Smt. Laxmamma (Laxmibai) with Shri Chinnaswamy Naidu - My maternal grandmother's twin sister

 Finally, through providence and a FB meet-up with an unconnected cousin, I was able to receive a precious photograph of my maternal grandmother, Rambai (Kodai alias Kodamma)'s twin sister - ie - Laxmamma (Laxmibai) with Shri Chinnaswamy Naidu. 

Shri Chinnaswamy Naidu with Laxmibai (Laxmamma). Mother of Sarojini, Shanta, Vasanta, Lalita and Sucharita. It is said that Laxmamma looked almost exactly like her mother, Chinna Thayamma

My mother, Indumati, at Stella Maris College, Madras - 21 March 1961

a precious photograph from the archives - from 21 March 1961 - of my mother, Indumati Muniswamy Naidu - before her marriage and change of name to Sharada Bhushan - as a member of the Faculty at Stella Maris College, Chennai - a junior lecturer for Telugu language (if I remember correctly). She is in the front row, third from right, in what was her favorite saree, a faint brown silk saree with a dark mustard border. This saree stayed with her for many many years and she did not hand it over to her daughter, Sarala Krishnamoorthy or daughter-in-law, Dr. Thulasi Bharat.

She had just completed her studies a couple of years earlier at Presidency College, with Dr. Lalitha Peters, her classmate, and joined Stella Maris as faculty. She hated getting married and journeying to Mumbai, but agreed only after being promised that she could study further, and could continue to work as a Teacher of Telugu language, which she did until her retirement.

My mother at Presidency College, Madras 1950-1953

an absolutely rare treasure of a photograph, received suddenly from someone who was shown the photograph quite accidentally. The BA Telugu (Hons) class of 1950-1953 at Presidency College, Madras, affiliated to the University of Madras. My mother, Indumati (later Mrs. Sharada Bhushan) is 2nd lady from right in the middle row, with Smt. Adilakshmi (mother of Santishree Dhulipudi) 2nd from right in the middle row, and with Smt. Lalitha Peters (4th from left in the middle row), who was former Professor of Telugu and Rector at Queen Marys College, Madras, for many years, with their classmates and faculty.

An absolute gem of a photograph, so crystal clear, and so perfectly preserved. My gratitude, with tons of millions of thanks to those unknown who preserved this photograph for so many years somewhere, someplace, somehow. I have immediately shared the photo with my mother's two sisters and am looking forward to hear from them if they recognise any of the others. The person in the front row, 3rd from left, is Prof. G. Narayana Reddy, who was later HoD Telugu at Sri Venkateswara University for many years and later became Vice Chancellor of that University. He presented me with the Roget’s Thesaurus and my sister received the book – ‘Word Power Made Easy’ – on receiving the news that he had become Vice Chancellor. He was with our family at Bombay on that day and was very happy.

My mother, Indumati, in this photo, if taken in 1953, would have been 23 years old and I am so moved by this photograph.

My mother, Indumati (Mrs. Sharada Bhushan) later went to work for a short while in the Telugu Department at Stella Maris College, Madras before shifting to Bombay and joining the AES High School and Junior College. She retired as the Principal of the institution.

Smt. Adilakshmi later went to Petersburg University in the then Soviet Union and set up the Telugu department and also authored a book on learning Telugu for Russians. She is respected by the faculty there and her students and their students consider her with tremendous adoration.

Smt. Lalitha Peters went to Queen Marys College, Madras as faculty for Telugu language and also became the Rector of the college. She later conspired with my mother in 1985 in identifying a doppelganger to them to be wed to me. Her student, Thulasi, is now a permanent reminder of their friendship to me, after we got married in 1986.

Dr. G. Narayana Reddy retired as Vice Chancellor, Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati.

Sitting – front row – from left to right – 1. Maremalla Nageswararao, 3. Prof. G. Narayana Reddy, 4. Prof. Ayyappan Pillai (Principal and Professor of English), 5. Prof. B. L. N. Rao (?) (HoD, Telugu Department), 6. Mr. Sarma, 7. Prof. P. S. R. Apparao.
Standing – middle row – from left to right – q. Mr. Vakkallanka Lakshmipatirao, 2. Shri Veturi Anandamurthy, 3. Smt. Alamelu, 4. Prof. Lalita Peters, 5. Smt. Vimala, 6. Smt. Indumati (Mrs. Sharada Bhushan), 7. Smt. Adilakshmi, 8. Mr. Dhara Ramanatha Sastry

My maternal grand-uncle with my maternal aunt, Shyamala and a cousin.

My maternal grand-uncle with my maternal aunt, Shyamala Naidu, and a cousin. Possibly late 50s or 1960. Maybe in Villivakkam or Nungambakkam, Madras

with my sister, Uma / Sarala at Villivakkam in the late sixties

With my sister, Uma / Sarala (now Sarala Krishnamoorthy, r/o Perth, Australia, and mother of Venkat Krishnamoorthy and Vegini Krishnamoorthy) in the late sixties at Villivakkam, Madras

My mother, her two sisters, her maternal aunt and cousins - sometime in the late 50s or 1960

My mother, Indumati (Sharada Bhushan) her two sisters, Saraswathy and Shyamala, her maternal aunt, Rajani, and cousins - sometime in the late 50s or 1960

My maternal grandmother, her eldest son, Kuchela, her sister and nieces - Meera and Bhavani

My maternal grandmother, Hymavathi Naidu, her eldest son, Kuchela Naidu, her sister, and nieces - Meera and Bhavani - possibly at Villivakkam, Chennai (then Madras) - in the late seventies.

Pramila Naidu, my paternal aunt with Jairam Naidu and his mother, Shanmughavalli, and their daughters. Possibly 1955

Elders, from left - Mrs. Pramila Jairam Naidu, my paternal aunt, Smt. Shanmughavalli Alagiri Singhari Naidu (sister of my paternal grandfather, Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam Naidu and mother-in-law to Pramila Jairam Naidu) and Mr. Jairam Naidu

The children - Shashikala (b. 1950) with Jairam Naidu, Sheela with Smt. Shanmughavalli Alagiri Singhari Naidu, and Bujji with Pramila Jairam Naidu.

The photograph was taken at Triplicane, sometime in 1955.

M. Gopinath Naidu - my maternal uncle

My maternal uncle - M. Gopinath Naidu - sometime in 1965, I think, on the roof of the Sri Raja Rajeswari Primary and High School at 4, Ramanaicken Street, Nungambakkam, Chennai. The school had been founded by my maternal grandfather, M. Muniswamy Naidu, and was ably run and managed by my maternal uncles, M. Kuchela Naidu, M. Gopinath Naidu and M. Bhaskar Naidu and my maternal aunts, Saraswathy and Shyamala. Later, his daughters-in-law also helped - Bharati and Girija (both sisters).

In this photograph, he was busy trying to get cricket commentary on his new transistor.

Unknown - from my mother's family photographs of 1955 to 1965

Could not identify her, but I do remember my mother telling me once that she was an important relative, within a gajula balija naidu family from Chennai (/Madras) or nearabouts. Please inform if you are able to identify her. You could email me at bharatbhushan@yahoo.com

Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam - my paternal grandfather - sometime in the 1930s

An old archival photograph of my paternal grandfather, Shri Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam Naidu, seated, in a smashing stylish pale cream suit, with a sola hat, splendid oxford leather shoe, with horizontal striped socks, a good fountain pen, cream colored thin cotton hankie. This was probably the day of retirement of his Boss, in the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway Regiment which was one of the provincial Indian Railway Armed Regiments. My paternal grandfather took over from his boss, sometime in 1935-1940. 

The Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway Regiment were an auxiliary regiment under the Bombay command. They comprised staff of the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway. They had an armed regiment, dressed in Khakhi, HQ Mumbai, called "B, B & CIR Vol Rifle Corps". My paternal grandfather later got dequartered in then Bombay, and thus, decided to settled down in the city, after being positioned in the regular administrative services of the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway.

Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam - sometime in 1930 to 1940

An old archival photograph of my paternal grandfather, Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam Naidu, seated, 3rd from right, in a smashing stylish pale cream suit, with a sola hat. This was probably the day of retirement of his Boss, in the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway Regiment which was one of the provincial Indian Railway Armed Regiments. His boss is seated in the centre, and my paternal grandfather took over from him, sometime in 1935-1940, near or possibly in Ratlam or Vijayawada.

The Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway Regiment were an auxiliary regiment under the Bombay command of the British India army. They comprised staff ofthe Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway. They had an armed regiment dressed in Khakhi, HQ in Mumbai, called "B, B & Cir Vol. Rifle Corps"

Ancient temples of Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu - the southern homeland and history of Balija Naidus during 1350 to 1900

Srivilliputhur is a municipal town in Tamil Nadu, very near Kanya Kumari, to give one an idea of what would be a southern homeland of the Balija Naidus. They came with the Telugu empires from the regions south of Vijayawada, from Kanigiri, Udayagiri, Guntur, Venkatagiri and Nayudupeta, as Nayakas, the warrior chieftains of the armies, and as Baligas or Balijas, the merchants, and as custodians of small temples that were set up to provide solace to the various clans who established themselves in the southern stronghold.

Today, the town is in the Virudhunagar district, and has a compact population of nearly a hundred thousand people.

The town of Srivilliputhur has always been a mofussil settlement, even about a thousand years ago and more. The Hindu School is a famous establishment and has been around for more than 200 years ago. My grandfather, Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam spoke about being a student in this school during 1905 to 1910 or thereabouts, and did say that his father, Neela Meghala Shyamala Naidu had also perhaps been a student of this very school.

Shri Andal temple at Srivilliputhur

[from - http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/home-of-the-saint-poetess/article5003204.ece - copyright with the original owner]

The temple of Andal and the great Thiruppavai, are known from the town of Srivilliputhur. The temple is a landmark of the settlement, and has always been, and I assume that the mofussil nature of the settlement must have come about the temple. The 11-tiers of the temple's main tower, 192 feet high, is dedicated to Vatapatrasayee, the Lord of Srivilliputhur. Built by Periya Alwar, on the money that he had won in gold from the debates held at the Court of Vallabhadeva, the Pandya King. His daughter was Andal, who swore her devotion to the Lord and was married to HIM. Thus, Periya Alwar, the man who constructed the temple, is known as the father-in-law of the Lord.

Shri Andal temple at Srivilliputhur

[from - http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/home-of-the-saint-poetess/article5003204.ece - copyright with the original owner]

The nearby towns of Madurai, Sattur, Thirunelveli, Shenkottai, Tenkasi and Sivakasi became urban settlements, much later, with the exception of Madurai, which also developed as a temple settlement, likewise with Srivilliputhur. Malli, the ancient Queen of southern Tamil Nadu ruled the lands of this region. Her two sons, Villi and Kandan, had gone hunting in the nearby forests. Kandan was killed by a tiger. Realising that his brother was missing during the hunt, Villi went out in search of him. After long hours, he decided to rest at a spot and fell asleep. A divine voice informed him of the fate of his brother, and he decided to establish a settlement at that very location. Thus, the city, named after Villi, being Srivilliputhur.

Andal, the human consort of the Lord is recognised as the only woman Alvar, from among the twelve Alvar saints of Vaishnavite theology. To this day, her works, Thirupavai and the Nachiar Thirumozhi are recited by the devotees at the temple. Her father, Periya Alvar, is also one of the Alvar saints.

With the incoming Balija Naidu chieftains, warlords and army generals, and after their settling in, some became local Kings. While the lines of geneology are not discussed in detail, the township began to gain in fame during the times of Thirumalai Nayakar (1623-1659) and Rani Mangammal (1689-1706). After the marauding attacks of Nerkattumseval, Puli Thevar and Periyaswami Thevar and Mohammed Yousoof Khan, the settlement came under the protection of the King of Travancore until 1850 before passing on to British hands.

Thirumalai Nayakar, the Balija King of Madurai

[from - http://indica.co.in/thirumalai-nayakar-mahal -

copyright with the original owner]

The Vatapatrasayee Andal temple is the most important one in this region, and is one of the 108 Vaishnava Divya Desams. Lord Vishnu is also known as Rangamannar and is depicted here as resting on a banyan tree leaf, and therefore known as Vatapatrasayee = Vata - Banyan, Patra - Leaf, Sayee - Lord.

The other important temple is the Madavar Vilagam Vaidyanathar Temple, with a six feet high image of Nataraja, the dance-form of Shiva.

Nearby, in Thiruvannamalai, also known as Thenthirupathi, is the temple dedicated to Vishnu and nestles within the Western Ghats.

At Kattalagar, is the Vishnu temple, to the west of Srivilliputhur, near the Mantunga hills.

There are two ancient Shiva temples nearby, known as Sundara Mahalingam and Sandhana Mahalingam at Sathuragiri Hills, where several Shaivite sages were known to have resided.

Thirumalai Nayak was one of the most foremost of the thirteen Madurai Nayak rulers in the 17th century. He is known to have caused the construction of the most of the temples in the region, including the ones at Madurai. His kingdom stretched from Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Madurai, Aragalur and some of the Travancore kingdoms, and the old Pandya territories. The Madurai Nayaks were Bana or Balija Naidus, and ruled the southern regions of Tamil Nadu from 1529 AD to 1736 AD, with Madurai as the capital. There were 13 rulers, with 2 being women, and 2 having ruled jointly. The most noteworthy among them were Tirumalai Nayak and the queen Rani Mangammal.

Before the rule of the Balija Naidus in southern Tamil Nadu, the region was ruled by the Afghans who came down from Delhi, by taking advantage of the dissension within the Tamil Pandya kings. Malik Kafur was sent by Emperor Ala-ud-din Khilji from Delhi in 1310 AD. He destroyed many towns while marching on to Southern India and ransacked Madurai entirely. The Meenakshi Temple at Madurai, then with 14 towers, was pulled down, the streets and buildings were destroyed, with only the inner temples of Sundareshwara and Meenakshi left behind. The Pandya Kings were weak, and Malik Kafur desired to return to Delhi, which he did. Soon thereafter, the neighbouring Chera Kings invaded Madurai, defeated the Pandya rulers, and established a new rule in 1313.

Malik Kafur however sent back a Afghan Governor, and thereafter, Delhi's rule was established for nearly five decades. While Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq ruled Delhi, during 1333 AD, the local feudatory, Jalal-ud-Din Ahsan Khan declared himself independent and ruled Madurai. He was killed by his own officers in 1339, and Alauddin-Udauji-Shah was King of Madurai during 1339 AD to 1340 AD. He was also killed by his own officers. Qutbuddin Firoz ruled for 40 days before being killed in 1340 AD. Giyazuddin Muhammad Damghan, an Afghan chieftain became King of the Madurai region for four years. He was followed by Naziruddin Mahmud Damghan, a fellow Afghan, 1344 AD to 1356 AD, Adil Shah 1356 AD to 1359 AD, Faqruddin Mubarak 1359 AD to 1368 AD and Alauddin Sikandar 1368 AD to 1377 AD.

Sikandar had to face a fierce battle with Bukka from Vijayanagara, and lost the Kingdom in 1377, leading to the rule of the Vijayanagara empire and the coming of the Balija Naidus. The city of Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara empire and the regions of Madurai and Srivilliputhur were ruled by the Balija Nayakas for the next 200 years and defended itself against Afghan and Moghul invasions. Kampana Udayar, a prince of the Vijayanagara empire, and representing Bukkaraya, came to Madurai in 1372, established a feudatory kingdom at Madurai and reopened the Siva and Vishnu temples in the city. Later, with the consolidation and control of Krishnadevaraya, 1509 AD to 1529 AD, the feudal kings and governors recognised themselves as "Nayaka".

Kampana Udayar was followed by his son Embana Udayar, and was followed by his brother-in-law, Porakasa Udayar. This dynastic rule was broken by Lakkana Nayaka, in 1404 AD, who ruled Madurai jointly with Mathana Nayaka until 1461 AD.

However, during earlier years, prior to the Pandya Kings, the region was ruled by Bana chieftains, who were established by Kulottunga Chola III during the 1200s. They were smart, and established themselves as feudatory kings of both the Cholas and the Pandyas.

The earliest known Nayaka chieftains, as Balija Nayakas, however, are from 1477 AD. The earliest was -

Thirumalai-runjolai Mahabalivana, ruler of Madurai, 1477 AD
Virapratapa Sundara-ttoludaiyan Mahabali Vanadhiraya, ruler of Conjivaram (Kanchivaram), 1469 AD

Later, Kings included - Narasa Nayaka, Tenna Nayaka, Narasa Pillai, Kuru Timmappa Nayaka, Kattiyama Kamayya Nayaka, Chinappa Nayaka, Ayyakarai Veyyappa Nayaka and Viswanatha Nayaka Ayyar.

Rani Mangammal

[from - http://www.mabeats.com/2008/02/rani-mangammalthe-queen.html

- copyright with the original owner]

Rani Mangammal, was one of the foremost of the Madurai Nayak dynasty, and perhaps one of the only few Baljia Naidu queens in most dynasties in peninsular India. Daughter of Lingama Nayakar, a general of Chokkanatha Nayakar, she married the King, but could not become the queen, because he wanted to take another spouse who was the daughter of Vijayaraghava Nayakar, the princess of Thanjavur. Thus, one can see that there were several important houses of Balija Naidus through the central to the southern regions of current Tamil Nadu. Chokkanatha Nayakar died in 1682, without completing the marriage, and Rani Mangammal took over as the Regent Queen to take care of the throne for her son Rangakrishna Muthu Veerappa Nayakar. He died in 1689, and his wife committed suicide after giving birth to her son. Rani Mangammal placed him on the throne of Madurai when he was 3 months old, and ruled as Regent Queen on behalf of her grandson.

The battle of Palnadu - the Kurukshetra of the Naidu clans and the migration after victory and defeat

The battle of Palnadu is known usually as the Kurukshetra of the Andhra regions, more so since the war was fought by cousins, in a manner similar to the Mahabharata. The battle took place in 1200 AD. The battle resulted in the victory of Bramham Naidu's Velama clans, along with other related communities. In spite of their victory, their suspicion and fatigue, led to their migration from Palnadu to Venkatagiri. Nagamma, on the side that was defeated, was known to be a wily commander and would have staked revenge over the battle for her families. Not trusting her after their victory, Bramham Naidu and his groups moved out of the regions controlled by Nagamma.

However, later, due to the losses in battle, the Palnadu Naidus, weakened by fighting amongst themselves, lost control in the region and were overtaken by the Kakatiyas in later years. Subsequently, the Nawab of Golconda conquered the Palnadu region, and this triggered further migration southwards, in an attempt by the Naidus to retain, protect and preserve their way of life. The initial settlements came up in the Venkatagiri region and southwards to Chandragiri and Puttur.

A new regime of Naidu rulers took over at Venkatagiri, and comprised the Velugoti, Velanki or Velama Naidus. It is said that the migrating Naidu rulers and rich farmers took along with them their workers, tenants, support systems including priests, mainly Vaidehi Brahmins. This was especially true during the takeover by the Nawab of Golconda. The cuisine and sacred rituals of the Vaidehi Brahmins who performed them for the Naidus got established in the regions of Chittoor to the east of the Velikonda Hills and in the regions between Palamaneru to Erpedu.

A remarkable story, supposed to be true, is that the Venkatagiri Naidu rulers were liberal in providing land ownership to their faithful supporters. One such land transfer was on the basis of Mr. Dasari Govindappa Naidu being allowed as much land as a horse could walk or run from sunrise to sunset in the Kailasa Kona area near Nagalapuram. The village, thus established, is named as Govindappa Naidu Kandriga.

It is supposed that the people who migrated south of Venkatagiri, mainly the Naidu clans, would have actually begun their journeys from Velnadu or Elnadu and Palnadu in the Guntur region. Accordingly, they began to be known as Ellanti (those from Elnadu) and Pallinti (those from Palnadu). The familiar surnames for these families include Ellanti, Pallinti, Tummala, Nutalpati, Kanderi, Gandamaneni, Gaali and Sakamuri, among others. The villages that they settled in, within Chittoor, south of Venkatagiri, are Tirumala Kuppam, Vepagunta, Mangalagiri Kandriga, Nasi Naidu Kandriga, Dasari Govindappa Naidu Kandriga and Buchi Naidu Kandriga, among many others.

The current city of Macherla, the erstwhile capital of the Palnadu region, originates from Mahadevi Cherla. The Andhra Mahabharatam or the Palnati Yuddham (great battle of Palnadu) was fought between Macherla and Gurajala between 1176 AD and 1182 AD. The town of Macherla is also known for the Chennakesava Swamy temple built during the Haihaya rule.

The Chennakesava Temple at Macherla

[from - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ck_temple,mcl.jpg]

Geographically, Palnadu is in the northern parts of Guntur District. Palnadu is an acronym for Pallava Naidu, and is an important period of Telugu history. The end of the Satavahana dynasty saw the Pallavas become independent in the Krishna River Valley. In tribute to them, the region came to be known as Palnadu. This region was also ruled by the Ikshvaku, Vishnukundinas, Eastern Chalukyas and later, by the Kakatiyas. The Vengi Chalukyas who ruled the Palnadu war were weakened by the Great Battle of Palnadu and this led to the emergence of the Kakatiyas.

The great battle of Palnadu was actually a battle between two families of cousins, of the Kalachuri clans also known as Haihaya. Nalagama Vira Raju, the son of Alugu Bhupathi Raju, of the Palanati Kalachuris, and his step brother, Malideva Raju, married to a princess of the Kalyani clan of the Kalachuris were prominent warriors of this great battle. Recherla Dodda Naidu and Recherla Brahma Naidu were the vassals of the Velanti Cholas and were administrators of their territories. There was tremendous rivalry among these families, and with the defeat of Malideva in a cock-fight, the opportunity presented itself. Nagamma exiled Bramha Naidu and Dodda Naidu for seven years.

After the period of exile, similar to the Mahabharata, Bramha Naidu sent Alaraja, son of Kalachuri Kommaraja of Kalyani, and brother-in-law of Malideva to present a claim for the properties and lands of Malideva. Nagamma refused to accept the claim and poisoned Alaraja to death at Cherlagudipadu. This led to the Kalachuris of Kalyani and Bramha Naidu to declare war on Gurazala, and the battle was fought in Karempudi, along the Naguleru River. Several local Kings came in support of either group. The Kakatiyas, Kota Vamsas, Paricchedis and Hoysalas supported the Vengi Kalachuri families and Nagamma. Malideva and his clan of Velanati Cholas were supported by the Kalachuris of Kalyani.

Though Bramha Naidu and his groups won the battle, Malideva had died. Nagamma was reinstated, and the war led to the fall of the Velanadu families. Several families lost their warriors in the war, and this weakened the warrior clans of the Naidus in the eastern delta areas. This allowed the Hoysalas, Kalachuri, Ganga and Kakatiyas to take over.

Palnati Veerula Gudi or the temple to the heroes of the Palnati Battle

[from - http://www.liveguntur.com/karempudi.php]

The Palnati Veerula Gudi, the temple to the heroes of the Palnati battle, was built at the battle ground on the Naguleru River. The temple also houses all the weapons that the warriors used in the war. The temple is uniquely opened only once a year, during November or December, for five days only. The opening of the temple is celebrated during those five days at Karempudi.

Salem Pagadala Narasimhalu Naidu - 12 April 1854 - 22 January 1922 - leading Balija Naidus during pre-1890 in South Tamil Nadu

Salem Pagadala Narasimhalu Naidu or Pagadala Narasimhalu Nayadu was a Congressman, social worker, publisher and a writer of travelogues. He was also an industrialist based at Coimbatore and established various public institutions. A Balija Naidu, he was born to Rangaswami Naidu and Lakshmi Ammal in Erode on 12 April 1854. Similar to the house of Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam Naidu, he was also named Balakrishna at birth, and later renamed as Narasimhalu, after his grandfather.

Salem Pagadala Narasimhalu Naidu

[from - http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/04/stories/2009010457460200.htm]

Pagadala Narasimhalu Naidu => Pagadala Rangaswami Naidu => Pagadala (Balakrishna) Narasimhalu Naidu

I remember my grandfather and my father mentioning about Pagadala Narasimhalu Naidu as a bold explorer and a smart industrialist. My grandfather would often refer to him as the one Naidu who was responsible for transforming the Salem-Coimbatore region towards industrial development.

He studied Telugu in his early years, and later joined the government-run Salem College. He has given credit to his teacher, Appayi Nayudu, in helping him complete his grade exams in 1873.

Pagadala Narasimhalu Naidu married Ethiraj Ammal of Salem in 1868. They had two sons. She died of tuberculosis later. Narasimhalu Naidu married Meenakshi Ammal from Palakkad in 1899, the year that Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam was born in Srivilliputtur.

A true Vaishnavite Naidu, he went on the Divya Desam Yatra, and wrote about it as a travelogue, titled 'Arya divya desa yatari sarithram' in 1877 and included his notes about his travels to North India. He was the publisher of the Salem Patriot since 1877, and later began publishing the Coimbatore Abamaani, and later, Coimbatore Patrika in 1879. He had also established the Coimbatore Crescent, and later established the Kalanidhi Press.

Pagadala Narasimhalu Naidu established the CS&W Mills, the first textile mill of Coimbatore. Later, he established a sugar mill at Podhanur. As a leading political leader in the region, he was involved in the establishment of the Victoria Municipal Hall at Coimbatore, the Coimbatore Cosmopolitan Club, the College Committee and the Cooperative Store. In an adept understanding of the requirements of water supply to the city, he helped install the water supply from Siruvani. Water was very scarce in Coimbatore. Narasimhalu Naidu identified Muthikulam water, emanating from Vellingiri Hills for the benefit of Coimbatore. With a forum of residents, Kudithanakarar Sabha, and with the help of the District Collector, he undertook an expedition to the Muthikulam forests and presented a report.

He has written more than a hundred books on religion, music, agriculture, community history and social history, law and medicine. He traced the roots of the Balija Naidus in southern Tamil Nadu from their past links to the Vijayanagara empire, and wrote about it in detail in the Balijavaru Puranam, and also known as the Balija Vamsa Purana, that was published in 1896. His book is listed in the Catalogue of the Tamil Books in the Library of the British Museum by Lionel David Barnett, George uglow Pope of the British Museum Department.

As a political leader, he was the Secretary of the Coimbatore Unit of the Chennai Mahajana Sabha, and became the Secretary of the Coimbatore Unit of the Indian National Congress, right up there in the founding years of 1885. He attended the first conclave of the INC in Bombay in 1885 and later in Calcutta in 1886 and Chennai in 1887.

Later, in 1903, G. M. Venkatarama Naidu, wrote a biography about Salem Pagadala Narasimhalu Naidu. 

Gajula Balija Naidus during 1890 to 1950 - in the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh regions

The Gajula Balija Naidus were usually referred to or preferred to be known as Gavara, Kavara, Chetti, Setti, or Balijas during the period 1890 to 1950. Nowadays, most of these names have stabilised with their modifications while some families have retained their clan names and seemingly discarded the 'Balija' or 'Naidu' part, for e.g. Varada, Marri, Meka, Mudra or Chetty.

The Madras Presidency Map of British India

[from - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/26/Pope1880MadrasPres2.jpg]

Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1956. And now, we are witness to the birth of Telengana and Seemandhra. At this moment, it does not feel like several decades have gone by. Many elders would remember the erstwhile pre-Andhra Pradesh days also. The key aspect to the development and progress of our families in the earlier Century was the construction of the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowleshwaram, to the east of Rajahmundry. This was sometime around 1848-1852. The agriculture boomed, trade developed and the region became prosperous. Our families began to move out to expand their trade and undertook to stabilise themselves in different parts of this region and to undertake different types of work. This included trade in vegetables and flowers, transport of food products, trade in clothes, jewelry, artisanship and finished goods.

The British Indian Empire Map of the Imperial Gazetteer in 1910

with the Madras Presidency and the Hyderabad State

[from - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/ British_Indian_Empire_1909_Imperial_Gazetteer_of_India.jpg]

The initial movement was from Guntur, Vijayawada and south to Nellore. During this period, there was another movement, that was from Srivilliputtur, Madurai, Kanya Kumari and Nagarcoil regions, northwards to Srirangam, Thanjavur and to Madras. This led to the intermingling of families, clans and groups. New communities and larger families emerged. With the ongoing political turmoil, several other groups began to stabilise their communities, but the Gajula Balijas did not seem to do so well in taking care of themselves with an united front.

Some did well, and proved themselves in corrupt practices too, in connection with land revenue matters. There is one paper that mentions that one such Tahsildar, a Mr. Krishna Rao, Hujoor Tahsildar of Ananthapuram, appointed 108 of his family to various jobs. This led to many complaints, of course, and he was transferred. He took it upon himself to consider the transfer as another opportunity, and he appointed 117 from his kith and kin, of which 80 were from within his own family. This is not the united front that I am referring to, of course.

There were well-to-do families too. The Raja of Venkatagiri went into mining of mica. The Zamindars of Kalahasti lived a very opulent lifestyle. Similar families, with likewise tendencies, lived the best of their lives during the late 1800s, during 1870 to 1890, and went bankrupt. They were usually spoken of, when referring to the grand old days of Gajula Balija Naidus of those times. Every family, clan or community usually referred to themselves as having marriage relationships with these notoriously known families.

The first of the attempts at unifying the communities came from Gajula Lakshmi Narasu Chetty who founded the Madras Native Association in 1852. Later, Shri G. Rangaiah Naidu established the Mahajanasabha on 16 May 1894. The epidemic of 1891 in Madras killed many and discouraged several others from moving to the city. Several leading Naidus attended the first Indian National Congress Session in 1885. They included P. Rangaiah Naidu, N. Venkata Subbarayudu, and S. N. Narasimhulu Naidu. The second Indian National Congress Session held in 1886 was attended by prominent Naidus, including A. P. Parthasarathi Naidu and P. Rangaiah Naidu.

The Justice Party in the 1920s in Madras Presidency

Shri Thyagaraya Chetty is at the Centre (with the girl seated near him). 

Also present is the Raja of Venkatagiri.

[from - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Justice_Party_1920s.jpg]

Political growth, understanding and evolution among Naidu communities continued during 1890 to 1920, with the formation of several local parties, until 1923-1924, when the Chief Minister of Madras, Panagal Raja, nominated some Naidus to the Zilla Board and Municipal Chairman's posts. They included Yathirajulu Naidu to the Zilla Board and Municipal Chairmanship of Guntur and Muniswami Naidu in Chittoor. In 1928, K. V. Reddy Naidu, a powerful political leader in Madras State, with sway from Vijayawada to Srirangam, founded the South Indian Liberal Federation. When Panagal Raja died, there were differences. B. Muniswamy Naidu fought against Bobbili Raja and came closer to N. G. Ranga (later, the veteran parliamentarian of independent India). Eventually, Muniswamy Naidu became the Chief Minister of Madras in 1930. 

Primary locations of balija naidus in the recent history of Telugu speaking areas - From Srikakulam to Kanya Kumari

The word Balija has traditionally been associated with traders of all sorts - small traders such as the Gajula Balijas to the large merchant traders such as the Setti Balijas. The word Naidu was associated as a blend evolved from their persistent intent to defend their trade and protect their means of livelihood, and thereby, a warrior-group came into being. This warrior-group emerged from the rights given by the then Kings to be able to protect their trade, their families and communities and households.

This right to bear arms came along with the title of 'Nayakudu' that transformed across various regions as Naidu (in Andhra Desa), Nair (in Malaya Desa), Naicker or Nayakan (in Tamizha Desa), Nayak (in Kannada Desa) and Naik or Nagare or Desai (in Deccan and Konkan). The foremost of the warrior clans include the Nayaks of Madurai and Thanjavur, the Khandi Kings of Ceylon, the local ruling clans of Penukonda, Rayadurga, Kalyanadurga, Chandragiri, Udayagiri and Venkatagiri.

The communities in the Tamil speaking areas were also known as Kavara or Gavara Balijas. The Gajula Balija Naidus are the largest sub-group of the Kavara or Gavara Balijas in the Tamil speaking areas, and are known as Valaiyal Chettis or Naidus.

Gradually, the Balija Naidus became known as a warrior or trading community. It is said though, that the original Balijas would have moved out of Balijipeta in the current Srikakulam region. There is brief mention of the community in Kakatiya inscriptions, as Veera Balingyas. Similar to most European, Chinese and Arabian merchant traders, the Balija Naidus in the northern coastal areas of Andhra Desa, established the first-known merchant guilds for land-based trade and sea-going trade. One of the oldest trading guilds from among the Balijas is also known from Bellary in Karnataka.

These merchant guilds bonded with similar guilds that came to Dondra at the southern tip of Sri Lanka, and with ships that came through Madagascar or those that went out with gold from Nala Sopara. There were contacts with merchant guilds in the Arabian and Chinese lands for coordination of the land trade through the caravans that came down from Persia and Afghanistan.

The aspect of integration through trade is known from historians who study these aspects. It is said that there is mention of regional trade guilds in the Tamil speaking areas also. The trade guilds that established themselves through the southern region of the Indian Subcontinent, i.e., south of the Narmada River, became autonomous, region-by-region. This geographic separation and their ability to secure themselves through trade, brought them the power that they would naturally have wanted to assume. Similar to such trading guilds in Europe, China and the Arabian world, the trading guilds of the Balija Naidus also met regularly, had formal meetings and they recorded their discussion. If they would have made donations to the local temple, that contribution was recorded as such and such.

Similarly, if they helped the local King in times of war or drought, these decisions were recorded. These meetings of the trading guilds were recorded with mention of the armed support that they had, and with descriptions of their armies and their ability to inflict death and harm to those who would oppose their trade. These decisions were made known usually in Sanskrit, and where required, with the local language. The decisions were sealed with the symbols of the trading guilds, much like it was done in other regions of the world, at that time, with figures of items, trade goods, possessions, arms, animals or deities.

The symbols of the Nanadesi trading guild

[from http://www.tnarch.gov.in/epi/guild.htm]

Copyright with the original owner

The most unique and long-known aspect of the trade guilds of the Balijas in these regions were the splendid names by which they called themselves. The trading guild of Aihole was known as Ayyapozhil Ainnurruvar or the "Five hundred of Aihole". This would have probably meant that there were 500 trading families or communes of the Balijas at Aihole. Their geographic range of trade and movement is clearly seen from the trading guild that was known as Tisaiayirathu Ainnurruvar or the "Five hundred that went about in a thousand directions". The traders that went by sea, towards the South East to Kambuja and Java and Sumatra, and to the west to the Arabic worlds and Madagascar, were known as the Nanadesi, and those that traded in the Tamil speaking areas, were known as Valanjiyar of the Balija families, also known as Banajigas.

The trading caravans moving out of Nala Sopara towards Srikakulam and Nellore by following the major river routes of the Godavari and Krishna Rivers were usually under attack in the Konkan, Deccan and riverine delta areas. The trading guilds of the Balijas had to establish themselves along the route and defend their trade. Thus, the communities dispersed along these major rivers initially, and later, along the coast. The right to protect their trade, as given to them by the Kings, recognised the community as Balija Nayakulu, and thereby, evolved as Balija Naidu. Though it is said that the community was recognised in this manner during the Kakatiya dynasty, it is entirely possible that the right to defend their trade would have been practiced from much earlier times, and we are not entirely aware of such measures. Subsequently though, the power derived from armed combat, and from organising themselves, led the Balijas to establish themselves as Kings of local regions, and this was seen from the various kingdoms south of the great rivers, such as along the Pennar River from the southern regions of the Deccan and all the way through the current Rayalaseema region.

The Kings of these regions recognised the wealth, power and organisation of these trading guilds among the Balijas, and their ability to defend themselves, and thereafter integrated them within the armies, administration and management of the various kingdoms. Thus, in Srikakulam and all the way south to Udayagiri and Nayudupeta in Nellore region, the Setti Balijas were appointed also as tax collectors.

There is mention of Rani Mangammal, the Madurai Nayak queen. Similar to her, Vijayaranga Chokkanatha and Thondaiman of Pudukkottai were Balija Kings. The earliest inscription written in Telugu was derived from the donation of land to the temples in the Tamil speaking areas, especially, the Kalamalla copper plate that provides information of the Charter of the Telugu speaking Chola Kings, who were descended from the Karikala Kings. The coins issued by Rani Mangammal and her royal dynasty are known to have legends in the Telugu script. Similarly, the mural paintings of the Nayak period, in the 16th to 18th Centuries, in the Tamil speaking areas, have labels in Telugu from the Balijas.

Inscription informing about donation of lands to temples

at Kanchipuram c. 17th Century

[From http://www.tnarch.gov.in/epi/ins6.htm]

Copyright with original owner

The Balijas were known to marry into other clans, and in spite of some opposition through history, have managed to make a mark for themselves and be remembered for posterity as warriors, generals, Kings and today, as politicians and people-friendly positions such as film stars or sportspersons. The foremost of such integrated families was of course, Krishnadevaraya, the Emperor and one of the most powerful Kings of India, ever known. He ruled over the great Vijayanagar Empire. There were other forms of community-level integration within the royal families with Balijas, and one of these included the Kota Balijas. The great King, Ramaraya, the last ruler of the Vijayanagar Emperor, and belonging to the Araveeti dynasty, was a Kota Balija. One of the later Kings was Kasturi Naidu, also Pedda Koyenti Nayudu of the Vasarasi family of the Balijas.

Scene near Srivilliputtur. c. 20 July 1792 (at Alagarkoil, a temple in the hills 7 miles west of Srivilliputtur)

Alagarkoil area, near Srivilliputtur in July 1792

Pencil and wash drawing by Thomas and William Daniell of a scene near Srivilliputtur, dated c.20 July 1792. Inscribed on back in ink: '129, Near Allegreycoil. Near Chevulpettore'; in pencil: 'near Allygreycoil. Shevalpettore.'

From March 1792 to February 1793 the Daniells travelled through South India. At that time the Tinnevelly district was still unmapped and unadministered by the British. The artist were greatly impressed by the 'sublimity' of the scenery with great forests and hills. Near the fort of Srivilliputtur they drew a view of the a small temple on the hill at Alagarkoil.

This post is entirely derived from the webpage at - http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/other/019wdz000000234u00000000.html - as on 19 August 2013. All copyright rests with the original owners in all forms. The information is reproduced here entirely on non-profit basis for awareness about the ancient history of Srivilliputtur. No intent is implied and none is expected other than the information in the original pages. 

Periya Tirumalai Nambi and his descendants

Periya Thirumalai Nambi, also known as Srisailapoorna, was the maternal uncle of Swami Ramanujacharya and Govinda Bhattar (embar) and was also their philosophical mentor (acharya). [Reference - http://anudinam.org/2012/06/02/periya-tirumalai-nambi-thirunakshatram/]

He was one of the five principal acharyas of Swami Ramanujacharya, who was recognised as the jagadacharya. According to the orders of Alavandar, it was Periya Thirumalai Nambi who was supposed to hand over the Sri Ramayana to Emperumanar. Every day, he was involved in the act of divine theertha kainkaryam to Venkateswara, and would carry water from Akasa Ganga for Srinivasa thriuvaradhanam.

A strange incident occurred at that time. Elaiyazhvar and Govinda were learning Samanya Sastra under Yadava Prakasa. At that time, there was a conspiracy to kill Ramanuja during a pilgrimage to Kasi (ie Benaras). Knowing about it, Govinda rescued Ramanuja. At Kasi, during a dip in the Ganges, a sivalinga was found under the river by Govinda. Due to this incident, the Vaisnava Govinda was advised and renamed by his guru, Yadava Prakasa, to be known as Ullan Kai Konarindha Nayanar, and in turn, he became an ardent devotee of Shiva and settled down at Sri Kalahasti. To this day, there are Vaisnavas in Sri Kalahasti, who are known to be ardent devotees of Shiva.

Periya Tirumalai Nambi

From - http://anudinam.org/2012/06/02/periya-tirumalai-nambi-thirunakshatram/

Later, Periya Thirumalai Nambi, on the request of Ramanuja, went back thrice from Thirumalai to Sri Kalahasti to bring Govinda back to the Vaisnava fold. He went along with his disciples, and sat on the path through which Govinda would pass by to pick flowers for prayers. At this location, he started giving a lecture to the disciples on the words of Nammalvar, about worshipping the feet of Sriman Narayana by offering flowers. Govinda realised the efforts of Periya Thirumalai Nambi, and returned from Sri Kalahasti.


Transferring the Ramayana to Ramanuja
Swamy Alavandar had given the responsibility to various disciples of transferring sampradayic knowledge eventually to a single successor, Swamy Ramanuja. Among the tomes, the Ramayana was given to Periya Thirumalai Nambi and he was to hand it over to Ramanuja. Therefore, he forwarded instructions to Ramanuja to come to Thirumalai to receive the treasure.

As you may know, or may not, Thirumala hills are also known as Seshachala, i.e. the incarnation of Adi Sesha, the great-snake companion of Narayana. Swamy Ramanuja was also later considered to be the incarnation of Adi Sesha. Upon arriving at Thirumala, Ramanuja could not bring himself to walk upon the sacred hill. He therefore, started to walk with his knees. On hearing of this, Periya Thirumalai Nambi rushed to the location and welcomed Ramanuja. He said, "If you would begin climbing the divine hill in this manner, upon your knees, then devotees would not be able to brave it to do the pilgrimage. They would find it difficult to reach Narayana. Walk up in the normal manner. Consider this to be similar to bhagavat kainkaryam. Seshachala or Adi Sesha wold only be happy to be blessed by the feet of a devotee (bhagavata sripada sparsam)."

Ramanuja asked in return, "In order to inform me about the manner of my walk on Tirumala, did you have to run all the way? You could have sent anybody younger (or, lesser) with your instructions."

Periya Thirumalai Nambi replied, "Yes. I did want to send somebody smaller than me, and I searched for one all over Tirumala, but, I could not find anyone smaller than me to explain the greatness of Tirumala to you."

Ramanuja stayed in Tirumala for thee days and later came down to Tirupati and made a place for himself to dedicate himself to Sri Ramayana Kalashepam. Every day, for a year, Periya Thirumalai Nambi would complete the offering of waters to Narayana, as Theertha Kainkaryam and come down to Tirupati to expound upon the meaning of Srimad Ramayana to Ramanuja. Upon completion, Periya Thirumalai Nambi asked Ramanuja to seek a gift or reward or an offering from the guru to the shishya, unlike the aspect of gurudakshina from a student to the teacher.

Ramanuja requested Periya Thirumalai Nambi to send Govinda Bhattar along with him and this was agreed to. It was Govinda Bhattar who felt dismayed, but had to obey the Acharya. On beginning the journey, Govinda Bhattar could not suffer the separation from his teacher, and became sick. Realising his anguish, Ramanuja allowed him to return to Tirumala. Govinda Bhattar arrived at the house of Periya Thirumalai Nambi and knocked on the door. When the teacher's spouse wanted to open the door, she was told, "Does any one feed the cow that has been given away?"

Hearing these words, Govinda Bhattar understood his mistake and returned to Swamy Ramanuja and was with him until the last.

Later, as Periya Thirumalai Nambi got older, and was carrying on with his daily duties of carrying water to Lord Venkateswara, a small boy blocked his way and requested for the water. Periya Thirumalai Nambi refused to give water to the boy despite several requests since he would have to walk back to Akasa Ganga to bring water afresh. The boy hit the pot with a small stone and began to drink the water that poured out of the sharply accurate hole. As the weight decreased, Periya Thirumalai Nambi realised the situation and was upset. Upon that moment, the boy showed the manifestation of Narayana as Venkateswara and instructed Periya Thirumalai Nambi to fetch the sacred water from the nearby Koneri Pushparini.

As days and years went by, Periya Thirumalai Nambi could not perform the service of bringing water to Venkateswara. Therefore, he requested the Lord to partake of the food at the residence of another devotee.


Periya Thirumalai Nambi and his descendants

Periya Thirumalai Nambi was the grandson of Yamunacharya a.k.a. Alavandar. He had two sons - Pillai Tirumalai Nambi and Tirukkurukaippiran Pillan. Most descendants went off in these two lines, and went away to propagate Sri Vaishnavism. Some became rajaguru at Vizianagaram, Rayadurg etc, while the descendents of Tirukkurukaippiran Pillan settled in Kanchipuram, Valankuppam, Surapuram, Navilpakkam, Srirangam, Kumbakonam and Mysore among other places. The line from Pillai Tirumalai Nambi settled in Tirumalai in order to continue the service started by their father, Periya Thirumalai Nambi. To this day, the action of Kainkaryam of transporting Akasa Ganga water to Lord Venkateswara for the aradhanam and for offering Thulasi leaves at his holy feet is the responsibility of the family, now known as Tatacharya. They are known in the devasthanam records as Thozhapacharyas.

There is a delightful story of Periya Thirumalai Nambi and his dedication to the service of Lord Venkateswara. He would transport sacred water from Papavinasam, about five miles away from Thirumala for the daily prayers. On one particular day, a bird trapper met him and asked him for water, by addressing him as "Thatha" (= Grandfather). Periya Thirumalai Nambi refused to give the sacred water to the bird trapper since he intended to transport the water for the Lord's abhishekham. The bird trapper was innovative, and he hit the earth with an arrow and from therein, he kept drinking the water. From the next day onwards, Periya Thirumalai Nambi began to collect the water from the nearby place. Seeing this, the bird trapper desired that the water for the abhishekham should be taken from the place where he had shot the arrow. This location is now called Akasa Ganga, and Periya Thirumalai Nambi was convinced that the bird trapper was none other than Lord Venkateswara.

Periya Thirumalai Nambi was responsible for the inspiration for Ramanuja in the Saranagati Gadya. Periya Thirumalai Nambi had two sisters who were married to Kesavasomayaji and Pundarikaksha. A son was born to his sister, Kantimati and Kesavasomayaji at Sriperumbudur, and was named Ramanuja. Upon knowing this, Periya Thirumalai Nambi rushed to the child and blessed him by inscribing the marks of Shankha and Chakra as protective sacred symbols.

He was worried about his second nephew, Govinda, and reverted him back to the study of Srivaishnavism from Saivism. Later, he entrusted Govinda to the care of Ramanuja. Govinda was named as Emberumanar but was usually called as Embar. Periya Thirumalai Nambi handed over his second son, Tirukkurukaippiran Pillan as Gnanaputra (= one who would inherit the wisdom of Sri Ramanuja).

Upon inspiration from Ramanuja, it was Tirukkurukaippiran Pillan who wrote the commentary - Arayirapadi  (= Tiruvoimozhi). Ramanuja declared him to be competent to be in charge of the Ubhayavedanta. Periya Thirumalai Nambi stayed at South Mada Street in Tirumalai and the house is under the management of the Thozhappacharyas (= Prathama Acharya Purushas of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams).

Sharada Bhushan - Indumati - my mother

My mother, Sharada Bhushan, daughter and eldest child of Muniswamy Naidu and Hymavathy Naidu of Chennai, traveled from south India, to Mumbai upon her marriage to Balapila Naga Bhushan. At the time of her first journey to Mumbai, she had never been to the great megapolis, did not know Hindi or Marathi, and had a smattering knowledge of English. She had studied M.A. in Telugu at the University of Madras, at Queen Marys College, and was later teaching Telugu at Stella Maris College.

She arrived at Mumbai, learnt the art of cooking food on a kerosene stove, and later using gas cylinders, did her house management for more than 15 years without a refrigerator, and for more than 20 years without a washing machine. She would wake up at 05.00 - 06.00 am everyday, take care of her needs, cook food for everyone - breakfast, lunch and dinner in one go - and leave home by 07.30 - 08.00 am to go to the Andhra Education Society High School and would return only around 7.00 pm.

She studied and learnt and mastered English, Hindi, Marathi, History and HR while at Mumbai. I studied Marathi along with her, getting the Pravin, Pravesh and Prabodh certificates in Marathi. She also completed her B.Ed and M.Ed degrees.

[To be continued...]

With my mother, Sharada Bhushan, sometime in 1963

My mother would sometimes speak of her early days in Mumbai... of her fear in traveling alone around and about in the big big city. She said that the fear lasted about a couple of months. Later, I remember, she would take me and my sister, even as kids in KG and primary school, and we would travel through suburban trains, buses, change over at different stations and bus stands, or sometimes we would travel by train, bus, train bus etc if we would go to Borivili to meet Rosy Aunty (Nagendra Babu's elder sister).

My parents, B. N. Bhushan and Sharada (Indumati) Bhushan, sometime in 1962

Jairam Naidu - my father's brother-in-law

Jairam Naidu, my father's brother-in-law, was an entirely larger than life personality. Jovial, genial, happy and excellent in living his life for the day. He never seemed to think about a tomorrow, and yet, managed a large family. Lived at Nanganallur, when I met up with him in 1978 and thereafter, and I enjoyed watching how his house grew from a thatch roof small house, to firmer designs. He had his sorrows and troubles, and I remember always that he never shared his problems with my father and my uncle, Shantaram Naidu, who loved him genuinely.

Money was hard to come by, in those days, and Jairam Naidu, treasured every effort of his. He traveled from Nanganallur through the city to Ennore Foundries, and was to be known by it. He found his second son-in-law, chronologically, the first - Chandramohan. Later, Balaji Naidu, my cousin, got Jairam Naidu's job at Ennore Foundries and has been working there ever since.

Jairam Naidu was son of Shanmughavalli and Alagiri Singhari Naidu. He had a sibling, Devaki Amma, who passed away at the young age of 18 years. Jairam Naidu married Pramila, daughter of Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam and Rambai.

Shanmughavalli and Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam were siblings, and children of Neela Meghala Shyamala Naidu and Rukmini Devi, residents of Srivilliputtur. Shanmughavalli was married to and settled in Chennai.

Jairam Naidu at Ennore Foundries, Chennai

On the day of his retirement from Ennore Foundries

My mother's brothers and sisters

My maternal grandfather, Muniswamy Naidu and maternal grandmother, Hymavathi Naidu, had six children - three brothers and three sisters.

(1) Sharada Bhushan nee Indumati (1930 Chennai to 1996 Mumbai) - spouse Mr. Balapila Naga Bhushan (1927 Belgaum to 2009 Pune - earlier known as Balapila Navaneetha Krishna Naidu)
Children - Bharat Bhushan (b. 1962 Chennai - myself) and Sarala Bhushan (b. 1963 Chennai)

(2) M. Kuchela Naidu - spouse Pramila Kuchela Naidu
Children - Satya, Govindamma

(3) M. Gopinath Naidu - spouse Girija Gopinath Naidu
Children - Bhagyashree (?) aka Amul, Prasanna, Indira Jayashree

(4) M. Bhaskar Rao - spouse Bharati Bhaskar Rao
Children - Nagasayana Babu, Poornima aka Paapa, Raghu, Chinni

(5) Saraswathy Purushottam - spouse Purushottam
Children - Mahendra Babu, Phaneendra Babu

(6) Shyamala Nagaraj Naidu - spouse Nagaraj Naidu
Children - Yugendra, Kumar and Bharini

Narayanaswamy Naidu, Chinna Thayamma and some friends who made good in Trichy during 1905 to 1940

One contemporary friend or acquaintance of my paternal maternal great grandfather, Shri Narayanaswamy Naidu and my paternal maternal great grandmother, Chinna Thayamma, residents of 12 Mannar Pillai Street, Trichy during 1900 to 1950 at least, or perhaps 1960, was that they had some friends whose names are remembered by relatives to this date. My father, Balapila Naga Bhushan, used to speak of a well known sweetmeat merchant in Trichy, who began in Palakarai area around 1905 and later, (1908, it seems, as I found out from the net) and established a successful business. This was Shri B. Govindarajulu Naidu. My paternal grandfather, Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam, was born in Srivilliputhur in 1899, and was sent up to live in Chennai with his sisters, Balamma and Shanmughavalli sometime in 1910.

Shri Narayanaswamy Naidu and Chinna Thayamma were acquainted with Shri B. Govindarajulu Naidu, and my father remembers my grandfather speaking about him after he moved to Trichy upon marriage with Rambai, and resettled in the town.

I read from the internet pages from the well doing sweetmeat shop - BG NAIDU SWEETS - that the brand name is doing well and is a household name in Trichy and Pudukkottai districts. Began in 1908 by Hon. Shri B. Govindarajulu Naidu, the shop chain is a successful business firm now. Shri Govindarajulu Naidu came from a small hamlet, Iluppur, between Pudukottai and Viralimalai. He was followed by his son, Hon. Shri B. G. Bakthavatchalam. I remember my father speaking about Shri Bakthavatchalam on occasion, in reference to Trichy. They have dairy farms at Keelamullaikudi village, Trichy and a centralized industrial kitchen at Sangliandapuram, Trichy. Shri B. G. Bakthavatchalam and Smt. B. Santha Bakthavatchalam have been followed by his four sons - Mr. G. B. Balaji, Mr. B. Badrinath, Mr. B. Kedarnath and Mr. B. Amarnath. [From the information in their website - I was intrigued by the choice of names - Venkateswara and Shiva... remarkable and terrific. Much like Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam's choice of Krishna and Ram for his sons.]

Gajula Balija Naidu - Related surnames and family names in Tamil Nadu of 1860 to 1950

Balija Naidus were usually a trading community, found in all cities and mofussil towns of the Madras Presidency, from Srivilliputhur to Srikakulam. There were two major groups. The royalty - the Balija Nayaks, the Kings of Madura, Tanjore and Vijayanagar - were from the same community. As were their generals, ministers and governors. The second group were the traders - and of these, there were two major groups - Gajulu or Gazulu Balijas (bangle sellers) and the Perike Balijas (salt sellers).

In the current Tamil districts of Madras Presidency, the Balijas came to be known as Vaduga and Kavarai. To distinguish between the glass-bangle sellers and the gold jewellery traders, the Gajula Balijas involved in the richer trade got the titles "Chetti" and this was usually preferred. Commonly different surnames are - Naidu, Nayakkan, Chetti, Setti, Nayak, Kavarai, and Valaiyal Chetti among others.

[Valaiyal = Bangles in Tamil... i.e. Gajulu]

The Gazula Balijas in Nellore areas - 

from "The Vizagapatnam District Gazetteer" edited by W. Francis - 1907

The Balija Chettis or Setti, and sometimes, Shetty Balijas, and Sugavansi Balija controlled trading guilds. These communities became powerful and had tremendous impact on the trade of Vijayanagar. These guild-master families were given the title "Desai" by the Vijayanagar Kings. The Chetty families in Srirangam, Kumbakonam and Thanjavur were closely related to many Gajula Balija Naidus.

I remember my parents and grandfather being close friends of the Chetty families who were jewellers in Matunga, Mumbai, because they knew each other from back in Srirangam and were probably related, or close enough. The Chetty families, as I was told by my paternal grandfather, were actually Gajula Balijas, but on research, I learn that they were preferential to the community title - Kavarai Gajula Bangaru Naidu. This is the crucial distinction from glass bangles to gold jewellery traders.

There are variations in the surnames or family names. These include - Balija, Banajiga, Balanja, Bananja, Bananju, Banijiga, Balijiga, Valanjiyar, Balanji, Bananji, Baliga - derived from the Sanskrit term for Vanik or Vanii - a trader. It was the Banajigas who comprised trade guilds, and were famously known during the pre-medieval and medieval period as the five hundred lords of Ayyavolu. The name - Balija - also came to include Boya, Golla, Gavara and others during the rule of Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar.

The largest groups were Kapu, and these extended to Vakkaligas. In Kannada, some of these groups and communities came to be known by other names, including Pusala. There are communities named after their nativity - such as Gonuguntla Desayi Chetti - named after Gonuguntla Village. Yet another community was Gandavarapu, who were Gonuguntla Balijas, and migrated to Cuddapah. Other names included Mulaka, Miriyala, Vyasa, Tota, Kondeti, Gopathi and Perike among others.

The official status for Gajula Balija Naidus or Gazula Balija Naidus are -

Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam - my paternal grandfather - the history of the name

The name, Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam, is unique and with a glorious tradition to it. I want to write it here and present it to all my cousins and nephews and nieces, and those to come... for them to know and to be proud.

To speak about the name in this unique combination - Shyamala + Ranga + Bhashyam, one needs to invoke the words -

Srimathe Ranga Ramanuja Maha Desikaya Namaha

Sri Ranganatha Divya Mani Padhukabhyam Namaha

The name is part of the guru parampara from Narayana himself (ie Vishnu) to Shri Ramanuja, aka Bhagavath Ramanuja, and this parampara is known also as the Sri Bhashya Parampara. There are many other names to the succession, and one of them also includes the terms Alavandar and Peria Nambi, which are quite significant and I shall explain in a different post. 

The initial names of the guru parampara are - 

(3 names deemed to be that of the gods)

Shri Narayana, Vishnu, Sri Vasudevan

Sri Mahalakshmi

Shri Vishvaksenar

Nammalvar

Sri Nathamuni

Sri Pundarikakshar or Uyyakondar

Sri Ramamisrar or Sri Manakkal Nimbi

Sri Alavandar

(of these, Sri Nathamuni and Sri Alavandar are also names in the family)

From this point - the Rahasyam of Sri Bhashyam begins as the Bhagavath Vishayam

And, most significantly, some branches of various families get to locations in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and even north to Haridwar and all the way back to Nepal and Tibet. But, these breaks are beyond any geneology, and return only when they become an entirely new group, language, gotra, caste or community. 

The line of names in the guru parampara continues -

Peria Nambi Peria Nambi

Sri Ramanujar

Prana tharthi haran Thirukurugai Pillan - or - Thiru Kurukai Pillan
RamAnuja Pillan Sri Vishnu Chithar - or - Vishnu chithar

RangarAja Pillan Nadadur Ammal - or - NadAdur Ammal

[all breaks go towards Kerala]

Appullar

Swamy Desika

Kumara Varadhachar

Brahma thanthrar

Gadika satham Ammal

AdhivannSatakopar

Sri Varadha VishnuvAchar [the name - Varada - is established]

MahaDaya Deesar

Ahobilam Desikachar [all breaks go towards south Andhra Pradesh]

Shashta Parankusamuni 

Srisaila Thatha Desikan 

Srisailam Srinivaschar

Vasthya Ramanujachar 

Paravasthu Venkatanathachar 

Velamur Ranganathachar 

Chithanna Veeraraghavachar - or - Srisaila Venkatachar

VelAmur Rangapathi Desikan 

Kalyanavaham Ranganathar 

Paduka sevaka Ramanujar

Gopalarya Maha Desikan

Vazhuthur Andavan

A distinct root gets established in the guru parampara at this moment at Srirangam, onwards - 

The root is also known as the Kalakshepa Parampara and is based at,  of all places, the most significant - also at Poundarikapuram Asramam - that is, the Ashrama of Pundarika, much much before the place of Pandharpur in Maharashtra becomes a significant pilgrimage location. 

Vazhuthur Andavan

PeriAsramam, srirangam Poundarikapuram Asramam,

Many other acharyas take the line forward from here...  And the guru parampara is now known as - Sribhashya or Bhagavat Vishaya Parampara - totally dedicated to the Srimad Bhagavad and gets to be firmly established exclusively as the Sri Bhashya Parampara

The primary acharya now, is - Thirukkurugai Piran Pillan

[Very significant in the sense that Shyamala Ranga Bhashyam's family + house name was Bala Pilavar or Balapila]

Thirukkurugai Piran Pillan aka Kurukesar was the second son of Periya Thirumalai Nambi, and therefore also rendered himself as the younger Piran Pillan aka Thirukkurugai Balapiran Pillan. Born in 1161 AD, within Poorvashada Nakshatram, in the month of Srimuka Aippasi, in the Shadamarshana Gothra. 

Thirukkurugai Piran Pillan was entrusted directly to the care of Sri Ramanuja and studied vedanta, divya prabandham and other sastras, and performed sidhantha pravachanam in Srirangam. He authored the Bhagavath Vishayam in 6000 padi. Sri Ramanuja decreed that this great work should be recognised as one of the important kalkshepa grantham. 

Sri Bhashyakarar was given the responsibility by Sri Ramanuja to appoint simhasanatipatis for the propagation of the Srimad Bhagavat. Seventy-four (74) simhasanatipatis were appointed. Of them, Thirukkurugai Piran Pillan was also one of them given the responsibility for the propagation of the Srimad Bhagavat. 

The line continued - 

Thirukkurugai Piran Pillai

Sri Vishnu Chithar (1106 to 1197 BC) - conducted pravachanam to vaishnavas in Srirangam. Authored Vyaakyana Grantham for Vishnu Puranam. 

Nadadur Ammal - Varada Desikar (1165-1275) - The name - Varada - becomes firmly entrenced in the guru parampara henceforth. 

This is indeed an amazing verse - 3  related family names are part of this - Varada, Bhushan and Bhashyam. My maternal great-grandfather was Varada, and my paternal grandfather was Bhashyam, while my father's name was Bhushan.

Vandheham varadharyam tham vathsabhi jana bhooshanam

Bhashyamrutha pradhanadyas sanjeevayathi mamapi

The guru parampara continues

Srimad Adivan Satakopajeer (b. 1379) - established the sacred Ahobila Mutt and was the first Acharya for more than sixty years, until 1458.

Sri Ranga Ramanujar - aka Upanishad Bhashyakkarar - in a very significant rendition says -

Yenopanishadham bhashyam ramanuja mathanugam

ramyam krutham prapadhye tham ranga ramanujam munim

Continuing -

Sri Ranganathaya - born to Swamy Desikan in 1317 AD. Was succeeded by his son and disciple -

Kumara Varadacharya - aka - Nainaracharya.

He set up an idol of his father at the Srirangam temple, and later, at the banks of the Venna River, at Thanjavur, he installed an image of his father in the temple of Neelamegha Perumal. 

Later,  he composed the Pillai Anthadhi - a poetic tribute to his father in 20 slokas. 

Continuing -

Thruteeya Parankusar

Vangipuram Srinivasar Muni - born at Thiruvallur

Srisailam Srinivasachar

Munivahana Swamy

Chandragiri Venkatacharya

Padukasevaka Ramanuja