The earliest of the family ancestors as per known records(based on a Partition deed of 1914) is Subbaraya Iyer. He had 2 sons
1. Ramaswamy Iyer ( It is not known,if the family continued after Ramaswamy iyer or there may be some dayadhis (A term used to refer the succeeding families of brothers and cousins brothers)
2. Narayanaswamy Iyer a.k.a Ramalinga Sharma. He had 4 children. Jagadeesan Iyer, Kailsam Iyer, Krishnaswamy Iyer and a daughter Mangalam
3. We belong to the succeeding branches of Jagadeesan Iyer
Jagadeesan Iyer was the eldest of the siblings. His wife was Baghirathi (also called as Manni Patti). Jagadeesan Iyer died at the age of probably about 40+ years. He should have died probably in 1908 or so. The last of the promisory note referenced in the partition deed is dated June 1908. Thereafter the lands were partitioned. During one of the court cases pertaining to Sivan temple, some of the old documents were taken. The document pertains to the year 1914. A statement is written in the documents, that the property and lands were partitioned among the 3 brothers. The portion belonging to Jagadeesan Iyer will be managed by her wife Baghirathi. His eldest son Ramani Iyer was 14 years old and yonger Subramanian was 9 years old.
Smt Bhagirathi w/o S,Jagadeesan has insisted on partition to protect the rights of her minor sons and has palyed a significant role in the equal distribution of vast estates of land. ( Almost equivalent to 200+ Acres)
Jagadeesa Iyer had 2 sons and 2 daughter. See the family tree in next section
Baghirathi a.k.a Manni Patti
Baghirathi a.k.a Manni Patti the grand old Matriarch of the family lived for 90 years and raised the Sattanathpuram family single handedly. When Jagadeesan Iyer passed away, Subramani Iyer (aka Suppuni ) was a child of 9 years. Around her sixties, she became blind. She is credited with buying and enhancing the agricultural land properties of the SNP family. She loved Suppuni's (subramania Iyer) family more and choose to stay with Suppuni, when the partition in the family took place. She commanded wide respect and also was very intelligent. Baghirathi is a very common name in our family.
Manni patti was feared and respected. She was valued for her love and affection and admired for her dynamism and handling of village and family affairs with impunity. Mastery and control came with ease as every day the Kariyasthan ( estate manager) has to come and report the expenses and income for the day and take instructions for the next day agricultural routine. This tradition continued even when her son Subramani Iyer used to look after the lands.
Excerpts from the April - 1914 registered document in
Sirkazhi sub-registrar office related to our Sattanathapuram land and House
records:
Smt Baghirathi (A.k.a Manni Patti) w/o Late Narayanaswamy Jagadeesan
Iyer has requested the partition of the SNP lands and house property to protect
the interests of her 2 minor sons ( J.Venkataramani Iyer aged 15 years and
J.Subramanian Iyer aged 9 years). This was in the year 1914. Manni patti has
unequivocally requested for division in the interests of her 2 minor sons. She further states , "I representing
as mother and guardian of my 2 sons will take full responsibility and care in bringing
up the children as well as maintaining the aforesaid property which are
rightfully due for my minor sons".
The 3 signatories of this division are
(a)
Bhagirathi ammal ( representing as Mother and Guardian for Venkat ramani & Subramanian )
(b) N.Kailasam
Iyer
(c) N.Krishnaswamy Iyer
(internal reference for readers: Note: at the time of partition in 1914:
(a) Our great grandfather Jagadeesan Iyer’s –
grandmother Smt Janaki ammal was alive [Sri Sivasubbarayan Iyer’s wife Smt
Janaki ammal ]
(b) Our great grandfather Jagadeesan Iyer’s – Chitti
- smt Venkatalakshmi ( Ramaswamy Iyer –smt Venkatalakshmi : As per known records the
couple did not have progeny)
(c) Our great grandfather Jagadeesan Iyer’s – Mother Smt Alamelu ammal was alive
1. For this division , our close family well wisher
and respected elder Moolagudi Sri
Srinivasa Iyer and who in the know of all characteristics , qualities,
properties and attributes of our entire SNP
family will play the role of arbitrator
2. In the Karimedu division – Thennalgudi village –
Late N.Jagadeesan Iyer grand-mother Janaki Ammal [ w/o Late Sivasubbarayan Iyer)
is living in an ancestral house. As per this will, she will have full rights
and enjoy the house and after her lifetime, the house will be divided amongst 3
of the below signatories.
3. It is the joint responsibility of the 3
signatories to provide for Smt Janaki ammal till her lifetime ( 80 Big kalam of
paddy and 40 small Kalam of paddy – In total 120 kalam per year - peru Nel and Kuru nel)
4. It is the joint responsibility of the 3
signatories to provide for Smt Venkatalakshmi ammal till her lifetime ( 70 Big
kalam of paddy and 20 small Kalam of paddy – In total 90 kalam per
year).
5. It is the joint responsibility of the 3
signatories to provide for Smt Alamelu ammal till her lifetime ( 80 Big kalam
of paddy and 40 small Kalam of paddy – In total 120 kalam per year,
15 vesam Tamarind and 300 Coconuts). She performs Uma Maheswara Pooja in grand
scale and Rs 200/- to be provided for the same yearly
6. For Alamelu ammal - A sum of Rs 500/- is collected from the 3
signatories and kept aside to perform her last rights , obsequies and other
religious rights. The same is handed over to Sri Kailasam Iyer
(Note:
Alamelu ammal was taken care by Sri Kailasam Iyer till her lifetime and stayed
in the house next to our present day SNP house)
7. The backyard of Sri Kailasam Iyer ends in a water
channel ( Vaaikal). As good-will and in order to facilitate for the passage of Bullocks, Cows, calf and bullock-carts
– pathway is allowed on the property of
Minor J.Venkataramani and J.Subramanian iyer next to the water channel
(note: Kailasam Iyer was staying
in the next house on the right side of our present day SNP house – followed by
J Venkataramani Iyer – followed by Sethuraman Periappa)
8. Our village temple Sri Kailasnatha swamy (Sivan
Kovil) has been provided with common lands and the temple affairs and maintenance
should be taken care and handled by the eldest among the family members
9. Post this partition, the properties belonging to
the individuals will be maintained by them separately.
10. Hence forth, all affairs can be tackled or
handled in friendly manner and right of relationship will be not entertained as
far as the rights of the land, house and properties are concerned.
Manni Patti - In 1914 To stand up in a male dominated society as a single (widowed) woman and commanding supreme respect deserves acclamation of the highest degree.
A woman of great caliber indeed. A shining example of "when a woman is empowered the whole family is empowered"
It is said, she purchased lands at the rate of 1Kuzhi (3 kuzhi = 1 cent ) – 4 Ana’s (1 ana = 6 paise at the time of conversion). When manni patti was bed ridden (almost for 2 years in her last days), only when Subramani Iyer used to give her milk in the bed, she will drink and refuse, if other servants were to touch her for bathing and cleaning. She was very attached to Suppuni and her family.
Note: 100 cents = 1Acre - One acre comprises 4,840 square yards or 43,560 square feet.3 kuzhis make one cent. 100 kuzhis make one Maa. 100 cents an acre. 20 Maas one veli. 6.67 acres make a veli.
The kuzhi, Maa, Veli kanakku in villages is only for computing day to day agricultural requirements like seeds, labour, yield etc. Mirasdars and Kariyasthans knew the size of each plot in terms of kuzhi and maa only. The registrar office used to maintain land records in acres and cents only. Sale deeds will be based on that. After metrification they are being maintained in Hectares. That 3 kuzhis make one cent is a very approximate relation to connect the two systems. Acre is 4840 sq. yards is the basic Brittish system which we studied in schools.
To all the grandchildren, she used to give 1 or 2 ana’s for the Sirkazhi Thirumullaipoal festival. She, passed away sometime between 1954-55 at the grand old age of 90 years
N.Kailasam Iyer was a sub-Judge in the Madras presidency and served in what is to day Andhra Pradesh. He was married to smt Meenakshi, hailing from Umayalpuram near Swamimalai/Kumbakonam).
Kailasam Iyer had one son, K.Gopalakrishna Iyer. Gopalakrishna Iyer was the founder of Standard motors manufacturing Standard motor vans (called as standard 20) and then expanded into manufacturing of Cars (Standard 2000). The factory with machinery and vast arces of land was located in Perungalathur on the outskirts of Chennai. The factory became defunct in the early 1990’s. Currently negotiations are on for converting this lung space into a Software tech park. Gopalakrishna Iyer used to study in the present day SNP House. Gopalakrishnan had a daughter Baby [aka as Alamelu] She was married to K.V.Srinivasan a Chartered accountant of Komal near Kuttalam. Baby’s [Alamelu] daughter Uma is very active on Tsunami related rehabilitation work and also temple related activities in Sirkazhi and surrounding areas.
Shri K.Gopalakrishna Iyer - Founder of Standard Motors
plz see the below link for an article on Shri K.Gopalakrishna Iyer & Smt Maturam.
http://snp-roots.blogspot.com/2010/12/shri-kgopalakrishna-smt-mathuram.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remarks by By KRL:
The large Balasubhramanya temple on Eldams Road, Teynampet, Chennai 600 018 was raised and Kumbabhishekam performed due to untiring efforts of Madhuram Gopalakrishna. She went from Mirasdar to Mirasdar in our district and collected donations for this purpose. Though Gopalakrishna was an agnostic he never objected to or interfered with his wife's religious activities.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sitarama Iyer's son Shri Gopu (CRN’s class mate ), S.Ramamoorthy (Thulsi athai Husband) and his son R.Sundaresan, N.Sridhar (S.Natarjan’s son), Gopu (s/o Raja Iyer and Pattu athanga) worked in Standard Motors.
From Left to Right: Sri Krishnaswamy Iyer with his wife Smt Madhurambal (a)Kunjammal standing behind him. Sri Anantharama Iyer, with his wife known as Avanam Patti standing behind him. The child is Rajammal (Krishnaswamy Iyer's daughter)
N.Krishnaswamy Iyer had 2 sons and 1 daughter. K.Sitarama Iyer and K.Jayarama Iyer. The daughter smt Rajaammal was married to Shri G.R.Muthuswami Iyer belonging to a reputed family in Ganapthy Agraharam.
Sitarama Iyer was a reputed advocate in Sirkazhi and also a government pleader. Jayarama Iyer worked in the defense establishment in Pune drawing a handful salary in those days. Jayarama Iyer resigned his job and came back to the village. Jayaram Iyer lived in SNP (after a few row houses on the opposite side of the street from the present house).
Sitarama Iyer was also the trustee of the Sivan kovil temple before S.S. Srinivasa Iyer. He was also the founder of the SATTANATHER COLONY.
Seetha rama Iyer’s Brother in law R.Appaswamy married Gowri (D/o Naganatha Sastry)
The below section contributed by K.R.Lakshminarayanan.(s/o K.N.Ramanathan...see family tree)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By KRL
K.Sitarama Iyer had a sister married into Ganapathi Agraharam. In fact our Chandru's wife is a grand daughter or some thing like that. The siblings of K.Sitarama Iyer are Shri Gopu, B.S.Haridh (Balu), Chandrasekaran and smt.Dhanalakshmi.
Nelpathur Rangu mama's daughter Raji is married to one Ganapathiraman of Ganapathi Agraharam son of Dr. Narayanaswami Iyer. Sitarama Iyer's sister was related to them. In a marriage when I was introduced to her she became emotional about memories of KNR and my grandmother.
During my grandfather/grandmother's time the Sattanathapuram family and Kaveripatnam family were very close (like with Arupadi later). In fact it was K.Gopalakrishna and K.Sitarama Iyer who escorted KNR to hostel when he joined tthe engineering college.
2. Ramani Iyer, Natarajan's father's elder brother died at Vellore where he had gone for treatment at the Christian Mission Hospital. I remember he was cremated there and the family came to Madras to our house and went to Sattanathapuram. While entering our Theagaraya road house they sprinkled paddy seeds to avoid doshams that might be caused by their entry with theettu. I remember the scene very well. It was in 1952 after we bought the Raman st.plot and before we built the house.
3. Kittachi's wife's name is Jayalakshmi. She is from Velur near Kuttalam and related to Chelliah and Kuppuswami Iyer Andamma's nephews. I have seen Ramani iyer playing cards for high stakes with Chelliah(?) in a marriage. Finally he pledged his belt. I was too young to remember greater details.
4. Kittachi's brother Ramanthan's wife Mangalam (whose son Bombay Ramiah periappa's daughter Vasantha married) hails from Kadiramangalam. Her son lives there still and is a good friend of our Mayavaram Muthu.
5. Ramani iyer's other sister was married to a mirsdar in Annavasal. One daughter was married to a mirasdar of Keezhathanjavur. The other daughter's husband was The National High School teacher Poongavur Srinivasa Iyer and their son is our Mayavaram Lawer S.Krishnamurthy living few doors away from Kittachi's house. Ramani iyer's only son Sethuraman married a girl (Meena) from Keezhathanjavur. Her brother is Babu retired as a top financial guy in IOC .Then Babu went to Middle east.
6. K. Gopalakrishna married the daughter of a gentleman from Kumbakonam, her brother was a top lawer in Madras: K.S. Jayarama Iyer who lived in East Mada Street and whose son was K.J. Mahadevan a famous movie director.
7. I have no ideas about K.Jayarama Iyer's (Chandru's chittappa) wife's side. But He worked in Poona in a Defence establishment during war time or slightly later. He used to halt in our house whenever he came on leave and was proceeding to Sattanathapuram. He was then very affectionate towards me. At the time of Revathi's wedding, though I had invited him, he told me that he came for Nelpathur Balu and not for me. I replied that that his blessings are sufficient for me.
8. Gopalakrishna's share of property were bought by my father or grand father including the house. Later we sold all of them -- I remember it as 8 velis(?).
9. During my recent trip to Coimbatore I met Mr. Rajagopal a tottering old man of 90 Plus. He is Kaliasm Iyer's brother-in-law's son. In other words Meenakshi Ammal's brother's son. The family of Kailasam Iyer's wife belongs to Umaiyalpuram near Swamimalai a famous village.
So we were chatting about old relations. Ambukka's grand mother was Sanamma patti a direct sister of Meenakshi Ammal. So Ambukka is Kailasm Iyer's sister - in - law's grand daughter. Sanamma patti was married to Yagnasami Iyer of Nangavaram who practiced as a lawer in Madurai.
10.Whenever I meet Ambukka or her mother Savithri athanga they will enquire about the welfare of Gopalakrishna's family members. Further the name of Gopalakrishna's daughter is Alamelu alias Baby. She was married to K.V.Srinivasan a Chartered accountant of Komal near Kuttalam.
Just like Gopalakrishna and his cousins were my father's direct ammanjis, Gopalakrishna was Rajagopl's Nephew.
Those are my recollections. If Gopu and Padma (Natarajan's sister) and Sundari (Ramani Iyer's daughter) can also be consultaed for further details.
KRL
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mangalam: She was married to Natesa Iyer of Kaveripattanam. This marriage should have taken place in the end 18th Century (Probably around 1890-1895’s). Their son was K.N Ramanatha Iyer. Their lands were taken care by SNP Ramani Iyer and after him taken care by Kittachi athan (s/o of Janki athai). Pls look into the family tree for subsequent progeny details
K N Ramanatha Iyer was married to A N Kalayanasundaram's sister Baghirathi [Prognies of Arupathy Natesa Iyer] and thereby the first 'sambandam' between the Arupathy and SNP came into existence (ofcourse via a kaveripattan axis). Arupathy.N. Kalayanasundaram (Son of Arupathy Natesa Iyer, who built a temple in Arupathy near Mayuram for Meenakshi amman.) ANK’s daughter Kamala is married to S.Natarajan of SNP.
