurthi Malai, our family deity.
Lakshmi (second from right, carrying the plate),is my wife.
Mr Padmanabhan, ever busy doing other people's work, takes time to pose for us in front of his house. You can spot Sita chitti in the background, wondering, perhaps, what the fuss was all about.
Ready to leeave for some place, chittappa agreed to pose with my wife and mother, in front of Sita chitti's house.
My mother Mangammal's house, adjacent to chitty's place.
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