Ayyappan Pillay

 AYYAPPAN PILLAY 

Moolayil Ayyappan Pillay, my maternal grandfather, is my favourite among the Thattanappallil doyens. I had lost my father when I was a two year old. I’ve very hazy memories of him. When it comes to my grandfather, I do have a clearer picture. He was about 80. He gave me so much love, shelter and patronage impacting my personality development early in life. I believe a strong bonding exists between us albeit he  passed away when I was a child. He was a dignified and highly respected old man. An epitome of elegance and wisdom! As I’m growing older( 78  now) I feel I’ve inherited the silver grey hair on the dark scalp, a striking feature of my graceful and benign grandfather! 

Moolayil Ayyappan Pillay (MAP) was born at Kattanam in Moolayil Veedu, a well known Nair Tharavad. 

I had visited this house during my childhood along with my mother. I remember witnessing spectacular fireworks in the neighbouring church, an annual celebration (Perunnal) which used to attract large crowds. 

MAP was a brilliant student. He earned double promotion twice in lower classes until he reached the final year in School. The centre for his final examination was in Trivandrum . He had a team of 10 people providing logistics and security for his arduous journey to Trivandrum. The team moved on foot with  personal baggage, provisions and utensils loaded on a bullock cart from Kattanam to Kayamkulam. Thereafter they travelled by boat all the way to Trivandrum through canals and backwaters. On reaching the Capital City they set up camp near the School where the examination was to be held. It took almost three weeks for MAP to return home after this long journey. 

On successful completion of his matriculation, MAP got an offer to serve the Travancore Kingdom in the Munsiff court, Adoor. It was a rare and coveted opportunity in those days to be an employee of the Maharaja of Travancore. Nair Community had enjoyed prominence as warriors in Travancore under the Maharajas which  earned them handsome rewards particularly landed properties. They became landlords owning sizeable lands  especially in the villages. Having landed a prestigious Government job MAP got married to Kalyani Amma of Thattanappallil, a well known Nair Tharavad in Peringanad, Adoor. It was a time when Nairs practiced matriarchy. MAP stayed in Thattanappallil Veedu for a couple of years. Later he moved to a new house built on a family property about one kilometre away. This house was named as Bhaskaravilasam Bungalow. It was built on a vast hillside stretch covered with casuarina trees. In fact the locals referred to this hillock as “ Parangam Vila” and continued with that name despite Bhaskaravilasam Bungalow having come into existence. Along with MAP, his younger brother Kesava Pillay ( KP) also moved to Adoor and stayed under the same roof. Whereas MAP was addressed as Valiachan or Valiappopan, KP used to be addressed as Kochachan or Kocappopan by children and grand children respectively. Kalyani Amma ( KA) was the lady in charge of Bhaskaravilasam, in accordance with the matriarchal order and tradition. Whilst she donned that hat, MAP assumed the position of the Head of the family. It was in tune with the changing times that the transition from Matriarchal to Patriarchal order took place in our family. It was a joint family headed by MAP. While MAP was busy with his Government job, it was KP who managed the sizeable holdings of land, farming and related activities. It was a perfect arrangement for smooth management of the household, properties and social engagements . MAP, KA and KP together raised five children, three girls and two boys all of whom grew up in a conducive and vibrant joint family environment. In fact, this branch of Thattanappallil earned the envy and admiration of not only the relatives but also the neighbours for its harmony and achievements. In retrospect, I can say, the importance given to education of children was the main reason for the shining success of our branch of Thattanappallil! And I’m glad and proud to observe that it continues as a tradition to date!

Bhaskaravilasam was a big house designed in the traditional Nalukettu style with sprawling verandas, columns, wooden storage space to stock the harvested rice and having several rooms. MAP used to relax on a big sofa on the front verandah. 

The Bungalow and its surroundings bustled with people, livestock and paraphernalia. Cashew trees on the periphery, coconut plants, jackfruit trees, mango trees and vegetables closer to the Bungalow, giant hay stacks and cow dung plastered courtyards were some of the features that I remember. 

MAP liked to talk to me on all kinds of topics and always answered my questions. I had started reading newspaper headlines in addition to the text book lessons. I had to read loud for my grandfather who used to check my comprehension and clear doubts. My mother was too keen on my education and she engaged Veluppillai Sir, the headmaster of the Primary School for tuitions. My grandfather insisted that the teaching should take place in his presence. Veluppillai Sir started the first class on the Varanda while MAP was watching from a distance. The teacher wanted me to write the letters and numbers that he called out on the sand spread in front of me. I got distracted after a while and the teacher got annoyed. He pressed my finger hard and I howled in pain. This alerted my grand father who walked up to us and asked me what had happened. I told him about the Sir hurting me. My grandfather asked Veluppillai Sir to get up and waving his walking stick asked the teacher to get out. Veluppillai was a terror   In his School, unsparing for errant children and often rude to their parents but he didn’t dare to utter a word. The story doesn’t end there. My mother persuaded another teacher of the same school, Raman Nair to take up the tuitions. Raman Nair was friendly and nice towards me asking questions, narrating stories and chatting with me. After the first session he went up to MAP and told him that Unni was far ahead in studies and he didn’t require tuitions. He went further to advise that since I was about to turn five l  should be joining School next year, directly in Class 3. My grandfather was so pleased that he rewarded Raman Nair Sir with Five rupees! He called  my mother and directed not to engage any teacher in future. I got admission to Class 3 next year, thanks to my mother who took time to teach  while my grandfather kept on pampering me! 

Emulating MAP’s example of  saving two years through double promotion, I could skip two classes right at the beginning of my school education!

MAP had his own “ Villu vandi” a specially designed bullock cart with a driver. He would go to the Treasury to collect his pension every month in this mode of transportation. Kids used to wait eagerly for his return to receive the toffees he brought for them. He would always ask the driver to take the children for a ride on the cart.

MAP had many friends for social interaction. I would like to mention two contemporaries from Adoor, E V Krishna Pillai and Munshi Paramu Pillai, both famous writers and satirists. 

In sum I cherish the memories of my grandfather. 

A strong influence in my formative years and a source of inspiration even today! 

A Bhaskaran Nair

 A BHASKARAN NAIR

A Bhaskaran Nair(ABN) was my elder maternal uncle (Valiyammavan). He was  illustrious, multifaceted and  popular in public life. A brilliant student and a topper in School, ABN moved to Trivandrum for higher education in the University College followed by the Law College to emerge as a First Class  BSc BL with the First Rank! He started practicing law  under the legendary criminal lawyer, Malloor Govindappillai. However it was cut short since he got inducted to Kawdiar Palace, in the service of the Maharaja of Travancore. He felt suffocated by the splendour and constrained by the strict palace rules and tendered his resignation within a month. Soon after he became the Legal Advisor, Titanium Minerals. Even this job didn’t appeal to his genius and he quit after a short tenure.

 In the meantime he got married to Sarojini Amma (Rajamma) from a well known Nair Family, Papadiyil, in Kudasanadu. 

ABN was enamoured by the Freedom Struggle and the Congress ideology. Having returned home from a long stint in Trivandrum he took a decisive plunge into politics! He contested the first Panchayat election and won handsomely. It was exciting times for the nascent Indian democracy and polity. ABN relished the new opportunity. He was elected as the First President of Pallikal Panchayat. During this period he lived in our house ( Krisnabhavan) adjacent to Bhaskaravilasam Bungalow. I was witness to the hectic campaigning during the elections and the growing popularity and political clout of Valiyammavan. He was a born leader who could win the hearts and gain the support of people. He was gifted in resolving conflicts. He cultivated lasting friendships and 

became highly influential. 

The Congress chose ABN as its candidate for the first Legislative Assembly Election from Kunnathur Constituency. He was pitted against a seasoned politician, Pandalam P R Madhavan Pillay ( PR) of the Communist Party. Krisnabhavan was a bustling centre of Congress campaign and Ammavan and supporters felt sure of winning. He bought a huge Chevrolet and the Party hired a fleet of jeeps for the campaign! It was the first Assembly election I had witnessed and that too from close quarters. A spectacle of posters, graffiti, flags, leaflets, loudspeakers, processions, sloganeering, public meetings, speeches, door to door canvassing etc! Propaganda on full scale but no violence,  booth capturing or foul play! I remember the kids having a whale of a time shouting slogans and parading with flags. We had hilarious moments when some of our children shouted ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ or waved a red flag with hammer and sickle inadvertently! Despite all efforts, PR won due to a strong Communist wave that swept through. It was a rude shock but ABN remained unfettered. He focused on construction of new village roads in our Panchayat. Another contribution was the creation of a Cooperative Society for Beekeeping and Poultry. 

About this time ABN happened to meet with Mannathu Padmanabhan, the Founder of Nair Service Society ( NSS). Mannom was impressed by the young Advocate and lured him to join the NSS. This was a great 

opportunity to harness his potential. His organising ability and proximity to Mannom catapulted ABN to the top echelon of NSS. Mannom gained national and international fame spearheading the state wide Vimochanasamaram (Agitation for liberation) to oust the Communist Government of EMS. ABN used to accompany Mannom across the State that resulted in further enlarging and consolidating his reach and stature. 

I would like to mention some of his major contributions such as establishing Mannom Sugar Mills and Medical Mission Hospital both at Pandalam, Polytechnic, Perumpulikal and Engineering College, Palghat. Out of these, his role and involvement in Mannom Sugar Mills in the Factory and promoting widespread cultivation and procurement of Sugarcane in the Region deserves special mention. While he was engaged in all these activities, he used to teach law in NSS College, Pandalam as an honorary professor. 

Valiyammavan used to wear white or more often off-white (cream) coloured bush shirt, white single mundu (dhoti) and polished black leather shoes. He was always clean shaven. He used to read newspapers daily. He was fond of cartoons and he used to subscribe to Shanker’s Weekly and Sarasan ( Malayalam magazine). He had keen interest in farming particularly rubber plantation and banana/ plantain cultivation. I admire his sharp intellect and quick wit and ability to resonate at different intellectual levels. He took me to Calicut in his car for my interview for admission to Regional Engineering College . And we talked in English throughout the journey. I wasn’t used to converse in English but gained confidence as we moved on. And what a thoughtful act on his part as I could do well in my interview that was in English! 

I remember staying in Alakapuri, the best hotel in Calicut. Among the dishes for dinner I liked fish molee, the most! As I narrated my interview experience over the dinner I could observe ABN’s beaming face! 

 Valiyammavan had helped many people in getting jobs and  admission to college.  I had seen several aspirants and their parents seeking his advice and help. He had always been empathetic and kind. He gave employment in Mannom Sugar Mills to several people linked to Thattanappallil!

Valiyammavi had always been pleasant and lively. She had an attractive disposition with a bright face and captivating smile. She was affectionate, caring, friendly and  hospitable. She outlived ABN and remained in good health until passing away recently. 

ABN was a colossus who had impacted not only Thattanappallil family but also a sizeable section of Society, particularly in Central Travancore. For me, he was a role model having a profound influence during the formative  years in life!  

Prof A Gopinathan Nair

  

PROF A GOPINATHAN NAIR

Professor A Gopinathan Nair(Gopi/ Gopi Sir) was the younger one among my maternal uncles. His image  etched in memory is that of a handsome young man fond of sports. A kids’ hero! After completing his meritorious School education in Adoor he joined College in Trivandrum and passed out with a first class degree, BSc (Chemistry). Soon after he joined FACT, Cochin as a chemist. 

After the Second World War ended in 1945, the Freedom Struggle had gathered momentum across India. Alongside,  several educated young men and women in Travancore and Cochin (Kingdoms) and Malabar( Part of Madras Presidency) got attracted towards Communism. Soviet Union followed by China championed the cause of Communism and Socialistic Pattern of Society (Socialism). The Western Bloc led by USA advocated Capitalism and Free Market. The stage was set for a bitter Cold War. It was also a period of political turmoil in the Indian subcontinent. 

Gopi was ideologically inclined to the left and he started taking part in the Communist movement covertly. It was a time when the Communists had eminent leaders like EMS, AKG,MN, Achutha Menon, TV Thomas and KR Gouri. The revolutionary Communist movement made deep inroads amongst the agricultural labourers and factory workers. The ruling dispensation was ruthless in trying to suppress the movement through coercive measures. Iron hand of the Government forced the Communist leaders and party cadres to go underground. You may recall the Punnapra-Vayalar revolt and its aftermath. The hunt for Communists became more organised, well coordinated and relentless since then.

Gopi got to know that he had become a target. In order to avoid arrest he fled from Cochin, rushed back to Adoor and went into hiding. That’s when he got admission for Masters in Aligarh Muslim University ( AMU). He escaped to Aligarh and joined a post graduate program, MSc, Chemistry. AMU was one of the best universities in India, at par with Banarus Hindu University. While at the AMU campus Gopi took an active part in the political discourse. By the time he finished studies, significant transformation happened in his thinking and views. He had matured and mellowed down albeit continued to believe in Socialism through democracy and peaceful political means. 

He chose a teaching career and joined NSS College, Changanaserry as a lecturer in the Chemistry Department. He earned the reputation of a brilliant teacher at the very start of his career. On transfer to Pandalam NSS College he was promoted to Professor and Head of Department, Chemistry. His reputation went up not only as a teacher but also as an effective administrator. His journey continued to MG College, Trivandrum, NSS College, Mattannur and finally to NSS College Ottappalam where he was elevated as Principal. He had a glorious innings as Principal. On retirement from NSS College Ottappalam he was in great demand  as Principal and Visiting Professor in different Parallel Colleges. 

Kochammavn had a major role in my growth and development. He moved me to Pandalam from Pallikkal as soon as I finished Class 6. I did my classes 7 to 9 in NSS Boys High School, Pandalam. For three years, I was under his wings. I was adjudged the best Class 9 student across all NSS Schools in the State! 

Kochammavan was a voracious reader. Thanks to him I got to read Readers Digest and Illustrated Weekly of India. I started reading English fiction from his collection. He also helped me with my essays and speeches. 

He was fond of playing tennis, watching movies and acting in plays. I still remember his role as Othello, a riveting performance! It was  routine to see a movie once a week in Pandalam National Talkies (movie hall under a thatched roof)!

When I was studying in Regional Engineering College, Calicut I could visit him at Ottappalam and Palakkad. I noticed a happy home with a ‘made for each other’ couple. I was thoroughly impressed by Thankam Ammavi  who was a Professor of English in the same college. She was friendly, articulate lively and affectionate. It was instant rapport as she narrated the unnatural passing of the celebrated novelist  T A Rajalakshmi who was her colleague and a close friend. Incidentally, Rajalakshmi was my professor in NSS College, Pandalam when I was doing 1st Year BSc (Physics). In fact, I had become her fan like my mother as  both loved reading her novel “Oru Vazhium Kure Nizhalukalum “ published serially in Mathrubhoomi Weekly!

In their Palakkad (Chandranagar) home I could meet with other members of Ammavi’s  family in a warm and vibrant ambience. A senior family member took me to their house in Chittoor for a short visit. Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the bonhomie and hospitality. I could  get a feel of the cultural difference between Travancore-Cochin and Malabar, as well! 

Ammavan and Ammavi  visited us in Jaipur when I was the Commanding Officer of an Army Regiment. They loved to visit the historical monuments in the Pink City, the National Capital and Agra. They also enjoyed the stay in our Officers Mess and the company of my colleagues and their families from different parts of the country.

Ammavi used to write copious letters to Shanta keeping us updated and well informed. She had a flair for writing and an inimitable style to make the communication  lucid! 

Gopi Sir led a simple life, dedicated to his work and devoted to the family. He was a reservoir of knowledge, an effective administrator and an excellent teacher. And a compassionate human being who believed in equality and social justice!  He earned the love and respect of his students and staff and made

 lasting contributions to the society in the field of education!

I felt most comfortable in his company to have a drink, light a cigar, crack a joke or engage in a serious conversation! Enjoyable, enriching and enlightening experience! In sum, he was a guide, a friend, and a philosopher to me!