Aum Sri Sri Sri Mata Amriteswariye Namo Namaha

Aum Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba Namo Namaha

Aum Sri Sri Sri Shirdhi Sayine Namo Namaha
Aum Sri Namo Bhagavathye Sri Ramanaya Namaha.
Aum Sri Sri Sri Guruvayurappan Thunai
Aum Gam Ganapathye Namo Namaha
Aum Sri Sri Sri Ramakrishna Devaya Namaha
Aum Sri Sri Sri Sarada Deviye Namaha
Aum Sri Sri Sri Vivekananda Swamine Namaha
Aum Sri Sri Sri Sarvabhyo Devatabhyo Namo Namaha
HARI OM, HARI OM, HARI OM

INTRODUCTION

The learned and those blessed souls say that there cannot be any “I”sm
or “Mine”sm. The true state of one’s ‘self’ is that state where “ego”would not
sprout up. Shri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi says that the “ego” will not
perish unless one goes to the source and unless the “ego” perishes one cannot
realize that unity of “Sat-Chit-Ananda” (knowledge, existence and bliss)
which is the expression of the Atman

I attempt at this small piece of work of writing up my Life sketch

recalling to my mind. especially by the initiation of Mr. K.G.Nair,” Amrita”,
Punkunnam, Thrissur, a knowledgeable personality, with very rich fund of
vocabulary and good proficiency in Sanskrit and the scriptures. He has not
advertised his merits as I could conclude from some of his authoritative
unpublished“works”on Vedanta on the practical side of application of
“philosophy” Mata Amritanandamayee Devi has abundantly showered Her
blessings on his Family .Blessed indeed are those who enjoy the Bliss.
I owe my sincere gratitude and love bestowed on me by Sri L.K.Bala
Ratnam, Anthropologist, Chandranagar, and Palakkad, who is my last
daughter Sow: Uma’s father-in-law. He is a great writer. and thinker and has
very vast knowledge in all fields from “Anubhava” (experiences) One could
be really benefited by his sat-sang.

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My crores of Pranams to the departed soul of Late Shri K.N.Krishnan

Namboodiri of Rama Devi Mandirem, Punkunnam, Thrissur, who used to
give me much reliefs whenever I approached him when confronted with
difficulties and problems in routine day-to-day life. One day he told me” Go
and sit there in silent contemplation in the hall with eyes fixed on the deity’s
image (Vighraha), mentally chanting Mantras, when one will experience a
vibration and glow of light all over the body, compared to the tuning of a
particular radio station by dialing His image is always before me and as far as
I am concerned, his demise is a great loss to me personally. One day, when I
went to him to inform him that I was going to Vallikkave to have Amm’s
Darshan along with Miss Tara and her sister (from New Delhi) he gave me
some” Pada-kanikka” to Amma, when I told him that Amma will not take it,
who had I was told that on an earlier occasion said to Mr.N.N.Ramachandran,
Chartered Accountant, Palakkad that “Amma does not want any money”. Shri
Namboodiri told me “Tell Amma that Rema devi Mandiram Mon gave” and
She will definitely accept it. I placed the coins in a red silk cloth and AMMA
smilingly accepted it saying:” Rema Devi Mandiram Mon Thannatha? (That
was the “selfless” devotion Thirumeni (Namboodiri) had for Amma. On my
75th birthday (06.10.2003) I went to meet Thirumeni and prostrated before him
when he put me an odd question “Have you looked back and what did you
see?” (Purakottu Nokkiyo Enthu Kandu?). Immediately I answered him that I
wasted my life on mundane things and the result gained was a big “0”.

My crores of Pranams are for His Holiness Swami Puruhottama Tirtha

Maharaj, Vyasa Tapovsristasraman, Parlikked (Wadakkancherry) who had a
very sympathetic consideration for me and gave crystal-like Upadesa and used
to say always “Yajnam, Danam and Tapas” shall be the motto for life. The
great Soul freely accommodated me along with my daughter Usha at the
Ashram for a long time, where I could find “peace”. My grand son’s
Upanayanam was arranged by the Swamiji at the Ashram and the Swami
himself supervised every thing including the ritual side, light, water and food.
I well remember the Swami’s words, which echo in my ears
(i.e.””Bhramacharyam” means “Treading in Bhramam”) Swami
Bhoomanantha Tirtha Maharaj of Narayana Tapovanam talked to my son Sri
C.K.Sundareswaran over telephone and told him that he should charge himself
with the chanting of “Maha Gaayatri Mantra”before “Bhamopadesa”ritual.

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Mataji also commands very great respects and regards. I prostrate before
her. In these days of dearth of competent Acharyas, Mataji used to
accommodate me by arranging “Bhojan” and “Dakshina” to deserving
Bhramanas on the death anniversaries (Sraddha Tithi) of my beloved parents.

My prostrations and Pranams to Late K.Sekhara Variyar

(Hariharamangalath Variyam,Ponnani) who was the Head Master of
A,V.High School (Achutha Variar), Ponnani where I studied from Ist Form to
VIth Form (S.S.L.C). My prostrations to the departed Soul of Late Ambi
Vadhyar(Bhrama Shri Arunachala Vadhyar) who is my Guru to teach
Sandhaya Vandana Japa Mantras at the Bhramana Samooham hall at
Thrikkave, Ponnani after my Upanayanam at Ayyarval Sathram, Adivaram,
Palani ( There was a “Panaka pooja” at my Science Master Shri
P.N.Narayana Iyer’s house when Nelluvai Narayana Iyer(a devotee of Lord
Muruga,) in super-conscious state intoxicated with nectar of devotion caught
hold of my young hands and said “You are mocking at Andi(Muruka) “ My
father immediately prostrated and took the vow that my Upanayananm will
be performed at Murugan Sannidhi. and besides there were some blackish dots
on my face at that time, which also disappeared miraculously after my
Upanayanam. I am blessed by continuing the Sandhaya Vandanam till today
with the blessings of Devatas, Poorvikas and by Grace of God.

Late Shri Lakshmidass Ranchoddas of Trikkave Ponnani gave my father

Rs.10/=to send me to School. This charitable act of the Great Soul shall be
remembered throughout. my life.

My Pranams to Shri D.B.Ganguli, the faithful devotee of Sri Sri Sri

Satchidananadendra Saraswathi Swmaji(Kannada ) and who has written
volumes on Sri Sankara Philosophy and also published large number of books
on “Vedanta”. My stray contacts with this Great Soul has benefited me very
much. He would say “To know the Self is to be the “self” and to be the “self’
is to cease or stop all identification with the “Not-self”

My Pranams to Late Sri Venkitarama Iyer, Mathematics Teacher,

A.V.High School, Ponnani (hailing from Sulur, Coimbatore) who gave me
home-coaching in “Mathematics” and my Guru-Dakshina was “Aru-Cheerai”,
which he liked very much. He had only four daughters and his life-partner was
a kind house-wife.

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I was born on 6th October 1928(corresponding to Malayalam

Era (Kollam Varsham) 1104, Kanni 20th on Ardra (Thiruvathira) star day
which was a Friday... I am born to my parents after a long gap of twelve years
called”Ana Prasavam” (Elephants it is said give birth only once in twelve
years) from the birth of my elder sister (Late C.S.Seshambal). My father had
told me that there is a coincidence in my birth which had the blessings of
Kumbakonam Swamiyar who was then at Guruvayur for worship , gave my
mother “Teertham”( sacred water by Matra Japa) when a small kid introduced
its tiny hands and placed above my mother’s hand extended to receive the
Teertham. On that day, there was “Varam”(Mura Japas) at Kottathara (Near
Chemravattem) where” Nila” river (Bharatha Puzha)merges with the Arabian
sea My grandfather stayed back and took the single Bullock-cart( yoked
with a bull of red color.) back since my mother had labor-pain.
That was a time when “JOINT FAMILY’ system was in vogue.
I shall attempt at tracing back the enological tree of our family to
that extent my faded memory would permit.
Sri Sundaram Pattar is the “common ancestor” Kalliyani was
Sundaram Pattar’s life-partner (My father used to call her as Vettathunadu
Patti and she liked my father very much and called him by pet name as “Kesu
pillai” (meaning Kesu’s child “Kesu”denoting Kesava Iyer (my grandfather)
We originally belong to “Chathapuram (Palakkad) and the initials
“C”represents this, having properties at Kavalpad (Palakkad). One day early
morning before sunrise my great grandfather went to the fields(Thottam) to
water the coconut trees and other plantations by “Thekku”(i.e.a big leather
sheet is tied up together to form a rectangular container, which is fitted to one
Bamboo pole connected to an arch-shaped long bamboo of thicker size and
at the tail end is hung a sack of Granite and hard rocks to maintain
equilibrium, fitted to strong wood to earth to bear he weight when the leather
container is immersed into the water reservoir, lifted by hand with ease and
considerable huge quantity of water is lifted to the surface from bottom level
of water and led through the canals to the tree-bottoms., long before our
technicians invented “mono block” pump sets worked with power That day
there was very profusely high flow of water at top speed and my great
grandfather was panic-struck that there was some super-human power
working behind and came back home and locked the doors from inside ,
when some one (suspected to be a Evil Force (Satan) extended its hands
through the window and asked for some “lime” My great grandfather placed
some “Chunnam”on a pen-knife end and offered to the spirit waiting outside,
when suddenly he cut the fingers with the knife. It is said that till dawn the
Spirit was demanding the “cut finger” back saying “Thirupathi, Thirupthi,
and Viralai Tha (The family is known as “Tirupathy House”
They had sons by name (1) Krishna Iyer (2) Subramanya Iyer (3)
Adinarayana Iyer and (4) Kesava Iyer Sri Sundaram Pattar had daughters
also. Krishna Iyer’s son is Sri Venkiteswara Iyer called “Ambi Anna” (who
was a Central Nazir in the Munsiff’s Court) and one of his sons was
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C.V.Venkiteswara Iyer (Mani Anna) (Advocate) at Noorani, Palakkad and other
sons had settled at Mumbai. (Venkiteswara Iyer’s (Ambi Anna’s) wife’s name
is Sankammal (Shankari). Subramania Iyer had two sons C.S.Rama Iyer
(called Ramiah) (copyist in Judicial service) and Suppa.who was at Sri
Padmanabhaswamy Temple at Trivandrum. Adi Narayana Iyer had no sons but
only daughters. One of Adinarayana Iyer’s daughter was married by one
Nelleppulli Ramu (stamp Vendor) and had sons and daughters (The sons were
NR Subramania Iyer (Vakil, Tirur)); Narayanaswami (Excise), Panchami
(stamp Vendor) and Ambi.
Sundaram Pattar was an orthodox. Brahmin and very pious,
daily performing “Aditya Namaskaras” and it is said that there was a thick
mark appearing on the centre of his fore head caused by the process of
prostration (kneeling to Mother Earth) before Solar Power(Sun God) . He had
settled at Thrikkandiyur (Tirur) (Now in Malapuram District.) The then
Zamorin of Calicut provided him with everything necessary to live. He used to
go to Siva Temple at Thrikkanidiyur and was attached to the temple. One day he
performed “Sandhya Vandana”in a pond (Pottakulam) that was rejected by all
for bathing purposes. The Namboodiris having hold over Zamorin of
Calicut(the Shiva Temple was in charge of Samoothiri Kovilagom) sent a
communication then written with blunt pointed iron instrument on palm-leaf
informing the Zamorin that Sundaram Pattar used the polluted water in the
Pottakulam for Sandhya Vandana and recommended that he shall be
excommunicated. The Zamorin wrote back saying”…If it is a fact that
Sundaram Pattar has performed Sandhaya Vandana in the Pottakulam, then the
water is “purified” That was the respect Sundaram Pattar had during those days.
Adi Narayana Iyer was occupying a big house in the huge
compound on the way leading to Nambiar Parambu (cremation ground) from
Siva Temple and Ramu (Vendor) staying in the Padippura (storied), in another
house C.S.Rama Iyer was residing and Subbulaxmi (Adinarayana Iyer’s another
daughter) along with her son Balan was residing in another house all located in
the same compound extending to more than five acres with coconut palms and
areca nut and cahewnut trees. Here, I will be happy to present the very happy
moments when I was taken by my father to Late Sri Adi Narayana Iyer a retired
Vakil in his advanced age resting on an easy chair with Golden Kadukkan (ear
rings), with a walking stick, and dressed in white cuffed (golden) full shirt with
a few grey hairs forming a “Kuduma”. He was called Thangathappa or Innappa
out of respect and was known as “Lion of the Bar” during
Englishmens’administration over Malabar area. He had a very good relation
ship with Mr. Cotton, the then Malabar Collector who accommodated him and
heard Revision Petitions in the First Class compartments, ear-marked for
Europeans only, by stopping moving trains owned by South India Railway
Company then. Thangathappa wanted me to chant “ Ramayana”slokas (Akshara
Mala”) beginning with “Suddha Bhrama Paratpara Rama, Kalaptaka
Parameswara Rama, … and ending with Rama Rama Jayarama, Rama Rama
Jaya Sita Rama ” He was a snuffer. He used to appreciate my recitation and
used to give me silver coins with love and affection.
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KESAVA IYER had four sons and four daughters. The sons
were(1) Sundareswara Iyer (2) Subramania Iyer (3)Krishna Iyer and (4)
Ramanatha Iyer The daughters were (1)Kalliyani (2)Alamelu (3) Visalakshi
and (4) Kamakshi My grand mother’s name is Seshambal and hails from
Elapulli (Palakkad) and whose brothers were Late Venkalam and Kunju, their
sons are settled at Mumbai. My father Sundareswara Iyer was the eldest. My
father used to tell me that I had an elder brother (called by pet name “Adai)
elder to my sister who was much liked by my grandfather and was of great
assistance to him in supervising the plucking coconuts etc and other routine
work but he had a pre- mature death, after which my father never used to lie on
bed and took his meals on the plain floor, as there is a saying “Puthra Dhukkam
Dine Dine”
While on the paternal side, I hail from a Lawyer Family; my
mother belongs to a Vadhyar (orthodox priest) family. My maternal grandfather
was Ekkan Vadhyar .My mother’s father’s name is Sama,( Sama was an Amin
(Process Server) of the Munsiff’s Court at Tirur(Malappuram Dt) who is the
son of my grandfather’s paternal aunt) and my grand mother’s name was Ithachi
My mother was wedded to my father at the age of 12, My mother had two
brothers, Ekkeswaran who was married at Nellicherry (Palakkad), and Krishnan
who married Chellammal daughter of Parakkulam (Alathur –
Palakkad)Veniteswara Iyer running a Coffee Hotel “Bhima Vilas”at Adivaram,
Palani (Tamil Nadu). My mother had two sisters Alamelu(elder)married to
Chandrasekhsrapuram(Palakkad) and Chalu married to Mahadevan brother in
law of N.Gopalakrishna Iyer(Tarakkad-Palakkad) Gopalakrishna Iyer’s son is
T.G.Narayanaswamy, known as 65000/=having won a lottery My maternal
uncle Ekkeswaran(Doraiswamy)had five sons only and the eldest is Dr.
Rajaraman, Chembur Bombay who married Sarada daughter of Govinda Iyer &
Kalpakam (C.S.Hotel,Coimbatore) Rajaram’s other brothers are well-placed
and there was a happy occasion for us to meet them all with their life-partners
on the Upanayanan of my grand son(Chi Vighnesh son of Mrs Uma and Mr.
Ashok )on 11.06.1999.at Mumbai.
My maternal grandmother left for Elapulli (Palakkad) on the
demise of her husband as there were no means of livelihood and got very great
help from “Ankarath Family”, a renowned Nair Tarawad who had great respect
towards Bhramins .My uncles had to plod long distance from Elapulli to Chittur
for their studies After their studies both my uncles left for Mumbai, worked
hard and reached a very covetable position. I met my elder uncle at
Chandrasekharapuram and grand-mother, who was totally blind then along with
my father. when he gave me a Dictionary (Oxford Concise) and a set of pencils
(HB Volkart Brothers). I saw him last at the Upanayanam function of my uncle

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Krishnan’s sons at Palani. which was attended to by my father, mother and my
wife. In 1975 I went to Mumbai for a study of Tax Structure in Maharastra,
and Karnataka headed by Prof I.S.Gulati Chairman, Centre for Economic
Studies, T.K.Bhagavaldass (Deputy Commissioner, Ernakulam) and K. V.
Nambiar (Govt Secretary). I got into a Bus at Colaba Causeway and a European
lady in the bus guided me the route to Door 10/280, Arun Buildings, Sino Road,
Matunga, Mumbai. I was to Mumbai for the first time. I could easily locate the
flat where my uncle Krishnan was staying and he was very happy to see me
after a long lapse of time. Suppan, my elder uncle’s son took me to the City and
to a shop at Meena Bazaar and left me at the MLA Quarters where I had my
official stay. Dr Rajaraman is a staunch devotee of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
and he used to conduct free medical camps at Nerul (New Bombay) at Bhrama
Sthanam Pratishta done by Amma. There hangs in Rajaram’s reception room a
large, pretty large sized photo of Amma. His wife Sarada used to go to
Vallikkave .Dr Rajaram’s brother D.Balasubramanian (Suppan) has married the
daughter of Kalliyanam whose parents are Muthu and Mangalam. of
Vadkkanthara, Palakkad (Near Vadakkanthara Devi Temple). (Muthu is the
brother of my sister’s father-in-aw (Anikkode Chidambaran) who was, running
“SANGHAM” lodge at Madras where VIPs like Mysore T.Chowddaiaha
(noted violinist of those days). Chembai Vaydayanatha Bhagavathar etc used to
stay.
My last son’s father in law (Sri T.V.Anananthakrishnan) (called Krishna
Murthy) is a very close associate of both my uncles and their families.
My uncle Krishnan came to see my mother at where we were staying then
when my mother had turned blind. I remember what he said then“Ennadi
Meena, (My mother’s name is Meenakshy) How long shall we continue like this
with Sambar, Molakukoottal etc and is there no end at all? I shall be too happy
if you had died instead of seeing you blind”
Now coming to my paternal side, my father had myself and my sister.
(Seshambal, who took my grandmother’s name) as living children.
My father’s next brother Subramania Iyer was married to Bhageerathy from
Kollangode (Palakkad) and had only one son(by name Kesavan) who was
working in the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department .He married Advocate
Ambi Sastry’s daughter from Sathyamangalam(Coimbatore) and they had one
son and two daughters. His son Subramanian is the vice-president in Nalli Soft
Solutions at Chennai. The daughters are all married. My chittappa Krishna Iyer
married Parappanangadi N.P.Krishna Iyer’s brother(Pichan’s
daughter)Thangammal and had three sons and four daughters The sons are(1)
Kesavan( Union Bank of India)Madras(Retd_), married to Geetha D/O Late
R.V.Gayatri Nathan Retd Dy. Collector (2)Bala Kailsam, (UBI) married from
Nilambur, and residing at Palakkad and the last is Balasubramanian(who is now
in States along with his wife hailing from Chelakkara) I had attended the
marriages of Kesavan at Kodungallore , Balakailsam at Nilambur and
Balasubramanian at S N Kalyana Mantapam,at Coimbatore.

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Balasubramian had a fatal Motor Byke accident while he was at Calicut. . He
had put up a house named “Ardra” at East Hill Road, Eranhipalam, Calicut and
had the Upayananam of his sons conducted. Before marriage, he used to come
to me to my lodge” Kirti Mahal” where I was staying with my eldest son when I
was working at Ernakulam as Asst Commissioner.

Kitcha Chittapa’s eldest daughter Seshambal was married to Vadakkanthara

Eachu’s son. She had the difficulties there and was ill-treated by her mother-in-
law. She fell sick and died at Govt Hospital, Kozhikkode, where my father
rushed immediately on getting information (My father was with me at at that
time when I working at Perintalmanna). The body was taken to Manjeri and my
father asked my Chittappa “Adey, Kitchai, How could you get the mental
courage to meet the situation and carry the body and how you faced the
unhappy event” My father was very much helpful to his brothers and sisters.
The, next daughter Visalam also died. I met Visalam in her last days on my
way back from Nilambur after attending an election duty. (She could not
recognize me). She was married to Mani (who was working at Batliboy,
Mumbai) and Mani is related to her in the maternal line they had a son Gopu.
Mani re-married Vijayam, my Chitta’s third daughter. The last daughter is
Gnanam, married Balasubramanian (Swami Vilas’s Rice Mill (Peruvamba) and
they are settled at the ancestral house at Manjeri.

My Chittappa Ramanatha Iyer was a very able criminal lawyer at Tirur

who is a contemporary of Late Kunhirama Menon, leading Criminal Lawyer of
Malabar, whose services were requisitioned by the State also in heated criminal
prosecutions. My uncle was married to Jayam (Trippunithura) and had three
daughters, the first daughter Seshambal was married to Hariharan, Lecturer,
Alagappa Poly Techanic, and Alagappa Nagar and at that time I was working at
Calicut. Thy had two daughters. “Death” placed its icy hands on this poor girl,
who was well-behaved, performing all domestic duties beautifully, which I had
occasion to observe when myself, my mother and father were staying in the
out-house at the time I was working at Tirur. Next daughter is Pappa, married
to Edappali (Ernakulam) and their son and daughter are abroad employed in the
States. The last daughter is Saraswathi married to Mumbai. (The girl was
studying in the preparatory class when I was working at Tirur) My Chittappa
(Ramu Chittappa as we call him) had sons by name Kesavan, Samikutty,
Manikutty, Ramachandran and Murthy. Kesavan was employed at Mumbai in
the LIC and his father called him back to follow his profession. He is now a
practicing lawyer at Tirur. He married Advocate Seta Iyer’s (Trichy) daughter
and has got a son and a daughter, the son is an Computor Engineer employed in
the States and the daughter has completed the MBA. Here too, “Fate” did not
spare Kesavan. whose wife passed away and his father had not got the
misfortune to see the calamity. (Kesavan’s mother pre-deceased his father)

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Samikutty was working in MICO, Manikutty at Modi International,
Ramachandran, then in Parles and he is now working in some other reputed
business undertaking, well-placed. Murthy is an Engineering Graduate then
working in the I.I.T Madras and his wife is Dr Lalitha related to the family of
Late Alladi Krishnaswami Iyer. I attended their marriage at Madras and myself
and sons Mani and Krishnan attended the Upanayanam function of his son at
Palani, when I had to undergo the torture of the Pandarams there providing poor
accommodation while Murthy had arranged palatial rooms at
Shanmughaananda Hotel, Adivaram Palani. which was not known to me then.
There is an incident to mention here. The priest has not brought plantain to start
with Ganapthy Pooja, when I had taken plantain and it was then said “Anna has
come with plantains” (Anna means Subramania’s brother Ganapathy) In an
earlier occasion also when there was Panaka Pooja conducted in routine by my
Chittappa at Ttirur, the omission to perform Vighneshwara Pooja was pointed
out later, by the Bhagavathar (a devotee) when my father stepped in and there
said “Anna” has personally come
Both my Chittappas (Kitchai Chittappa and Ramu Chittappa_were ardent
Muruga devotees. Kitcha Chittappa by his constant practice and concentration
could make the “chooral (cane) (Subramanya’s symbol)stand erect Kitcha
Chittappa was the President of the Annadana Committee at Palani, where
hundred of devotees were fed with voluntary contributions following from all
corners.
Uppappa (Subramania Iyer), Kitchai Chittappa (Krishna Iyer) and Ramu
Chittappa (Ramanatha Iyer) took Law degree from Madras Law College and
were practicing at Ponnani, Manjeri and Tirur respectively. Uppappa was
practising with Ponnani Appa. Kitchai Chittappa was attending to the cases of
Nilambur Kovilagom at Gudalur. At that time N.P.Ramaswamy Iyer (Kitchai
Chittappa’s wife’s Chittappa (Brother of N.P.Krishna Iyer, Vakil,
Parappanangadi was a leader of the Bar at Manjeri. His son Chinnamani was
also a young lawyer then working with his father. Ramu Chittappa was having
very good work at Tirur, Tirurangadi, Malappuram and Ponnani.as a Criminal
lawyer Uppappa was thorough with Civil Laws.
My father was working as licensed Stamp Vendor at Kalpakancherry
(Malapuram District) and was transferred to Triprayar (then British and now in
Thrissur District). Adinarayana Iyer asked the then Dt Collector (Englishman)”
Your Honor, on an office-note put up by your Head clerk Rekkunni Nair, your
Honor was pleased to effect the transfer for no fault of his”, when he got the
reply “Mr Adinarayanaiyer, this is purely administrative and that the orders
once passed will stand” (This indicates the judicious way the Britishers carried
on administration, impartially and enforcing discipline
He was transferred as Stamp Vendor, Dt Munsiff’s Court, and Chavakkad (then
in British and now in Trichur Dt) (4 Kilometers distant from Guruvayur (the
famous Sree Krishna Temple). Adinarayana Iyer asked the thn Dt Collector
(Englishman)” Your Honour, on an office-note put up by your Head Clerk
Rekkunny Nair, your Honour was pleased to effect the

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the transfer for no fault of his”, when he got the reply “Mr Adinarayanaiyer, this
is purely administrative and that the orders once passed will stand” (This
indicates the judicious way the Britishers carried on administration, impartially
and enforcing discipline
My eldest paternal aunt (Athai)Kalliyani whom we call as “Mani
Athai”was married to M.S.Ramaswamy Iyer(Retired Sub Judge) Son of
Mukkai(Palakkad) Samu Iyer and had sons by name Subramanian(Rasa)
Electrical Engineer,(Railways) married to Rajam Manni(Nagarcoil), next
Kesavan(Civil Engineer, PWD Department)married to Jayam D/O Subramania
Iyer(Suppai)of Kodungallur and third son Narayanan(a Doctor) married
Parvathi daughter of C.V.Narayana Iyer, Dt Judge at Chennamangalam I had
attended the marriages of Kesavan and Narayanan Rasa has two sons, eldest is
Chandru a Textile Engineer(now at Trichy)and the second is Rajaram( Manager,
Bata)at New Delhi Rasa’s eldest son (Chandru) has married Kamakshi’s
daughter Rajaram married the daughter of A.S.A.Mani of Calcutta, nephew of
T.V.Ananthakrishnan(my last son’s father in law) Rasa’s daughter was married
to Seethambal's son( Seethambal is my another Athai “Ammulu”s daughter.
Kesavan had no sons but only daughters (Kesavan was staying at Tarakkad,
Palakkad in which village I was also stayig at that time when I was working as
Sales tax Officer, Palakkad and Agrl.Incometax Officer, Chittur... I know only
about his eldest daughter Dr Lalitha and Savithri, another daughter. Narayanan
had no issues... Mani Athai had daughters by name Lakshmi, married to
TR.Parameswra Iyer(Revenue Department) Seshambal married to
Chinnambi(PWD Department), Janaki, married to Thondikulam Sesha Iyer
Vaidyanathan(Indian Bank) Kamakshi,married to C.Ramanathan, Advocate,
Trichy , Rukku(Rukmani) married to S.Sambasiva Sastry(Sambu)a lawyer and a
banker of Sathyamangalam and Kaveri married to Komurapuram . Lakshmi had
two sons (Sami and Pitchu) Seshambal died pre-mature in a sugery longing for
a child, Janaki’s children are Seshadri, Ramani and Nalini Subramanian are at
Chennai. Rukku has all her sons very-well placed Dr.Krishnan, at (Coimbatore),
Gowri Sankar and Rajah (at Bangalore) and Manikutti (working abroad as a
C.A) One daughter Swarnam died and the other daughter Sow Kalliyani is at
New Jersy My second Athai (Chinnu) was married to Advocate
C.M.Ramalingam, Thekke Gramam, Chittur (Palakkad) and was practisng at
Thrissur where his only son Doraiswami was employed at the Maharaj’s
Techonological Institute, Chembukkave. Chinnu Athai has a daughter also
(Raji) who was marred to a Homeo doctor at a place near Palani. I met
Doraswami at Kanakkunnu Palace, Trivandrum where I had been for a
conference and he took me to his house at Thaikkad. His sight had become
weak. She had already a high-power Minus Glass. The present whereabouts of
Doraiswami and Raji are not known My third Athai(Ammulu Athai)was
married to adakkanthara(Palakkad)to V.K.Subramania Iyer(Chami)of Appa
Patter Krishna Pattar family the leading Piecegoods merchants They had sons
(1)Krishna Iyer, married and settled at Thrissur ( having a son and a daughter)
doing piecegoods business(now no ,more)

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 =Page eleven =
more)(2)Kesavan married Kundu daughter of N,R Lakshma Iyer (s/o
Ramaswami Iyer, Noorani Hindu High School
Palakkad (3) Kothandaraman married from New Kalpathy (His wife is no more)
His sons are well placed at Mumbai and Calcutta. He attended my grandson’s
Upanayanam at Mumbai on 11.06.2003. The last son Narayanan is dead.
The last Athai, Kamakshi Athai had married G.Rama Iyer, Advocate, North
Paravoor(Ernakulam District) and has two sons only (l) Ganapthy(Advocate)
and (2) Kesavan(doing a small business). Both are married and have got
children. Rama Iyer was the Income Tax Counsel for Travanocre Cochin Govt.
I used to go to Parur often when I was working at Ernakuam. Mr.K.S.
Paripoornan Supreme Court judge (Retired) had very great regards for Rama
Iyer and he wanted me to take him to Parur to pay his respects to Rama Iyer...
Ganapathy had a calamity in having lost one of his two sons (Murthy).The elder
son Ramu is working in the Indian Bank.
My father was very much attached to his brothers and sisters and all would
address him as “Anna”. Even myself would address my father as “Anna” and
not as “Appa” When Kitcha Chittappa had small-pox, my father rushed up with
Kalliyani’patti’s stick(“emblem” or “Mudra” representing the departed soul) for
nursing him Kalliyani Patti had Amman’s (Mariyamman)sakthi invoked
through austerities .When Ramu Chittapa’s wife Jayam,( who is the only
women in the family died as “sumangali)” on account of stomach ache my
father is said to have carried her over his shoulders across Chembravattam (a
causeway made in the river bed embedded with heaps of sand to keep the foot
cool when walking in the hot sun about five kilo metres long.
My father took special delight in nursing the sick and I have seen him
parting away with his own rug and clothing etc.
Chinnamanni and Athimbiar (Kunjanna) always insisted on my father’s
presence for all the marriages that were conducted in their family. I had
attended Kamakshi’s marriage at Negapattam (when Kunjanna was the Sub
Judge, there) along with my father whom I accompanied wherever he went
Ponnani appa used to ask humorously “Kuravanum Korangum Enge?”
The only Photo that hangs on the wall where I work this computer is the
Group Photo taken on the occasion of the marriage of Janaki-Vydynaathan at
Badagara where Kunjanna was the Dt Munsiff. A look at this photo gives a
vivid recollection of the past events Seated in the right in the chairs are
Ponnamman,with a boy near him, Ponnani Appa, Kunjanna, Vaidyanathan and
Janaki and myself(aged about three sitting next to my sister in the ground row)
Dr Krishnan(Kunjanna’s younger brother) is seated on the right with coat. Most
of the figures found in the photo have parted with us once for all.

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 = Page Fifteen =
. In the back yard, about 5 meters south of the Ural Pura (which is occupied
by Valli (maid -servant) engaged in soaking, drying and hulling of paddy and
other outside work and Cheru Valli another maid servant for cleaning the
compound (who had whole time work) there is the “Pambin Kave”in which is
installed a “Chitrakoota Stone”and the ancient legend cannot be traced. This
Kave (mini-forest) is covered by trees sprouting up from seeds carried by birds
from its wastes and is the abode of snakes and other reptiles. Ponnani Appa was
getting Sashti Abhishekam done by Vadhyars (priests) and this Kave was well
maintained and protected, preserving its sanctity and from pollution especially
that women are strictly forbidden from passing through the vicinity during their
monthly periods. (In Kerala there are Pambin Kave at Pambin-Mel-Kave at
Mala (Thrissur) and at Mannarsala in the South where “Ayilya Pooja”is done to
get the blessings of Naga Devata. About ten meters far off from this Kave there
is Bathing Tank with fresh water well maintained and the water reservoir is of
the length and breadth of twenty and fifteen meters respectively. There is shed
thatched with knitted coconut palm leaves before entering the footsteps down
about twenty steps from the platform to the water-surface. Sankaran Nair
permanent servant would smear Kozhumbu (Medicated oils Dhanwandram,
Ksheerabala, Vep (Neem) over Ponnani Appa’s body who will have only a loin
cloth. This process will take about fortyfiveminute in the evening and thereafter
he will dip himself in the water several times up and down, after which he will
change his dress(A fresh torthu(Towel)laundered by the Veluthedans(a
community in the Nair sect) and a fresh loin-cloth. By 7 .P.M he will be ready at
the Koodam for food, where a Nakkila (Plantain leaf) will be spread with a
Kindi (Bronze vessel) and a Bronze glass. There will be placed a Madambi
vilakku (A wooden type of lamp with Kotta Enna (Oil) or Punna Oil). The light
will be glowing. Then after cleaning the plantain leaf, Rice(broken in three
parts)with steam moving up,Molakushyam(a curry with pepper, curry leaves
and Cow’s butter milk) and two roasted Pappadams(circles made out of Oorid
flour)will be served. After this he will go to bed upstairs and I will also
accompany him. He will lie down saying “Havoo”one sided and ask me to
massage the muscles in the lower leg by stamping with my legs holding the top
of the wooden attachment to the cot to which a neat and while Mosquito Net is
tied. Ponnani Appa will tune a music “Sa,Sa,Ri , Sari, Ri, Rim, GariSa, Ga,
Ma, Mama, Gaggamma, Ga, Ma, Ga,Ma,with Sapta Swara( seven notes)
………set to English Band. and he will ask me to repeat it. He will have a
sound sleep and a look at his face, his child-like innocence of his heart will be
reflected. H e will get up very early in the morning. Wash his teeth with
Umikkari (Mixture of burnt paddy husk, camphor, cloves to which salt is
added). He will go to the toilet, finish the calls of nature, then to the bathing
tank, and return after bathing. He will regularly chant Gayatri Manthra. He will
take only water boiled with Chukku (Dry Ginger) and horse gram He was very
systematic and regular in his routine and food habits. Then he will go to the
Kutcherry Pura (another tiled building used as “Office” and attend to the clients,
whose cases were posted for hearing and other consultations.
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 = Page Sixteen=
,
Ponnani appa will be ready for the breakfast, which is a regular “Sappadu”
(meal) with Rice, Paruppu, Ghee, Poriyal pickles and fresh buttermilk (churned
with “Mathu” and “Katakol”). He will then go to his chambers, get dressed in
Dhoti (of thin Glasgow Mull), put on white shirt (full), with cough buttons and
then unfurl the turban (with silk border) He will put his black coat (Vakil’s
official dress) on and fix the turban in proper position. He will grind a
sandalwood on the circular stone specially designed to a paste with water, put a
circular Thilak on the forehead and rest on the easy chair, waiting for Sankaran
Nair to take the Bullock Cart, after yoking the red-colored bull, which had a
majestic look and it would automatically turn towards its master affectionately.
Then my grandmother, will be seen at the Edanezhi posing behind the doors
telling my grandfather “Parippu Irukku, Mulagai Irukku, Vellam Irukku……and
repeating, meaning that these commodities are out of stock. (Ponnani Appa
would never like to hear “Illai” (No) in the negative aspect. He will then drink a
glass of water(Chukku) and get into the cart, entrusting the case records to the
Vail’s Clerk(Ekku(Reghunatha iyer),Punnoli Raman Nair etc) The bull knows
the routine and will move the cart even without the cart-man as it was very
intelligent, though an animal). In the evening by 4 P.M Ponnani appa would
return from Court with the items of household articles ordered for by my
grandmother and will take some “Biscuits”(Glaxo),cashewnuts,and other
edibles for which I was eagerly waiting for. After return from the Court,
Ponnani appa will take Dosai with “Mulakai Podi”(home-made conforming to
accepted standards) ( My Chittammai Bhageerathi prepares tasty Dosai(with
Gingerly Oil, produced from seeds crushed by Oil Mongers in their Country
Chakkus Its standard and taste cannot be compared with any others”
preparation After wards he will move to the compound, enquire into the well
being of all, pour out large quantity of Gingerly Oil on the bulls’s horns,feed it
with his own hand, then go to the Backyard to supervise the work of the
servants and other Maramath work(construction work). In those days there were
no burnt bricks were got from Kilns and the required size of stones for basement
and pavements were obtained by cutting from the quarries by Kalpanikkarans
(Artisans or Stone work men who had a special type of cutting axe) Shells
(snail) gathered from seas are boiled in heavy temperature and “chunnam”is
formed which is mixed with filtered sand. These are mixed together in a pit dug
in the ground and were a stronger substitute for construction works those days
than cement now commonly used. My grandfather has permanent servants for
works such as fencing, watering coconut garden, bathing the cows, cleaning the
catte sheds and preparing Varadi (Cow dung cakes) used as fuel, knitting
coconut palm leaves for thatching, leveling Compound.etc. Pangu was a
permanent employee for fencing, bamboo cutting etc. Kannath Raman Nair a
pretty old man then, was a right-hand of my grandfather who undertook all
miscellaneous jobs entrusted to him.

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 = Page Seventeen=

In the large compound it is said that the jack tree found there(its fruit was of
honey’s taste) was brought and planted by my father when he was working as
Stamp Vendor at Kalpakancherry and my father had planted a high yielding
variety of coconut tree of special breed called “Pathinettam Patta Thengu”
means the coconut palm that yields at the sprouting of 18 Padals ( extending
from the main stem of the palm holing the leaves and Nature’s protection of
tender coconuts) Ponnani Appa was betel leaves chewer the vettila was of a
large size (called Kalpakancherry vettila) with tobacco and arecanut powdered
by a process of cut areanuts drawn through small holes on tin sheets He was
also playing cards along with Harihara Vadhyar (who was called Munu Munu
Vadhyar as he was always making a mumming sound) and Venkitatrama
Pattamali (then a status given to persons entrusted by Namboodiri families for
collection of Pattom (rents) etc.
In the evenings Ponnani Appa used to go to the Trikkave Devi Temple
(dressed in single Mull Cloth), a loin cloth and a washed torthu (large size
towel) put across his breast, with a walking stick.accompanied by me. The was
led through an edavazji(shortcut)through Kizhur Variyam, passing through the
wide bathing pond(water reservoir) on the banks of which there was a very big
Banyan tree(Aswatha Vriksha) under which a Ganapathy Vighraha was
installed long long ago. It is here that Sankalpa is done for Avini Avittam
(Shravana month) _.The entry to the bathing pond was restricted to Hindus
only. The Devi temple was managed and maintained by Zamorin of Calicut. In
the temple, there is Pratishta of Ganapathy, Maha Vishnu, Anjaneyar well
maintained and the Tantris (Archakas) were Karuvattu ManaNamboodiri and
Mullasseri Mana Namboodiri. The Devi installed there was very powerful and a
“Santha Moorthi” with Chandana Charthu (Sandalwood), with a golden tilaka at
the firewood, Mangalya Sootra and Red/yellow (gold gilt bordered) Pavada,
decorated by garlands. The Devi will appear like a small girl of three years age
with a smiling face. At the Deepa Aradhana (Arati) at dusk, there was Vadyam
(Chenda, Udukku, accompanied by tunes set to Talas played on country flutes).
The temple staff comprised of Tantris(poojari), Nambissan/Pisharoty(whose
right it is to hold the lamps lit before diety in the course of processions around
the main shrine., Variyar/Varissiyars whose work is to make garlands and
arrange to gather flowers and Marars(drum beater), Kuzhal oothukaran(Pipe
Player). The temple staff was given part of the Nevediyam (offering to diety)
and also salaried. During Navarathri days, which were annual festival days,
there is procession of the Diety on the back of elephants got from Guruvayur
(Kesavan, Bharatan, Laxman and Lakshmikutty) The Ucha pooja (mid day)
would attract a very large number of devotees, after which there will be
Samaradhana (Bhramana Bhojan) and the Ambala Vasis (other sects attached to
the temple) were fed only later. There were Satha Satham offering (100Nazhis
of Nadan unboiled Rice, 100Lbs of jaggery and 100coconuts from which
coconut milk was extracted, squeezing the coconut sheaved with Chirava(an
iron
 =Page Twenty =

My grandfather was conducting annually, the” Vilakku,” an offering to Lord

Venkitarmana of Tirupati for invoking His blessings and this is now
discontinued by his descendants, though I got it done two times, some ten
years back by a priest called (Singapore Vadhyar who is no more). There is
dearth of proper persons conversant with the methods and” Mantras” in the
priesthood locally. My grandfather was taking active part in the annual “Sastha
Preethi”at Chembravttaom in the Sastha Temple located on a Thuruthu (island
in Bharathpuzha river bed) and despite heavy floods the Sastha’s idol and the
very huge trees surrounding grown by nature remained in tact My grandfather
provided “Gingelly oil”for all for taking oil baths in the flowing river which was
in abundance long before the Malampuzha Dam was constructed across the
river at the start-point. On Sundays, “Aditya Namaskaras” (prostrations to
visible Sun God (108) were done by Ambi Vadhyar and Ponnani Appa would
humorously ask him “Ambi, Are you doing the Namaskaras or counting the
number of Dosas prepared in the kitchen by daughter-in-law? “Bhagavat Seva”
was conducted in Karkita month (Tuesdays or Fridays) for Devi-Preethi.

Across the Vettuvazhi(not tarred)on the East of the house, regular Tamil
Dramas were staged by unknown artistes on platforms constructed in the leveled
paddy fields after the harvest in the tents covered by cloth with petromax lights
lit, the prominent among the troupe was Appakutty Bhagavathar .Both dialogue
and songs were not left to back ground singers. The artistes would themselves
sing songs accompanied by Harmonium (Double) worked by legs. The stories
enacted were having philosophical values such as “Nalla Thnkal”, “Alli-Arjuna”
etc etc. Nallannan (Good brother) finds his sister (Nallathanka) (Good sister)
and her small kids in an attempt to suicide in the well bund, on account of the
unbearable torture of his wife, and whenever enquired the lady would keep
Nallnnan mis- informed that they enjoy Royal life at their house but he himself
personally finds their miserable lot and take them back to their own home in
procession, punishing his wife by putting her in boiling lime-water.
(Nallathanka disregarded her husband’s advance warning not to go to her
brother as he had anticipated these unhappy incidents) Alli –Arjuna is a
romance story, Alli Rani captivates Arjuna (the matrimonial expert) and
ultimately marries Alli Rani. All such dramas end in comedy only. The pleased
audience would at times shout “once more” when the same scene will be re-
enacted, The duration of the Dramas will run to3 to 4hours.

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 = Page Twenty one=

In an outhouse, made of clay wall and roof thatched with coconut palm
leaves and bamboo rafters. which comprised of a linear verandah, two rooms
and a kitchen, with a work area, just down the main house, separated by a wall,
along the cart-shed, Head Master Sankara Iyer and his wife Paru (Parukutty)
with their only small child (Raju) resided... Paru assisted my grandmother in
household work. There was menace of monkeys (Mandhi Korangu with black
face, long tail and comparatively large body) doing all sorts of mischief by
unearthing plantains, plucking tender coconuts etc) One day a monkey carried
away Raju to the Kave taking him for a monkey-baby and released him only
after shouting by on-lookers and beating on empty Kerosene Oil tine, producing
huge sound, and raising of fire on the coconut palms which had the effect of
threatening the monkeys

My grandfather had regular artisans and workmen under him to do several

jobs. Goldsmiths (Chami, Krishnan) used to melt gold sitting in the verandah
itself in the presence of all, thus avoiding the possibility of theft and they made
new ornaments out of pure gold added with copper in proper proportion.
Fencing work with bamboo rafters tied with coir yarn was got done by Pangu
(There were plenty of Bamboo Trees spontaneously grown). Paddy boiled in
large vessels called “Chembu”(means copper)with dried Coconut husks and
coconut leaves are put in the sun in large Parambus(bamboo mat)to dry and
taken to the Pathayam(Stores), protected from rats-attack.

Ponnani Appa and Athiyempar (Mani Athai’s husband were tenants of

Poomulli Mana and had properties at Kottathara (NearChembravattom) also.The
paddy brought by the tenants is measured with Edangali (4 Nazhis) more or less
equivalent to one and a half titres (I believe) The tenants were obedient and
used to bring Kazhcha (presentations a mark of love and affection) plantains,
Yam and other vegetables grown by them their yards. and they are also offered
back gifts such as Mundu etc.

Besides Uppappa (my father’s brother) A.N.Rama Iyer (Andathode), T.Rama

Kurup etc were Ponnani Appa’s juniors. Ponnani Appa had standing clients
such as Poomulli Mana(Perngode Then in Ponnani taluk and now in Palakkad
Dt), Nagalasseri Mana at Nagalassri(then in Ponnani Taluk and now in Palaghat
District) and Pakaravoor Mana( Changaram Kulam(Mookkuthala)then in
Ponnani Taluk and now in Malappuram District. Besides my grandfather had a
lot of clients of Puthiy Islaam community (Converted into Islam) and are
fishermen folk who fish at high seasThese clients would never utter a false hood
at any cost when put in the witness box. Ponnani Appa was honest and dutiful to
his clients There were at times Courts held in the Portico, as it is said that the
“court is there where there the Magistrate”

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 = Page Twenty Two =

Lawyers of reputation such as TR Kalliyanakrishna Aiyar of Calicut (who

had extensive estate at Vandithavalan, (Palakkad) and Mannath Krishnan Nair
of Palakkad (whose name is commemorated by the Victoria Collage Gate
Palakkad) used to come and stay at Ponnani Appa’s house. for their cases. One
day Kalliyankrishna Iyer went Court early and returned saying that the case is
adjourned, when Krishnan Nair had not dressed himself up. Ponnani Appa has
got the quality of both “forget” and “forgive” for, in an instance where the
Presiding Magistrate upon hearing the arguments of the Counsel for the
opposite side and without hearing the other side said in the open Court “ Yes. I
see…You are correct….” Ponnani Appa simply sat down removing his turban
and wanted his client waiting outside the Court hall to fetch a Telegraph form
and drafted a message to Madras High Court praying for transfer of Bench for
the simple reason that that Presiding Judge is “biased” having already opened
his mind and that no use will be served by prosecuting the case. further before
that Judge. The Magistrate realized his “mistake” and sincerely apologized for
his wrong approach Ponnani Appa having satisfied that it was not” willful”
but only “accidental” on the part of the Magistrate took the matter in a
sportsman’s spirit and dropped proposed further proceedings
In the back-yard, down from the work area, there was “Tulasi Madom”
(sacred plant) well maintained. Ponnani Amma used to observe Tulsi Vritham,
Rishi-Panchami Nolmbu etc and other austerities as enjoined in the scriptures
Women in their monthly periods were segregated and Ponnani Amma was very
strict in enforcing it.
In the compound there were plantain trees and cultivation of Yam,
Ginger, snake gourd, bitter gourd, ladies finger, cucumber, pumpkins Koorka
etc and there were rich harvests sufficient enough to meet domestic
requirements. Down the work area, about 100 meters far is the common toilet
and Uppappa had his separate toilet in the compound in the Kat cherry Pura.
(Office building)
The cows-family (Kalliyani is the grandmother) had its generation unbroken
in succession, the mature ones were mated with bulls at appropriate times for re-
generation
During Court vacation Mani Athai, Ramaswami Athimbiar, Kamakshi Athai,
Rama Athimbiyar, Chinnu Athai and Ramalinga Athiyembiar with their
children used to come and stay at Ponnani Appa’s house. Ponnani Appa would
ask Janaki Athanga composed of a song “Kovilukku Ponayo Janu, Swamiye
Kandayo…? (Did you go to the temple and see the God?) Ponnani Appa wanted
Rukku Athangal (Mani Athai’s daughter) to repeat the Valli Chattam (jumping
up and down moving a rope without touching the feet touching earth& in
circular order) which she would complete 100 rounds in the same breath.
”

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 =Page Twenty Three =

Ponnani Appa had engaged a Bhagvathar(Musician)for teaching music for

my sister who was called as “Akkal”by myself and Uppappa’s son (whom I call
as Ponnanna(golden brother) She was also called “Angichi” by Mani Athai’s
children and by all others. I used to sit near my sister and follow the singing of
the music of classical type with Harmonium. I recollect the music such as
“Elavathara……, Sarasa Madhana………Kheera Sagara Sayana ……Dinamani
Vamsa Dinaka Lavanya, Kali Thookki Nindradum Deivame……Santhamule Na
Soukhiya Mule ….… ……Enthan Thanni Rakshikka Thanthai Thai Veru
Illai…..Yaro Ivar Aro…..Seetha Patha Na Manusana……Evari
Matta…….Evarani….Nagu Mo Mo Ganalae…… and compositions of Musiri
Subramanaya Iyer, Thyagaraja Kritis. and other devotional songs which
reverberate in my inner ears(My outer ears are deaf now)…..My father had
with him a Note Book in which the songs were recorded and that precious
document is irrecoverably lost. My grandfather also used to compose songs
and tune them while resting in the easy chair, and enjoying the gentle breeze
from Panka which were pulled by me to and fro from behind the easy chair. One
of the songs, as I would remember is bringing to his mind of his mother’s days.
“En Ammave Enne Patta Thaye Unnai Nan Eppothu Kanpathum Undo”
(O’Mother when I can see you who has given birth to me?)Ponnani Appa would
also ask my sister to tune similar songs composed by him.

My grandfather employed my sister to collect the moneys from Periya

Settu(Lakshmi Dass Ranchodass) towards the price of coconuts sold to him
and she was his right-hand for all miscellaneous jobs. In the Kitchen the ovens
were made of bricks and the fuel used was “firewood” got cut by firewood
cutters employed from Bandy-loads of wood either bought from outside or from
the trees fell from the compound. The firewood needed for the monsoon will be
stocked in a rack on the top of the Uralppura-Cattle shed The utensils used were
Venkila Panai (for boiling rice), Iyya Chombu (lead vessel) for Rasam, Kal
Chatty (made of stone) for Sambar, earthern pots for “(Tamarind curry)” etc and
the spoons are made out of Bronze, Steel and the alloys, Ever steel items were
unknown then. The Brass vessels were got coated inside with lead by expert
artisans employed for the work to prevent corrosion

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 = Page Twenty Five =
My grandfather gave sufficient money and directed my father to go to
Madras atone for expert medical consultations and treatment. My father was
examined by Dr. E.B.Sreenivsan at Madras who had his dispensaries at Mount
Road and Triplicane, whom he consulted first. My father himself took down
the diagnosis notes. He then approached Major Wright, noted
ophthalmologist of those times who administered some medicines He said
that there was retina detachment” and after a series of observations said that
all that the Allopathic Science would suggest was done and that he may go
back home and take complete RIB( meaning Rest In Bed). My father’s left eye
was totally lost and was developing cataract on the right eye then. He
returned.
My sister’s marriage was conducted by Ponnani Appa; the bridegroom
was Narayanan son of Anikkode Chidambaran. running “Sanghom Lodge” at
Madras. Chidambaran’s wife;’s name is Ammini whose two brothers were (1)
Sundaram and (2) Sama, my maternal grandfather. Ammini, Sundaram and
Sama was Ponnani Appa’s sister’s (called. Ayilathu Akkal) children... The
marriage was conducted for four days according to the custom. The marriage
function is vividly reflected in my eyes even now. Mysore T.Chowddaiah
(the then noted Violonist), Chembai Vydyanatha Bhagavathar of Chembai (a
village adjacent to Ayilam) and other personalities graced the marriage
occasion. The marriage was conducted on a grand scale... My sister’s father-
in-law’s house at Ayilam is located opposite to the house of Justice
A.S.Panchapakesa Iyer of Madras High Court, a judge of great reputation in
those days. . Chidambaran was very philanthropic and charitable. He was
providing unmarried girls of poor Bhramin families with Mangalya Sutra
(Soverign) and Pudava (marriage dresses)
I remember that Ponnani Appa holding my hand took me to Ayilam and
went to his sister, Ayilathu Akkal. who was bed-ridden in the Nezhi of her
house. Ayya Vadhyar, (my maternal grandmother’s younger sister’s husband)
initiated me for Ezhuthu (Vidyarambhom) at Ayilam.
“Ayilam” is approachable by walking only by footpath about five kilometers
from Parali (Palakkad) Railway station. My sister had brother-in-laws, of
whom I could remember the names of Sivadasan and Balan
alone .Chidambran’s brother in law Sundaram was a Manthravadi (witch-craft
monger) My grandfather’s maternal aunt’s (Kamu Athai)’ daughter Etchi (at
Trikkandiyur Tirur) was married by Vythikutty (a Kovilagom Karyaatha) next
to my maternal grandfather Sama’s house) Their sons were Chami (nick name
was Japan Chami for his shrewdness and intelligence), Ramoo, Suppan,
Ganesan etc. Japan Chami was the representative of the Madras Chettiar
running a business in the name and style of Swedishi Type Fundary. Ramu
and Suppa were serving at Sanghom Lodge, Madras and Chidambaran had to
close down the business due to adversities for unknown reasons’

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 = Page Twenty six =

Sundaram (Chidambaran’s brother-in-law) played his mischief and

brought about dis-harmony between Ammini and Chidambaran. It is a
pitiable story to learn that Chidambaran had his end at Cherukunnath
Oottupura (Choultry) (in Chirakkal – Kannur), forsaken by his wife and
children, in his adversities. Nothing other than Poorva Janma Papa (Karma)
can be attributed for this plight of Chidambaran.who himself is an expert
astrologer but could not reverse his destiny and over come His Will...

It appears that there was some misunderstanding in Ponnani Appa’s

family also, for my father could not attend to his job any more due to
defective vision; Ponnani Appa had to mortgage the property to Punnathur
Kotta Thamburan (now Punnathur Kotta is occupied by the Elephant
sanctuary at Guruvayur). My grandfather separated us (my father, mother and
myself) and provided accommodation at Paru’s house, (mentioned by me
earlier) This is a period great stress and strain, However Ponnani Amma used
to provide Rice etc. My father, my mother and myself started living at Paru’s
house. It was a state of abject poverty. My father had some tuition and he
bought a cow from one Kuttappa-Ithammu (a black cow) and vending the
cow’s milk, we were yearning for existence. I used to carry the milk to the
house of C.R.viswanatha Iyer, the then Munsiff at Ponnani (his son Dr
Krishna Murthy at Chathapuram, Palakkad died recently). My father made the
full use of the back yard for cultivating all sorts of vegetables.

One day Chinnu Athai had prepared Venkaya Sambar (Onion

Sambar) and I took a large quantity, resulting in indigestion. Ponnani Appa
sent for Dr Achyutha Menon (LMP) and in those days Anti Biotic was not
there and only “mixtures” (Soda salicylic, carbonate etc) were prescribed.
Ponnani Appa would come by my bed side and ask me “Kutty, Nee Ennai
Chathippayotae”(Boy, Will you cheat me? (in the sense that I may pre-
decease him Ponnani Appa had great love towards me and used to tell me
“Kuttee, Nee Yen Perai Eduppayeda”(Boy, you will earn my name)

By this time, Ponnani Appa was nearing his last days. He had acute
“diabetic” complaints and a wound at his back never healed .Ponnani Appa
never took to Allopathic medicines. He depended only on Unni Moosad of
Triprangode, whose Illam is located just in front of the huge Banyan tree that
gave way when Markkandeya (A shiva Bhakta) followed by Yama (God of
Death) shouted for Parameswara’s help. Lord Paramesware slew Yama and
rescued his devotee-child blessing him that he will be 18 years of age through
out. (The tank where Parameswara washed the Soolam (spear) is even today
reddish in color. The Moosad was a traditional Ayurvedic Vydian and
Ponnani Appa had his treatment only. At last that which ought not to have
happened, happened. Ponnani breathed his last in the year 1935

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 =Page Twenty Seven =

Within seconds on getting information of the passing away of the Great Man
there was a perennial flow of men and women in hundreds from every walk of
life. to have a last look of the mortal remains The rituals started. The body had
its final journey to the cremation ground (Kuttikkadu) on the banks of
(Bharathpuzha-(Nila) River). The priest put into my hands a Pantham(cloth put
around a bamboo pole dipped in oil and lit with fire(with Sapta Gihuva –seven
tongues -which is the quality of “fire”)having a glowing look and I was directed
to walk in front of the dead- body up to the road- end which I believe is that the
ancient seers had found from “Sruti”(hearing), that the passage of the soul after
death was arduous and it had to be led through routes, which were dark and the
Panthams removed the darkness)before reaching the Ultimate This is to be
done by the grandsons. The body was cremated when it is said that there was a
small shower of rain though the day was hot. My father is stated to have wept
saying “Chittppa (his sons called him as “Chittappa” and Ponnani Amma as
“Chittamma”) “You were cooling to us while alive and continue to cool us in the
strong heat even after you finally left us”, when the other brothers also shared
my father and wept.

Some incidents that took place before Ponnani Appa’s last days, comes to
my memory. When bed-ridden in the upstairs, my father went and caught hold
of Ponnani Appa’s legs and wept profusely when Ponnani Appa said “ Kutti,
Nee Chonna Varthaye Kekkethakku Kettai, Suppam(Uppappa) Chonna
Varthaye Kettu Kettan” (You got spoiled without hearing my words and
Suppam(Uppappa)spoiled hearing my words” A song composed by Ponnani
Appa and got sung by my sister reverberates in my ears” Puthi Kuttu Ponen
Nanum, Adi Ponne, Puthi Kettu Ponen Nanum Kuzhanthakal Than Perisu
Endru Enni Aneka Ruppai Chelavucheyten , Kozhanthakal Ellam Perisanone
Appavellem Kuppavachu” ( meaning “I spent a lot believing that children are
great and when the children grew up, Appa was turned to Kuppa”
My sister was pregnant and my father took her for delivery and Ponnai Appa
told her “Pone, Nee Pore Kathirukkaye, and Nan Chaka Kathirukken” (Girl,
you wait to deliver, I wait to die”
On a day prior to his death Ponnani Appa wanted me to be taken to him. He
was then in an “sub conscious” state .I was taken near his bed (down stairs in
the “Machukkul”) and he asked me “Did you get it?” I could not understand the
question when some one put an orange into my hands and asked to me answer
“Yes”, I said “yes” He stared at me with a loving look
Now the entire Episode takes a different turn. My sister delivered a female
child. One day my father with a Post Card in his hand dashed his head on the
wall and fell done weeping and shouting...”…Pochu Ellam Pochu..(Gone,
everything is gone) The Post card contained the sad news that my sister’s
husband died on account of cholera attack on his way to his Coffee Club
business at Erode The oft-quoted saying that “calamities never come single but
in quick succession” is proved true.

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 = Page Twenty Eight =
Now my father was anxious to provide some means of livelihood for my
teen-aged widowed sister and her child She had no minimum educational
qualifications .My father approached Mrs Janaki Amma,the then Head Mistress
of Trikkave Girls Higher Secondary School who was the daughter of one
Achyuta Menon( my father’s teacher)and caught hold of her legs for getting her
admitted at her school and he succeeded in getting her admitted in Vth
standard, overlooking the strong opposition of the orthodox in the Society
dwelling in superstitious notions that widows shall not be sent for study or to
take up any profession. (In a sense my father was a “reformist”) She completed
VIIIth standard. I was also accompanying her to the school but frightened by
the very look and appearance of one teacher called Mrs Susanna I did not go to
the school any further... After my sister passing the VIIIth standard my father
wanted to send her for Teachers’ training He drafted a representation to the
Educational Authorities that was shown to one Mr. Shipman, of British origin
with his parents in England and an army man, come down to Ponnani ,married
a women of the scheduled caste and begot children by her He used to come to
Uppappa often beautifully dressed in western style and holding a walking stick
(There was a glass Tumbler exclusively set apart for him at Ponnani House for
serving him Tea) He was helping Uppappa in the solving Commonsense
Cross Word Puzzles appearing in Illustrated Weekly of India and Mr Shipman
won a prize of Rs.17000/=, a camera and a Gramaphone in one of the puzzles).
He constructed a Bungalow near A, V.High School Ponnani I accompanied my
father to Mr Shipman’s Bungalow, where he had dressed in half trouser and a
torn shirt on (simple in style) He gave a hearty welcome, went through the
representation, made certain amendments craving for sympathy and at the end
added a line”……For which act of kindness and charity, I shall, as I duty
bound, ever pray and closed as “Your Most obedient Servant”
My father was not “selfish”. He made a similar representation made by
Ponnani Appa’s Clerk Ekku’s (Reghunatha Iyer) daughter Anandambal also
But unfortunately both the applications made for being taken for teachers’
training were rejected. for some technical reasons. Then my father personally
approached D’ Souza, the then Inspectress of Schools,VIth Circle Calicut and
pleaded for my sister’s cause Still the lady was adamant and would not show
any sign of sympathy in the peculiar circumstances of my sister’s case which
were reiterated again and again by my father to her. She finally said “Mr Iyer.
You can go”……My father sat cross wise in the doorway to the entrance of her
room and declared thus”- Madam, If I had known that my daughter will not be
selected I would have sent her for some coir manufacture or so If I am to return
and tell my daughter that she is not selected, she will commit suicide and that
sin will rest on you and on your generation to come” It appears that
intervention by Providence and the lady moved by my father’s words told my
father “Mr Iyer, Go home back. Your daughter is selected”

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 (== Page Thirty Two=
Text Books and Note Books for my studies. My mother used to serve me
meals in the morning before going to school and I would come in the noon
for food and run back at once. . It was compulsory to attend the drill classes in
the play ground under the shade of a Jack tree. One Pillai was the Drill Master
who was very strict and disciplined. Generally I will be back before sun-set
and after washing my face, hands and legs, and applying Vibhuti(Sacred
Ash)on my forehead I will sit in front of the small lighted bronze lamp for
prayer. My father(Anna)used to tell me Puranic Stories and ask me to repeat
the “Story-Poems” He used to tell me tale about Napoleon Bonaparte’s love
for mother-land The poem runs thus: ..I love contemplating apart from all his
homicidal glory, the traits that softens to our hearts Napoleon’s Story.” His
eyes methinks pursued the flight of birds to Britain half-way over…..….”._ It
is said that a British sailor (teenaged youngster) imprisoned looks at the shores
on the opposite side of the English Channel of his mother- land and the poet
says Napoleon who was watching the boy was moved by his love for mother
land as he would have thought that that freedom the birds enjoy is denied to
him and immediately freed him.” He would quote a puzzling phrase that
‘Rassalus was the son of the mighty Emperor in whose dominion the father of
waters flow”(This means that Rassalus was the Egyptian prince (River Nile
represents “father of the waters”) .He used to teach me English
Grammar(Wren and Martin)”Synthesis, Analysis, Parts of Speech,
Composition, Essay writing , Précis’ Writing etc. My father was also taking
tuition for Sarada D/O Govinda Variar Vakil (opposite to our house),
Anandavalli (post Man Parameswaran Nair’s eldest daughter) who was also
my class mate. and Kamala grand-daughter of Abkari Contractor (Menakkath
Thuppu) and daughter of Kunhikrishnan, Post Master, Edappal. Behind our
house was Kozhiparambu where one Nani Amma resided and her son was
K...Raman Menon, a noted Vakil. who was Ponnani Appa’s junior at the Bar.
My father used to take me also to Tirur and used to go to Ramu Chittapa’s
house, where Ponnani Amma was staying. (Ponnani Amma was staying with
Uppappa and Ramu Chittappa in turn). He was also taking me to Etchi-
Vythikutty’s house, in the morning he would take me to Nambiar Parambu for
answering the call of Nature; get me Tea, plantain, beaten rice and Jiggery.
from a tea-shop run by one Appu Nair I used to be got bathed in the temple
tank(entry restricted to Hindus only)situate in front of Thrikkandiyurappan
(Shiva)temple, Vettaikkorumakankave Temple attached (Sastha was born to
Shiva and Parvathy when they went for hunting (Vetta)in the forests, next to
which there was a Oottuppura(Annakshetra) where a free choultry was run by
the Zamorin of Calicut for Brahmin feeding. There was only small Panchayat
Kerosene Oil lamp fitted to a wooden pole on the way-side with dim light. At
about 9 P.M in the night, very tasty food, Mezhukkuperatty(curry of Banana ),
Kalan(Butter milk curry), pickles , butter milk and Pappad will be served on
plantain leaf by one Thengakkottu Krishnan, who was in charge of the
Choultry. While waiting at the Choultry for night food, my father would be
teaching me class lessons and also requiring me to repeat what I was taught at
School. We would sleep at Vythikutty’s house in the night

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=Page Thirty Three =

Etci-Vythikutty were very loving and Etchi will serve good meals and
churned buttermilk stored in porcelain (china clay) jars air-tight was will be
very tasty. There was only one bus then plying, from Tirur to Ponani run by
Ravunni Nair of Chembravattaom (“Sastha Motor Service”) My father was
allowed free travel. There is a connection bus to Ponnani from the other Bank of
the river (Bharathapuzha); the distance of about 5 kilometers is covered by
walking across the river through river-bed)

During my study periods there were class Teachers put in independent charge
of the classes and they were Kesavan Nair from Kottathara, Ramunni Nair
(belonging to Kottakkal Rajah family), Krishnankutty Nair (Pakakkad)
Madhava Vriar (Unni Variyar) son of C.Achyutha Variar, Retd Circle Inspector
of Police, (Thrithala), Raghava Variar (Hariharamangalath Variyam) and the
Head Master (Sekhara Variar) was in full and over all charge of the High
School Classes (IVth, Vth and VIth forms). The Mathematics teacher was one
Venkittarama Iyer and the Science Teacher was P, N.Narayana Iyer, besides
Sankunni Nair (drawing Master) The peons were Veloo (an old man with coat),
Kunhiraman and Nanoo. The School is situate in a serene atmosphere occupied
by big shade trees It was a combined school for both boys and girls and the only
school available in the vicinity of fifteen kilometers. Circumference At that
time the medium of instruction had changed over to Malayalam
One day it so happened that the Head Master K,Sekhara Variar sent for we
three students to be taken to his Office Room (i.e. Myself, Anandavalli and one
Panickker) When we went to his room. the Head Master was very grave in his
look at us and there was pin-drop silence prevailing for a few seconds. Then he
turned and said “You three are granted fee-scholarship at this school for your
studies by the Management. But one, thing if you show any laxity in your
studies, the fee-scholarship will be withdrawn” This incident is reported in a
Malayalam monthly publication of very recent origin “Navakam”published
from Malappuram. where Anandavalli had written an article about Sekhara
Variar and his love towards students (Anandavalli had occssion to come and
meet me some time back when she came to Trichur to meet her sister Gowri and
she gave me a copy of the publication. I was extremely happy to meet
Anandavally who was nay old class-mate and besides she was my father’s
student In the high School classes it was compulsory to select an optional
subject” Mathematics, Physics, Chmistry,and History”. I first opted for
Mathematics and after two weeks I find the subject a bit tough for me and I
switched over to “History”. were the subject was handled by the Head Master
Sekhara Variar He seated me just to him where he was seated in a chair with a
small table before him in one of the class rooms in the primary standards. to
focus attention and avoid outside noise. There were only two portions to be
covered acceding to the Syllabus “The Indian History (Mughal period) and the
English History (Tudor and Stewart periods). He would have prepared detailed
notes regarding the linier hierarchy, the administration and the social reforms
brought about by the rulers etc). I found it very interesting and studied by heart
the points taught. (Uppappa, Kichai Chittappa and Ramu chittappa also had
“History” as their optional

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 = Thirty Three=

Though the minimum marks needed for a pass was only 25% I scored in
the Public Examination

=Thirty Four (a)

(Note: - Mr KG Nair who used to follow these notes patiently pointed out to
me that there are certain obvious mistakes committed by me in that that PC
Kuttykrishnan is a Novelist and a short story writer and not a poet... I fully
agree. The mistake is typographical E.A.Kuttikrishnan of Kadavanad was
my class-mate (nick-named as “changampuzha”) who was composing poetries,
which the Malayalam Pandit encouraged. I mistook PCK for EAK. Mr. Nair
pointed out that Victor Hugo authored “La Merbles” This is correct (There was
a Tamil Cinema “Ezhai Padum Padu””on the theme of this story). Quite
correct. I had in my mind Charles Dickens who wrote “Oliver Twist”. The
mistake is very much regretted. I would thank Mr KG Nair in helping to correct
the error. Changampuzah’s poems were in the Non-detailed curriculum)

= Page Thirty Eight =

My father had certain debts with one Warrier Bank, Ponnani Etc in
connection with the expenses incurred for my sister’s marriage When the debts
remained uncleared the Bankers initiated recovery proceeding through Court
and Ramu Chittappa rose to the occasion and extended his helping hand to my
father. My father moved the Civil Court for his being adjudicated insolvent.
My father’s Counsel was Vakil PN Ganapathy Iyer (Ambi Pattar’s brother Nanu
Pattar’s son). The Munsiff was one CR Viswanatha Iyer(Chathpuram-Palakkad)
who asked my father “You claim to be a pauper and the Petition for insolvency
does not appear to be genuine when I find that you are before me now dressed
in” silk” My father replied that the Silk Shirt was one got by gift and bought
by his niece’s husband (Parameswaran) from Pondi cherry(a French
Territory)on his way back after attending the marriage of his(father’s) sister’s
daughter (Kamakshi) at Nagapattinam The Munsiff had personal knowledge
about my father’s conditions and also of Ponnani Appa’s social status. My
father’s Insolvency Petition was allowed. favourably. (The old scene when
Ponnani Appa was half-seated at the house-gate along with me watching the
paddy-fields (with a loin cloth and a Torthu Mundu(Towel)over his waist and
a few grey hairs alone that were left at the back of his head oscillating in the
gentle wind told my father ”Kuttee, My health is bad. So, you shall represent
me for Ramaswami’s daughter’s marriage)”
At School, I was promoted to the higher classes and finally to the School Final
Class (S.S.L.C). I was the shortest student in height in the Classroom and next
to me seated in the front Bench was N.R Subbaraman ,extra brilliant in
Mathematics, Uppappa’s son Kesavan (Ponnanna) also was in the same class,
because he was detained in the preparatory classes I was called “Junior
Kesavan” and Uppappa’s son “Senior Kesavan” In those times.. “Selection”
examinations were conducted (like these days Entrance” examinations)
and only those who could come out successful in the selection examination will
be allowed to sit for the Public Examination. At that time Nana Bhai of Calicut
and her mother Kappu Bhai wanted my father to make it convenient for them
to attend the Guruvayur Ekadasi and accommodation was arranged by my
father at Pootheri Buildings in Eastern Nada(in front of the bathing tank) and I
was also taken to Guruvayur. (By the Grace of Lord Guruvayoorappa I was at
Guruvyur on the Ekdasi day this year also after a long lapse of 61 years) I was
preparing for Selection Examination to follow shortly. By God’s Grace I got
through the Selection Examination and several students who did not come up to
the standard were detained

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= Page Thirty Nine

In the School Final Class (VIth Form) English (Selections from Prose and
Poetry (common for Madras and Andhara Universities the then only universities
of the South (British terroritory) was taught by Head Master Sekhara Variar.
Selections from William Shakespeare’s “Coriolanus” “As you like it” Sarojini
Naidu’s “Coromandal fishers”etc were there. In Science Class there was a
laboratory attached and the Archimedes principle that “when a body is
immersed completely into the water, it suffers a loss of weight equal to the
weight of the volume of that liquid “etc was demonstrated by the Science
Teacher PN Narayana Iyer. by experiments. The Mathematics teacher by
illustrations demonstrated the principles “the length of the hypotenuse is equal
to the sum of the squares of the other two sides etc” These are imprinted deep
into the mind. on account of the sincerity on the part of the teachers in the
execution of the divine task entrusted to them The Head Master would not spare
any wickedness shown by any mischievous and naughty students, the
punishment is 100 thrashes by five feet long thin cane stick on the both the
palms got extended in turn, reserved for extremely bad cases which always
served as a deterrent for other students against the commission of wrong acts.
Achutha Variar High School was a “model”school. The examinations were
held after study leave. I would apare no pains and made thorough with the
subjects to write the Examinations During the examination days I used to go to
Trikkave Bhagavathy Temple and pay offerings to the Diety. (After a long lapse
of time, I went to Ponnani this year during Navarathi (Vijaya Dasami Day) with
my wife and had the fortune to see the “Seeveli”, the Ambikai, fully decorated
with smiling face, appearing to look at all with Love and with Abhaya Hasta
The examinations days came. I wrote all examinations thoroughly well and
awaiting for results.
 During the vacation periods my father used to take me to Manjeri (Kitcha
Chittappa’s house), Palakkad (Vadakkanthara Ammulu Athai’s house) and
Coimbatore (Mani Athai’s house) Ramaswami Athiyembiar was very happy to
see my father , who is called(Sundaram) and tell my Athai (Mani, your brother
has come. See that pillows are hung on the doorways so that he may not break
his head (. My father was taller than the height of the doorway) As I could
personally observe during my stay with my father at Lokamanya street, RS
Puram, Coimbatore Ramaswami Athiyembiar had well-principled routine of
conducting systematic poojas daily, of not sleeping at day time, regularity in his
diet habits (the evening food is taken before dusk in a silver Thattu with milk).
going to bed early etc. He was humble and at times standing at the Gate would
enquire the passers-by questions about the conditions of their life, & to the
Milk-Man” How much yield will this cow give? What would you get out of it?
etc.

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=Page Forty=

Ramaswamy Athiyembiar would ask my father ” Sundaram,

Nobody will come forward with their helping hand to you in your adversities ,
when all know that we are all in affluent circumstances” He also used to say
“Sundaram, look at those persons not above you but those below you”Mani
Athai had a permanent cook by name Sundaram. One day I remember Mani
Athai’s daughter “Seshambal “ took some of us to Coronation Park at
Coimbatore but she would not leave the grip of my hand and she would say I ‘’
I am answerable to Andamman (my father)and so follow me” (Seshambal was
of fair complexion and looked majestic with her jewels Oddiyanam, Nagar.
Diamond Ear rings etc There was a Cinema Theatre at 70 Ft Road, Vincent
Theater (then owned by an Englishman) where the film screened “Velaikkari”
(story and dialogue written by Arinjar C.N.Annadurai) was shown to us. Sami
(Ramaswami), (Lakshmi Athangal’s son) and Chandru (Rasa’s son) were then
studying at Coimbatore. A special variety of Mango Fruits (Nedusala), Nongu
(Kernel of Palmyra fruit) were being got then. Besides there was a Pomegranate
tree in the compound and its fruits were got in plenty. My father was very fond
of BBC news through the Radio there. In the noon Ramaswami Athiyembar
used to sit on the swaying cot and tasting some pickles to avoid sleep. at day
time.
Afterwards, my father arranged my Upanayanam at Palani, where my second
uncle’s father-in-law was running a Hotel”BheemaVilas”Adivaram, Palani...
Subbaraman the owner of the house at Ponnani where we were staying was
working as a “receptionist” in a Hotel at Adivaram (Near Saravana Poikai) and
was an asthmatic patient. (He was a Theerethakkara Papi (who never climbed
the Palni Hills), Muthiah (Sankarayalam, Adivaram Palni) (now no more) did
all help to my father in arranging a priest and Dharshan at Sannidhanam. There
is a coincidence of the events. It was at the same Sataram ( Ayyarval Satarem)
Adivaram, Palni that I got my eldest son Sundareaswaran’s Upanayanam
conducted in the year 1969 At that time Mani Athai(Chinnamanni) then
staying at New Kalpathy, Palakkad also insisted on her being taken to Palani
for the function. Mani Athai also accompanied us in the car dis-regarding
Rasa’s objections and blessed the occasion and she substituted my father’s
absence. . She was taken to Sannidhanam in” winch.”(wheeled contrivance run
with power over rails constructed from Adivaram to the mountain-top) My
uncle Krishnan got the Upanayanam feast of my son arranged at his wife’s
house. (Venkiteswara Iyer’s House)
After Upanayanam, Ambi Vadhyar taught me “by heart” the “Tri
Kala Sandhaya Vandana Mantra” and “Samita Dhana”mantras also with accent
and alliteration
I used to accompany my father to Manjeri also to Kitchai Chittappa’s
house often and Lakshmi Athangal’s house. (TR Parameswaran) and return
back after seeing Ponnani Amma at Trikkandiyur (Tirur)

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Page Forty one =

I had mentioned earlier (Page (9) last but one paragraph) that all my
Chittappas (3)took Law Degree from Madras Law College.and that my father
got the appointment direct as Stamp Vendor at Kalpakancherry. My father used
to tell me that he was studying at Zamorin’s College, Calicut (Now
Guruvayurappan College), that he was detained in the Matriculation Class and
that he was staying at Nani Ammal’s Hotel (Pay-In-Hotel) at Tali (Near the
College). My father used to tell me that K.P.Kesava Menon, the then Editor of
Mathurbhoomi, the age- old popular Malayalam daily was his class-mate
etc. . . . He was detailing to me his school-days and that he was dressed in
Glasgow Mull (Double), Gold buttoned cough full shirt, rim-less spectacles.
which style the children of the aristocrats alone had. The teachers were
westerners,; Ce”cil M. Barrow, Crookshang, Bolivent, Kenny etc (I am not able
to spell the names properly) One day as I am told by my father, Ce’ cil
M.Barrow the class-teacher came to the class-room and found that my father
was talking to co-student and the teacher asked my father “…You seated third in
the last row, Stand up. Your parents sent you to school spending lot of money.
You do not seem to take the pains to attend the class properly. I refuse to
recognize your existence in this Class…” As a punishment for his being non-
attentive to the class teacher, my father was directed by the teacher to write out
imposition, a couple of thousand times, Hunter’s History (Tudor Period”) My
father appears that the teacher’s observation was very painful and realizing his
fault went to the teacher’s residence to beg pardon of him for the mistake. My
father told me that the teacher (a German) had smeared sacred ashes on his fore-
head and doing “Surya Namaskaras (prostrations to Sun-God) inside the
Bungalow, after which he came out and asked my father to sit down. in the seat
provided but my father did not sit down observing common etiquette, The
teacher again asked him to sit, Still my father did not sit as according him he
would have thought that is a mark of dis-respect to sit before the teacher(Guru).
The teacher appeared to have felt much offended and asked my father “Will you
sit down? We Europeans take it an insult if a seat is offered and is not taken.
My father was genuinely modest and humble.
There is a barricade in front of the Trikkave temple on either side of the
Public Road, restricting entry to Non-Hindus and the backward classes from
entry to the temple. A retired Policemen( Kunnath Achythan Nair), who gets
nominal pension would be fully drunk on pension days and on his return home,
he would stop at Uppappa’s house gate and shout like anything abusing
Uppappa in obscene languages. One day my father witnessed this and could not
tolerate this any longer. He caught hold of the person and gave him heavy
trashes left and right and he fell down, when his son(Velayudhan Nair,running a
teashop) came and told my father “Kutty Swami (that is I how my father is
addressed at Ponnani) You have done this correctly. We are helpless in
checking my father’s habits “The incident did not recur for ever. My father
commanded respect from all irrespective of any caste or creed.

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= Forty Two =
My father used to have headaches at times and would take “Café-Aspirin” (A
Bayer’s product)) which I used to get from A.M.Medical Stores (The proprietor
was one A.M.Muhammed and his son Saleem was my school mate.)My father
had not taken any other Allopathic medicines during his life-time and one
Koman Vaidyar(Native physician) was alone consulted for my minor
complaints, (fever, stomach disorders etc,etc),whose mother was Velathi
regularly attending to labor cases as there were no Maternity Hospitals. in those
times. At times my father used to take me to the Govt Hospital for washing ears
(Nanappa Nair (a dwarf) was the compounder-cum-dresser at Govt Hospital,
where Dr Achyutha Menon was working honorary The Chief Doctor was
known as Apathikeeri. We were also staying at the house owned by Siva Rama
Krishnan (Kerala Dimond Tea) in the Thekke Vettuvazhi (where there was the
Nedungadee Bank Ltd (we were supplying cow’s milk to the Manager) and the
only other Bank was the Chaledean Syrian Bank Ltd at Theechekku) before
occupying Subbaraman’s house. One (Jani) Narayana Iyer was a small retailer
in provisions at Thrikkave and we were getting provisions from him. Ammu
Varissiyar used to get me Payasam (Pudding) from Devi temple. My father used
to get “Ayushya Homam” performed by Maniyam Vadhyar (related to Mani
(AR Easwara Iyer Sons, Merchants) on my birthdays. One C.S.Venkiteswaran,
Kunhi Bava, Saidutty, P.V.Anantharaman were my close associates then. My
father and Kitchai Chittappa were playing “Chess”game at Thekke Variyam
with Ikkanda Variyar, a Vakil’s clerk
Electricity had not penetrated into Ponnani then. In the leveled paddy fields
opposite to Adhikari Gopalan’s house (Village Officers were appointed
hereditarily), there was a tented touring talkies. (Jose Electric Bioscope))(video
worked with Crude Oil Engine). Then afterwards a touring Talkie (Devi
Talkies) (Single Projector) was there near Chandapura. My father used to take
me to see the films (floor ticket cost was 0.18 nP), the first Malayalam film was
Balan. There were mostly Tamil films only The most popular films seen by me
were Sankunthala (MSSubbulakshmi and GN Balasubramaniam,
Hariaschandra, Chinthamani(Aswathamma and Cherukulathoor Sama)
Bilwamangalan, Sathyavan Savitri, Bhaktha Kuchela, Valli Thirumanam ,
Markkandeya, Sathy Anasooya , Vana Rani, The Adventures of Tarzan etc.(The
engine driver was a blacksmith(Kochappu).
Myself and Kesavan(equal aged) (son of Kamakshi Athai) who had come
down during vacation at Uppappa’s house went in a hired bicycle in doubles
when the Police Sub Inspector (Perachan)stopped us and took us to his douse.
Madhavadass (Madhu) my father’s friend told my father” Swami, your son is
taken away by the Police Sub Inspector. Go and enquire”. Kamatchi Athai was
not perturbed, who said that Kesavan is quite capable of handling the situation.
My father rushed to the S.I’s house where we were standing. The Sub Inspector
Perachan told my father” Swami, Don’t worry. I only wanted to warn them in
order to avert accidents. Yu can take them back”

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=Forty Three=

Kunjambi Vadhyar’s daughter(our neighbor) Thailambal’s marriage

was fixed and on that day, all of us were awaiting the arrival of the bride-
groom’s party at Trikkave Nada but they did not turn up amounting to breach
of trust. Thereupon my father called one Suppan standing there (who was
carrying mid-day meals to school children and was the brother of Chaya
Ramoo. who had married Pattali’s daughter, Annam) and told him”...Suppa.
Come here and be ready. Tie up the Mangalya Sootra round Thylambal’s neck
now only and exchange garlands in Devi Sannadhi” The marriage was
solemnized and this Tahilambal and Suppen were settled at Guruvayur.
Whenever I went to Guruvayur, I could not miss Thailambal, who was very
much attached to the Sri Krishna Temple (She was of dark complexion but had
a majestic look and above all a beautiful voice and she was all thorough with
Classical Musics, a gift by Goddess of Knowedge (Vidya) Thus, by averting an
awkward situatation, the couple were allowed to live. a life (Marriages are
arranged at Heavens according to X-ian theory). Her brother, Mani was also a
Musician (Bhagavathar)
Ganesan,Kesavan(sons of Kamatchi Athai) Ponnanna and myself
used to go to the Beach about about four Kilometers distant Uppappa once
asked Doaraiswami( Chinnu Athai’s son)”Go to Kunhibava’s shop and get me
one bunch of Superior Chewing Tobacco, Enquire in the locality about one
“Vikkan (stammering )Kunhabava’s shop” and do not ask “Konjan(one who
talks with long gap between one word to the other to follow) Kunhabava”
Doraiswami got into the located shop and asked Kunhabava (the shop man), “
Where is Konjan Kunhabava’s shop” The shop man got wild and replied
”There is only one Kunhabava in this whole Bazaar and that is Vikkan
Kunhava(stammering) and I am that Kunhabava”
After writing up the School Final examinations, I had some home-
tuitions one student was the grandson of a Retired Railway Officer on the
eastern side of the Bathing Tank and the other was the Panchayat Executive
Officer’s (Krishna Iyer’s (Koduthirappulli) brother’s son. Besides the Panchayat
Executive Officer had given me a part-time work of writing up of the Profession
Tax, Property Tax register at the Ponnani Panchyat office, and I was
remunerated also I entrusted all the small earnings with my mother, who is a
born-misier, on account of lessons taught from “Anubhava”
The days to come are anxious periods when the results of the Public
Examinations were expected to be published. My father had gone to Palakkad
in order to make attempts for the return of my sister’s Jewels etc from Ayilam
but was not successful in the mission. On way back, my father arranged for the
marriage of Ramiah with Muthu, Tthondikulam (Palakkad

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= Page Forty Four=

My Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination results were published
and I passed with Class. I had obtained marks in the High School Classes
(Forms IV, V and VI) above the Form average. I had obtained 361 out of 600
marks at the Public Examinations...( on outlines of History of England and
India and Geography) I had obtained 62% marks against the school average
and Presidency average of 35% and 33% respectively respectively. . In
English against the School average and Presidency average of 46% and 38%, I
scored 64% In the optional C History also I scored 56%. On account of
pecuniary difficulties and poor circumstances, my father could not even dream
of sending me for College studies. Though I regretted not being sent to
College I may have been a Graduate I would have known how little I knew of
other subjects. I was making applications for appointment. . My father was at
Palakkad when the results were published... I am told that my father asked
Etchakutty (NR Laxmna Iyer, Manager, Noorani Hindu High School,
Palakkad and my Athan Kesavan’s father in law (Ammulu Athai’s son) to
verify the News Papers and find out whether I had passed. Etchakutty was
said to have told my father “Sundareswara, the A.V.High School would have
to be closed down if your son did not pass” Shankarlal, my father’s Guzerathi
friend arranged an appointment for me at P.L.Asher’s business at Ponnani, I
took up the appointment, where the job was to keep an account of incoming
Rice Bags to the godown I was paid Rs.15/=in the first month on a Saraswathi
Pooja day. I did not like the job and discontinued. I was selected for
Teachers” Training Course but I did not avail of it. I was taken by my father
to one Mathews, ICS who was the Sub-Collector, Palakkad, in his camp at
Travelers’ Bungalow, Ponnani and made an application for appointment in the
Revenue Department. I was also taken to Arackkal Kunhammed, Rationing
officer and PP Gopalan Nair, District Supply Officer to whom also
applications were made. I was then taken to Calicut. I and my father met
R.V.Lakshmana Iyer, Sheristadar, who directed us to meet Mr. Griffths. We
met Mr. Griffiths (dressed in half trousers (Khaki), white shirt, socks shoes
and a hat on), the Addl. Dist Magistrate, who directed us to meet the
Sheristadar. Lakshmana Iyer (who was Tahsildar at Ponnani when I was
studying and his daughter Lakshmi was my class-mate) He asked me sit on
the chair and he said “You go and study further, grow taller and then come”
This Lakshma Iyer was the First Class Magistrate at Palakkad (my friend
C.Vasudevan Nair and T.G.Narayanaswami of whom I had mentioned earlier
were working under him). Lakshmana Iyer was involved in a corruption case.
Ramu Chittappa had told me that he was also examined to give evidence
 during the course of “enquiry” against him and Ramu Chittappa did not
commit himself but gave evidence in an evasive manner.
My father took me to Tarakkad(Palakkad)one day and met one
M.V.Gopalakrishna Iyer, an excise Official related to my father, who gave a
recommendation letter to S.R. Shankar Rao(Savoor Ramachandra Rao Shankar
Rao) (who was the brother of S.R.Savoor once Principal of Govt. Victoria
College, Palakkad.) Commercial Tax Officer, Calicut. I and my father met
Shankar Rao who was camping in a side portion of the Office of B.E.M. High
School, Palakkad and he said that he would consider the application .favorably.
On a day when I was playing an indoor-game “Kavidi” (with small sea- shells)
or we call as “Thayam”, with temple pipe player, Kudil Kuttn Nair. Post Man
Parameswaran Nair

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= Page Forty Five =

gave me a cover which contained an order appointing me as a temporary Lower
Division Clerk at Rs.30/ P.M at the office of the Deputy Commercial Tax
Officer Kozhikkode (Rural) in place of one Mani selected for Technical
Training and I was directed to join duty on 02.01.1945. I immediately ran to my
father and showed him the cover. My father told me that we would leave for
Calicut that night itself. In the evening I went to Vakil A.N.Rama Aiyar’s house
where there was a Sangeethga Katchery of Chembai Vadyanatha Bhagavathar
in connection with Rama Aiyar’s daughter (Swarnam’s marriage with Flutist
Radhakrishnan). After hearing the Chambay’s master-piece “Thaye Yesosdha
Undhan Ayarkulathu Uditha Mayan Gopalakrishnan Cheyyum Jalathe Keladi,
Thaye” I came home and there was nothing to get arranged except another
Mundu, thorthu and a spare shirt. My father had gone to Francis, the Boat-
owner running a Motor Boat service to Tirur (Francis’s daughter Cecily was my
father’s student.) On our way to the Boat Jetty we collected an old Coat well
suited to my size from Bhagavandass Sait; as a subordinate is go to the Boss’s
room only after being dressed with a Coat. The Boat journey was across the
Azhi (Port) and the boat will be tossed up and down by high waves. On reaching
Tirur by about the dawn we went to Calicut by train and reached the office near
Mananchira Maidan (The building was next to Imperial Bank of India (Now
State Bank of India) housed in a building of two storey. constructed by
Europeans Engineers with strong pillars and walls of sized rock. the floor in the
upstairs was of polished sawn wood and glass window panes. K.P.Subbaraman
(Kavasseri (Palakkad) Parameswaran’s son who was working at Ponnani
Tahsildar’s Office.) was the Head Clerk of the Commercial Tax Office and was
known to my father. He directed me to the Deputy Commercial Tax officer one
T.P.Bhaskaran, who was a tall, personality, bulky, reddish colour, with Kakki
half-trousers, Shirt, soaks, shining boots and spectacles. The formal joining
report was got on dictation from the Head clerk, Kunhikrishnan Nair and I
presented this to the Officer, who made an endorsement, “Admit” I was allotted
a table .a chair and a side tray and the clerks were seated in the verandah
covered by side walls of wood My father and myself went to one
Sivaramakrishna Vadhyar’s house, Tali (related to my father) and returned to
office. The office closed at 5 P.M and we went to Chakkorathikulam where
Babu Sait, his aged father and son Mannu Sait and Rattan had heir bungalow.
On the way I told my father: “Anna, I feel frightened at the very sight of the
Boss. Shall we return back to Ponnani?” My father put my question to Babu
Sait, who said” Swamy, What do you mean? If you concede to your son’s unfair
demand, you will spoil him. Leave him alone and get away”. Babu Sait’s advice
had a shocking effect in me and on a re-look into our pitiable conditions; I made
up my mind to stick on to the job –which is a God-given gift. Mr KG Nair to
whom I narrated this story rightly pointed out to me that this was a “shock
treatment” given to me by my father through Babu Sait, as Krishna did in the
case of Arjuna. I attended the office regularly from the next day onwards. TP
Bhaskaran is from Cannanore and he told me that he was working as Asst
Commercial tax Officer at Ponnani long ago. Later on I found that Bhaskaran
was a loving person and his wife Rohini was extremely good. (The Judiciary
and the Executive were not separated then)

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=Page Forty Six=

The DCTO Calicut(R)had under his administrative control Asst.Commercial
Tax officers, Calicut Taluk and South Vynaad(Kalpetta)( Govindan Nambiar
succeeded by Govindachari), Kurumbranad Taluk(Badagara N.S.Menon),
Ernaad Taluk Manjeri S.A.Bangara) Walluvanad Taluk(Rayarappan
Nambiar)whose powers of assessments were limited to dealers up to specified
annual turnover. and all higher turnover cases were handled by the DCTO.
There were only two clerks, the Head Clerk and the second clerk (myself). The
Commercial Tax Officer’s Office (SR Shankar Rao) was housed in the same
building along with DCTO Calicut Town (M.Kunhikuttan Nair) and ACTOs
Calicut (North) and (South) were under him. There was Spl.ACTO (EJ
Kuriyakku from Chavakkad (who was my father’s friend.) and a Deputy
Commercial Tax Officer, handling Drugs Control Act, Consumer Goods
(Control and Distribution Act), Hoarding and Profiteering Prevention Ordinance
etc His name was Narayanan Nair. He was telling me that he had his wife’s
house at Karamkunnath Tarwad, (third from Ponnani Appa’s house). He
advised me to appear for the Public Service Commission Examination. in order
to get permanency in the appointment, the present one is only temporary. under
Rule 9A of the Service Rules left to discretion of the appointing authority and
liable to be terminated at any time. Accordingly I remitted the fees and
appeared for the Madras Public Service Commission Examination and passed
the test. The advice for appointment will follow in due course. I was given
charge of maintaining assessment records, docketing, filing etc and the form and
style of noting, drafting etc was meticulously taught by the Head Clerk .(The
DCTOs were in charge of administration of the Madras General Sales Tax Act.
The powers were also vested for granting exemption from payment of Madras
Entertainments Tax Act on entertainments, the proceeds of which are to be
utilized for religious and charitable purposes.
After a week of my joining, my mother came to Calicut with a Venkila
Panai, one Iyya Chombu, two Brass Tumblers, one Bronze Appai (big spoon)
and a Bronze Chattukam and Babu Sait gave us one room in a portion of a tiled
house let out by him to another and afterwards he gave us the full house
comprised of an entrance room, another small room and a work area. In the
large side-compound which belonged to Babu Sait there were about twenty five
houses intended for lower income group classes and some ten houses meant for
Upper Class. We started living in the new environment and had the proceeds
from sale of the cow and monetary help extended by Madhavadass etc. Babu
Sait did not take any rent.
I used to go to the Siva Temple at Bilathikulam (about 3 kilometers
distant.)and take bath in the Temple Tank. Dharmi was sent to the School
attached to the Women’s’ Training School, along with a girl, named Thankam,
whose mother was a school-teacher; (Her husband was one Panickker
(Astrologer). In one of the ten houses, .Krishna Iyer, Auditor(Suri and
Co)along with his wife, sons Siva Raman, Raman than and Subramanian was
living. Another house was occupied by K.M.Subramanian who was employed
as a clerk at the Huzur Office (Collect orate) with his wife and child (This
Subramanian is related to Seethalaxmi Athangal (Venkitta Master at New
Kalpathy, Palakkad.)

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= Page Forty Seven

I had also some tuition at Dhanji-Jaya (A guzerathi) for their sons Anil Kumaar,
Jayanth Kumar and Arun Kumar. I used to walk about five kilometers to the
office up and down, since there were no public conveyances. My father taking
steps following the edges of the tarred road, used to take noon- food for me at
Chinnambi’s Office (Mani Athai Seshambal’s husband) who was employed in
the Public Works Department near my office... I had evening tea from Achu’s
shop who used to supply to the office-staff. In the evening on my way back I
would get hot Banana Chips from one Sankaran’s vetegable shop (close to our
residence) for one anna (six Naye Paise) which will be available in plenty.
There was no electricity but only oil-lamps were used. I used to go to bed early
and get up very early in the morning and continue the routine. Alungal
Muhammed of Kondotty(Malapuram)( who succeeded my head Clerk,
Kunhikrishnan Nair) was very close to me and treated me like his own brother
He had free admission to Cinema Theatres Crown, Coronation Theatre and
Radha Picture Palace and he used to take me also with him At Crown Theatre
owned by one Kangu. only Hindi and English Films were screened. (At that
time English Companies such as Pierce Leslie and Co Ltd, William Good Acre,
& Co Ltd, Aspinwall and Co Ltd, English and Scottish Joint Whole Sale Coop
Society Ltd, Spencer and Co Ltd, Common Wealth Trust Ltd were functioning
at Calicut and Cinema House will be full with Englishmen on Sundays) Latest
Hindi Films, where Asok Kumar, Leela Chitinis, Raj Kapur, Devika
Rani,Nargis, Suraiya, Dilip Kumar etc acted were screened

Shankar Rao, (dressed neat in while pant and shirt) Commercial tax
Officer was a disciplinarian and when the sound his Car (MDX 72) was heard at
the gate of the office building, there will be pin-drop silence and the Peons in
belt and badge (with turban) would go to the car at the porch to carry his
personal typewriter, Thermos Flask and the file pads up stairs. The typewriter
had to be placed at the proper position and when one peon Kannan Master from
Quilandy handled the typewriter and the File pad against his routine Shankar
Rao called me who was available at the verandah to put up an order dismissing
the peon from service But however he had a soft corner also. The peon was re-
instated on his begging for apology. Kappoor, who was the Addl.Dt
Magistrtate, used to come and meet Shankar Rao in connection with grant of
sanction for prosecutions launched by the C.T.O under the Defense of India
Rules The Drugs Control Act. Etc They were both tennis-players When the
Deputy Commissioner (Madras) Krishnasami Iyer stayed in office after office
hours continuing his work, Rao told him “Sir, I am getting way for Tennis”and
he was punctual in all his routine.
Krishnaswami Iyer used to stay in the C.T.O’s Office room itself during
his camps He was a religious man; taking only Tulsi leaves with water in the
morning and having his Nitya Karmas. prepared his food himself in the vacant
space at back verandah using kerosene oil stove. He was hard-working and
would call us and demonstrate the way in which the registers etc are to be
kept.etc and do it for himself. and shown to us.

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= Page forty Eight=

Head Clerk Muhammed was called by S.V.Raman, Commercial tax

Officer B, A ,GDA , FCA(succeeding Shankar Rao) as a “Moplah with Bhramin
brain “ Muhammed got married and he would entrust matters to me and get
away leaving a”Casual”leave application to me to be shown to the Boss only
when need arose. Muhammed wrote a good hand- and was quick at his work
and well-behaved.
My father went to meet Shankar Rao residing at Zilla Bungalow at
English Church Road to pay respects to him and express gratitude for the
kindness shown to him. Shankar Rao got my father by his hands and made him
sit in the chair and spoke to him with kind words. There was occasion for my
father meeting my boss Bhaskaran also, who is said to have told my father
“Swami, Kesavan is my boy. Don’t worry about him”
There were a lot of Guzerathis at the place where we were residing.
(Vithaldass Krishna Dass, Jamna Dass Dwarakadass, Nana Bhai, Kappu Bhai,
Lakki Sait, Prem Lal Sait etc).who had very great respects for Brahmins.
I had to attend the District Treasury, Calicut and to the Imperial Bank
of India for encashment of bills etc and assist the Head Clerk in the preparation
of periodical statements etc.on the due dates to the superior authorities. I was
required to maintain a “personal register” which had to be put up to the Head of
Office, who would pass his remarks on a scrutiny of the register in the “Running
Note File” accompanying the Personal Register, which have to be answered
satisfactorily.
I was required to scrutinize the returns etc filed by the assesses, enter the in the
assessment registers, make the endorsement thereon and put up to the Officer
for his orders , Every paper must be routed only through the Head Clerk and not
direct to the Head of Office. I was also required to prepare the traveling
Allowance Bills of Peons checked and sent to the Commercial tax Officer for
counter-signature I was also deputed to the subordinate offices with messages
etc. I was getting myself conversant with the work obtaining in the Department.
I was selected by the Madras Public Service Commission
as Lower Division Clerk in the scale of pay of Rs.45/-3/-Rs.60/- 2/- Rs.90) and I
was required to undergo a course of training at Clerks’ Training School, Salem
for a period of three months, after which only allotments will be made to the
respective Departments as advised by the Commission.
On the first of every month on the Pay disbursement
date, Bhaskaran used to call me to his office room and disburse the salary for
the previous month, counting the notes one and by one. I would take the salary
to my father and give the salary to him every month, prostrate before him and
would not take anything from it. This was continued by me till my father’s
death on 03.12.1966 The last photo-graph taken before my father’s death
gives a picture of the rupee note bundle placed by me upon a letter box kept at
my father’s bed-side, which he touched by his hands and put his hands on my
head. as mark of blessings.

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= Page Forty Nine =

With Pranams to my Adi-Guru(first boss) in Govt Service TP Bhaskaran and
remembering my deceased son Adi Narayanan who bid final fare-well to me
on this date twenty years back( 28..02..1985) and praying to the Almighty for
His Soul to rest in Shanti(,Peace) and crores of Pranams to Mata
Amritandamayi Devi I would proceed to re-start the challenges that I had to
face ,in this “Samsara-Sagara”(ocean of worldliness. of births and deaths)
which is nothing but an illusion (Maya) I am reminded of the day on which my
friend Muhammad who had lost his son in a scooter accident told me “Rahim”
gave and He took back”. The Divine Mother (Lalithambikai) is “Leela
Vindoni” Everything are her Leelas (Plays) (She is “Bhanu Mandala
Madyastha (seated in the centre of orbit Sun” and “Chandra Mandala
Madhyga” (seated in the planet “Moon”) and She knows when” heat” is needed
for Her children and also when” coolness” is needed Devi Mata
Amritanandamayi would stress upon chanting of Lalitha Shahasranama and
designed “Manasa pooja” with devotion. Ramana Maharshi’s ’s words are “
What is destined to happen must happen and what is not destined to happen
will not happen” One can only console oneself by bringing to mind the sayings
of Great Souls (Avatars like Amma, Ramana Maharshi ,Shirdi Sai Baba and
Bhagavan Shri Sathya Sai Baba) that only the “I”(superior “I”)exists which is
pure, stainless and infinite and that the mind, intellect, senses and the” ego” are
the plays of the Consciousness(I)
On 2nd July 1946, I was relieved of my duties at Calicut to join the Clerks’
Training School, Salem. We packed off to Palakkad. My mother and Dharmi
were left at my sister’s house at Double Street, Noorani, Palakkad and I and my
father went to Salem. We went to one Annacham, my maternal grandmother’s
sister’s son who was running a Coffee Club at Ther Mutti (Car stand), Shevapet,
and Salem and stayed there overnight. The Training School was at Hasthampatti
(Near Kumaraswamipatti) on the way to Yercaud opposite to Chakravarthy C.
Rajagopalachariar’s house. Next day, on 8th July1946, I joined the Training
School on a monthly stipend of Rs.30/=from out which Rs.22 and a half will be
deducted towards cost of two meals in the morning and at night. There was
hostel also attached. My father left back for Palakkad. N.K.Balakrishnan s/o
Krishna Vadhyar of Nellisseri (Palakkad) who was working at DCTO.Palakkad
was also with me and we stayed together. The next day of joining I felt home-
sickness especially I could not miss my father(.and that was the case with my
father too ) I wrote a Post Card to Palakkad and my father came, who got
himself accommodated with one Sundaram(Bhagavathar)staying next to an
Advocate Sreenivasa Raghavachaiar(Opposite to Modern Theatres
Ltd(T.R.Sundaram,Director) My father arranged for daily meals(one time
only)with Rama Murthi, the Canteen Contractor. There was scarcity of water at
Salem then and we had to go to the nearby Mango-groves for bathing from
water pulled by Kalathekku used for watering mango trees. The students were
from South Kanara, Madras and Andhra Pradesh. The Principal was one Ram
Swami Iyyengar(with Dhoti, Coat and turban)coming in Motor Bike, the
warden was one Vasudeva Rao, Dorairaj( who was Dt Collector,Madurai later)
for teaching office procedure subjects such as District Office Manual (authored
by Tottanham a Britisher),

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= Page Fifty =

and an experienced administrator, Balasubramania Iyer and

Mookkambakeswara Iyer, Retired Tahsildars for Accounts and Revenue
subjects, and Chinnikrishna Naidu, retired Accountant General taking classes in
Fundamental Rules and the Subsidiary Rules made thereunder, the Madras
Treasury Code, The Madras Accounts Code, The Madras Pension Code etc. The
school was well-disciplined However it was a period of stress and strain. The
morning meals will be served at 9 A, M and the night meals at 7 P.M. In the
noon, a Brahmin would bring butter rice, lemon rice in a cart. I and Anna would
go to the Town on some Sundays and sit in the Park. We also used to see the
music recording at Modern Theatres where there was a Namboodiri cook. and
he used to get admission for us. I and my father saw a cinema “Savithri” acted
as Sage Narada by MS Subbulakshmi at New Cinema at Salem Town. We also
used to go to a nearby Temple. My father got a small room at Pudur (near the
School) for a monthly rent of Rs.2/=and a pot for storing water for bathing (It
was a small village occupied by Gounder community who were kind and
accommodative)
The students would go to Mettur Dam (32 miles far) but I could not
afford and would stay back going through the notes give in the class. One day
Balasubramania Iyer took me to the Temple where there was a Thiruvizha
(festival) and he told me that I need not walk but the mob would carry me.
There was heavy rush at the Amman Koil there.

When sitting at the Park close by, my father used to quote certain
proverbs such as “Time and Tide waits for No Man ,All That Glitters is no Gold,
Procrastination is the Thief of the Time, Familiarity Breeds Contempt, Do as
You Would be Done By, Charity Begins at Home, Spare the Rod and Spoil the
Child, Everything that smells Sweet is no Rose, Too Too Will end in Two A
Bird in the Hand is worth Two in the Bush Make Hay when the Sun Shines,
Strike the Iron When It is Hot
The excerpts from Bhagavad Gita such as quoting Krishna’s
sayings “whenever virtues subside and vices spring up I come done to Earth to
rescue Mankind. You think of Me always with Ananya Bhakthi” and Krishna’s
sayings to Arjuna”Just as an unenlightened man attached to work acts, so shall
an Enlightened act, unattached, desirous of the Well-Being of the World.” He
used to tell me the stories from Vikramaditya, Aithyamala. Stories from the
Arabian Nights, Kalidas’s works etc. He was also telling me the life histories of
Lala Rajpat Rai, Gopala Krishna Gokhale, Ranade, Lokamanya Tilak(arguing
his case himself for charge of treason(the highest crime under Pena laws)
Sarojini Naidu, Rabindranath Tagore Arbindo Ghose etc .To quote an
illustration when Rabindranath Tagore was asked “How is Christmas in
America”? The answer was that “It was just like a Swan of the Himalayas taken
to the Deserts of Sahara” He would quote passages from Reynolds’s Novels
“Mysteries of Windsor Family’ Leo Tolstoy. “Ottam Tullal”in Malayalam, and
Mahabharata Katha

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=Page Fifty One =

While at Salem, I had sent a letter to TP Baskeren telling him about the
training ,the conditions of living etc, to which I got a reply from him beautifully
worded with full of love and blessing me with the following words to
conclude,.”. I am sure that you will come up with flying colors” Baskeren’ elder
brother was TP Bharatan(he changed the name as Bartan) was the Asst Director
Fisheries and had married an Anglo Indian Woman and his son Lamberts was
married at English Church at Calicut which I had attended. Baskern’s sister
were Mrs. OC Sreenivasan, Inspectress of Schools and another sister Retna Bai
(a B.A.L.T Teacher) (who died at Madras.)
During the course of Training at Salem I once went to Coimbatore (RS
Purm) to meet Ramaswami Athiyembar. At Salem, near the Training School
there was a Doctor (Dr Ananthan) from Tellicherry and I and my father used to
go him... The writing up of the Personal File (Confidential records) regarding
the work and conduct of the candidate’s starts from here By the Grace of God I
had a start with good records at this initial stage. The period of training
terminated on 07.10.1946. Myself, Bala Krishnan and one Narayanan Nambiar
were allotted to Commercial; Taxes Department (Malabar), some others to the
Revenue Department, some to the Registration Department. etc etc Two of my
co-trainees (A. Padmanabhan Nambiar and N.K.Narayana Kurup were
conferred IAS Grade at their retirement stage. One RS Venkiteswaran retired as
Treasury Officer(who is no more) The coaching and training imparted at this
School helped a long way in handling issues on the practical side of application
(The then administrators wanted that the administrative set-up of Governmental
institutions shall be built on strong base by which the super-structure shall not
fall to the ground and also to get the desired effect, Mine was the VIth Batch
and this system was discontinued.. after the close of the next batch The lack of
training like this at the appropriate stages, in my opinion, is the main cause for
the chaos that we now find in the present day-administration
I got the orders from the appointing authority (Commercial Tax Officer,
Calicut) appointing me as Lower Division Clerk in the scale of pay of
Rs.45/=3/=60/=2/=90)in the office of the Asst Commercial Tax Officer,
Palakkad (One Govindan Nambiar, was the ACTO and the other two clerks
were TP Sreedharan Nair from Kongad and Venkitasubramania Iyer
Kumarapuram and both of them were old. Later on another clerk from
Parassinikkadav (Cannanore) CK Devadass, a staunch devotee of Jaya Prakash
Narayan and Achyuth Patwardhan joined. I was required to handle work
relating to preparation of demand notices, scrutiny of returns and filing them
after posting the registers, preparation of Demand, Collection and Balance
statements etc. Devadass was attending to Madras Entertainment Tax matters
and also Dispatch. The peons were Narayanan Nair and Varghese (whose name
was Sankaran Nair, converted to Christianity) whose work is to serve notices
etc.

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= Page Fifty Two=

Both the Head Clerk and Venkitasubramania Iyer will not do any
work and I was called upon to attend to their work also. One Bhaskaran
Thirumulpad was the Lower Division Clerk at the DCTO’s Office who will not
stick to his work but would while away his time. (one KM Narayanan, was the
DCTO strict, honest and hard-worker) My old friend Muhammed had joined
there as Head Clerk. He would not like Thirumulpad’s ways and he would
extract work from him, enforcing discipline, to which he was subjected to.
Shankar Rao, CTO was transferred and S, V.Raman, came in his place. During
the course of routine cursory inspection of the subordinate offices, on a
complaint got from a dealer (a Ration shop owner)that he did not get the
refund of Rs.96/=due to him the CTO came to my table with his walking stick,
hat on and said “Boy, Mind you that you are paid by the tax-payer. Issue the
refund immediately”. I obeyed. One day SP Radhakrishna Naidu, Deputy
Commissioner, Combatore surprised the office with his camp clerk KV
Karunakaran, when the Bill Collector(K.I.Simon)(now no more)was returning
for preparing Chalans etc for remittance of the moneys collected before
Treasury Hours. . The DC wanted the Bill Collector to count the cash in the
bag, when he found that there was an excess of about Rs.20/= The Bill Collector
explained that the excess found was his personal money. and this explanation
had no place with the Dy Commr. and he straightway framed charges against
the poor fellow attributing that the excess represented illegal gratification got
from parties. His increment was barred. I know Simon very well. He is a very
good boy. He was very honest and over-enthusiastic in doing his job and it is
only ill-luck that befell him on that day. He has to his credit a very good record
of showing “NIL” balance of arrears due from defaulters. I would recall a story
that comes to my mind where a boy was punished by a European Judge. The
boy craved “Your Lordship, I am innocent” The Judge replied “Boy. This is not
a Court of Truth but a Court of justice” This incident would show that when the
real culprit escapes and goes scot-free, the innocent is victimized One TR
Subramania Iyer (Trichur) (who was a Sub Magistrate and son-in-law of KS
Narayana Iyer (Deputy Collector, Kumarapuram) who is called as “Kuppan”by
my father) succeeded Govindan Nambiar He was an independent Officer and
his relation ship with Narayanan, DCTO was not cordial, for obvious reasons.
One K.Samaraj a PSC Candidate succeed CKDevadass on 09.10.1947.
On the independence day (15.08.1947) I along with peon
E.N.Krishnan went so see the Picture “We Two”(Naam Iruvar) and on that day
we did not avail of “free” admission, there being heavy rush. Unfortunately, to
the ill-luck of the Management of the Theater (New Theatre, one L.P.arayana
Iyer was the Manager) the torn half returned to us at the gate did not bear the
seal of the ACTO.which lead to adverse inference. (It may be an innocent
omission due to inadvertence) However the matter was brought to the notice of
the Officer by me and the Theatre owner was fined.

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=Fifty Three=
At Double Street, Noorani, Palakkad we were staying the house got rented by
my sister along with my parents, sister and her daughter Dharmi. Ambit Anna
and his son Main, (now no more) Advocate (nick-named as Paternal) stayed in
the Graham in the same row. He was not having enough work in civil branch
but he was having good Income tax and Sales Tax Practice. He was liked by
all and well-behaved. His old father (Ambi Anna) (a bit selfish) always raised
complaints about his son and daughter-in-law (Parvathi) One cannot find a
dutiful son and daughter-in-law like Mani Anna and Parvathy An old incident
told by my father about Ambi Anna comes up to my mind now. Once while at
Calicut (my father and Mani Athai alone were born then) Ponnani Appa
entrusted Mani Athai who was weepimg to Ambi Anna to stop weeping, and
there was a Murukku in Mani Athai’s mouth, which Ambi Anna snatched whose
mouth was watering for tasting the Murukku and accidentally bit Mani Athai’s
fingers along with the Murukku and that she cried out aloud, when Ponnani
asked “Ambi, You could have taken the Murukku, but spared the child’s fingers.
“ Ambi Anna would address my father as “Konthai” This Ambi Anna had his
regular oil baths at the River, smearing Clay all over his body and taking very
well care of his body. He would not spare a Single Paisa from his Pension and
was very “selfish” He gave a hand loan of Rs.100/=to Ramiah (C.S.Rama
Iyer,Cousin brother)( working as Copyist at the Sub Court at Palakkad then)
who did not return it and on two days previous to the expiry of the Promissiory
Note Ambi Anna filed a Suit. Ramiah influenced the Court Nazir and got the
plaint barred by limitation. and told Ambi Anna “Now. See Who is clever. I or
You………?

There is the Sastha Temple at Noorani, where annual Sastha Preethi were
conducted. on a very large scale even today. The story is that there was a
Namboodiri family close to the Tank attached to the Temple who had one
hundred Unnis(children) and that is why the place is known as “Nooru Unni”
and that the ground on which the idol is installed originally belonged to
Cherumas(Backward Class)) and even to this day, the living Head of the
Cheruma clan who is approached with Vadya Ghosha must accord formal
permission to the Temple Trustees to proceed with the rituals connected with
Sastha Preethi Most of the residents at Noorani are business people or
accountants. They would never say “You” or “yours” or “my” or “mine” but
would say “our” (a principle of unity in diversity) At Noorani most of the
families belong to the “Brhacharanam”sub-sect of Brahmin community

At Noorani, there was a Veda Patasale and there were eminent Scholars of
Sanskrit. There was no dearth for priests at Noorani.

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 =Fifty Four=
I have stated about the people of Noorani Agraharam. They are
orthodox and charitable, running “Thanneer Panthal” etc There was a free
charitable hospital run by a Trust. I went to Sabarimlai for the first time while
staying at New Kalpathy, along with the Noorani Batch, my Guruswami was
Rama Aiyar (brother of NP Venkittarama Iyer (Enna Kadai Pichan –Palghat Oil
Mills who rose up to very high position from nothing and is the father-in law of
NN Ramachandran, Chartered Accountant) At that time there was plenty of
water at Pampa River, the natural forests were retained there in tact, at a time
before de-forestation and wild animals too. The tract uphill to Sannidhanam was
very arduous forty-six years back when I went. (Rama Iyer had carried Rice,
Milk Maid, coffee etc for preparing food enroute at the sacred Hills with
firewood available in the forests) and others had edibles in the Irumudi kettu.
(worldly bondage) We all went to Aryankave(Ayyappa in child’s form), Achan
Koil( Ayyappa in Kingly dress) beyond Shencottaha (Tamil Nadu) where when
it was raining in Kerala side, on the other side sun was shining (Mixed
experiences)(i.e. life is Dwanda(opposites),,.We went Kulathupuzha another
place of worship and then to Sanidhanam,(That was my maiden trip to Sabari
Malai) The entire route was full of Kallu(Stones) and Mullu (thorns) (i.e. Life’s
journey) is full of obstacles which have to be overcome. It was about two hours
walk by foot beyond Pampa River (Kanni Moola Ganapthy) and Anjaneya
(monkey God) to be worshipped at the starting point. Then there is the
Karimalai, Sabari Peedhom, Appachi Medu, Saram Kuttiyal and finally the
main shrine to be climbed up through a stair case of rocks of very narrow width
Pathinettam Padi eighteen steps, (meaning eighteen chapters in the Sreemad
Bhagavad Gita dealing with different forms of Yoga to reach the ultimate goal
in life.) Ayyappa (Paramatma) (The Pure Consciousness) (both Shiva and
Vishnu, the sustainer and destroyer is enshrined in the main temple (body –
Jeevatma) the Goddess (Malikappurath Amma) (Divine Mother of the
Universe) is installed in the plains down the steps. A trip is an “experience” for
teaching mankind about Non-dualism by observance of Vritas.or Nolmbu
(Rigorous Austerities for a Mandala (forty one days)) and also restricting
dietary habits and routine
I was transferred to Perinthalmanna and I was relieved from duties at
Palakkad and I joined duty at the new station on 29.01.1948 I returned to
Palakkad and it was on 30.01.1948 that Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated

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=Fifty Five =
It was when I was seeing a Film “Ayiram Thai Vanghi Apoorva
Chintamani” (Matinee) at New Theatres, Palakkad that at 5.30 in the
evening on 30.01.1946 that I heard that Mahatma Gandhi was
 assassinated to death. The screening of the show was suspended. I
returned to Noorani. The next day morning I went to Perinthalmanna.
These were mourning. periods. The Deputy Commercial Tax Officer
was one Lonakutty Panackkal(his family is known to my father and
they were tobacco merchants at Chavakkad) The Office was housed on
the upstairs of the shop building owned and run by Chidambareswara
Iyer(Nana Swami) next to the Post Office, Taluk(Revenue)Offices
Courts etc.in a Govt owned building. I was given charge of the files of
Tirur Taluk and Thirumulpad was handling Perintalmanna Taluk files.
The officer was a stout and able bodied man come from Excise
Depatment (Preventive Officer). He used to go out for outdoor work and
book very good cases, His family was at Soranur. He was staying at the
Office itself. I and Thirumulpad (the other clerk) were also staying in the
Office itself. There were no regular bus services. The place is a cob-web
which connected to all parts i.e.Calicut, Palakkad, Mannarght, Trichur
etc... The Officer will work at night also with kerosene Table lamps and
used to wake me up at nights also. He was well-behaved and appreciated
my work in the maintenance of records, drafts made for his approval,
preparation of statements and also assisting in his work. One Kunjan
Nair (Masalji-Sweeper) was getting him food prepared in the office
itself. I used to take food from Rama Iyer’s Hotel on the Angadipuram-
Calicut Road and he would ask not (positively) “Do you want Rice? Do
you want Curry?” and instead would ask (in negative tone) “Yu do not
want Rice? You do not want Curry? After some days my father and
mother took up the portion of a small house at Puthur belonging to one
Ammini Patti (near Siva Temple) and opposite to Dr P.Rama Variar.
There was weekly shandy at Perintalmanna and vegetables were
available in plenty at very low cost. I would get one week’s
requirements. Excellent Rice was available and Nari Narayanan (a
Karyastha of Pathaikkara Mana (a reputed Nambooditi Family) used to
supply Milk and butter milk. At Angadipuram there is the famous Devi
temple known a “Thirumandham Kunnu Bhagvathi” situate on a hillock
surrounded by forests of wild tree-growth and there was a flowing river
behind the temple. The only entertainment was hearing the Mappila
Pattu (Muslim songs) at the Gramophone at the opposite side

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= Fifty Six=
of the road where one Moideen was running a small tea shop. The ACTO was
M.Gopalakrishna Panickker (his father was a Brahmin) and my father knows
him as Vendor Nani’ Amma’s son) He was a Sub Magistrtrate and was a very
popular. When there was a general strike proposed to be agitated by the Service
Association for some genuine demands (there was only one Association which
was above all politics unlike these days) SV Raman ,CTO asked Panickker to
withdraw from the strike to which he boldly . replied “No power on earth can
make me withdraw from the strike” It was in those times that the noted “Rama
Simhan Murder case” was pending in Courts(Where one Kilimannil Unniman
Saheb(A Muslim) and son in law of Kalladi(Mannarghat) V.K.Unnikkmmu
Saheb (a noted business man and politician at Olavakkode-Palakkad) was
murdered for his act of having changed over to Hinduism and took his name as
Kilimanoor Rama Simhan and built a Sree Rama Temple near the top of a hill at
Mankada(a nearby place)whose children were studying at Birlas. One
P.S.Kesavn Namboodiri, the Sessions Judge then, got an extension (He was on
the verge of retirement) for a week and delivered the judgment sentencing
Unnikkammu Saheb to death. The matter was taken to the High court of
Madras and was handled by Advocate U.Gopala Menon and I learn that he was
acquitted under cover of politics through the influence of the then Madras Home
Minister Kozhipurath Madhava Menon) But the man could not escape Divine
punishment. At his last days, he became insane and used to smear ash drawn
from hearth (oven) on his fore-head, chanting “Rama, Rama…”

Perinthalmanna was a cheap-living place. After some days, I was transferred

to Alathur (Palakkad) on the formation of a new ACTO”s Office in August
1948 bifurcating Palakkad Taluk. I and another Clerk (A.Balachandran Nair
from Manappulli Kave, Palakkad (Bill Collector promoted)worked at Alathur(a
small house of two rooms behind the Civil Courts, where the ACTO was
M.K.Gopalan Nair from Cherukunnam(Kannapuram(chirakkal-Cannanore) He
was a good officer and we were staying in the office together taking food from
a Hotel MA Krishna Iyer(Manjapra) . I used to go to Palakkad on week-ends.
The work was smooth and there was able guidance from the ACTO who was an
experienced officer in the Revenue Department.

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= Fifty Eight =
Baskeren was transferred and was succeeded by C. Devaraya Kini (Mangalore)
He was a very good officer, with good knowledge of the subject. He was
staying near the house of Kunnekkal Narayanan-Mandakini-Ajita (Nexalite
(Pulpully fame) MA Sukumaran(Direct Recruit formerly in Registration
Department)succeeded Kini R.K.Murthy, was DCTO Town (North) and TR
Subramania Iyer DCTO (Central), At that time my father had an idea to go to
Coimbatore to have a surgery on the right eye for Cataract. We went to
Coimbatore and consulted Dr Pitchai Roberts, Moses Gnanabharanam Eye
hospital (who was the son in law of Dr Gurupatham the then Madras Health
Minister) Dr Pitchai Roberts examined my father by various tests including
Dark Room Test and when asked my father replied that there is “perception”of
light(torch) through one side. Dr suggested a surgery and my father told me that
he had some vision at least then and if that too were to be lost after surgery; he
will be totally blind and therefore returned. My work was stereo-typed .In the
evenings, there was assembly of one Krishnan Vydiar, Kani Settu, Narayanan
Nair etc discussing about politics, general matters etc. On 03.12.1950 Nana
Bhai gave me a bicycle for Rs.100/= (old English Hercules-24”) which was got
conditioned at Achutan Cycle Mart, Nadakkave. (My father was the first to get
Bicycle(then called Chavittu Vandi at Ponnani –Pedal brake in those times
where the bicycle will move both forward and back ward). He used to check up
my cycle to see whether the wheels (Rims), spokes etc are in tact, that there are
balls and the hub, crank, chain, the handle bar worked well etc. He used to oil
the cycle with mixture of kerosene oil and coconut oil The cycle was of great
help to me SV Raman CTO had died of heat break and CR Antony
(Trichinopoly) succeeded. The then Dy.Commr Coimbatore (SPR Naidu) wrote
to Board of Revenue Madras that Malabar District was heavy and one CTO died
of overwork and the other CTO is closely following him. The district was
divided into Malabar (North) and Malabar (South). T.K.Mukundan was CTO
Malabar (North) KA Swaminathan to succeed him and M.Kunhikuttan Nair was
one of CTO Malabar (South)

I was working in ACTO’s Office, Palakkad and the ACTOs were CP

Kumara Panickker, followed by P.Balakrishnan Nair etc (Balakrishnan Nair
(Manjeri) was a very able officer, having good command over English and his
views were always taken by the Commercial Tax Officers in sending reports to
superiors. After wards I was posted to DCTO Palaghat (Town) when RK
Murthy was the DCTO. He was previously a sub-magistrate at

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= Page Fifty Nine =

Kuthuparmba and had worked under European Collectors (AD Crombie etc) He
was able and he was succeeded by M.Appukuttan Nair (He was previously
camp clerk of O.Pulla Reddy ICS and KM Unithan ICS and came from Excise
Department.) He had some special duty at Fort Cochin regarding the assessment
of Non-resident dealers (Travancore Cochin area then) and had often to go to
Fort Cchin to meet the Govt Pleader, Kalyanasundaram since the assessments
were made by him when he was working as ACTO. Chavakkad... Appukuttan
Nair had an inborn tendency to tease the subordinates. I used to go to Office at 8
A.M and return at 9 P.M in the night, yet the officer would pass unnecessary
and unwarranted strictures in the papers that are sent to him.

My sister had shifted to Thondikulam from Noorani Then I had an

Election duty at Melarcode (Alathur) and MH Sankaranarayana Iyer was the
Presiding officer. I was the Polling officer in one of the booths. There were as
many boxes as there are candidates for Assembly and Parliamentary
constituencies respectively, where Elections were conducted simultaneously. At
the close of the polls one of the boxed opened unwearyingly due to error in
locking mechanism (Alwym Type) and the Revenue Inspector Pazhanan by
name came to my rescue tied up the box (opened) with thread and sealed it in
the presence of the agents for the candidates The boxes were opened and
counting was over the next day at Alathur and then only I was relieved of my
tension Immediately after this I was appointed for polling duty at Beypore
(Calicut) and the work went off well. After M Kunhikuttan Nair came
M.Narayanan Nambiar as CTO Malabar (South) He was also of a teasing nature
and I had no occasion to work under him but still an incident comes to my mind.
He was camping at DCTO Palghat (Rural) He untied the strings of the file pad
and opened the appeal file saying “Guruvayoorappa”. Then one advocate NS
Harihara Iyer was before him for an appeal matter (It was his grievance that the
CTO had never before delivered proper judgments in any of the previous cases
represented by him) remarked raising his voice “This is not the place for
Guruvayurappa Guruvayurappa has a proper place of sanctity (holiness)”.
Nambiar got wild and demanded of the Advocate to show his “sannad”. in an
insulting tone, thus be-littling the status of an Advocate. Harihara Iyer also lost
his temper and sent a personal telegram to the Chief Secretary,
Madras, SK Chettur detailing his grievances

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=Page Sixty =
Hari Hara Iyer wanted the CTO to be transferred immediately. This
representation worked well and in twenty four hours, the CTO was transferred
to Pollachi. (Harihara Iyer was previously the War Secretary of AFW Nixon
(Nick named All For War) Dewan of Cochin) The fact remains that Nambiar
was “communal”.and “biased”

For furtherance in the Department ,a pass in(1) Commercial Taxes Tests

(2) Account Test (Madras Treasury Code, Madras Account Code, Madras
Financial Code, Madras Pension Code etc(3) Book Keeping and (4)Tamil
Language Test were essential. I passed the tests (Local Fund Audit Department
Test was made equivalent to Book-Keeping test, which I passed). “Vivo-
Voce”test in Tamil was conducted at Coimbatore by one Mascarnass who put
me interesting questions regarding the Tamil version for single Point Tax,
Multipoint Tax etc. For Multipoint Tax, I answered as Iru Munai vari instead of
Baku Munai Vari He corrected me He made me read a Tamil letter and translate
it He finally asked me “Where are you from?” I told him “I am from Malabar”
Oh, I see. You are a Malabar Paddar (my father’s name was in his records) I
told this incident to my father and he told me that Mascarnass was the Tahsildar
at Ponnani long time back.

After wards, M.Govindankutty Nair(Mathilakath, Vadavannur-

Palakkad) succeeded as C.T.O Malabar(south) I was taken to CTO’s Office at
Calicut and was assigned portfolios such as DCB(Demand Collection and
balance statement)its consolidation and dispatch to Board of
Revenue(Commercial Taxes)(CT)(Madras) (with review to be prepared.),, The
Madras Entertainments Tax Act, the Madras Sale of Motor Spirit Taxation Act,
The Betting Tax Act, scrutiny of Traveling Allowance Bills of subordinate
offices etc There was heavy work and the CTO was an expert in extracting
work by persuasion and encouragements. He will say “You will work like a
Devil. This time Babu Sait accommodated us in the space where he had his car
shed with two rooms for our occupation. I used to go early morning after taking
meals and carry noon-meals also in the cycle. The work was too heavy. TK
Acuthan Nair was the Head Clerk, KC Balagangadharan was the Camp clerk the
other colleagues were Vijayan, Lakshminarayanan, Bhaskaran Nair etc.
Govindankutty Nair once wanted me to take the DCB statement to Fort Cochin
where he was camping I carried the papers in the Tappal Box (and his spare
pant and coat were also there).
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= Page Sixty one =

Being new to the area I had to search for his place of camp and hired a
Rickshaw (pulled by man) (Man is the burden of the beast) and finally located
the place near Aspinwall Ltd He then asked me “Where had you the morning
tiffin? I replied” At I.R.” He said “No man. You are grammatically wrong you
say I am “. I told him the difficulty in locating the place when .he told me” You
could have asked me, where I am “I got the papers etc signed and returned back
to Calicut. On reaching Calicut I found that the key was lost by me somewhere
in the train. Hurriedly, I myself carried the box, went to the Scrap Iron
merchant on the road side and luckily I got a substitute key and the box could be
opened. Had I not got the box opened, his another set of suit for the next day
could not be dispatched to Fort Cochin with the tap pals by the evening Madras
Mail and he would scold me left and right. Thank God. On another occasion he
was traveling in IIIrd class (He is entitled to Ist Class) compartment in a night
train and I had also accompanied him in camp He had his Hold all spread near
the Toilet, when other passengers were murmuring He told me “Tell them (the
other passengers) who I am” An old story now comes to my mind. When my
sister and Ramaswami Athimbiar were traveling in the train, some one else
occupied his vacant seat, who had gone to the toilet. My sister told that man
“Get up. That seat is occupied by the Munsiff” Ramaswami Athimbiar is stated
to have told my sister” Girl, Keep quiet. Don’t disclose my identity, to the
public”
Govindakutty Nair was very much fond of Murukku and would give me
the cost of Rice and oil etc and. my mother would prepare the Murukku for him.
On 17.04.1953, I was promoted to the cadre of Upper Division Clerk
and I joined as Head clerk at DCTO Calicut (Central)under S.Varada
Kamath,DCTO.(The offices of ACTOs and DCTOs were amalgamated then)
CK Antony was the ACTO. My father wanted to arrange my marriage. I would
say that I had not got the footing and the issue is too pre-mature. In the
meantime, my sister was approached by my wife’s father (KS Narayana Iyer)
who was running a coffee Club at Lalgudi and hailing from Kozhalmannam,
Our family details were given to him by Krishna Iyer, son of Harihara Vadhyar
(my grand father’s cards-play mate) Health Inspector, Kozhalmannam My
father reiterated that he wants the Family chain unbroken and insisted on me to
agree for the alliance. It was my sister who went to see the girl and the
marriage was settled at Calicut (where we were then residing) in the presence of
Suppamani Vadhyar(from their side)My father got the invitation letters printed
from M.V.Press,Palakkad(V.S.Sivaramakrishnan, Vilayannur) and the date was
fixed as “08.07.1953”.
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= Sixty Two =
ERRATUM

At Page Fifty Five (Third line), for the figures “30.01.1946” read as
“30.01.1948”
Continued from Page Sixty one:-…………
.(M.V.Press, Sivaramakrishnan’s wife is related to Kunjanna’s brother and
Sivaramakrishnan is related to Cheeni Athiyembiar of Vilayannur( related to
Ammulu Athai’s husband Chamiyanna) The marriage ceremony was
conducted at Kozhalmannam when rain was pouring in torrents and was
attended by Ramaswami Athiyembiar, Mani Athai, CS Ramiah,his wife Muthu(
along with their son Kalyanakrishnan who was two years old then) and my
friend N.Seshu Iyer from Calicut (I was staying in a lodge next to N.Sesh Iyer’s
house(Son of School Teacher Narayanaswami Iyer at Kallai Road)run by Post
Office Staff PV Anantharaman, Mani, Mahadevan, Kasi(from Vadakkanthara
etc) where there was a mess also for a few days when my father had gone back
to Ponanni on my joining duty.). My friends KT Simon and Balachandran Nair
also attended the marriage function. I got a gift of one “Rilo”wrist watch and a
“Parker Fountain Pen” from Calicut friends. My wife has an elder sister, who is
married to one of their relatives (T.T.R now retired) and three younger
unmarried sisters then, besides three brothers younger to her (My wife’s father
was a hard-worker but he had to close down his business at Lalgudi due to
adversities and start business at Varaganeri (Tiruchy) After the marriage, we
stayed at Thondikulam (Muthukulam) with my sister for a few days and went to
Calicut Babu Sait had arranged a side room for our stay just close to his out-
house in his own compound. My wife was taken for Maruazhaippu(home
taking) by her father and was taken back after a few days’ stay at her house (on
the 9th day of their leaving our house which is “inauspicious”) My mother lifted
her eye brows My mother had the hard task of giving adequate training to my
wife for domestic work. as she had not got sufficient experience...
While I was working as Head Clerk, Commercial Taxes Office,
Calicut(Central)one day the CTO’s Head Clerk TK Acuthan Nair came and
gave me an advance intimation that I am facing a reversion pursuant a
revision of the UD Clerks’ Panel by the Dy Commr, Coimbatore.and asked me
not be got worried over it. , I was reverted in January 1954 along with one
C.Kunhikrishna Kurup. The UD Clerks’ list was revised by the Dy Commr,
Coimbatore(C Ramachandran IAS who was new to the Dept) and I was placed
in the last, including therein the names of a Bill Collector Promotee (Not a PSC
candidate), and two others who entered service only on 9.10.1947 and 8/1948
respectively. while I joined on 08.07.1946.

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 = Page Sixty Three =
I reliably learnt that there was some foul-play in the entire affair by the section
clerks who went to DC’s Office Coimbatore from Malabar (whose names I do
not divulge here) who had some grudge towards me for reasons unknown at
and interested in providing T. Gopalan Nair (working as Typist at DC’s Office)
in the Selection List C Ramachandran, DC who succeeded S.Krishna Rao ,was
made to understand that UD post is a selection-Grade Post , the appointment to
those posts is to be made on” merits and ability” and in assessing the merits the
confidential records were examined. I was transferred as Lower Division Clerk
in the Commercial Tax office, Cananore (Rural) where the DCTO was Baskeren
and V Kammaran was the Head Clerk. I stayed in the Office itself at a place
called Talap and had food in Thekke Bazaar(Near Central Jail) and had bathing
at the temple tank Sundareswara Temple(SNDP)nearby. I used to get Puttu,
Kadalai and Pappadam from a nearby teashop run by one Malu and used come
back to Calicut on week end days for washing cloths. .In the meantime, I sent a
representation to the Deputy Commissioner stating “Having once found fit for
promotion and appointed accordingly it is neither just nor proper to revert a
senior hand for reasons not communicated to him and that instead of reverting
the junior- most among the candidates, a fresh” issue” was raised and a”
revised” finding arrived at just to provide subsequently for others.” I had also
stated that” If the present reversion is as a result of any adverse remarks that
may be found in the Confidential records, the same is not binding on me since it
was not communicated to me and an opportunity afforded to me to lead
evidence in rebuttal” The representation was made in consultation with AV
Narayanan(then Establishment Clerk Malabar Collect orate), who subsequently
became the Director, Kerala Civil Supply Corporation and with those meeting
at the Police Club, (near YMCA, Calicut.)and one Achyuthan Nair, a Senior
Revenue Officer. On receipt of this, I was served with a charge-memo by the
Deputy Commissioner(Coimbatore) to “show cause” why I shall not be reverted
as a Lower Divison Clerk, permanently, for the reason that “the representation
casts aspersions of bad judgment on a superior authority, who is at any day a
better judge to assess the work of his subordinate” I offered explanations
stating that” my representation only gave vent to my feelings and is not
intended to cause indiscipline or insubordination and if at all I have I have
done anything , I apologize and pray that I may be excused”
Mr. Achutan Nair to whom this charge memo was shown by me told me “In our
days representations were bristling with fire” and ridiculed the proceedings

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= Page Sixty Four =

After some days, I got another communication from the Dy Commissioner
requiring me to substantiate the points raised in the representation. I offered
proper explanations and clarifications and stated that there was no occasion for
any lapses on my part and that all the officers under whom I had worked had
stated that they were pleased with my work and encouraged. me, from which I
could reasonably understand that all of them must have written well of me. In
the meantime I was transferred to DCTO. Calicut I,) Office was at French
Bakery road, Beach Road) where L.Panackkal was the DCTO
andM.Padanabhan Nair was the Head Clerk. The CTO was one TN
PadmanabhanNair. I was staying in the office itself taking food from a Hotel at
Beach Road (Near the Municipal Office)

When my turn came in the (Revised Panel for UD Clerks) I was posted as
Head clerk, DCTO’s Office, Perinthalmanna(where DCTO was O Koru and
ACTO Abdhu Rehman) The house hold articles were left with TK Achuthan
Nair and my father, mother and wife were at Vadakkananthara where my sister
had shifted. I joined duty on 17.05.1954 at Perintalmanna.and was taking food
in a pay-in-hotel (Renga Iyer and wife alone). The clerks were Padmanabhan
Ezhuthassan Subramanian (from Angadipuram) M.Velukutty etc... Peon
Kunhahamed (Ex-military) from Mankada was also staying with me in the
office. It was a Govt building and there was no electricity. I was in overall
charge of the office management besides dealing with maintenance of cash
accounts etc. At that time Shankar Rao was the DC at Coimbatore and he had
his camp at Perinthalmanna Travellers’ Bungalow, where I went to see him. He
called me by his side and asked “You are the tree that I planted. How could you
make a representation like that?” I begged of him and reiterated that it was not
my intention to be insubordinate or undisciplined and once craved of him to
forgive me” He extended his walking stick towards me and asked “ Suppose I
beat you with this stick and later on say that I did not intend to beat you, will it
be sufficient ?”
The disciplinary proceedings proposed were dropped and I was let off with a
“censure”, because Shankar Rao had a soft corner for me and he personally had
knowledge about my work and conduct.
Later on my father came to Perintalmanna with my cycle and we occupied a
portion of the house of Thanga Periyammai(Wife of Late Rama Iyer Vakil) at
Puthur(Perintalmanna) My mother also followed when my father

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..

= Page Sixty Five =

returned to Vadakkanthara (Palakkad) to my sister. My sister was transferred to
several schools at Palakkad Municipality and she was working at Dr TM Nair
Memorial School at Vadakkanthara (The Head mistress was one Mrs Laben) I
had bid in public auction the right to pluck the usufructs from a Jack Tree at the
PWD Building occupied by the office for Rs.2/= which gave a harvest of about
one hundred jack fruits. My mother prepared “Chakka appalam” (Jack Fruit
Pappad) I took a large quantity and consequently I had “Jaundice” attack for
which the “Needle Therapy” (recommended even by Allopathic Doctors also)
was got done by one Chelli Pattai (two iron needles are rotated round the head
touching the sides of the forehead and dipping it into water placed in vessel and
chanting certain “Mantras” when the water in the dish turned yellow. My
father gave Kizharnelli (a medicinal plant) with cow’s milk which had a
medicinal cure
I told my father that I had taken an advance of Rs.50/=from Provident
Fund and that we should go to Combatore again and get the right eye operated
for cataract, which he did not object. to, We went to Dr Pitchai Roberts again
who asked my father” Mr Iyer This time you have not come to return?’ My
father submitted for the surgery and the bandage was removed after two days
for dressing and then alone he could see my face after twenty-seven years I was
with him at the Hospital (Coimbatore) & got food from nearby Udupi Hotel.
When my father got the vision (one sixth) after the surgery he went to the
Doctor’s mother staying in the Hospital compound and told her” Madam, You
are indeed blessed to have given birth to one like your son”
My sister had shifted to another house at Vadakkanthara from where
she shifted to Old Kalpathy (Suri Vadhyar’s house) where my wife was staying
with my sister. My wife was not keeping well and of poor health Her father
came and took her to Coyalmannam for treatment etc. and he returned to
Trichy... I was separated from my wife for about a period of about twenty
months.
In the meantime TMK Rayarappan Nambiar succeeded as DCTO and
U kutty Narayana Menon as ACTO at Perintalmanna. When I was working
there, I was suddenly transferred as Head clerk Commercial Taxes Office,
Cannanore (the DCTO was one MK Kumaran Nair and ACTO P.Rama
Variyar.) At Cannanore I was staying in office and taking food from a Hotel
near Thunoli Lane

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= Sixty Six =
On 0.11.1956 Kerala State was formed as per States Reorganization Act...
Mr P.K.Abdulla, Deputy Commissioner (Trivandum) with State wide
jurisdiction came in camp at Cannanore. I requested of him for a transfer to
South Malabar. I was posted as Head Clerk DCTO’s Office, Palghat (Rural),
Vadakkanthara, Palakkad. The office was housed in a haunted building My
father had taken a rented building at Vadakkanthara (behind PSV Hall) called
Kuttan Pillai’s house. where we were staying separately from my sister. I and
Padmanabhan Ezhuthassan (who was with me at Perintalmanna was transferred
to my office at Plakkad went to Coyalmannam and took my wife back to this
rented house I was then transferred as Head Clerk DCTO Office Alathur in July
1957 and thereafter posted as Agricultural Incometax Inspector at Alathur
(Perinkolom Village) where one N Ramakrishna Iyer from Sucheendram was
the AITO). I took up a house for rent at Rs.5/=P.M at Thekke Graman,
Perinkolom near P.R.Swami Iyer’s (Advocate) house (Swami Iyer had won a
heated case with Poomulli Mana His father was Ramaswami Iyer a noted
lawyer. Swami Iyer had been to Russia and used to narrate his Russian
experiences (He had an elephant, which acted in the famous Film “Sere Valli”
There was a beautiful Krishnswami Temple. at Thekke Gramam. My first
daughter (Usha) had the first feeding(Chor Oonu) at Guruvayur along that of
Krishnamurthy’s child (Swami Iyer’s cook Gopala Iyer’s son) My neighbor
was Advocate V.Viswanatha Iyer’s old mother staying alone.(Viswanatha Iyer’s
daughter by his first wife was married by L.K.Bara Ratnam’s brother
Padmabhan at Kolkotta(now no more) I had to do survey work in enlisting
cases for assessment to Agrl.Incoemtax which Act was extended to Kerala after
State formation,(The Madras Agrl.Incometax Act was in force at Malabar area
limited to Plantations only) and the Asst Commissioner was Achuthan Nair, a
very good administrator who was married at Tharavath House,
Peringottukurissi-Palakkad)well known to me .I used to go round mostly in
bicycle in Alathur and Coyalmannam Firkas and get cases enlisted contacting
the Village Officers and conducting enquiries etc etc. After some time, the post
was converted as “Junior Agrl.incometax Officer” with powers of assessment
up to certain income limit. The Office was shifted to a new building owned by
MN Venkitasubramania Iyer, “Melarcode Bank”at Bank Road when there were
two Junior AITOs The other was PI Karunakara Menon. from Kadalundi
(Malappuram district). Ramakrishna Iyer was a good officer and he was staying
with family at Western Village, Perinkolom Mohammed was the Sales Tax
Officer at Alathur then.

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= Sixty Seven =
There were “targets” for collection and assessments which were invariably
achieved by me during the tenure of the posts. There was an occasion for Gana
Gandharvan Chembai Vydynatha Bhagavathar to appear before me in
connection with his assessment to Agrl. Income Tax. I rose up from my seat in
respect. with folded arms He had to get an annual rent of about 12000 paras of
paddy from Kuthanur (Tenant was none Sundaram Nair) who would not pay
him any single Naya Paise. Chembai said “Sundaran Uruppaduvana’ MN
Venkitasubramania Iyer (Advocate) also accompanied him. and I was
introduced to Chembai as Kesava Iyer’s grand-son. Chembai patted on my
back and said “Ha Ha” I accepted his case and assessed the tenant. to tax on the
income representing unpaid rent. The Great Man’s curse worked and the tenant
had a pitiable end. MN Ramaswami Iyer is MNV’s brother, and he sponsored
the commentary on Sundara Kandam (Ramayana) by G.S.Srinivasa Iyer. Most
of the client’s cases were represented by Advocates of reputed standing and I
had the benefit of getting adequate knowledge about the prevailing laws of the
land. We shifted to another house at Kariot Gramam (near Mahalaxmi Temple)
owned by Seetharama Iyer for a rent of Rs.10/=P.M, where there was abundant
space besides yield from coconut palms. opposite to PV Ramamurthy, Advocate
My mother had eye problems and used to take eye-drops as recommended by Dr
Nambissan (Palakkad) A.Chamutty Nair was supplying provisions and the
living was cheap at Perinkolam C.P.Raman Pillai succeeded Mr Ramakrishna
Iyer and we were conducting joint plot-inspections etc. My son Sundareswaran
was born now. I was transferred as Junior AITO Palakkad where the AITO was
PI Gopalan Nambiar, a very good officer and a gentleman. The Office was at
College Road, Palakkad. Most of the leading lawyers used to represent their
clients in Agrl.Income Tax matters. O.Rajagopalan (Now BJP) who was a
practicing lawyer then argued a case before me that “Vanniya”Chrisitians of
Chittur who hailed from Tamil Nadu are governed by Hindu Mitakshara Law
and they carry their “personal” law with them in the matter of succession,
inheritance etc He quoted the authority in a judgment rendered by Justice Mr
CA Vydyalingam. His argument appealed to me and I allowed his case
assigning the status as “Hindu Undivided Family” I and .Gopalan Nambiar used
to go for tours jointly and the working of the office was smooth.

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=Page Sixty Eight =

U.Kuttynarayna Menon succeeded PIG Nambiar. At that time M.Mohmmed
Ibrahim, Deputy Commissioner came up for office inspection and for the review
of work. He was commenting upon the performance of the officers in
assessment and collection work. I presented him statistics to show my additional
out turn of work and the credit of having brought to books new cases involving
a revenue of about one lakh rupees. He was satisfied with my work and awarded
me a “Good Service Entry” to go to my confidential records .On an earlier
occasion also M Govindakutty Nair had awarded me a “red entry” in
appreciation of good work .My sister had shifted to Chathapuram by then. We
stayed at my sister’s house at Chathapuram. My second son Adinarayanan
(Arun) was born then; He had some reddish color all over the body and was
always crying. He was hospitalized at Coyalmannam Primary Health Centre
when Dr PK Kumaran was the Civil Surgeon. He was taken to an ancient Nair
Tara wad near Olavakkode (Allath House) where some native treatment with oil
made of rare medicinal plants were administrated. I took my mother to
Coimbatore to Dr Pichai Roberts for eye treatment and one Motta pillai
(Chettiar Women) was left there to look after my mother. Surgery was done. I
was transferred to Ponnani as Junior A.I.T.O where I joined and considering
my circumstances, the DC was pleased to transfer me as Inspector, Sales Tax
check Post, Govindpuram(Pollachi Border) I asked my friend KP Unnikrihna
Poduval to attend my “duty”period also and I was going to Coimbatore to the
Hospital. and back, attend a day’s duty and return to Palakkad and was carrying
on like this for some days. Ultimately the Doctor gave no hope of regaining eye-
sight and my mother was taken back. I took my mother to Calicut where the
noted eye-specialist Dr MC Modi was camping there. He examined my mother
and gave me two cards both marked “X” which indicated that there is no
prospects of regaining sight either by Medicine or Surgery. On return my
mother was left at the Calicut Railway station platform and I had got into the
train. The train was about to move There was heavy rush. I strongly bit the arm
of a passenger standing at the gate who blocked the passage... I pulled the chain
and got my mother back in to the compartment safely.
 I and NS Harihara Iyer (Advocate) President of the Merchants” Chamber,
Palakkad along with KP Raman, (Rice Miller, Palltherei) Mohammed Hussein
and another went on a tour to attend the Satabhihekam of Mannath
Padmanabhan (NSS leader) (Perunna, Changanasseri) with whom Harihara Iyer
had a chat and then to Cape Comorin for sight-seeing Gandhi Mantapam,
Vivekananda Rock and Darshan at the famous Devi temple.

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= Sixty Nine =
Harihara Iyer described “Cape comorin”as a place where the heavens
meet Earth (both sun-rise and sunset are beautiful sceneries here) On return we
went to Nagercoil, Sucheendram (in Tamil Nadu after States Reorganization)
We stayed at the MLA Quarters, Trivandrum and went to Sri
Padmanabhaswami Temple. Museum etc. We returned via Ambalapuzha
(Krishnan) noted for “Ambalapuzha Pal Payasam” (The daily Prasad was taken
after Uccha Pooja (midday offering to the Diety) to the then Maharajas of
Travancore) We returned after visiting several other historical monuments.
I was transferred as Junior AITO II Chittur, when the Alathur AITO’s
Office was abolished and tagged on with AITO. Chittur. The Jr AITOI was
Balakrishna Menon) (Now no more) and the AITO was S.Charles Mandy
(Trichur) (now no more). I was in charge of Alathur Taluk files. After some
days I was promoted as Agrl.income Tax Officer. Palakkad in July 1963 .My
third son Mani (Hariharaputhran) was borne then (30.04.1963). I took charge
from TK Balakrishnan. I had the knowledge of the area and the files also and
the work was got done easily. I completed the quota of assessments and
achieved the targeted collections also. In the meantime, we had shifted our
residence to one “Motta Vadhyar’s house”near Viswanatha Temple (New
Kalpathy) and my sister and Dharmi werecontinuing at Chathapuram. Usha and
Suresh was school going (Appa Iyer’s School). At that time my sister was
working at Vettaikkorumakan Kave LP School. Generally annual transfers are
effected in the first quarter of the financial year. I was transferred to Ponnani as
Sales tax Officer, My father told me not to cancel the transfer as it was his
desire to have his end in Ponnani soil where both his father’s and mother’s
mortal remains found the final abode at the Kuttikkattu Kadav(Burial Ground)
(Banks of Nila (Bharathapuzha) River
I took a house at Ponnani for rent ar Rs.30/=PM next to Dr P
Achyutha Menon and close to AV High School (where I studied) My office.
was close by. Though the place is not new to me, I had not “practical”
experience in “field-work” thoroughly. Luckily I had got C.Vasudevan Nair as
my Inspector, a very honest and well behaved person of whom I have
mentioned earlier. to assist me. My predecessor had some allegations against
him and it is in those circumstances I was posted to this station. The
“Chalisseri” area of this Taluk (bordering Trichur District) was a trouble-some
spot giving much head-ache, since the team of tax-evaders were much more
powerful than the tax-gatherers A lot of things had to be done to prevent
evasion of sales tax by dis-honest traders who were dodging revenue by illicit
and novel methods.

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= Page Seventy=
The first and foremost thing I did was that I arranged a meeting with the
prominent dealers at Chalisseri(Betel Nuts) who had their markets at Bombay,
Cuttack, Delhi and other places in Orissa, Madhya Pradesh etc. I declared to
them “Everybody wants to exist and that I too. I shall be dutiful to the job
entrusted to me. In case you are bent upon defrauding the Revenue, I will be
constrained to resort to alternative methods to prevent the same by recourse to
coercive methods and if advised, a special Battalion of Malabar Special Police
will be got stationed around Chalisseri, so that no single betel nut is moved out
of Chalisseri. Kindly therefore cooperate with me” This had the desired effect.
There were indiscriminate grant of certificates of registration to
“bogus” dealers backed by the culprits behind the screen. I put a stop to this and
granted registration certificates only for those “deserving” cases after mature
“enquiries” about their antecedents, Solvency etc. I kept a vigil over the
Transport Agencies and also conducted frequent inspections of the places of
business. In one instance, an employee of a leading merchant, put into my
hands the materials and papers which indicated the “modus-operandi”in
employing evasive tact tics with the connivance of the Railway Out Agency(at
Kunnamkulam), the Manager, Ware Housing Corporataion ,the Managers of
Scheduled Banks etc. I had also contacts with the counter-part of the officials at
the stations outside the State, which proved effective. . There were also two or
three honest traders in the locality and taking them into my confidence I
succeeded in unearthing cases of evasions resorted by dis-honest traders. I had
also been keeping in touch with the Central income Tax Authorities I would
always be reiterating to the dealers that evasion of lawful tax by dis-honest
means or fraudulent shams deserves to be effectively checked, for successive
fraud on, and illegal evasion of, revenue must tend to increase “protanto”
the burden of tax on the shoulders of a great body of good and honest citizens,
who do not deserve to adopt such maneuvers”
G Gopinathan Nair (From Trivandum) was the Inspg Asst
Commr (Palakkad) who succeeded Abdhu Rehman. The Departmental Jeeps
were being allotted for survey/inspection work I would restrain the Banks from
discounting bills presented by those dealers, who are in arrears to pay sales tax
Above all, I was not subject to temptations and had my hands clean and free.
Yet, a dealer sent me a lawyer notice in my personal name through the then
Advocate Subramaian Potti (Retd as Kerala Chief Justice) claiming “damages”
of Rs, .2000’-for “malafide”in that in a permit issued by me for dispatch of
Betel Nuts by QMS, the destination was wrongly noted as “Calcutta” instead of
“Bombay”, which resulted delay in dispatch and he had to incur a loss due to
market fluctuations.

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 =Seventy one =
I took the notice to TK Ramaswami Iyer, a leading lawyer at Palakkad for
consultation who told me “You need not respond. to the notice. .Rest assured
that nothing will come out of that you have protection for acts done in “good
faith” and further Govt sanction is needed to proceed against you (Ramaswami
Iyer’s father I am told was staying at the Kutcherry Pura (Office Room) at
Ponnani House in Ponnani Appa’s times).
There was a “moral”change in the Betel Nuts merchants and they were
conceding higher tax liability than in the previous times... There was also a
Check Post functioning at the entrance to Chalisseri Town.

In one instance I found that a prominent coconut oil l miller at Ponnani was
indulging in large-scale suppressions I suspected the genuine of the transport
of one consignment of ten tins of coconut oil and one bag of oil cake taken in a
hand cart sold to a dealer at Malappuram Dt. and ordered detention of the
goods. I demanded the production of the carbon copy of the bill which was not
shown to me for verification and subjective satisfaction which further
strengenthened my suspicion. I seized the goods and gave the dealer an offer to
release the same on furnishing cash security subject to adjudication of the
matter later, to which the party was not agreeable. I therefore got the goods
unloaded and kept at my office and notified for sale in auction, the proceeds of
which will be sent to the dealer after adjusting the Penalty. (As a matter of fact
against ten tins of coconut oil for Rs.800/ shown in the invoice that
accompanied the transport what is reflected in the carbon copy is only one tin
for Rs.80/ PS Lakshminarayana Iyer, Advocate, Tirur nd represented the case
and I offered him the release the goods on the payment of security, to which his
client was not agreeable. The matter was taken up by the dealer at High Court
and was represented by VR Krishna Iyer, Advocate. then. Justice Mr MM
Mathew directed the release of the goods on the furnishing of the security
During the course of “Vehicle checks” also substantial cases of tax-
evasions were detected that was a time when free trade in rice was prohibited
and procurement were made only through Civil Supplies Dept. There were
illicit hulling of paddy going on a regular scale at the Rice Mills in Palakkad
District and the rice were moved to Calicut, Malappuram etc by veteran
smugglers like TV Mohammed of Tirur etc. I used to collect penalty on the
value of rice transported in the vehicles without proper documents.

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= Page Seventy Two =

ERRATA (last but one Para (second line) For “Mr.MM Mathew “Read’ as “Mr
KK Mathew”

One day when I was waiting at Edappal junction at 6 P.M after Vehicle
Check Programme with Motor Vehicles Dept arranged by higher-up, I stopped a
moving lorry loaded with goods and on interception the Driver showed me a
sale bill of one Ramalinga Iyer at Quilon for 80 bags of Maida and the goods
were intended to Calicut. I had instructions from higher authorities that “Maida”
is not “what products” and that “non-wheat products” shall be confiscated and
handed over to Civil Supplies Dept. In the meantime the Driver skulked away
with the keys of the lorry evidently to phone up to the owner about the incident.
He never returned and I was upset .since I had with me only a peon (Kumaran)
for assistance. Luckily Mr Panickker (Taluk Supply Officer, Ponnani) passed
by that way in the jeep. I stopped the jeep and entrusted the consignment and
the lorry to the TSO. with which my job was over. I had the moral obligation to
help Panickker. I got a Driver from Murugan Transports,Ponnani who started
the lorry(diesel)by attaching two wire ends to the starter and moved the lorry
to Ponnani(The lorry had no head light and the Jeep following the lorry
provided with head light). The lorry was handed over at the Police Station and
the Mahassar etc were prepared. and a charge sheet was laid at the Magistrate’s
Court at Pattambi (where V.Sivaswami, who was once Munsiff at Ponnani) was
the Magistrate. On enquiries made both the seller’s and buyer’s names were
found bogus The Head Constable told me later that there were only 70 bags of
Maida in the lorry on actual counting. I instructed him to amend the Mahassar
stating the real state of affairs The lorry owner used to come to the lorry and put
it on Jacky so that the vehicle is not got damaged due to the heavy load of
weight. Since the matter had already left my hands I did not bother about the
result of the prosecution as the charge was laid by the Taluk Supply Officer
Due to effective survey and frequent inspections and minute scrutiny into the
books of accounts produced for verification by the dealers and cross-
verifications made, adequate data could be gathered for making proper
assessments which would stand the test of appeals and I was satisfied that I had
done full justice to my bob here at Ponnani and the targeted collections were
exceeded by a good margin in all the years I was in charge of the post.

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= Seventy Three =
A dealer one day approached my father at my house in my absence and shed
tears before him and also told him that he will commit suicide in front of the
house on account of the fact that he would be put to starvation if the restraint to
the Bank is not lifted. I also felt his as a genuine case. I permitted him to
discount only the pending bill subject to the condition that the dues to Govt shall
be paid up from the amounts drawn or otherwise I will restore the restraint. He
kept up his word. There was a party at Chalisseri who claiming to
accommodate another innocent person (not belonging to Chalisseri ) booked
“Palm nuts” (cost of which was very much less) and obtained certificates from
Ware Housing Corporation as for “Betel Nuts” (fetching higher rates) which
was got discounted at the Bank, misappropriating the differential price for
himself. . . The Delhi party to whom the goods were dispatched found Palm-
nuts instead of Betel Nuts The Delhi Police came over to Chalisseri and arrested
the innocent man when the real culprit was in the hiding The dealers had several
tactics to evade payment of legitimate tax and would resort to’ under valuation
of prices” and getting the differential value in cash carrying the Bills of
lading/Railway receipts to outside state buyer by flight. I detected a typical case
upon information furnished to me by one of the rival-party of the particular
dealer. I was appraising the Inometax department also (One Mr. Thiagarjan
was the ITO at Palakkad) about the evasive tactics resorted to by the dealers and
also exchanging information on reciprocal basis. At Ponnani I could execute my
job without fear or favor, since it was the President’s rule. (I believe the
Administrator was either Mr Prasad ICS or NES Rghavachari) Mr Prasad was
the District Collector at Calicut and when a political party approached him with
some unfair demand he is stated to have said: “Prasad is a Collector and will be
a Collector but Politicians come and go”
K.Sekhara Variyar, my beloved Head Master of A.V.High School,
Ponnani came to my house and hugged me and tears came from out of his eyes
in seeing me the position of which he ought be proud of. There was also another
student and my schoolmate (E.K.Imbichi Bava, the Leader SFI) who became
the Transport Minister later. of whom Sekhara Variar was proud of and had
arranged a reception. for him.
Kunhu Bava was one of my peons (who is the nephew of Ponnani
Appa’s horse-cart-driver Pareekutty. Kunhubava had brotherly connection and
love for me and he took the advantage of also guiding me whenever I used to
take some decisions on official matters with over- enthusiasm and in undue
haste. My Head Clerk was Hassainar, as was my class-mate, a very well-
behaved, soft speaking, honest and sincere, The Clerks PP Meenakshi and TV
Kamala shy were doing good work and of great assistance to me.

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= Seventy Four =
The Moplas (Muslims) of Ponnani are very good. The old generations were “
Patinharakath, , Rayinmarakkarakath, Konganam veettil, Palathumveettil etc.
the word “Akath is said to represents Namboodiri families converted to Islaam
and “Veettil”represents Nair families converted into Islaam They were very
religious and the Mosque-head was Thangal

One Suppu. an old lady daughter of one Ramanathan (Ekadasi Patter)whose

existence was on charity , used to go to all Brahmin houses and do some
service or other and had no sources of income. She wanted “widow Pension”
My father told me “Appai, She has only “negative”answer in reply to all the
querries posed in the form of application for “Widow Pension Application”
(Have you a house? Have you a husband/son? Have you any means of
livelihood? The answer was only “No”) She wanted me to recommend her case
the Tahsildar for Pension. The Tahsildar was one Balachandran, a friend of
mine. I get her the “Pension” sanctioned by God’s Grace of which my father
was happy.

My father would take the assistance of a small boy in the neighborhood house
(Sridhar) and would go out with his walking stick to Thrikkave etc and I once
asked my father “Your going through the road like this is not befitting to my
status” to which I got the proper reply from him “What status have you than that
I have at Ponnani, my place?. I had no answer.

I sent my wife for delivery in the Fiat Car of Aboobackker s/o Kutty
Hassankutty, the Petrol dealer, who was my grandfather’s client and
family friend. (Even though the Dr Achuyta Menon who examined my wife
said that it will take another one and half weeks for delivery, my wife gave
birth to my fourth son Gopalakrishnan within twenty-four hours of time.
One Chinnammu was helping us in household work, cooking, washing etc. One
Appukuttan (an acute asthmatic patient) was my peon. He was staying in a
small thatched house with his wife close by. The neighbourAppu, Sukumaran
etc were of great help to my mother. CS Narayana Iyer was supplying
provisions. The Old guzerathi friends Maoji, Maharaaj etc used to come to my
house. I used to go to Uppappa’s house at Trikkave Ponnanna was away at
Sathyamangalam and he used to come at times to Ponnani. Uppappa had not got
much of practice and his clerk Appukuttan (son of Pangu, Ponnani Appa’s
laborer) reached high position

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= Seventy Five =
At Ponnani Bazaar one Abdurhiman (Palani) of Kuppuswamy Velar and
Co(now no more) , VM Kunhibava ( who rose up high from a low position)
and PC Raman Menon (an oil Miller and formerly cook of one Tappulal Sait)
who were honest in their business dealings had high regard of me, and their
acquaintance helped me a lot in unearthing evasive tactics employed by other
dealers. A raid was arranged at one Bismi Abdulla’s business premises by the
Intelligence Squad which produced excellent results.

My daughter, first and second sons were school- going(A.V. Lower

Primary School) and they were given home-tuitions also by a teacher(Pavada
Teacher) There was another servant-girl ( by name Sulochana) employed to
look after the children. There was one Verghese Master in the neighbor hood
and his family was of great help to us.

My father sitting on the easy-chair in the verandah used to tell to

himelf”rice”,”Watch” and so on, desiring that there must be plenty of rice
stock and a watch to read the time. (My second son used to ask the neigh bour
Varghese’s wife “What is the time Mami? Is it time for food? I got a Clock
from MM Abubackker (Gulf returned) Punnayurkulam which still works but
‘TIME’has usurped me of my son. One C.T.Kochappu was supplying
provisions and ration articles by Varadappan.

During that time I had an Election Duty as Presiding Officer at Trikkave

Girl’s school and I got all the members of my office staff posted together An
old story comes to my mind. At this school Kitcha Chittappa, Ramu Chittappa
and Vakil’s Clerk Ekku used to stage “Dramas” at night and would skulk away
without Ponnani Appa’s notice, spreading bed sheets over pillows to appear that
they are sleeping and one day Ponnani Appa noticed this tact and proceeded
straight to the Girl’s School when Ekku was found beating his breast acting as
Kalakandhan saying “ Appa, Suppa, Pochuthe, Panam, Pochuthe”meaning that
the price paid to Chandramathi consort of Harischandra for the boy Lohitaksha
to do slavery work for him died of snake-bite in the forest when gone to fetch
Dharbha(sacred grass used for rituals) At the sight of Ponnani Appa, they took
to their heels and Ponnani Appa is sated to have told them “ Karimbu Pole
Thokkathe Vittu, Korango Pole Thokkam Muzhikkarayalayeta”“(Why should
you forego sleep which is like sugar cane and keep awake like a monkey) The
Polling went off well

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= Seventy six =
My father’s health condition was becoming bad. He had stomach
problems to start with and was not taking any Allopathic medicines but would
take Ayurvedic preparations of his own. The Doctor was close by (in
the next compound) The Doctor prescribed some liquid to be applied with
cotton for removing the matter (congestion) in his throat. My father asked my
son to read out the printed matter pasted to the bottle and it contained “Poison-
Not to be taken without prescription by a Physician) He would not take the
medicines but would take other ayurvedic preparations only. When at his bead,
he would keenly follow the prosecution proceedings of Father Benedict who
was charged in the “Mariyakutty Murder Case (My son used to read out the
Malayalam News Paper for him)”. After some time, he was not in a position to
stand by himself and needed support and had the calls of Nature. answered at
the bed-side itself... My sister and Dharmi had come down from Palakkad. (My
wife had gone home for delivery I was attending on my father. One day, he told
me “Appai, if anything were to happen to me, do not waste anything here on my
account since that you have not got the adequate resources. You shall go to
Perur and perform the post-rites and then only my Atman will accept it from
you”

On that day (03.12.1966) my sister had prepared morning food and the
children took food and were to go to school The vegetable vendor had brought
“Cucumber” (an ill-omen) at the verandah. At 9.30 A.M in the morning my
father breathed his last and left me once for all. The first person to come was
PN Ganapathy Iyer, Vakil and the entire compound was full with mourners and
paying respects to my father’s mortal body. Mani (Ramaswami (AR Easwara
Iyer & Sons) had already made the arrangements at the Cremation Ground, and
for the Priest etc. Uppappa and, Bhagirathy Chittammai had come The body
was carried by (1) Ram swami (2) Periyappu Ramakrishnan (3) CS Narayana
Iyer and (4) Ambhi Vadhayar’s ( I have given the gold coin to my eldest
son)son Rasamani to the Cremation Ground (Kuttikkattu Kadavu, (to be with
my grandfather and grand mother. that my father had longed for) and the body
was burnt to ashes in the midst of a huge gathering of friends and well-wishers
leaving me alone to mourn over the irreparable loss throughout. I had placed a
four annas silver coin in the palm of my father’s right hand as called “Sri” and
Providence sent me through one Varadunni (a jeweler) a gold coin worth
quarter of a sovereign, which I kept along with the four anna’s silver coin

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= Page Seventy Seven =

Kitcha Chittappa came from Manjeri and said weeping“one coconut has fallen
out from the bunch and others are to quickly follow. There was a flow of both
men and women of all castes and creeds to pay condolences. My father had
known that my wife is sent for delivery and when I asked him what name is to
be given for the child he said “Call him Parameswra” but actually a girl was
born, who I named as Uma Parameswari I and my sister proceeded to Perur for
“Asthi Sanjayanam” at the sacred river at Perur (Coimbatore) (Pachanayagi
Amman Koil) where it is said that Sankaracharya immersed the mortal remains
of His mother, which turned into stones. The rituals were performed according
to the Sastra. and we returned to Ponnani. At that time, there was a strike by
Govt Officers and I was posted on special duty at the Walayar check Post for a
few days along with K Balakrishna kidavu (Sales Tax Officer, Palakkad). The
“Masyam Sotha Kumbhom” etc were got done by me at Chathapuram at my
sister’s house during that period. My last girl was born on 07.12.1966 and was
brought to my sister’s house. and at first I would not turn to that child for she
was born when I lost my father. My co-worker Vijayamma from Trivandum
told me “It is a sin, if you dislike the innocent baby, as your father had his
natural end “...
At that time I had some itches over my body probably due to some food-
poisoning done by some against me and I went to Mantrhavadi. (Uthamam)
Madhvan Nair of Naripparambu (My father’s friend) and I introduced to him
myself as son of Sundareaswaran. He pointed out to me a chair and said that
chair was presented to him by my father him by my father and gave me a
Gulika(capsule)made by chanting Neelakanta Maha Mantra Japa to be taken in
empty stomach folded in Bilwa Leaf for fourteen days This had the miraculous
effect and I was completely free
I resumed to routine work and wanted a transfer for which I approached the
Secretary (Taxes) Trivandum Mr. Rodriguez, when he asked me “Are you
afraid of Christian merchants at Chalisseri?” I encountered to him of my
position... PS Padmanabhan was the Member, Board of Revenue. I was given a
transfer to Palakkad as Sales Tax officer, Special Circle II, Palakkad having
charge of over two hundred and odd rice mills and also some regular assessment
cases in Palakkad Town (which were left undone by my predecessor Sobhanam
I, my mother, wife and children stayed at my sister’s house at Chathapuram for
some time and shifted to Old Kalpathy (Bhramahathi Appu Iyer’s house) The
children were admitted to

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 = Seventy Eight=
Schools My IAC was EC Jacob (Trichur) Brother of EJ Kuriyakku of whom I
had mentioned earlier) That was a time where free market trade in rice was
prohibited by law but yet (as CR Bhima RaoAdvocate from Chittur pointed out
“Kesava Iyer will grind rice without paddy”) I was making assessment on the
Millers (who had clandestine dealings) on the basis of “Electrical Energy”
consumption etc. A substantial amount was got collected and the Millers never
grudged to pay the amounts I was able to detect cases of maintenance of
duplicate set of accounts by a Ground nut Oil millers at Kozhinhmpara and a
Tile Factory at Olavakkode. (The Tile Factory owner, a Rotarian brought to his
books the outputs only from Thirty kilns against forty kilns regularly worked by
him) I had to withstand threats when persuasions failed

The Ground Nut oil Millers at Kozhinhampara was resorting to evasion of

tax on a large scale and I had been keeping a vigil over their business dealings,
by frequent inspections etc. There was an “anonymous” petition sent against
me and EC Jacob IAC told me about this. I wanted him to show me the letter,
when I could easily find out the “sender” from the handwriting.
Mr Jacob wanted to examine all the files in connection with the”
enquiry”. All the files were thrown open for verification, since I am sure that
my hands are clean. Hyder Ali Khan Dy Commr to whom the letter was
addressed told me “There is a report that you are corrupt,”Tears came out of
my eyes and I told him “Could you show me the letter. I want you to withdraw
your observation.” Then the DC and IAC went to the Rest House, where one PA
Krishna Iyer (STO) was waiting outside the room. Krishna Iyer told me “I
heard DC and the IAC talking that Kesavan is a good officer and that he will not
stoop to such unfair means. Do not worry. I then went to the Rest House and
told Mr Khan that I have some character and that I am really wounded by his
unwarranted observation. Mr Khan suddenly charged mood and his way of
approach and told me “It is no intended to-do you any harm. Don’t be upset.
Carry on with your work”

I could understand the sender of the anonymous petition and told the
particular Miller (an illiterate Chettiyar) that he will be duped one day or the
other by his clerk, who did the mischief That happened. The clerk left the
service dwindling large sums of money. and that Chettiyar who met me some
time later told me that what I had said some time back about his clerk came true.
“Satyameva Jayathe”

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= Seventy Nine =
Ponnani Amma who was staying with Ramu Chittappa at Tirur was taken
to Ponnani to Uppappa’s house when she fell sick and my father who was with
me at Calicut rushed up to Ponnani, as required by Ponnani Amma “Get my
Kutti, He must be with me at the last days.” My father would nurse Ponnani
Amma very well as a dutiful son and he had got her blessings. Ponnani Amma
passed away from Ponnani (Uppappa’s house)

I failed to mention about one V. Krishnanunni (Chittur) Sales Tax

Inspector who was deputed to assist me. He was a good worker and we were
moving together on tours and for inspection etc. We also used to go to
Guruvayur quite often. At the time of my leaving Ponnani, Chakkanath
Govindan Nair, an old man running an Oil Mills at Edappal (his son EC Raman
Nair-now no more was my class mate) wanted me to meet him. Out of my
regard for him I went to him when he talked very high about my grand-father
and that he said that he was very much pleased to meet me, apart from official
capacity. I was indeed delighted. My respect and regards are there for KC
Ittooppunni (a Priest turned ethist) and Mehaboob of Dada Haji Ebrahim Halari
for their cooperation extended to me in the discharge of my official duties. at
Ponnani.with particular reference to tackling of Chalisseri Betel Nut Merchants.
From the post of the Sales Tax Officer, Special Circle, Palakkad, II I was
transferred as Addl.Agrl.Incometax Officer, Chittur and put in charge of Alathur
Taluk, the principal Officer was MP Kamalmma. . The area and files were
known to me well since I was working as Junior AITO previously at Alathur. I
could complete my quota of assessments etc easily. Except for some plantations
at Vadakkancherry, the main crop was paddy. My family was at Old Kalpathy,
Palakkad and I used to go to Chittur daily by bus. After some time, MP
Kamalamma was transferred and I was posted in her place. and K.Samaraj was
the Addl AITO. taking my place. I was in charge of Chittur Taluk files The
area was very vast. Most of the cases were represented by Advocates. Shri
C.R.Bhima Rao the veteran Advocate from Thekke Gramam, Chittur (Mani
Athai son Kesavan’s neighbor) had good work and was thorough with the
subject. I had the benefit of studying a lot from him about the principles of
Hindu Law, and all laws of the land in general. CR Sivaramakrishna Iyer (son
in law of Late Justice CV Ananth kishnaIyer of Threkke Gramam had also good
practice. V Sukumaran, Sree Rama Kishnan, Narayanaswami ,Achuthm Nair
Etc Etc were the other Advocates entering appearances in office representing
clients. M Velukutty and N Sivaraman were the other AITOs.
Rasa (Mani Athai’s son) who had an electric shock of very high voltage
while working as Elec Engineer(S, Rly) at Thiruvarur and had a narrow escape
from the jaws of death used to come and meet my mother (Andamami)

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= Page Eighty =

And his wife Rajamanni also used to come to see my mother. When he found
me beating my son for his mischievousness, he would tell me “Ammanji, Do not
beat him .Germans would say that a boy’s intelligence is determined by the
number of wound scars on his body. See how many wound scars are there on
his body.”
 Velayudhankutty Menon (TR Kalliyakrishna’s tenant) who was running an
Elec shop at Palakkkad was an agent of Kerala State Financial Corporation at
Palakkad. He enlisted me for one of the “chits”and I made the initial payment of
Rs.100/=. In the first draw the amount of Rs.6000/=fell to my lot and I had the
idea to purchase an old house in the village. There was one house at Tarakkad
extending to 13 cents owned by a Wynaad Coffee Planter Ramakrishnan and I
agreed to buy it for a consideration of Rs.13,000/=(that was the house where
the then Kerala Governor V.Viswanathan (who traced the lost hairs of Prophet
Muhammed Nabi) had his early days. I got a loan of Rs 5000/ from K,
N.Ramachandran, Chathapuram s/o Late K.S.Narayana Iyer, Advocate,
Nadapuram C.R.Siva Ramakrishna Iyer whom I approached for a hand-loan
asked me “How much do you want” I replied that Rs.3000/=may be given
against a Promissory Note. He brought the note bundle immediately and said
that he does not regard a promissory note more powerful than the words of
mouth. The house was purchased and registration completed. The house was
dilapidated and some essential repairs were undertaken and made fit for
occupation

Uppappa one day came from Ponnani to Old Kalpathy with disturbed
stomach and loose motion due to excessive intake of Jack Fruit and its allied
preparations from Ponnani Mani’s (Ramaswami) (Easwara Iyer Sons) and
stayed with me that day. He was telling me that hi practice at Ponnani was not
encouraging and wanted to shift over to Palakkad. His health condition had
gone bad. Uppappa subsequently sold the Ponnani house to Koladi
Govindankutty and left for Satyamngalam to be with his son Periyammanji
Kesavan.

I went to Trivandrum along with one friend C.Boothalinga Acahri to find

out my position in the “select list” for promotion as “Asst Commissioner”in the
meeting held by the Departmental Promotion Committee. I reliably learnt that
my name was included and its final shape was to be released shortly.
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= Page Eighty one =

At Chittur, when I was working as Agricultural Income tax Officer,

there was extensive area comprised of plantations at Nelliyampathy(Coffee,
cardamom etc)owned by Thomas Koshy(Brookeland Estates) ,Thampy
Mathew(Rajakkad Estates) ,VC Abraham(Alexandria Estate), MM
George(Govindamalai Estates), Shernelli Estates(AH Subramania Iyer),
Karapparai Estates ,Palakapandy Estates, MV Dominic etc . I used to visit these
Estates who were contributing a major part to the State Exchequer and they kept
proper books of accounts and in the matter of assessments the main job was to
scrutinize the claim for deductions not permitted by law. and its disallowance
wherever called for In some Estates cardamom oil was extracted and exported.
The other sources of income were from Groundnut, Sugar cane, and
miscellaneous dry crops mostly done by Gounders of the locality.
 M Velukutty a co-officer known to me from 1954 onwards (belonging
to Marath House, Kozhalmannam, and wife-house (first) of MGR) was a very
honest Officer and was devoted to work throughout. We had mutual regard. He
was having good Sanskrit knowledge. He retired as Member, Sales Tax
Appellate Tribunal, and Palakkad and had not the fortune to lead a happy retired
life. May his Soul rest in peace?
K Samaraj, another co-officer who accompanied me for a plot inspection
of one Madhavi Amma w/o PR Nambiar(Guruvayur- my father’s old friend( a
fleet owner)lost his wife on that day and we rushed back to Nenmara(his
residence).
My immediate superior was T.K.Bhagavaldass IAC (Special)Trichur
succeeded by U Kutty Narayana Menon There were matters with the High
Court and Mr KS Paripoornam was the Govt Pleader who wanted me to meet
him in a particular case to swear a personal affidavit., where the contention was
that there was violation of principles of “Natural justice” in that the basis of the
assessment was not communicated That is the first time I met Mr KS
Paripoornan, who retired as Judge of the Supreme Court of India. On going
through the records, I pointed out that the proposals indicated that the
assessment will be made on the basis of the assessment for the previous year
and he rightly accepted my case that the assessee had the full knowledge of his
assessment for the previous year, which is a sufficient compliance with law
Mr KS Paripoornan was a great asset to the Govt in the protection of Revenue
legally due and he has to his credit numerous cases won by him in matters
coming up before the High Court.

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= Page Eighty Two =

The members of the staff were Balakrishna Menon and Joseph (Jr AITOs)
(who were transferred along with MP Kamalamma on 31..08..1971) TV
Kamalakshy (Superintendant) Nazim, Cherian, Sreedharan Nair Padmanbha
Pillai, Subbayyan, Thampi, Ravindran (clerks) and the peons were Gopala
Tharakan and Kumaraswamy. The members of staff were very much attached to
their work and did their job well. (I had been to Kamalamma’s house (Attingal,
Trivandum) enroute to Trivandrum to attend a Conference. and her husband
was one Panickker, Station Master, KSRTC. I bought a cow from Swamiyappa
Gounder (then village officer and a Mill owner). and brought it to Tarakkad... It
was at that time that my colleague Muhammad (then Appellate
AsstCommissiner, Palakkad) lost his eldest son in a vehicle accident at
Kalmantapam run over by a lorry and on hearing the news I rushed to him. It
was a very pitiable sight He told me “He (Allah) gave and He (Allah) took back
his property” I would remember the happy days I had with Muhammed at
Alathur(when he was Sales Tax Officer then and I was the Junior AITO) and he
was transferred on 20..04..1960

There was a farewell party for KA Krishnan, Secretary (Taxes) Board of

Revenue, Trivandrum on his retirement arranged at Bharat Tourist Home,
Ernakulam. N. Mahalingam, (Hon Ambassador for Malaysia and the Director of
Bhagavathy Cotton Mills, Chittur gave us his private car and Driver (Mani)
We all went to Ernakulam and reached just at the concluding time, where
Krishnan gave a lecture in thanks-giving “When once I was hospitalized, I got
an anonymous letter from one of the aggrieved subordinates stating that I am a
Nirgunan(without attributes capable of doing neither good nor evil” He
elaborated and said “No one can claim that I have done such and such a good
to another. for what good is done is one to which the other is lawfully entitled
to get or otherwise what is done will be one done out-of-way, which is
prohibited. So therefore, doing no harm to others will alone be doing good
(’Punya and Papa)”

There was the brutal Moongamada murder case by one Kanthaswamy

Gounder of a girl’s uncle tied up to a tree and when drinking water was
demanded by him, Petrol was poured into his mouth got opened by force and lit
by matches ,since the victim was not amenable to a sex-scandal of his niece.
The Sessions Judge, Palakkad (PS Kesavan Namboodiri) found the accused
guilty and inflicted “life imprisonment”. This Gounden had a pitiable end.

I completed the quota assessments and achieved the targeted collection

during the period of my tenure at Chittur.

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= Page Eighty Three =

CR Bhima Rao used to tell me “the more I learn then I learn what little I
have learnt” and his oft-quoted replies to proposition notices sent to his clients
are like: - “You are penny wise and pound foolish. To accept your arguments
would be to put the glass on the blind eye” He was also telling me “ We are
wasting our lungs before you and you do not seem take decisions in favor of
clients” I would answer him “I am following you but it does not mean that I
have accepted your cases fully. You may note that you will face a generation
who would not bother to hear you at all” He had great liking for me When I
had occasion to meet him later, he told me that what I had said was true.(He
was NR Subramanian’s(,Vakil)(Adi Narayana Iyer’s grandson)law-college
mate.
I was promoted and posted as Assistant Commissioner of Sales tax
(Assessment) Special circle, Ernakulam I joined the new post in 1974 and had
taken my eldest son Sundareswaran also along with me. The place was new to
me and for the first two days I stayed in a lodge (Madras Hotel) and then at
Maruthi Hotel One Sridhara Kamath and Govinda Kamath of Hindustan Steels,
Ernakulam fixed me an accommodation at “Kirthi Mahal”lodge (Room No
48)owned by their brother Nanda Kamath on a monthly rent of Rs.75/= I and
my son stayed in the lodge and I put my son at the Miltons” college(a private
institution)since I could not find a seat for him in regular Colleges. My eldest
daughter after passing SSLC at Moyan Girls” high School was studying at
Mercy College, Palakkad from where she passed the Pre-degree Class. The
other children were studying at Pundit Motilal High School. My last daughter
was studying at the Primary School adjacent to Music Academy. Palakkad (She
was regularly meeting Mani Athai who was staying with her son MR Kesavan
in the same village and would return home with some edibles given to her by
Mani Athai). I used to come to Palakkad once in a week and once when I had
come to Palakkad my son had a fall from the stair case and had a fracture. One
Prabhu was running a small hotel in front of Kirthi Mahal Lodge. Prabhu and
his wife attended on my son at the City Hospital, Ernakulam where he was got
admitted in my absence and the broken arm plastered. by Dr Paul. We were
taking food at the High Court Canteen and at Laxmi Hotel (Near Padma
Theater, close to the Lodge)
I had to deal with about two hundred and odd assessment cases, mostly
Companies situate at the Industrial Belt area at Kalamasseri, Oil Companies
Pharmaceutical distributors and higher turnover cases at Ernakulam. I
acquainted with the files and I had good assistance (one Mukundan and then B
Bhanu Prakash STOs

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= Page Eighty Four =

TK Bhagaval Dass was the Dy Commissioner. Most of the assessment cases

were represented by Company’s’ Executives and by Chartered Accountants.
Several important questions of law were required to be handled, for illustration,
by Indian Oil Corporation on the sale of petroleum products to foreign bound
vessels where transfer of property takes place within territorial waters or not,
claim for exemption on exports to Bangladesh, rates of tax applicable to various
petroleum products, the liability to purchase tax, exemption sought on “branch
transfers”, the liability to tax on crude oil imported from Gulf Countries,
interpretation , of “component parts” etc etc I used to take the advice of Sri KS
Paripooranan, Govt Pleader and also consult KK Vjijayaraghavan, a well –
studied officer working as Deputy Commissioner(Law) In the case of a Star
Hotel, where there was an offence of failure to keep correct accounts admitted
and composition money was paid, the assessment making additions to the
turnover was remanded by the Appellate Authority for a “relook”into the tax
liability in the face of shortage in stock of ninety Beer bottles found in the
attached Bar, the re-assessment was made by me restoring the original order,
holding that excesses or shortages are two facets of the same activity i.e.
suppressions and that Cochin is an area where Foreign Liquor is available in the
market from sources other than the normal trade channels.
Mr. Bhagvaldass was transferred as secretary (Taxes) and CP Achyutha
Menon succeeded him. K Ramunni Menon IAS(got by Special recruitment
along with Malayattur Rama Krishnan IAS) who came as Member, Board of
Revenue raked up the issue regarding the appointment to the higher posts by
“direct recruitment” which was kept in abeyance by his predecessor PS
Padmanabhan, for he knew that great repercussions would follow when the
proposals were implemented. When K Ramunni Menon was bent upon
implementing the “Direct Recruitment” issue, agitations followed and the
Officers struck work. Ramunni Menon suspended those officers having charge
over the areas where Check posts functioned. on charge of desertion. There
were Ministerial interference and mediations going on. M Mohammed Ibrahim,
an Iron Man of the Department fought tooth and nail and took up the matter
before the High Court through Sudhakaran, Advocate. Dr Venkitanarayanan,
(later on he was the Petroleum Secretary in Govt of India) Govt Secretary
(Taxes) interfered and pursuant to mediation talks, he had with the the parties
concerned, the suspension orders were with drawn. Dr Venkita Narayanan said
““Now the curtain is down’ and normalcy prevailed.

I and CP Achyutha Menon were required by Ramunni Menon to attend the

Trade Conferences such as Tea Exporters Association etc at Fort Cochin

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= Page Eighty Five =

I was deputed to work in the team of Prof IS Gulati, Centre for
Economic Studies, Trivandum to study the Sales Tax Structure obtaining in
Maharastra and Karnataka. States along with TK Bhagavaldass, Secretary
(Taxes) and KV Nambiar, Secy to Govt. We were at Mumbai and had meetings
with Subramaniam IRS (Commissioner) and Pande, his Deputy. The necessary
statistics were collected by me IS Gulati exchanged information regarding the
working of Sales tax Act, evasions, procedure for assessment and allied
subjects. (Accommodation was provided at MLA Quarters) The next camp was
at Bangalore. The team visited the Check Post at Tumkur and the Computer
Centre at Bangalore. (accommodation was provided at MLA Quarters, (Annex
to Vidhan Soudh)
T. Ananthasankara Iyer (TAS Iyer) Inspector General of Police (Kerala)
was assigned special charge as Vigilance Director in respect of Sales Tax and
Forest Departments. He used to send for me for discussions. He was working at
far-sighted aspects regarding evasion of sales tax and working at methods for its
prevention. His brain was working at plugging of all loopholes leading to
avoidance of tax resorted by reputed Companies in the guise of “Branch
Transfer”. with particular reference to a Rayons manufacturing Company. I was
required to gather information on certain given points and simultaneously he got
the very same information collected through the subordinates of his Department,
to satisfy himself that the two reports are not contradictory. He worked out
certain statistics to show that the goods were manufactured by the Company
against the specific orders of the buyers and could not be sold in open market
and since the buyers identity is ascertained, before dispatch of the goods, the
transactions are of the nature of “inter-state” character sale liable to tax and not
entitled to be excluded as “Branch Transfer” TAS Iyer moved the Finance
Minister KG Adiyodi and sanction was got accorded for the formation of an
Inter-state Investigation Cell. He asked me whether I could take the job. I
brought to his notice that my mother is old and wanted my help. He spared me
By the time K Ramunni Menon interfered and got the newly created posts under
his administrative charge. TAS Iyer was a very good officer and in the course of
the discussion when once I interrupted, he said “You are an idiot”. I replied
“Yes Sir” He looked at my face and smiled. He used to telephone me on
Saturdays and ask me “Kesavan I want to discuss certain matters with you. Do
you want to go home?” I would say “No Sir”. TAS Iyer was a very close
associate of KC Sankaranarayanan Member, Board of Revenue and used to
meet Mr KS Paripoornan, then Advocate.and hold discussions with him. When I
went to Trivandrum on another occasion I stepped into his residence to pay
respect to him, when the policeman on duty blocked the way and said “He is
busy holding discussions with his counter-parts in other states” TAS Iyer
noticed me at a distance and called me in and enquired about my whereabouts
etc.

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= Page Eighty Six =

There was a Sales tax check post also under my charge at Perumannur,
which was periodically inspected and surprise over-checks conducted.
The targeted collections were exceeded by a good margin during my tenure
of office. But this cannot be attributed as solely as due to the efforts of the
Officer and cannot take the full credit, for when the trend of trade increases
naturally higher tax liability will be conceded by the assessees. PS
Padmanabhan (Member) would put the pertinent question “For your part, what
have you contributed for getting additional Revenue?” Due to the complicated
nature of the cases involving several issues, the quota for completion of
assessments could not be achieved, which is not due to any negligence or
latches on the part. of the Officer. My Head clerk was Pushpamani Amma and
the section Clerk was Kanakam. The typist was Padmini Amma... who did their
job sstisfactorily. Gopi was a very useful and reliable peon.
I got my son taken as apprentice –trainee in the company Toshiba Anand
Batteries Ltd (Director was CL Anand, Vinod Shaney and SP Singh were the
Executives of the Company) on a monthly stipend of Rs.150/= so as to enable
him to get some practical knowledge of the subjects(My son’s subject was
“Commerce”
There were periodical conferences convened by the Member, Board of
Revenue, for reviewing the progress of work and I and Suseela Ammal (IAC
Ernakulam) went to the Conference Hall (mostly at Kanaka Kunnu Kottaram)
after breaking coconuts at Thampanoor Pillayar. There were also periodical
Legal Seminars conducted to post the officers with the legal aspects and also the
judicial pronouncements.
I was posted as Inspecting Assistant commissioner of A.I.T and S.T,
Ernakulam on the retirement of Suseela Ammal The pattern of work was quite
different and was put in “administrative” charge over Sales Tax Officers,
Ernakulam I and II, Kalamassseri, Perumbavoor and Moovattupuzha Taluks.
There was State Car and also a Jeep for tours. and had to go to the offices for
“approval” of assessments made by the Sales Tax Officers. There were
disciplinary cases also to be dealt with. I could not but punish a clerk for
charges of “embezzlement” of Govt moneys as on my enquiry I found him
guilty of the charge in the face of the records but in fact the real culprits were
behind the screen. He won his case before the High Court. on technical flaws
in procedures. at the initial stage before my handling the case...In another case a
clerk was involved in unauthorisedly supplying a “Delivery Note Book” which
is a form of document used for transport of goods(Govt supply printed under
the a authority of law) to a party

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 = Page Eighty Seven=
with which he transported large quantities of coconut oil from his Oil Mills to a
soap-manufacturing industry and frdulently evaded tax, I had to initiate
disciplinary proceedings against the clerk, and a “prima facie”case of his
involvement was made out.
I used to go to Paroor to meet Kamakshi Athai and also
Ramu Athiyembiar. His son Moorthy was got a gob at Travancore Chemical
Manufacturing Co Ltd on a request made by me to Srinivsan, Mg Director (who
was the grandson of VS Srenivsa Sastry, Mahatma Gandhi’s Secretary) When I
was working Asst Commissioner (Assessment) Special Circle, at Ernakulam
when I approached Ramunni Menon for a transfer since I was away from my
old mother he said “No. I cannot give you a transfer. You have got a field here
and you will have to work here” Now when I was shifted to another post I again
sought for a change and accordingly I was posted as Inspecting Assistant
Commissioner (Agrl.Incometax (Special) at Thrissur with very wide area of
jurisdiction. I joined at Thrissur and stayed at a lodge with my son for a few
days and I got my son admitted at the Chinmaya Mission College at Thrissur.
My Manager was one TV Shankaran. I had my charge of the office barely for
less than two months and I had covered a major portion of the jurisdiction in the
first round I had then met Mr. KS Paripoornan, who was undergoing native
treatment ( a rigorous course )at Arya Vydya Sala,Kottakkal While I was here
there was case I got a judgment where “interst”payment was allowed by the
Sub Court here in a suit filed by an Estate owner at Nelliyampathy for interests
on unpaid amounts back to him as refund There is no provision for interest
payment in the Agrl. Income Tax Act. (which is a self-contained statute) as in
the Sales Tax Act. But unfortunately the matter was not agitated further in
appeal at the appropriate forum by my predecessors.
C Jose who had ministerial influence was posted in my seat and I was posted
as Assistant commissioner (Assessment) Special circle, Thrissur and I was
already fed up with the nature of work... I initiated reassessment proceedings in
respect of a Cotton-Thread manufacturing Company on the basis of the view
taken at a conference at Trivandrum convened by S AnanthaKrishnan(the then
Member) and attended to by the Finance Minister (KM Mani), A clarification
was issued by Govt of India long time ago that cotton thread” is “cotton
yarn”(entitled to lower rate of tax of 1% but judicial authorities held that “cotton
yarn” and” cotton thread” are two distinct commodities and when asks or
cotton yarn cotton thread will not be supplied The tax involved will be very
huge if the closed chapters are reopened and on the basis of a memorandum
submitted by the affected-
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= Page Eighty Eight =

. company, the Govt passed an order that the higher rate would be applicable
only from a subsequent later date (specified in the order) I imitated proceedings
for assessment of a Breweries Company disallowing claim for exemption on
“exports” on the basis of decisions rendered by judicial authorities. I took
proceedings for the assessment to tax on the turnover of goods claimed under
“Branch Transfer” by a Cotton Mills here at Thrissur.I was strict in refusing
“Delivery Notes”to those who are in default in the payment of taxes. PM Abdul
Reheman, an areca nut dealer came to me and wanted a delivery Not and that
otherwise his business will collapse He pleaded a lot and at last I gave him two
forms (from out fifty) for transport of the particular consignment to enable him
to draw amounts from the Bank and pay his customers, on his words” Sir, I am
a Muscleman. I keep up my word. I shall pay the dues immediately the bill is
encashed” But unfortunately that consignment was detained by me and C
Vasudevan Nair, Sales Tax Officer (my assistant) at a point near Kunnamkulam.
The minor defect in the transport document was clearned immediately and the
gods were allowed to pass. He kept up his word.

I brought my family from Palakkad (Tharakkad) to Thrissur (Punkunnam)

in 1976 and got a rented house “Sreyas”, My second son Adinarayanan was left
with my sister at Chathapuram at her request and he was studying at
Kunarapuram High School. My two other sons were got admitted at
Vivekodayam High School for Boys and the girl (Uma) at Vivekodaym Girls”
school. Usha got a seat at Vimla College (the subject was English literature
which was difficult for her, when she shifted over to Home science) Uma joined
the Dance Class under Kshemavathy at Thiruvambady The Tarakkad house was
let out on rent to Prabkara Menon, Income Tax Dept, Palakkad.

I was transferred as Inspecting assistant Commissioner of A.I.T an Sales

Tax, Thrissur having jurisdiction over the Sales tax offices in Thrissur Dt. and
there was also a Sales Tax Check Post. Thumburmuzhy. There was State Car
and also a Jeep for touring work. I used to visit all offices once a month and also
convening periodical Conferences of Officers. I was also attending to “approval
assessments” made by Sales Tax Officers. . My Manager was PV Bhaskaran
and I had a very good team of office staff. The work was smooth

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= Page Eight Nine =

One day I and PV Bhaskaran (my Manager) went to Guruvayur. After the
Darshan, we were standing near the Deepa Sthambha(Light Post)before the
Temple when I found some eruptions over my body and feeling quite unwell. I
returned home when the eruptions increased in number and size My mother
found that it was “chicken pox” I was segregated and put in a room. and the
attendant fever rose up to a high pitch. Bunches of Name leaf(Vep) and onions
were kept by my bed-side, which are Amman’s Madras (symbols) PM Abdul
Rahiman who was a Fruits merchant also used to send me oranges and my diet
was controlled. It lasted for a few days and one night I had a very sweet dream
of Devi Parakaksthi(Mari Amman)dressed in green sari and mounted on Lion’s
back blessing me saying “Child, I will look after you” I have found this form of
Devi in Mata Amritanandamayi in her “DEVI BHAVA’ There was a very
large wound scar on the centre of my spinal which took days to heal It was at
that time that Gajrajan (Kesavan) head of the Elephant herd at Guruvayur had
his end on an Ekadasi day.
I used to give proper instructions to the assessing officers in drafting proper
assessment orders, which should stand the test of appeals. I was suggesting
inspections and “enquires” into those cases where I had reason to suspect that
there was evasion of tax. I was also scrutinizing the appellate orders
meticulously and suggesting second appeals, where there is undue interference.
I had never let down my officers in those cases where Accountant General’s
Audit Party sent “Draft Paras” pointing out irregularities. and I took up the
cases for myself and gave proper answers to their queries I could claim that
there was not a single instance where the Accountant General’s party won their
cases in establishing loss of revenue during my tenure of the office.
There was an instance where an attender of a subordinate office entered my
room and raised his grievance that his “leave surrender” was not sanctioned to
which I asked him to approach his head of Office. He made a representation to
the Chief Minister casting certain allegations against me. I called upon the
person to explain why charges shall not be framed against him for not routing
the representation though the proper channel. as required in the Govt Servants”
Conduct Rules. I got a communication from the Chief Minister saying that “it is
high time that old out-dated rules written by Birtishers are scraped “I dropped
the proceedings and his grievances were already redressed.

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= Page ninety =
In another Office, the Sales Tax Officer was once my co-worker and
he could not properly handle the case of two of his subordinates who used to
come to office in “drunken” mood and creating problems. I took the
Departmental Car and proceeded to that office and told the persons involved
that they are suspended from service pending enquiry, which I took Suo Motu
After enquiry, I found that .a “transfer” would be adequate punishment and
accordingly I effected transferring them elsewhere. This however acted as a
deterrent in other cases.
AKK Nambiar was the then Member, Board of Revenue and he would
hold conferences at the Collect orate, for the review of assessment and
collection work. Besides routine Conferences, AKK Nambiar convened
Revenue Recovery conferences along with the Recovery staff when CT
Sukumaran followed by PV Sankunni Variar (of Ponnani) were the District
Collectors. I took the pains of getting the defaulters’lists and personally met the
Tahsldars and held discussions with them. I prepared detailed statements and
presented that list to the Member, reconciling each and every item with those
found in Departmental registers and that of the revenue Department. In a case
of mis-appropriation of moneys collected from a Mill owner and not remitted to
treasury by a Revenue Inspector, I deputed the concerned Officers to recover the
records from the Mill owner and after collecting the required materials, laid a
complaint before the Magistrate I was examined in the Box where the case was
defended by Advocate Bala Narayanan The accused was found guilty and
punished
There was a team of Sales Tax Officers (Trainees) (Tomy Eapen,
Venkitasubramanian, PG Sasidharan, Govindankutty Nair, Sivanandan etc and
an Asst Collector, a North Indian whose name (Vijai….or so I do not remember
correctly) undergoing practical training in the office. I used to take classes for
them and used to take them for out-door work also My Manager PV Bhaskaran
had also small-pox attack. My Peon was Chakko who was very dutiful and will
be there ready at the office at 9.30 A.M and opened my room, when there will a
bundle of papers waiting for me. I used to sit a stretch and also attending at
frequent phone calls. My Driver (Main) used to tell my wife” This won’t do.
You must see that Swami takes at least some Kanji at the proper time as
otherwise he will fall sick,” also complaining of undue waiting

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= Ninety One =

by the Drivers But this Driver (Mani) had attack of “liver cancer” and I had got
him admitted at the Amala Hospital. His condition was bad when I went to see
him once and he wanted my wife to send him “Murukku” (a last desire) I took
Murukku for him but he could not taste it properly. In a few days he bid
farewell. At the time of construction of this Hospital,( fundation stone laid by
C.Achuyutha Menon,( the then Chief Minister) lorry loads of cements intended
for construction were detained , at the Walayar Check post suspecting evasion
of tax.. PV John (a business man), Father Gabriel and Father Pious came to my
office and requested for release of goods. In the ordinary course I had no hand
in it. In the normal course when once the goods are detained it is the job of the
Enquiry Officer (Sales Tax Officer) to adjudicate upon the matter and pass
orders either levying penalty or release the goods. I assumed powers for myself
and issued a certificate to the effect that there is no element of “sale” involved
in the transport, which gave rise to the proceedings. The goods were got
released without much effort or going through protracted legal processes or
formalities. A Sales tax Officer (business minded) watching the proceedings is
said to have asked his co-worker, whether he could get a similar certificate from
me, to which he got a reply “Go to him. He will give you a proper reply”. That
Sales tax officer approached me with the request for the issuance of a similar
certificate to him to which I replied” Why should I issue a certificate to you. You
are a competent Sales tax Authority and you can yourself issue a “self-
certificate” if the purpose is genuine.”
Saraswathi Amma succeeded PV Bhaskaran as my Manager, She was an
able lady and had proper control over the members of the staff and was liked by
all. PR Rajan, who is now holding top-pot in “Deshabhimani” Marxist party
owned daily) would bring to my notice genuine cases of grievances of the
employees and they were considered favorably in all deserving cases. I have
my great respects and regards for PR Rajan whose
hands were clean and he was “very honest”
K Balakrishna Kidavu was the Dy Commissioner at Ernakulam (my
immediate superior authority). I was required to proceed urgently to Ernakulam
to Ambalamugl with State Cars where there was a conference of Commissions
of Southern states (Tamil Nadu, Karnatak and Andhra Pradesh)

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= Page Ninety Two =

I proceeded immediately without any spare dress and stayed at Ernakulam.
AKK Nambiar (Member) wanted me to accompany the Commissioners to
Guruvayur in the state car of CP Nair, Govt Secretry. I accompanied them to
Guruvayur and found them accommodation and food at the Rest House of
Tourism Development Corporation .I and the Driver could not get
accommodation and we spent the night in the verandah. After early morning
bath I took them (commissioners of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh) to the
temple and the Dewasom Manager helped me to lead them through the side
entrance without waiting in the Q and took them just in front of the inner temple
for a closer vie of the deity (Vaka Charthu). After having the Darshan, we
returned before dawn and I specially asked the Namboodiri at Ollur who runs a
Coffee Club to arrange a special table and serve the Commissioners with
mooning break fast by servers neatly clad. After breakfast we proceeded to
Ernakulam travelers Bungalow and when AKK Nambiar asked them about the
Darshan, to which they replied that it was very happy. On their return o their
respective stations, the Commissioners (TN (Parthasarathy) and AP (One Mr
Singh)) wrote to me congragulating me. (It is Guruvayurappa who came to my
rescue) The Dy Commissioner KB Kidavu wanted me to stay back when I told
him that I do not have a spare dress and that I may be permitted to return. It
appears that he did not like this and appeared to have some grudge over this. I
took leave of AKK Nambiar and returned to Trichur...

There was a conference of the Dy Commisioner fixed up for a nearer date

and I did not feel well. I had got the required statistics prepared and kept ready
in my table drawer. I told KR Pushpangadhan ,Sales tax Officer ( a very honest
and efficient Officer in the Department and trust-worthy) that when the Deputy
Commissioners asked for the details regarding the collection, assessments etc
show him the statistics and inform him that I am not feeling well and therefore
could not attend the conference. I stayed back on Casual Leave that day.

I met AKK Nambiar when he was at Rama nilayam, Thissur and told him
that I maybe granted a month’s leave. He told me “Why should you take leave.
Your are already there in the Promotion List. There is no guarantee that you will
be posted back to Trichur on return from leave. I do not stand in the way”. I
took one month’s leave and on the expiry of the leave I was posted as Appellate
Assistant commissioner of AIT and sales tax, Cannanore, where I joined and the
Addl AAC was K Samaraj who joined later.

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= Page Ninety Three =

At Cannanore, I was in charge of the post only for a short period and my
Stenographer was one Karunan from Tellicherry. Besides appeals posted at
Head Quarters there were camp sittings at Taliparamba, Payyanore, Kasargode,
and Hosdrug etc. I used to stay in a lodge there and once in a way would come
to Trichur. I could complete the quota in the disposal of the appeals. While I
was working at Cannanore, I got a letter from the DC Kozhikode that in respect
of a tapioca planter in Alathur Taluk(when I was AITO at Alathur),these was
loss of revenue involved due to under-assessment pursuant to a ”Draft
Para”(Audit)by the Accountant General’s party and he wanted my explanation
I wrote to the DC Kozhikode stating that he is not competent to call for my
explanation as he had no statutory authority and the matter was reported by him
to the Board of Revenue. I was promoted as Deputy Commissioner and posted
as Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) Kozhikkode, in place of V Abdhur Rehman
(Retired) and I took charge on 01.07.1979, I took up a lodge nearby in the
Wynaad Road. I used to come to Trichur after finishing my day’s work there,
stay over night at Thrissur and proceed very early morning direct to the
respective camps at Cannanore, Kasargode, , Manantoddy, or Kalpetta etc and
stay back at Kozhikkode attending to writing up of appellate orders. After
finishing my hearing at HQ next day and dictations to Steno-grapher I would
return to Trichur. There were appeals involving important questions of law etc
and the Advocates and Chartered Accounts used to render all help in the
disposal of cases. VS Narayanan, Advocate had very good work and he was of
great assistance to me in clarifying several legal points. In an Agrl.Income Tax
matter, the AITO denied the exemption claim of a planter(coffee)(a registered
charitable trust)on the ground that it is a ‘private” trust and not of public utility
On a perusal of the Deed of Trust, I found that the testator had in very clear
terms set apart the income from the plantations for educational and charitable
purposes ,running maternity hospitals, etc and is not intended to the benefit of
any particular caste , creed or religion. The officer was miss-guided himself by
reading the Deed in part only. I had no hesitation to come to the conclusion that
public utility is served and the matter was decided in favor of the appellant. .
The Revenue agitated the matter before High Court with no success and did not
get admission before Supreme Court (As a matter of fact, a part of the income
goes to the Dharmasthala in Karnataka) where numerous persons are fed. (It is
unfortunate that when Muslim “walkfs” and X-ian institutions enjoy the benefit,
why a step-motherly treatment is meted out to Hindus alone.)
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 = Page Ninety Four =
In another case, there was a direction by the High Court to dispose of a batch of
appeals filed by an oil Miller within a given time which was about to elapse. I
discussed the issues involved with TM Sreedharan, Advocate Cannanore who
represented the appellant and disposed of the entire batch of appeals within the
given time limit in a manner not detrimental to the appellant and at the same
protecting the Revenue also. KC Sankaranarayanan, Member, Board of
Revenue visited my office one day and I had kept ready all statistics regarding
the No of appeals filed, no disposed (Dismissed, allowed, Remanded etc). which
was shown to him. He said “You keep it there. I am not concerned about it. I
know that you will do your work” But I would like to see your office premises.
He went round the buildings and showed me the waste paper and rubbish
thrown out through the windows and waste paper bags thrown in the verandah
pell-mell., with which he was not happy. He exclaimed “You will find at our
Hospitals, the food waste and used containers cotton, empty bottles, rubbish
papers etc are thrown to the lintel, making the look very ugly, and also lacking
hygiene. I realized that what he said was true and I made immediate
arrangements to clean the offices and premises and disposed of the waste paper
accumulations kept in the bags. I had a helping clerk Muhammed and my
Stenographer Balamani who were of great assistance to me. I had made it a
point to dispose of all the appeals/revisions petitions heard by me without undue
delay, however keeping in abeyance only those cases where identical issues are
involved in the High Court/Supreme Court. Etc.
My mother had expired on 17...01...1978 when I was working as
IAC.Thrissur. As has been part of his job TR Krishnan had made the
arrangements at the cremation ground The ashes were immersed at
Bharathapuzha (Shoranur) The rituals were performed according to Sastras
(My mother expired just after a day or two after Rasa(Mani Athai’s eldest
son)expired and my mother was in her senses then) The calf(bull) bought as a
part of the rituals was taken by my son Arun for offering at Viswanatha
Temple(The belief is that when the Jiva leaves the body, the Atman finds its
route to Paramatman which is tedious and hardous, passing through a river
“Vaidharani ”(Full of snakes and scorpions) and ancient Rishis who followed
the course of the journey of the Atman prescribed Mantra to be chanted from
“Sruti”

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 =Page Ninety-five=
We had shifted to another house “ Jai Sree” adjacent to Prof ND
Subramanian, Principal, Sree Kerala Varma College,Thrissur, with his aged
parents Appu Mama and Ammini Mami(both of them were deaf and were ideal
couple) They had a part-time cook (Sundari). Appu Mama is a Great Man who
had vast knowledge and due to a fracture, he could walk only with a walking-
aid. Appu Mama was very religious and used to give all advices to my children
and they in turn also rendered all useful services to them. Prof NDS was a
Bachelor and mad after Cricket. He had vast knowledge of the subject. My son
Sundareswaran was working as an Apprentice-trainee at Madura Coats Ltd,
Koratti on a monthly stipend of Rs.150/=, He had passed B.Com degree(Kerala
University) My eldest daughter discontinued her studies as she had no aptitude
to study further.. My sons Arun, Mani and Krishnan were college-going. Uma
was in the High Schhol Class. She had studied Mohiniyattam, Bharatha
Natyam, Kuchiudi etc and she was blessed by Sri Sri Sai Sathya Sai Baba at
Puttuparthi before “Arangettam”
When working at Calicut due to lack of proper food and excessive traveling
and restless work, I had severe pain at the rectum and took to certain Ayurvedic
treatment. which was ineffective. In the meantime, the marriage of my eldest
daughter was conducted at Thrissur on 29 ...11...1979 I returned to duty
and could not carry on further with my ailments. My last camp was at Ponnani
and the case heard by me last was of Koladi Goindankutty (Communist (Right)
now no more, who had bought Uppappa’s house later. Kolady family used to
offer 12000 coconuts cut before Guruvayur Nada every year and it is a
“religious” trust borne out by proper documents where exemption from
Agrl.Incmetax was denied but it was found improper and decided by me in
favor of the Petitioner)
I took leave on Medical grounds and got admitted at Govt Hospital, Thrissur
and Dr MJ Kuruvilla diagnosed the disease as “Perennial Abscess”
The Doctor suggested immediate surgery. I shuddered at the very mention of
the “operation theatre” “Anesthesia” was administered through the spinal
causing very terrible pain. The surgery was over and I was taken to my ward
and heavy dosage of deep “Anti Biotic” injections were given at every four
hours. The matter was taken for biopsy test. The wound was dressed daily.
There was difficulty in motion and the Doctor asked to take heavy food,
Bananas etc. Dr Kuruvilla had a special consideration for me. There was
infection and another surgery was performed K Krishna Menon, Retd IAC (now
no more) used to visit me frequently One day I thought of my old colleague Mr
KC Balagangadhran, and dropped him a Post Card saying that I would happy to
meet him. He readily responded and came to the Hospital to see me. We hugged
each other and I was relieved from physical and mental strains at seeing him
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= Page Ninety Six =

The pain had not subsided. I was discharged after a week and I went to
Guruvayur along with D.Lakshinarayan “Kalyanam Tiles” (local agent of my
house-owner) Due to friction and exposure. after three days there was relapse
and I had another surgery also got done (I personally met the Anesthetist and he
was considerate to me this time.) The pus was cultured and Gentamysin,
injections were given every alternate four hours .After discharge daily dressings
were to be done and I got a local compounder from ESI Hospital. for cleaning
and dressing

On expiry of the leave I was posted to Appellate Tribunal

(Ernakulam). I met the Member, KC Sankarnarayanan and requested for grant
of extension of leave by another month He asked me “Are you afraid of working
at Tribunal? I answered in the negative and appraised of him of my real
physical ailments. In my service I had previously taken leave only on three
occasions, one to accompany my father to Coimbatore for the eye-surgery and
the other instance is where due to excessive cycling there was inflammation in
the orchits, where Dr TN Venkitachalan, Tarakkad diagnosed it as “Acute
Hernia” and advised operation Dr Ramaswami Iyer (American returned) at
Raja street Coimbatore attempted to squeeze that affected part and I got away.
due to unbearable pain .Dr MR Naryanana (Mani Athai’s son) took me to Dr
Nanukutty Nair Dt Medical officer, Coimbatore, where he was working and he
disguised it as orchitis-finiculitis and suggested applying Icthyol Belladonna
and to take a course of injections “Calcium Gluconate –with Vitamic C” I had
this course of injections done by Dr Narayanan when he was working at MSP
Hospital, Malappuram. At last I had recourse to Ayurvedic treatment and went
to Ashta Vaidyan Sankaran Moosad of Tirunvaya (Tirur) (who had a sword
presented by Dhanwnatharamoorthy) and he suggested a course of treatment at
a very low cost (of Kazhinjikkuru (enclosed with clay) and when burnt to make
a mixture with white of egg and apply at the affected part and to pose the
affected part in steam of water boiled with natural leaves and herbs, Neem etc)
This produced miraculous results and the complaint was gone for ever and
never recurred. (Sri Sankaran Moosad was very intimate with Ramu Chittappa
who used to consult him for all complaints)
On the expiry of the extended leave, I was posted as Addl. Deputy
Commissioner (Appeals) at Ernakulam. the main Dy Commissioner was PA
Abraham.

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= Page Ninety Seven =

PA Abraham hails from an aristocratic family at Chalakudy and he was

previously AITO Palakkad and also the Deparmental Member(Sales Tax
Appellate Tribunal)at Trivandrum He was the Head of Office I used to camp at
Thrisur also for the hearing of appeals/revision petitions... I was posted in the
place on of PA Abraham on his retirement, Subsequently the offices of the
Appellate Asst Commissioners were merged with the Office of the Deputy
Commissioner.(Appeals) Ramadass(my co-worker as Jr AITO Palakkad) KP
Unnikrishna Poduval(we were together for a few days at Govindapuram Check
Post) were the Applt.Asst Commrs. M Damodaran Nair succeeded me as Addl
DC (Appeals) and had his office at Trichur. U Kutty Narayana Menon was the
Deputy Commissioner, KC Balagandharan was the Deptl Member, Appellate
Tribunal & V Krishnanunni was the Inspg Asst Commissioner (Intelligence) at
Ernakulam... Besides hearing appeals at HQrs there were monthly tours to the
High Ranges (Iukki, Devicolom, Munnar Kumily, etc) for the hearing of Agrl.
Income Tax revision petitions. (pertaining to Cardamom planter from Tamil
nadu, Boinayakanur, Cumbum, Theni, Maduri etc). Most of the Sales tax
Appeals were represented by Advocates of Ernakulam, Kottayam etc involving
important questions of law. There was good cooperation from the Advocates in
the disposal of appeal cases. In Agrl. Income Tax Revision matters deeper probe
was required since the cases were represented by their employees and Sales Tax
Practitioners and there is the scope of being miss-led on facts. My family was
at Thrissur and I used to go to Ernakulam daily. I have been completing my
monthly quota of appeals

My eldest son Sundareswaran got selected for appointment in the Ministry of

Steel and Mines, New Delhi after passing the Staff selection Commission
examination. He joined the post My second son Adi Narayanan completed the
B.Com Degree Course and passed Typewriting (Lower) examination... and also
passed three tests in Sanskrit He was sent to Madurai Coats as apprentice-
trainee. Mani had joined the B.Com degree Class at Kerala Varma College. My
last son was got an admission at the R.V.College of Engineering Bangalore
through D.A.Pandu (Trustee) He was got accommodated at the College Hostel
Uma was studying in Pregree class at St Mary’s College.Trichur.

The present owner wanted to vacate the house as it had to be disposed of. I
made arrangements to purchase a plot at Punkunnam and in the meantime
negotiations were made to dispose of the Tarakkad (Palakkad) house.

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= Ninety Eight =
My second son Adi Narayanan was a music-lover. He was an Ayyappa
Bhaktha also. . My eldest daughter was brought back home by my sister from
her husband’s house at Thirunellayi (Palakkad). at the time when I was
hospitalized. The marriage ended in a divorce. This is the play of Universal
Mother “Adi Parasakthi” (Leela Vinodhini)
We had shifted our residence to the down stairs portion of Dhandapani‘s
house close by.
I was posted as Member (Departmental) AIT and Sales Tax Appellate
Tribunal (Addl.Bench) Ernakulam. The Chairman was Arikkat Vijaya Menon.
The post of Accounts Member was vacant. After some days T .Zackria Mani
IRS (Central Income Tax is his parent Department.)joined as Accounts Member
He is a very able Officer conversant with all subjects. He picked up Sales Tax
work within a short time. He had an excellent vocabulary... I and TZ Mani were
holding the Bench together and the Full Bench presided by the Chairman will be
held once a month Those days in company with TZ Mani were the very happy
days in my official life. He was very quick in his business and was loved by all
alike. He was writing very good orders. The Bench was functioning well. There
were no delays in the disposal of the heard appeal cases. The Chairman was also
exceptionally good, and was taking proper decisions. I and TZ Mani were
attending to camp sittings at Devikulam, Munnar Peermade Palakkad etc and
were going by his car (GAZAL)which I would call as”Omanakuttan” as it was
easily climbing uphill effortlessly and the occupants had experienced no jerk
when taking turns at hair-pins On one occasion KDHP Co Ltd’s executives
arranged a Meeting a their Rest House(Cheruthoni) and TZ Mani addressed the
meeting(Rotarians) TZ’s Mani’s father-in-law was the Chief
Engineer(Electricity)one of the architects of the Idukki Hydel Project..The
sittings at Munnar and Peermedu were held at the Rest Houses. Under directions
from the Chairman, we had sittings at Calicut and Cannanore also. At Palakkad
the sittings were conducted at the Palakkad Collectorate.TZ Mani was always
found in pleasant moods with a smiling and attractive face and is capable of
cracking any hard nut. A glimpse at the Group Photo taken on the eve of the
retirement of Peon George personally arranged by TZ Main would show the
attachment and love he had with his subordinates and co-workers. TZ Mani
evolved a system by which the orders on” Interim Petitions” were declared in
the Bench itself and they were got ready for signature by the time the Bench
rose for lunch. There was no room for complaint from any quarters.

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= Page Ninety Nine =

The Chairman, one day required all members of the Benches functioning at
Trivandrim, Ernakulam ad Kozhikkode to meet at Ernakulam and showed us a
letter got from the Govt Secretary (Taxes)requiring the Chairman’s presence for
certain discussions at a Conference that is to be convened by him. especially
in a matter regarding the grant of absolute stay by the Tribunal in a Cashew
Exporters’ case, when the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India had given a direction
to remit 40% of the disputed tax in an identical case till the disposal of the
appeal. The Chairman appears to have talked to the Govt Secrtary that the
Tribunal is comprised of the Members also and that a reply would be given after
consulting them (members). All the members unanimously opinioned that the
Appellate Tribunal is an independent authority, it shall not be permitted to take
the decision to the dictate of another authority. and the grant of “stay” depends
upon the facts and circumstances of each case and was informed accordingly.
stating that a discussion is uncalled for.

I had disposed of the house at Tharakkad for a consideration Rs.1, 10,000/=

and Mani wanted me to indicate the real consideration in the assignment deed
and not to under-value it. In order to avoid “Capital Gains Tax” he suggested to
deposit Rs.25000/=at the Reserve Bank of India for a period of three years. I did
accordingly. I had bid a “chit” from Assyrian Kuris Ltd, Trichur and go a lot on
the payment of the first installment itself from another Kuri Company (Lourdes
Church Chit Co Ltd.) The price for the land that was negotiated at Punkunnam
was Rs.6500/=per cent. The Document was registered in my wife’s name and
construction work was done by D. Ramachandran (Engineer) (now no more) I
occupied the new house by the end of 1982. When my eldest son came from
Delhi, the Upanayanam of my sons Mani and Krishnan were conducted.
One day when the Bench was functioning I got a registered letter from the
Board of Revenue, asking me to” show cause” why charges shall not be framed
against me for the alleged loss of Revenue involved in the case of a Tapioca
Planter at Chalakudi, where the assessment was completed by me as AITO
Alathur on the basis of a “Draft Para” (audit) by the Accountant General’s
party. As I was not in a mood, the Bench was adjourned to another date with the
permission of TZ Mani. As a matter of fact that case

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= Page One Hundred =

was brought to books by me during survey work and I was satisfied that the
extent of forest lands available for cultivation was only 50 acres (in between
rubber planted area). The Accountant General’s party by their own arithmetical
calculations and wild guess-work on the basis of incomplete materials found on
their estimates that there was higher extent cultivated. by some logical theory. I
gave proper explanations stating that adequate materials are not placed before
me to lead evidence in rebuttal. I objected to the proposals strongly and the
draft explanation was shown to Mr TL Viswanatha Iyer, then Advocate (who
became Judge of Kerala high Court). He approved the reply and suggested to
add “if the explanations are not found acceptable I may be afforded an
opportunity of being heard through my Counsel”
The Chairman asked me whether I could make it convenient to attend the
Bench at Trivandrum for two days. (TNT Nayar was the Accounts Member) I
attended the Bench along with TNT Nayar who is equally a very able Officer
having high command over English and Malayalam languages TNT Nayar was
elevated to the post of Commissioner of Income Tax and he worked also as
Member, Direct Taxes Board, New Delhi.
The Ernakulam Bench of the Appellate Tribunal is comparatively a heavy
bench and important questions of law are involved in the appeals. My closest
friend and colleague KC Balagangadharan BA BL working as Deputy
Commissioner (Law) Ernakulam retired and I partook in his “send-off” party.
KC Balagangadharan is a very able officer, very honest and of exemplary
character. I have very great love and regard for him. Both TZ Mani & KC
Balgangadhar had visited my house with family
 My retirement date was nearing. I had sent my pension papers etc to the
Accountant general but unfortunately the service Book was not traceable. I
rushed up to Trivandrum to the Board’s Office and contacted the Secretary Y
Sreedharan He made a search for it and got it. I have been discharging my
duties sincerely and honestly. The latest remarks of the Member, Board of
Revenue about me as communicated to me is “A capable Officer. He is a Good
PLUS”

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= Page One Hundred and one =

The last case heard by the Bench (I and TZ Mani) and orders written by me
for the Bench (as observed by KK Vijayaraghavan, a very able Retired Dy
Commissioner and practicing as an Advocate after retirement) was a case of
grant of absolute stay of collection of disputed tax where SA Nagendran, a
Senior Advocate entered appearance, relating to a case of genuine “export” of
goods outside the Territory of India entitled to sales tax exemption, which was
denied by the assessing authority.

During the tenure of my office as Member (Deptl) AIT and ST Appellate

Tribunal I was posted as an “Observer” in the General Elections at Panoor
(North Malabar). I was allotted a State Car also. On the day previous to the Poll,
some candidates and agents came to the Travelers’ Bungalow Tellicherry where
I was staying and presented petitions stating that there is scope of impersonation
etc at some Polling Stations. I requested of them for amicable approach being
made on issues if arose and assured them all cooperation As a matter of fact that
was a “problem and headache creating area.” which witnessed even day-light
murders Next day I covered about 90% of the booths and solved minor
problems amicably then and there. I sent up detailed report to the Election
Commission as required by the Commission and the Deputy Election
Commissioner., New Delhi later sent me a letter congratulating my work. Thank
God.

I retired from service on 31.10.1983. There was a very grand fare-well

party accorded to me and those happy moments still linger in my mind (The
Honorable Chairman, Arikkat Vijaya Menon, Members of all the Benches
(Accounts and Departmental) and the staff partook. I am thankful to them for
ever. At Hotel Dwaraka also a similar fare-well party was given to me including
Advocates, the Chairman etc arranged by TZ Mani. I find no words to thank
them for the love they extended to me.
I was taken home by C Vasudevan Nair (now at Guruvayur) and TN
Bhaskara Menon, Asst. Secretary of the Tribunal, Ernakulam. to lead a Retired
life.
 I talked over telephone to Mrs KS Paripoornan (who was Judge, Kerala High
Court) and informed her that I have retired when she asked me “Are you so
old?” I have very great regard for this lady.

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= Page One Hundred and Two=

Thereafter I went to see and pay my respects to Justice Mr KS
Paripoornan, who told me “Kesava Iyer, You shall not sit idle but keep engaged
at some work as otherwise you will get your intelligence rusted” I had an idea to
start Sales Tax and Agrl.Incometax Practice and got registered with the Deputy
Commissioner, Trichur as a Sales tax Practitioner under Sec.55 of the Sales Tax
Act. . I went to see Subramanian Iyer (Retired Head Clerk (now no more)
Wadakkancherry who was having Sales Tax Practice. and asked for his views
about my starting Sales tax Practice. He gave me all his books and approved my
idea but said “Do not talk to the officers in English. Do not quote law-points
before them. Grease their palms”Subramania Iyer was physically handy-capped
but had good knowledge, commanding respect.
My pensionary benefits (Pension, Gratuity and commutation value of
pension etc) were withheld by the Member, Board of Revenue, Trivandrum
(Mr. V.Krishna Moorthy) on the ground that there were certain disciplinary
cases pending against me involving loss of Revenue to Government. I was
sending daily letters of V Krishna Moorthy but of no avail. The last letter that I
had sent him was in a very harsh tone “Today you are in and a day will come
when you will also be out You may note that “Pension” is no “bounty” or
“Charity” but is a legitimate entitlement as declared by the highest Court of the
land in State of Kerala Versus M.Padmanabhan Nair reported in AIR 1985 SC
356 It appears that you exceed your limits thereby causing me undue damages
(having put in a total service of about thirty nine years) and you will be
answerable for this one day or other. Now, the curtain falls. There is no use in
writing to you further.
One day V Krishna Moorthy was camping at Rama Nilayam, when my
co-worker and close friend EJ Kuriyan compelled me to go and meet him and
make a personal representation to him. I went to meet him and waited outside.
When the Sub Collector Thrissur entered his room without knocking the doors,
I closely followed him and occupied a seat in the Sofa without being offered
and told V Krishna Murthy” I am that Kesavan, and that my Pension etc is not
sanctioned yet”. He replied “I have dropped one of the matters where
disciplinary action was proposed (Tapioca Planters’ case) and in the other
case, I do not agree with you. I have however sanctioned interim pension, You
may collect it from my office” I thanked him for being good enough to drop the
proceedings in respect of the Tapioca planter’s issue and told him that he
dropped the matter as it was a case to be dropped and in the other case I may not
also agree with him leaving the matter be adjudicated by the competent
authority (I had approached the Hon’ble High Court of Kerala)

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