I got Vasantha’s ‘insatiable’ message for anything that I can remember
about her late dad (my brother Sundar).
. My memory is slowly fading.Anyway I shall try, but steel yourselves
for repetitions.
* Kudumi: Sundar had a kudumi , which when unrolled flowed
down and was the envy of women relatives. When, ultimately, it had to
go it was as if a requiem was called for. I think Pathachi or
someone took it to make a ‘switch’ out of it. Sundar used to go
to Loyola college in a BSA cycle (which had no brakes) with a
cap on his head till the kudumi was sacrificed.
* Golu time was a busy time for Sundar who would personally
supervised the ‘construction of the steps which were suit cases,
boxes, trunks etc., carefully arranged. This used to be the case
till mother got regular steps made out of wood. Mother and
Sundar would get all the carefully swaddled dolls from the
make-shift loft in the iruttu (dark) room. And he would paint or repair
the damaged dolls before mother and he went to the govt.,
outlet for buying new dolls which were added to the impressive
collection. We had perhaps one of the best golu-s arrangements
in Veda Vilas in the ‘Hall ULL’. A couple of times the golu was
arranged in the front hall–if there were no programmes of
Jagannatha Baktha sabha.
* Sundar made special efforts for the golu side shows like
playground,circus, village scene, dance show etc.,.
As teen-agers we (meaning I) would dress up and check out the girls.
There is one whom I remember even now! (hope Ruks does
not to see this!)
* In 1942 there was mass evacuation from Madras and we moved
to Tanjore where we stayed ( I remember) Ganapathi Nagar.
Chinna Manni was also with us.But before leaving mother had a trench
dug in the iruttu room and transferred trunks and vessels and sundries
of value and got it cemented . This was dug up when we returned from Tanjore.
* Sundar was working in the Port Trust and mother urged him
repeatedly to come away from Madras. Instead of leaving the
job Sundar thought he would grew a beard,,which he did.
And got a certificate from Dr.Rama Iyengar. It did not work and
on the suggestion of the British CMO’s P.A. he put Rs.16/ in an
envelope and dropped it into an open drawer,which was kept open only for
this purpose.. He got one month’s leave. Soon
the Emergency eased and he went back to work.
He was a jolly guy and was a big entertainer with women.
. Jagannatha Bhaktha Sabha had a free-for-all on the annual anniversaries
where all could show their fares. Sundar had entered with KonakkOl–a kind of verbal percussion, like mridangam.
Mrs.Sastry (mothe r of Lakshmi Shanker) was the vocalist. She usually
did Hindi-classical songs which was not suited for Konakkol. But she
sang a Tamil song to help young Sundar and he was in great form that day..
Sundar had made with nothing more than some cardboard and glues the
entrire family Veda Vilas building–such a time consuming job.
It was a big attraction at the Golu shows.
. Happy memories
(He was remembered by Dr..Ramaiyengar’s daughter (Mrs.Madhavan)
when I saw her).some years ago.(Her daughter is married to my brother-in-law
Venkatesh’s son,an affable Sridhar who has an obsession for Maraathons.
(Babou)