Sattanathapuram House

There is a remark by somebody (I do not know whom), but this is oft repeated “Intha manayil vazhbavan, Arasan pol vazhvan”.( The people of this house will live like kings). By the divine blessing and good deeds of our ancestors and elders, the current clan elders and their succeeding progenies have prospered well in life.

The old Sattanathapuram house (comprising the Kitchen,the cooking area in the back,the ugranul and the place where the 2nd Pathayam (wooden containers for storing grains) is kept, were part of the original old house. These areas are more than 100 years old. The front manor room, ladies room, delivery room, Koodam, the pooja area, the Mutham (place for drying grains and other spices, storage space during rainy season), were latter day additions and was completed on 2nd May 1939. The internal wooden structures are made out of Teak wood.

The date inscription '2-5-39' as seen from the northern entrance

Shri Narayanaswamy iyer (eldest S/o Kailasam Athan) gave a graphical description about the old house. There used to be a long cement bench from enerance to the present day Mutham (Storage place) on both sides, followed by the rooms of the old house. S.Natarajan, V.Sethu and Narayanaswamy Iyer were class mates and tutions used to be conducted for them in the front open space.

The partition between Ramani Iyer and Subramani Iyer took place sometime in the year 1948 (after the partition of the country !!!). The partition of the property between Ramani and Subramani Iyer was not smooth and was marked by acrimonious events in the family. Ramani Iyer has indicated that he will take the present SNP house and Subramani Iyer and family were supposed to move to the next house. Subramani Iyer was ok with this and did not raise any protest, for it was not his habit to question his brother’s decision, whether rational or irrational.

Manni patti was not happy with the decision of Subramani Iyer , being asked to move to the next house. She has told her elder son Ramani, it seems, “Suppani is a big samsari with 10 children and he should stay in this big house”. The lands were divided equally between the brothers and Subramani Iyer received approximately 35 acres as his share. The entire Cash, vessels, furniture etc in the house were getting partitioned.

At that time, Seetharama Iyer - advocate [s/o Krishnaswamy Iyer and govt. pleader] has walked in and Manni patti took a copper vessel (a sombu),showed it to Seetharaman and said “yen pillai yenaku sombu koduthirukkan paru” – (My son has given me a copper vessel ) and in a fit of rage and anger threw the vessel onto the mutham [central placs-hall]. Ramani Iyer was infuriated with anger and spoke harsh words to his mother. At this moment Suppuni placed his hand firmly on Ramani’s shoulders and said ‘Ramani Niruthu” ( Ramani Stop).

Ramani Iyer did not speak a word after that and immediately said, he will move out of the house iso Subramani Iyer.

The iron girder in the mutham (central place) was completed in 1953. The patarai (Iron machinery) was placed in the lands behind the house and was done by Adaikalaraj from Sembanar Kovil)