Who Am I ?

One  person  identified by multiple relationships and titles – Who Am I ?

Let me take myself as an example.

The following different statements may be true and applicable to all and known fact too!

I am a son to my parents.

I am a father to my children.

I am a grandson to my grandparents.

I am a brother to my siblings.

I am a cousin to my close relatives.

I was a student to my teacher.

I am a friend to my friends.

I am a neighbor to my neighbor.

I was an employee to my employer.

I am a husband to my wife.

I am a brother-in-law to my brother-in-laws’ and sister-in-laws’.

I am a father-in-law to my son-in-law and daughter-in-law.

I am a colleague to other  colleagues.

I am a mentor to my team.

I am a superior to my subordinates.

I am an uncle to my nephew and niece.

I am called ‘ uncle ‘ by young  boys & girls and by grownups also!

I may be a foe to someone !

I  am  a trainer to the trainees.

I am a devotee of Krishna.

And many more titles and relationships…….

But WHO AM I ?  I found an answer in the article of Shri Madhudvisa Dasa  in "Krishna .Org".

“I am not this Body.” Easy to say…

The body is a machine, like a motor car is a machine. I am within this body as the driver is within the motor car.

Now the motor car has many needs. It needs gas, it needs oil, it needs to have it’s tires pumped up and so on. But if one forgets the driver in the car and simply concentrates on the machine and the needs of the machine the driver will not be satisfied.
He will be sitting in the car starving. Because the food of the driver is different from the food of the car. You cannot feed the driver gas. His food is different.
So we are the driver of this body. This body has so many needs, but these bodily needs are different from our needs, we are the driver of the body, the soul within the body, “the ghost in the machine…”

So our idea is to satisfy the bodily needs only as much as necessary to maintain the body in a healthy condition and spend the rest of our time and energy in spiritual activities which help us to reawaken our original spiritual consciousness, these are our real needs, the needs of the soul.
It is not that we do not eat, or sleep, or have sex or defend, but these things are done in a regulated way to maintain the body in a healthy condition. But as the motor car is simply a vehicle which is meant to transport the driver to his destination, we see this material body as a vehicle which can be used to transport the driver–the soul–to his ultimate destination: back home, back to Godhead.
If we spend all our time trying to satisfy the senses of our body we will waste all our time and energy in this way and become completely distracted from the real purpose of life which is to get out of this material world and get back home to the spiritual world where we will get an eternally youthful spiritual body full of knowledge and full of pleasure… Then we will really be happy…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
December 31,2008
Courtesy : Krishna.Org / Community

Forgotten Musicians of our families

Forgotten Musicians– Isaikalaimani , Vidwan Shri.E.M.Ramakrishnan  and Musician Shri.T.B.Gnanasabapathy.

In recent times I started writing about  mine and my close relative’s ancestors and their services to the society. In the process I have come across a book  in my own library  “ MATERIA MUSICA  -  FUNDAMENTALS OF SOUTH INDIAN OR KARNATIC MUSIC IN A NUTSHELL “  written  by  a close relative , Shri. E.M.Ramakrishnan., in '60s.

Let me tell about how I got  my short time association   with that great person.  He was my sister-in-law’s grandfather ( My younger brother Sri.M.D.Ramesh’s wife  Smt.Pramodhini’s )  and father of Smt.Bamini Rajaram ( wife of Prof. Shri.V.Rajaram ). He lived in Thyagaroya Gramani Street , North  Thyagaroya Nagar, Chennai -17, when my brother got married.

Shri.E.M.Ramakrishnan was  known among our relatives as a great  Jalatharangam Musician . But I found more about him in his book.

·         Composer - Director – Teacher of Indian music ( for the musical broadcast production of ) Lutheran Centre,Madras,1954 to 1966

·         Jalatharangam – Musician, Gemini Studios , Madras, 1942 to 1957

·         Music-Maker of certain Indian Documentary Films,1956 to 1958

·         Guest artist for jalatharangam to the New York Little Orchestra for the world premiere of HENRY COWELL’s Thirteenth Symphony ( Madras Symphony ) under the direction of THOMAS SCHERMAN , in Madras , 1959.

Following additional details are available in his book:

EXTRACT from “ THE MAIL ‘ newspaper dtd.September 20,1966 page 3

The title of “ Isai Kalaimani “ was conferred on Vidwan E.M.Ramakrishnan,Music Composer by the Luthern Centre, Nungambakkam, at a function got up to bid farewell to Mr.Ramakrishnan on his retirement from service.

Felicitation to Shri.E.M.Ramakrishnan  on his retirement by Shri.B.W..Chelladurai,Chairman,Executive Committee dtd.19^th Sep.’66.

Mr.E.Ramakrishnan who has worked in this institution as Music Composer for the past several years retired from service on 9^th September, ’66. He is very proficient in Carnatic music and has composed original music to about 300 lyrics. He is good at classical and light music as well.

He is a brilliant Jalatharangam player. He also plays several other instruments. He has been an asset to this institution and has contributed a great deal to the development of religious and secular music.

I wish him all happiness and God’s blessings in the days to come.

(Sd.) B.W.Chelladurai,Chairman,Executive Committee.

Another perusable  from Prof.P.Sambamoorthy, Head of the Department of Indian Music, University of Madras and Director of Sangita Vadyalaya, Madras. President , Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Madras.

His Certificate dtd. 22^nd July ‘65 : I know Sri Vidwan E.M.Ramakrishnan for a long time. He is a good musician and plays on the Jalatharangam. ( Sd.) P.Sambamoorthi, Director Sangita Vidyalaya , Annamalai Manram, Esplanade, Madras-1

Henry Cowell was a great music composer whose Thirteenth Symphony ( Madras Symphony ) was premiered by The New York Little Orchestra under the direction of THOMAS SCHERMAN , in Madras in 1959.

He wrote from Shady, N.Y., U.S.A , on May 24^th , 1959 :

Dear Mr.Ramnakrishnan:

May I offer my thanks to you for your splendid playing of the Jalatarang part in my Thirteenth Symphony? I have heard the record, and enjoyed your performance very much indeed. It is good of you to have taken the time and effort to have done this, and it is a very deeply appreciated.

Sincerely,

(Sd.) Henry Cowell

About him and his book in his own words – in the Preface of the above said book ( 18-3-1967 )

"I have written in a nutshell this book on music for those  interested in but require brief and simple tution on the fundamentals of South Indian or karnatic music. The essential materials presented in the book in response to the pressing requests from several students, friends and institutions are the result of my amateur musical experience during my academic years in the Madras presidency and Christian colleges, 1926 to 1930 ( the year 1930 diverted me from the B.A.class 0 and of years of practical experience as a professional performer ( on Jalatharangam or water-bowls organ ) , teacher, composer and director of south Indian or karnatic ( also titled ) music.

I have designed this book with appropriate charts to make understanding most easy for the inlanders and foreigners alike.

Materia Musica,  is the general title with the symbol Sakaraa borne by bevery one of my books on music including this.

 My sincere thanks are due to my daughters who encouraged and assisted me in fair-writing my manuscripts and correcting the typescripts."

Dynamic Printers, Madras -18 , carried out the printing of his book.

I am lucky enough to have a copy of the book , gifted to me by Prof. Shri.V.Rajaram ( son-in-law of Shri.E.M.Ramakrishnan )

In this context I would also want to say few lines of another musician , my grandfather ( my mother, Janaki Devarajan’s father ) , Shri.T.B.Gnanasabapathy .

 There is no history available in any document. By the word of mouth through my mother I know his talents as a musician, music teacher , Harmonium player for street plays , a photographer  and by profession a Draftsman   , worked in Government of India , Survey department. He lived in Mandavelli and we used to visit him when we were young. He is a story teller too.A group photo of him along with  British stalwarts in Survey dept. is in my archive collections along with a  Drafting Compass  and a glass cutter , he used for his photography.

I wish to  emphasize that our ancestors were really great personalities to remember  for their services to the society in some form and  share their life and times  to our descendants.

A Community thriving for a reservation proportionate to its strength in Government since 1891

In today’s scenario caste does not play a big role in social life of families. Many of us would have seen marriages of our kith and kin getting  married to other community boys or girls and in the elite society it is acceptable . But in the field of employment and other social benefits from Government it is different and a matter of concern.

 I wrote on tracing our ancestors in my last blog , based upon Sr.V.Sambasivam’s  “ The Veerasami Genealogy “ . But now a step beyond I look into the community of our ancestors  again by a small booklet  reproduced by the same gentleman with a sample of the noble service rendered by our ancestors 65 years ago ( now 72 years ).

It is about the Presidential Address delivered by Sri.A.Raju Nayaker,B.A.,  a  Retired District  Forest Officer  and Honorary Presidency Magistrate , at the GOLDEN JUBILEE  of The Vanniakula Kshatriya Mahasangam held on 5.5.1940.

I wish to bring out few excerpts from the long address , “ compelled to speak to you on the several topics indispensible for our uplift “ ( in his own words ) .

Communal Association Justified : “ A community’s interest is only to complimentary to the country’s cause .The Mahasangam is therefore not only to further its own interests but also to stimulate a feeling of brotherhood among all.”

Past Glory and Present Condition of the Community : “There is no use of merely singing of the ‘Pride of Birth’ or ‘The Pomp of power’ of the Pallavas ….. I put illiteracy first , because I have found , in my official career , in the several districts of this Presidency , that for want of education, Rajas , Zamindars , Jaghirdars , Mirasdhars and Mokhassadars of tamil and Telugu districts fell in the evil influences of others.. became dispossessed of their properties and wealth… “

Birth and Work of Mahasangam : “ …. philanthropic and ancient  Mariners such as Gopala nayaker , Theagaraya mayaker , Chokkalinga nayaker , Singaravelu Nayaker , Ettiyappa Nayaker , Arumuga nayaker , balabadra nayaker and others , realizing education to be the panacea of all evils , started the Mahasangam…opened schools and choultries , educating members of this and other communities.”

Other Charitable Institutions of the Community :  “ … there were other charitable institutions  … contributed to the amelioration of this and other communities. 1. P.T.Lee Chengalvaraya Naicker’s Charity and Technical Institute incorporated with Pachaiyappa’s Charities.”

Paucity of Representations in Government Service and Public Bodies, Causes and Remedies : “ Out of 1713 Indian Gazetted Officers, our community with a polulation of 30 lacs, has only the negligible number of 6, though it has more than 200 University graduates of various degrees. There is not a single Sub-Inspector of Police of Madras though this community numbers 70,000 forming 11% of the entire population…”

Rural Uplift : “ Prohibition - … This community and other backward classes are under a deep debt of gratitude to the Congress Government for the introduction of prohibition. “

Co-operative Credit Banks , Night Schools , Reading rooms , Libraries & Lectures :”…. Rural members with the city members , rural uplift has been organized in the shape of night schools , reading rooms , libraries …Periodical lectures … to supplement and quicken the knowledge.”

Backward Class Fee Concessions: “ The Government passed orders withholding half-free-fee-concessions for failure in any examination…. The Govermnent and School authorities must be requested not to withhold such fee-concessions as it will strand the poor boys in the midst of their course made at a great sacrifice to their families.”

Propaganda Work, Vernacular Journals and lectures :” For this purpose , journals in Tamil or Telugu … must be published …on very important topics for the information of both Tamil and Telugu members.. ‘

Social Reform - Friendship with Other Communities : “ It is detrimental to the interest of any community to feel either superiority-complex or inferiority complex. I have creed my religion,(Hinduism), the Bible, The  Quaran and some other religions. I am above caste and creed and I am a friend of all communities “

Marriages : “ But some of our educated men have not outlived some evils of marriages, inspite of their education, by claiming money , immovable property, or other emoluments in the matrimonial markets”

The World war : “ A great crisis is this hanging over the world. Should we not as Vanniyakula- Kshatriyas organize regiments of our own community and do our bit for the cause of democracy?….. We may fight with the British Government for freedom but we must always support it against a foreign foe. “

Backward Class league : “Out of 608 Non-Brahmin Gazetted Officers in the Presidency, the Backward communities get 13 posts working out a percentage of 1.6 , thus leaving 98 % … to the forward Non-Brahmin …. These had practically no other go than to organize the backward classes league composed of 103 classes and forming more than one-third of the population of the Province.”

Sri.A.Raju Nayaker closed his address …” With union, self-reliance, patience, perseverance, spirit of sacrifice , trust in God, peace and goodwill among the members of our community, we are sure to be rewarded with success in all our undertakings.  AMEN .”

From the above excerpts we could see how Sri.A.Raju Nayaker , fought for the uplift of the community members in the pre-independence  days.  All the topics  of his address seems to be  a matter of concern at that time and he never left anything to add.  Years passed and still the claim is going on , which you may find in the newspaper clippings  dated May 7^th, 2012, given below.

Vanniyar Sangam, the association from which the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) was born, has threatened to launch a series of protests demanding 20 per cent exclusive reservation for the community, which is now listed among the ‘Most Backward Communities'.

Making a strong case for compartmental reservation, taking into consideration the backwardness and population of each community, as was in vogue in neighbouring Kerala, Dr Ramadoss said all the communities in Tamil Nadu should be given reservation proportionate to their strength. “We need 20 per cent reservation in Tamil Nadu and two per cent reservation in the Central government jobs and educational opportunities,” he further said.

Our ancestors were not only great men or women , but also  great philanthropists , worked for  various causes of human being  and  for  communal harmony. Let us pay our homage to the past generation heros of Vanniyakula Kshatriya Community.

Again my thanks goes to Sri.V.Sambasivam for his effort in bringing out the small booklet which paved me to go in depth of the noble services of Sri.A.Raju Nayaker and to share with present generation.

Family Tree - Tracing our Ancestors

Family Tree – Tracing our Ancestors !

First I wish to share that   how come I am deeply  interested  on the above subject. On a fine evening  , during a visit to my sister’s place in Annanagar , I happened to see a beautiful large book on Genealogy , “ The Veerasami Genealogy “ wonderfully made by Mr.V.Sambasivam,IRS ( Retd. ) , a close relative of my brother-in-law . He has done a wonderful project on tracing his ancestors , and not only forming a Family Tree, he met all the living descendents  ,  compiled  great details of their photos, profession, qualifications, address, contact phones and the inter-relationships  among the direct descendents of Sri.Veerasami . He published and released the book inviting each and every one , who lives and being a part ( branch ) of the family  tree in a get together with all fun and fare  to recall everybody’s  nostalgic moments of happy past , in August 2005.

Family tree – is a pedigree chart representing family relationships in a conventional tree structure Genealogical data can be represented in several formats.

The longest family tree in the world today is that of the Chinese Philosopher and Educator Confucius 

( 551-479 BC ) and he is the descendant of King Tang ( 1675-1646 BC ). The tree spans more than 80 generations. We have studied in schools n the genealogy of world  famous Kings and Queens , world leaders , and many others in the field of culture, music, art, politics , science etc.  and similar great personalities in our Indian history. We were bound to remember them for academics.

But we never think of our own  ancestors whose gene is still in our physical body, all our ancestors would have contributed to one’s DNA . Some culture confer reference to ancestors , both living and dead.

Some people seek providence from deceased  ancestors. We do perform annual rituals for our ancestors during death anniversaries and the prohit will ask for names up to three generations. Even if he asks beyond that we many may not remember the names. In this material world we were taught to remember the genealogy of others than our own.

In the great epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana ,  for me it may be very difficult to recall the names of many characters and their descendants.

Mr.Sambasivam’s genealogy research and publication  gave an inspiration to look back my ancestors and create a family tree . I was so curious since I saw the booklet and started tracing  back to three generations. I know that it s too late to  start this research, as myself is sixty years old and  I miss many relatives older than me.  However to get few names I have contacted Smt.Saraswathi mami ,Thangamani’s mother and daughter-in-law of my father’s  aunt , who is the only senior citizen in my father’s side lives in Mylapore.

So I wish to take a small step in tracing my ancestor from my great grand father , Sri Deivasigamani Naicker and Smt. Baggiammal.  I could able to download a free software to form my family tree and completed the tree with 100 names  limit as the  software  is a free one ,and so  it does not allow to add more of the fifth generation kid’s names.

It gives me self satisfaction in accurate story telling. Have ever people said to you , “ It’s in your genes “.They were talking about a physical characteristic , personality trait, or talent that you share with other members of your family. We know that gene play an important role in shaping how we look and act. Heredity is the passing of genes from one generations to the next.

I wish everyone should trace back their  ancestors and cherish the  past and wonder on many changes happened in our present life period  compared to three or four generations life style.

There is a living proof of my ancestor, great grand mother’s charity to temples for yearly festivals , recorded 96 years before ( 1915) in the  temple wall stones tablet.  We are blessed and still the respects are given to us, we being fourth generation family members. This is about the annual Thiruvathirai festival celebrated at Sri Velleeswarar temple in South Mada street at Mylapore. We were told by our father that they have donated a full row of stone steps for all four sides of Mylapore Kapaleeswarar temple tank  and I am still searching for the stone tablet !

As it is not possible to attach the Family Tree made  by me in this blog , I wish the readers can try of their own and share with their children on the good deeds and living style of their ancestors.

Excerpts from  the introduction  of “ The Veerasami Genealogy  “ of Sri.V.Sambasivam  dated  August 2005.

 “…Every bloodline has some good and some bad and every genealogy history is a physical and spiritual foundation.

Children can grow in their knowledge of history and gain a healthy respect for their communities and their family.

This would help families nuture the existing relationships and develop new bonds. “

In this booklet  you can find ...8 generations...276 marriages...806 individuals,,,earliest date of birth --- 1819

The Family tree will play a pivotal role in bringing to light, the genius of Ancestors.

It is nice to mention that my sister's ( Smt.Vasanthamala Chandrasekharan's ) complete family were a part of the branches of the great Family ( Banyan ) Tree.

History or Her-story can be traced back from DNA  ( Deoxyribonucleic Acid ) studies. On the lighter  side , to close this blog , an information to share : To close 98% of DNA in our genes are exactly the same as  Chimpanzees's !!!

M.D.Chander ( myself )

Son of Sri.M.Devarajan and Smt.Janaki Devi

Grand son of Sri.Murugesa Naicker and  Smt.Saradhambal

Great grand son of Sri.Deivasigamani Naicker and Smt.Baggiammal

( sorry ! I could not list my family and my sibling’s family  here as they have a place in my Family Tree already).

My thanks to Sri.V.Sambasivam  uncle , his wife Smt.Jayalakshmi akka and the Architect of their project , Dr.Jaipal ( a close relative of my mother ) for the  great efforts on this subject and  indirectly inspired me to start my own project.  My high regards to Sri.Sambasivam uncle for his generous help in pursuing my daughter’s higher studies in abroad. God Bless his family.

We pray Lord Krishna  for giving  this material life through generations and pray Him to guide in spiritual life towards Krishna Consciousness. Chant Hare Krishna and Be Happy.