I’m extremely happy and delighted, to see that lot of people are taking interest to dig deep into their ancestry and start writing about their ancestors. One of my objectives, when I started writing a few years back about ancestry was to arouse the passion in individuals to shed light on ancestry and the greatness of their ancestors to the succeeding generations.
I have always believed true greatness comes from “strength of character” and not by money or wealth alone.
In this edition we see a small write-up about Advocate K.Sitarama Iyer and his wife Smt Janaki Ammal. We have seen about them in brief under the main article “SNP Clan : Shivasubbarayar to Jagadeesan Iyer, Manni Patti (Bhagirathi)”
The photographs and write up about smt Janki ammal is contributed by Shri Chandrasekar.
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)
Sri Anatharama Iyer is the Father In Law of Krishnaswamy Iyer [ Sri Sitarama Iyer's maternal grandfather]
The above photgraph is 106 years old [As on 03rd Nov'2010]
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.
Advocate K.Sitarama Iyer and Smt Janaki Ammal
Sitarama Iyer was a reputed advocate in Sirkazhi and also a government pleader. Sitarama Iyer was also the trustee of the Sivan kovil temple before S.S. Srinivasa Iyer. (Present trustee). One can still see a stone plaque in the ‘Arulmigu Kailasanathar temple’ in Sattanathapuram, mentioning the name of Sri Sitarama Iyer, under whose trusteeship the Kumbhabhishekam was performed in 1961. Later he handed over the trusteeship to S.S.Srinivasan Iyer and family who was his nephew once removed.
He was also the founder of the “SATTANATHER COLONY” in Sirkazhi town.
Smt Janaki ammal was born on 15th august,1905, to Shri K.Ramachandra Aiyer,& Smt Kamalambal. Sri K. Ramachndra Iyer was an reputed advocate who practiced in Madras High court. The house where he lived in, was known as "Rama Vilas" in West Mada street, Mylapore. Rama Vilas used to be a hub of activities with all the family members & grand children converging there for vacation and festivities. In the ancestral abode of Rama Vilas , Loads of fun, affection and an ambience of warmth was ever present. Even to this date, one has a nostalgic feeling when passing by "Ramavilas" and the recollection of those memorable days come before the eyes of the progenies of K.Sitarama Iyer.
After marriage, the couple settled in Sirkazhi.
Link to Sattanatapuram main family tree
The children of K.Sitarama Iyer & smt Janaki ammal are Smt Dhanalakshmi, Shri Gopalakrishnan (Gopu), Sri B.S.Haridh (Balu) and Sri Chandrasekaran (Chandru).
Smt Janaki Ammal was an embodiment of affection and personified a typical house wife. Her world was her family and she placed her husband and children before everything else. Her attachment towards the family was total. In her 60 years of married life with Sri Sitarama Iyer, it is said that she had never left her husband alone in Sirkazhi and had gone to visit her close relatives in Chennai. They were inseparable. Fame and repute were in attendance to Sri Sitarama Iyer and In spite of that, she maintained the same humble moorings & refrained from exhibition of lavishness. She was not an ardent devotee indulging in big poojas, but at the same time believed in the power of almighty & performed the daily prayers.
Smt Janaki ammal in her younger days, had attended Violin classes, & reached a level of proficiency. Sri.Chandrasekar owes to his mother, for developing in him an interest in Carnatic music and fondly remembers the days when she used to sing in a relaxed mood, relaxing in the swing (oonjal) & Sri Chandrasekar by her side, used to identify the ragas.
Janaki ammal passed away on 23rd June,1986.
The ultimate tribute to her can be seen in the glowing references advocate K.Sitarama Iyer had made and noted them in his "Will".
Progenies of K.Sitarama Iyer & Janaki ammal: Left to Right:Chandru,Dhanalakshmi,Gopu and Balu
The below article written by Shri Chandru (3rd son of Sri K.Sitarama Iyer)
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SHRI K.SITARAMA AIYER.
Sri K.Sitarama Aiyer was born on 6th June 1898 as the eldest son (member) to Sri R.Krishnasamy Aiyer & Smt Madhurambal (of Sattantahapuram village).He was born in Avanam village at the ancestral house of his maternal grandparents. With his father passing away at an early age,the family responsibility fell on him.His sister Rajammal was married by then.Shri Jayaraman, his brother was then a child,&17 years younger to him.Chithappa (Paternal Uncle) was totally brought up by him with a fatherly figure.
He was so much attached to his maternal grandparents that even during his college days ( B.A in KMU college, & Law College in madras.), he made very frequent visits to Avanam to enquire about them as well as look after them. It is said that, on a particular day, on a very sudden inexplicable urge, he reached Avanam only to be by the death bed of his loving grandfather . Till the end of his life, he performed the annual ceremonies to his maternal grandparents with devotion.
A totally self made person, his life was a perfect blend of the then modern professional life & that of a village mirasdar.
On the Professional front: He set up his practice as a lawyer at Nagapattinam & subsequently moved to Sirkali. With a humble beginning, sheer devotion, hard work, & seniors’ guidance, he steadfastly rose up to reach the top of the bar, & quite deservingly appointed as the Government-pleader. At the early stage, as a member of the bar committee he played a leading role in successfully persuading the Govt. to retain the District Munisfff’s court at Sirkali. He had a great sense of professional ethics & one of the high court judges (the then Dt Munisiff of Sirkali), said “Sri Sitarama Aiyer is one of the very few advocates, I have come across in my career with highest devotion & honesty in the profession.” after, we, (the children) were comfortably settled, he chose to/opted for a retired life much against the wishes of his loyal clients, defacto throwing away a good practice.
On the Personal front: He was a very loving husband, father, & a Grand father. He was very keen & desirous of his children well educated & settled. The excitement, satisfaction & the glee in his eyes- I still cherish- on my good performance of securing the magical figure of 400+/600 in SSLC exams.
As a mirasdar, he was a tough task master, with a high degree of humane touch with all the managerial traits. Typical of a mirasdar’s house, there used to be a cart, bullocks, & cows, with a male servant in attendance. He devoted time paying special attention &care for the cattle’s. His return home from the court will be announced/welcomed/heralded fondly by the cows with a loud maa**** sound in chorus. Without even removing the black coat, he used to straight proceed to the cowshed, give them an affectionate pat, calling them “chellangala”, will pullout handful of hay from the stack,& hand feed them—will lead them to the water tub, stirring it with a special stick. While they were being fed, especially on the mattu pongal day, he used squat in front of them, hand mixing the feed, thirst quenching of the new born calf with a ”paalladai”—almost sitting on it, with his legs apart &pulling out it’s (calf)tongue--- a scene to be enjoyed. He bought from his client Sri Madanagopal Naidu of Edamanal Estate, a bullocks drawn cart specially designed, cushioned, with the rim of the wheels tyred, & with windows (cathu vandi), being a novice those days. He visited Sattanathapuram riding in it, well recognized by the locals as Vakil ayya’s veetu vandi. With his professional acumen, he formed a co-op society & founded the Shri Sattanather housing colony, which today boasts of as the best residential locality at Sirkali. Ours is a big bungalow built there in 1954 & he spent his retired life peacefully in it with mother, till the end.
An endearing smile on his face was his forte. Vaira kadukkan, Vaira rings, & Jariga angavastram were his trade marks. He addressed the children & the loved ones affectionately as “chellam”.
He was able to adopt himself to any company of any age group with pleasure. His rappot with Sattanathapuram cousins was excellent & they, plus the village karnam affectionately & reverentially addressed him “Anna” (elder brother), & sought & valued his council. He appreciated & enjoyed Carnatic music by the stalwarts of his era. His love for cricket was notable &enjoyed listening to the test match commentary.
Religious front: During his tenure as trustee of the Shiva temple at Sattanatapuram he performed kumbabishekam in 1961. He maintained a balanced outlook on religion. He visited Kasi, Gaya,& Allahabad triveni sangamam, & performed ceremonies to the ancestors.
After a brief illness he passed away on 20th february,1975 at his eldest son Gopu’s house in madras.
He lived a life true to ‘Thomas Gray’s “Elegy written in a courtyard”
“Far from the madding crowd the ignoble learned to srive.”
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Smt Dhanalakshmi, (eldest daughter of Sri K Sitarama Iyer and Smt Janaki ammal) was married to Shri Balasubramaniam.Smt Dhanalakshmi, currently lives in Bangalore.
Shri K.R.Krishnasamy aiyer,the elder brother of smt Janaki ,was an advocate who practiced in Madras high court. He was married to Smt Visalam, his maternal uncle's daughter.
Smt Jayalakshmi, (eldest sister of Smt Janaki ammal) was married to Justice Panchapagesa Sastry.
Shri Appu Sami aiyer , retired as chief cashier in Indian Bank.He was married to smt Gowri ammal, the daughter of Shri Naganatha sastry, Sanskrit Scholar and reputed advocate from Tanjavur.
