CHAPTER 4- FAMILY LIFE IN KALLIDAIKURICHI

The years rolled by into thereabouts 1933 when  a bonnie little daughter  with large eyes and curly, black hair was born to Narayani. That was Lakshmi, my mother or Echi as she came to be called affectionately by everybody.The birth of the long awaited child brought cheer and happiness to anxious Narayani and Sahasranamam vindicating Narayani from the  disapproval of a patriarchal society which did not look kindly upon a childless woman. 

CHAPTER 3-THE EARLY YEARS

If music be the food of love, play on

That is how Narayani stepped into the folds of the distinguished RSA family, little knowing her altered status  which was to place on her tender, young shoulders the responsibility of running a household in keeping with the stringent requirements of a rigid patriarchy even while upholding and fostering the social and religious traditions of a large extended family.At the tender age of eight, Narayani was just like any other Brahmin child bride of the early twentieth century, Schooling did not extend beyond the first or second standard, depending on the age, at which the girl got married.it was not considered necessary for a girl child to be educated- all that she needed to know was calculating the milkman and dhobi’s dues. She was reared and trained for the societal important twin tasks of child bearing and running a household which also involved doing heavy domestic chores. In the stifling milieu that was the lot of the Brahmin girl child, Narayani’s  intellect and talents were like a flower in bloom. Music and books were the dearest companions of this young girl at an age when other girls would have been  engrossed in fineries like jewellery and clothes. Not to say that Narayani was an ascetic. I, her granddaughter observed that she had a fine taste in jewels, clothes and utensils which was exhibited when she systematically went about the task of acquiring items for her daughters’ wedding trousseau. In that age of intellectual darkness, grandmother developed a taste for classics like The Three musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo.  She knew all the tales of the Bhagavatha Purana. Her recall and narration of scriptural stories was astounding, putting us, her grandchildren, who are living in the digital age  to shame. She had a thirst for learning and knowledge which was insatiable. In her old age, when cataract dulled her vision and she could not read, she would request her grand children to read from these books.  She read and reread, never bored, never tired.

As was the custom in those days, she waited for puberty to go to her husband’s house.  Narayani spent this time -vacuum in the most worthy way possible- learning and absorbing music. her lifelong passion. Well, music was the stuff that Narayani’s life was made of and those nimble fingers danced on the harmonium keys even as she sang in G, pitch 5. In this artistic pursuit, she  was fully supported by her father. Her Guru for learning Carnatic music traditionally was Sangeetha Kalanidhi Ramalinga Bhagavthar who also hailed from Kallidaikurichi. Her father also musically inclined, had the acquaintance of many musicians . It is said that he would request any vidwan to whom he was introduced,to come to his house to teach the young Narayani a kriti or two. Music sat easily on her shoulders and so it came about that this highly versatile girl learnt to play the violin and veena with equal dexterity. One can go on and on about her musical talents, indeed so well known was she that people after ascertaining my ancestry, would remark, " Oh! Are you Narayani's grand daughter ? How beautifully would she sing".  
   

As we talk about Narayani's musical abilities, there is an anecdote which must be mentioned here.  Father Viswanathan Iyer lent money to a man who was unable to repay it. In lieu of the borrowed amount, the man left a pile of gramophone records of Marathi Natya Sangeet. The young Narayani played and listened to these songs so many times that they became a part of her psyche.  This intense  and constant dialogue with music gave her the spiritual strength to face and tide over some anxious phases inner early married life because the birth of her eldest child, my mother, was considerably delayed.  She joyously transported herself into the  world of Marathi Natya Sangeet, effortlessly transcending an unknown, unfamiliar language barrier to comprehend the  rich nuances of  this highly lyrical and spiritual idiom with its many pastoral shades.  She was very fond of yesteryear musical legend K.L Saigal. Let us now listen to one Abhang which was her favourite.  In this highly melodious lyric  with its musical cadences, the devotee implores Lord Hari to rein in his mind, distracted  with worldly desires and pursuits,so as to meditate wholly on the one and only hari, mere utterance of whose name is sweeter than nectar.