Swayambu Iyer of Nagaipattnam [ Written by Cadavasal R Natarajan]

Details of Swayamby Iyer of Nagaipatnam, Mangala akka, Sama Athan can be found in this section.

The details on Swayambu Iyer and Sama athan were written by C.R.Natarajan. 

Swayambu Iyer of Nagapattinam. Swayambu Iyer was married to my paternal grandfather Kunjithapatham Iyer's sister. His son Sama Atthan's wife was my father's paternal uncle's daughter Mangalam Athai as she was called. I do not know as yet whether her father was a blood brother of Kujithapatham Iyer or were first cousins on the paternal side. Swayambu Iyer was a maverick, defying convention and upper caste norms of those days. He sported a moustache and enjoyed his drink, perhaps fondling the Eurasian women who formed the "desirable and delectable" class in old Nagapattinam when the port thrived and the S Rly Hqrs. was in operation. Swayambu Iyer was a Head constable and in those days, one could practice criminal law after successfully completing a "pleader's course" or some such thing Swayambu Iyer built a large hall on teak piling called “Swayam Prakasam” that he used for his social gatherings, to watch the buxom, blithe women dancing, a vicarious pleasure indeed! It is said that Swayambu Iyer was a highly successful lawyer and made a lot of money, spending the major part in his lifetime. 

I believe his wife predeceased him and on his death, my grandfather ( Senior CRK) took charge of the property and nurtured it along. When Sama Athan came of age, Kunjithapatham Iyer handed over to him, according to my father, a substantial (in the second decade of the 20th century) estate of well over a couple of lakhs of rupees. Sama Atthan indulged in his desires of the loin and his palette and managed to reduce the fortune. My father and his brother intervened and divided the residuary estate between Iyer and his two sons Swayambu and Ananthanarayanan, when they were "minors" both in age and in style! They lost the wealth. The impoverished family was given some help by my mother as she was very fond of Mangalakka. My uncle Sivaswamy Iyer of Toppu Vattaram was also one who helped. 

One of the daughters of Sama Atthan was called "appli", a corruption of some Hindu name. (her name was Janaki –Note: The known founder of Cadavasal family Ramadurai’s wife was Janaki !!) She was married to a gentleman whose name I do not recall and he worked in Ralli & Co. Appli was his second wife but she had a wonderful life, mothering one daughter and two or three sons, one of whom Ramani went by the name of Iyer. I met him and his family in Bombay. I lost touch in 1975 and I do not know where he is or even alive. 

The second daughter of Sama Iyer was Pichu (do not know her real name), her marriage broke up and she was living in Cadavasal with her mother. 

The 3rd daughter was Rukamni married to a reputed family in village Perunthotam near Sirkazhi [m/o Lakshmi Narayanan]. 

Sama Atthan led the life of a beachcomber and lived on his imperious demands made to some families who knew his father and Kunjithapatham Iyer in the halcyon days. He was a wonderful person, always book in hand, a handwriting that had such clarity that it was almost print, a command of English that was the envy of his peers, a generous heart and hand, never harboring any ill will, completely bereft of any self pity for his reduced status. It was he who inculcated in me the thirst for reading. He used to bring detective novels of 60 or 70 pages titled Sexton Blake detective stories, and of Sexton Blake's assistant Tinker. They used to cost a quarter anna second hand or half an anna new. He was a wonderful raconteur and notwithstanding his penury commanded respect. 

Mangalakka, used to manage the family, since Atthan was mostly out on his yathra. I have never heard her speak one word derogatory of Sama Atthan, nor did she deny him the bed and board when the prodigal returned.On the other hand she used to prepare for him culinary specialties that he liked denying herself. 

Swayambu Athan (s/o Sama athan) wife is Nagalakshmi. She lives in Salem along with her 2nd daughter. Her name is Jayalakshmi and married to Shri Rajaraman, a businessman who has two daughters and one son and all of them are very well settled both in US and India. Swayambu First daughter is Rajeswari, married to Gurumoorthy (both now live in T.nagar). they have one son and one daughter. Both of them are settled in US/India. The eldest son name is Rajaraman, who was with MM Foam for sometime, got out and tried to do some businees. He was married to Mythily, daughter of Applai (Thiruppur), whose name is Janaki and her husbands name is Ramachandra Iyer, who worked with Rallis India. The whereabouts of Rajaraman is not known. Mythili lives with her son. Applai's son Ramani is not alive.

Notes:
Sama Atthan's daughter is Smt Rukmani , (daughter of Sama athan and Mangalakka) and mother of Perunthottam S.Lakshminarayan. S.Lakshminarayan is the Son-in-law of Smt Tulasi and Shri Ramamoorthy ( Smt Tulasi is the 2nd daughter of J.Subramani Iyer and Kunju of SNP). So, one can traverse through the link between Cadavasal, Sattanatahpuram and Perunthottan.