January, 2010

Our First Issue!

A Keralaiyers e-magazine for the changing times

Virtual Agraharams
Power of internet samoohams & what
could being a “PATTAR” mean in future

Real Pattar Stories

A peek into the inspiring lives of Pattars of
the yore, some celebrated, many unsung

Also in this issue:

Bhagvad Gita for In the Spotlight: From the Adukulai:

Modern Times Anitha Krishna Chakkara Pongal
Visit us online : http://sites.google.com/site/taranginiki/
 EDITORS
HRIDYA RAMANI
A regular at Orkut Palakkad
Iyers community before, I
finished my studies in Bio-
chemistry in Chennai in
2006, worked in Bangalore
for a while, followed by a
stint at Dutch Publishing
Co (Elsevier) in Chennai. I
currently reside in East
Malaysia post my marriage
in July 2009.
NAVNEET T. NARAYAN
I have been intermittently
active in Orkut Palakkad
Iyers community and a
member of pattars yahoo
group. I finished my BTech
in Civil Engineering in
2007, my MS in Structural
Engineering in 2008 and
worked in Los Angeles as a
Structural Engineer until
recently. I currently live in
Pasadena, California.
V O L U M E 1 ,
Tarangini
I S S U E
Editorial
We are all so aware of the
Keralaiyer communities which
exist on Orkut, notable being the
Palakkad Iyers Orkut group and
Kerala Iyers Orkut Samooham.
Then, there are others propping
up on Facebook too. While these
have turned out to be excellent
in terms of one-on-one sharing
of ideas and knowledge between
individuals, particularly young
ones, nothing definitive has come
out of these discussions for the
community as a whole and lets
face it, it has been more about
fooling around (timepass, if you
would like to call that). Many
could be aware of other
communities that exist outside of
Orkut/Facebook space. One of
the most prominent of those are
the Pattars/ Keralaiyers Yahoo
group who have existed since
2001, even prior to advent of
social networking sites. In fact,
they have achieved much more
that social networks in terms of
voluntary community ventures,
main ones being the Kerala Iyers
Trust (KIT) and the Kalyanam
Portal.
1 1 4
The general consensus is that the
pattars yahoo group and the
Orkut groups operate in
isolation with the former mainly
consisting of the older generation
while the latter ones have young
blood. Shouldn’t we be looking at
ways to engage both? As such,
the internet space itself is
transforming so swiftly that one
needs to keep abreast with the
latest happenings and be able to
put the web to good community
use.
In view of this, and with a
wholesome goal of achieving
an integrated virtual pattars
community which not just merely
interacts, but also contributes
actively to benefit the
community, we realized the
potential of this dialogue
between Keralaiyers / Yahoo
pattars group and Orkut
communities and decided to start
a monthly Keralaiyers e-magazine
called Tarangini, primarily
bridging this gap between the
two online communiti es,
between old and the young, the
traditional and so-called modern.
T H J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 0
This is a voluntary community
initiative and we would certainly
welcome more people in this
endeavour. So folks, start
contributing, because the reach of
this e-zine will not be just limited
to people using social networking
sites, but significant others from
our community and we would
really like to engage the whole
internet space dynamically.
Ideas and suggestions are
welcome. Post your articles,
thoughts, cultural knowledge,
humour or pretty much any thing
which you believe will be
beneficial to the community. We
are not specifically looking for
contributions that show your
literary prowess, but rather your
depth of ideas and how we can
bring about a positivity to the
whole process. Email to:
ezine.tarangini@gmail.com
Greetings for Pongal and Happy
New Year.
With warm Regards .
-Hridya
-Navneet
PAGE 2

Inside this issue...

Editorial 1

This is Exciting!! 3

Relevance of Bhagavat Gita in the Modern Era 4

In the Spotlight: Interview with singer Anitha Krishna 6

Virtual Agraharams 9

Rantings of a “Fraud Mallu” 11

Humour 13

Real Pattar Stories: Introduction to Kakka Raman 14

From the Adukulai 16

Peep into next issue 17

TARANGINI
 PAGE
RAMAPRASAD
SUBRAMANIAM
FOUNDING MEMBER:
www.keralaiyers.com
OWNER:
pattars@yahoogroups.com
I’m currently based in
L o n d o n , w o r k in g w i t h
BearingPoint, a Management
Consultancy. I finished my
BTech from REC Calicut in
1994, worked in Hyderabad &
Madras, and then moved to
the US towards end of that
decade. For the past 10
years, I have been working on
Business Transformation
work at various countries
namely US, Japan, Germany,
Italy & UK. I am married and
have a 2 year old daughter.
TARANGINI
3
THIS IS EXCITING!!
I am very happy to know
about this initiative to bridge
the gap between the older
and younger generations -
thus bringing in the young
blood into the activities of
Keralaiyers.com and Pattars
related groups - most
importantly, Kerala Iyers
Trust.
Let me introduce myself to
those who may be unaware
of Pattars group & keralai-
yers.com. To give you a
broad overview and a bit of
history, Pattars group was
started in February 2001.
The predecessor was a
Yahoo club called Kerala
Iyers and I started the
Pattars yahoogroups as it
delivered mail right into the
inbox. It certainly was "new"
at that time. I was in Japan
at that time and through
the same group, I got in
touch with Krishnamoorthy,
another young chap from
Trichur, who was also
working in Japan at that
time. He was a tech Guru
and offered to start a
website and keralaiyers.com
was formed by September
2001 as an Onam Gift.
At the same time, I was
involved a bit with ASHA for
Education - a student driven
organization, based in the
US, supporting Education
activities in India. This gave
me the inspiration to give
back to our community also
- and I found resonance
to this idea with Krishna-
moorthy in Japan and Mr.
P. R. Ramachander, in
Bangalore. PRR mama
helped me get in touch
with Dr.Kasi as well. So, we
all had similar thought
process and thus, Kerala
Iyers Trust (KIT) was
formed towards mid - 2002.
KIT aims to catalyze socio-
economic change in India
by providing assistance in
the spheres of education,
health and welfare of
underprivileged section of
our society. We still are
looking for more volunteers
who are willing to be the
representatives of Kerala
Iyers Trust in their local
areas.
During the course of the
years, we also formed
USAPattars, GULFPattars,
Kalyanam and UKPattars
groups... which are for
specific objectives, with
Pattars group as the
overarching umbrella
organization. I had support
& involvement from young
pattars (well, I was also
young when we started
back in 2001) during the
initial days. To be honest,
this has come down over
the years and I have been
struggling to get more
young blood into these. My
personal objective is to get
more young people
involved in KIT activities -
this is an area where young
crowd can do wonders!!!
We should all think of
giving back to the society -
if this becomes a "habit"
from young age, it would
lead to a wonderful society.
Let me re-iterate, KIT is at
present not supporting any
religious needs like temple
renovation, poojas, etc.
It is purely for humane
needs of Medical support,
Education, Marriage, etc.
I am fully supportive of
your ideas to marry the
interests of the two groups
and we should do anything
to close the chasms. The
idea of a single monthly
e-magazine sent to all the
groups is wonderful. I
appreciate your initiative.
The format and contents
seem good - just would like
to remind you that it is a
tall order to put together all
this - kudos to you!
 PAGE 4
Arjuna with his
Sarathi, Krishna
“How LORD KRISHNA
achieved this, is a matter
of relevance not only to
the storyline of the epic
Mahabharata, but also
to the healthy existence
of the human race in all
its sanity till this day and
for the days to come.”
Familiar
image of
Krishna’s
discourse
to Arjuna
TARANGINI
Relevance of Bhagavat Gita in the Modern Era
Bhagavat Gita is a text
of eternal value even if
its authorship by the
Jagat Guru Sri Krishna is
not considered even for
a moment.
The greatest warrior
of the generation, on
whose individual
prowess hinged the
entire fate of the
honour of Pandavas
and also the burden
of redeeming the self
respect of the tragic
victim of all sorts of
humiliations that
could be heaped on a
female, Draupadi, the
incomparable Arjuna
develops a sort of
psychological and
physical burnout at
the vital moment
when he is required to
perform. And where
failure of this one
person would herald
annihilation* of his
own brothers, wife
and kinsmen and the
eternal fame he had
accumulated over a
lifetime. He is
suddenly on the verge
of collapse, shorn
of all bravado and
dropping his di-
vine bow and per-
spiring profusely,
he just collapses
on the floor of his
chariot like a the days to come.
lame duck cut on
its throat by a
butcher. His alter
ego, Krishna, the
most valorous
- K V Ananthanarayan
fighter of all time
even though his role
is limited to a chariot-
eer wielding the whip
handle, is now willy
nilly forced to set
everything right. For
*: Arjuna was the only
this he has to muster
person in either army
all his multifarious
who could use both
capabilities, that of a
Brahmaastra ( the
friend, psychologist,
weapon empowered by
adept in scriptures,
Brahma and Gayatri )
adept in lifestyle
and Paasupathaasthra
studies (yogas) and
(the potent weapon
ultimately revelation
having the power of
of the divine fountain-
Shiva). In addition, Lord
head. How Krishna
Vishnu was a part of
managed this and
himself - this represent-
how he transforms
ed the Thrimoorthis. If
Arjuna and persuades
Arjuna was not partici-
and prompts him
pating in the battle, and
to declare repeatedly
Krishna having already
“my mental indeci-
promised not to wield
siveness and physical
any weapons, the
debilities have van-
Pandavas could have
ished, my intellect is
faced real annihilation
rejuvenated, and I am
opposing Bhishma
standing before you
pitamaha, Dronaacharya,
eagerly awaiting your
Karna, Aswaththama and
orders which I am
other similar opponents.
bound to execute”.
How LORD KRISHNA
achieved this, is a
matter of relevance
not only to the
storyline of the epic
Mahabharata, but also
to the healthy exist-
ence of the human
race in all its sanity
till this day and for
This is the relevance
of Gita to the modern
man.
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE
Continued:
There are many quintes-
sential statements made
by the Lord, Arjuna and
others which stand out
and indicate the real
import of the philosophy
of Gita.
Let us see this verse
uttered by Sanjaya:-
Yatra yogeswarah
krishnah yatra paartho
dhanurdharah
Tatra sreer vijayo boothi
dhruvaaneethir
mahtirmamama
Where Yogeswara that is
Krishna and Arjuna
wielding the ganadheeva
are present, there will
not be any paucity
for virtuous plentitude,
victory self - satisfaction
and righteousness.
One can see the raw
power in the allegory
of Arjuna wielding
weapons. If he is in
full swing, what will
happen ? All enemies will
be annihilated and all
their terrestrial wealth
will be confiscated. Raw
power in action..
But the presence of
Geethacharya, Krishna,
the indiscriminate appli-
cation of power is
impossible. The billion to
the power of billion meg-
atons of energy available
in the tip of Aruba’s
weapon can be triggered
into action only with the
implicit agreement of
Yogeswara(Krishna). The
meaning of the word
yoga is too wide to be
described in a few
words. It will be
elucidated in due course
in issues to come. But
the usual simple meaning
of yoga can be taken as
the process of judicious
mixture. The Yogeswara
Krishna brings in such
admixture, neither too
5
soft nor too punishing.
I am not quoting any
managerial jargons here,
but I believe that people
understand management
if jargons are avoided. If
the Lord had willed that
Gita should be full of
clichés and jargons, he
would have definitely
done the needful.
Possession power with
the wisdom to exercise it
only when it is inevitable
is one of the greatest
principles of human life,
life management or
whatever it is called.
One has to record with
regret that such a
magnificent duo like
Krishna and Arjuna were
never again born. Krishna
said “Sambavaami Yugey
Yugey” but he should
come every time with his
friend Arjuna, the dyna-
mite.
 PAGE 6

In the Spotlight: Anitha Krishna

Tarangini interviews popular US based singer Anitha Krishna on everything
about her life and pattar roots in general and music in particular.

Tell us a little bit about your win almost all of them. enough to realize that first
family and background prize is not the ultimate! Being
My school principal, Sr. Fatima from Brahmin family, parents
I grew up in Ernakulam. Re- (she is no more. She was a didn’t want me to go into film
garding my ancestral house, strict lady. All the students of playback singing; even though
my father is from Trichur. He is St. Teresa's were very scared lot of famous professional
a retired Civil Engineer He of her). One day she asked my troupes invited me from the
used to work for Cochin Ship- mom to visit her. I was a little age of 12/13. My parents
yard Ltd. My mother is from scared (laughs). But then I weren’t keen. My Master also
Ernakulam-granddaughter of then came to know that she used to feel that light music
Anitha Krishna, Singer Income Tax Officer Late Sri wanted me to get proper train- was easy and it was a more
P.Srinivasa Iyer. I am the only ing for classical music under a serious business learning clas-
daughter. I did my schooling in good guru. I still remember her sical music in a disciplined
St. Teresa's, Ernakulam. I am exact words ... “ You being way and it was long lasting!
married to my Athai's son – Brahmins must learn Carnatic But I still used to participate in
Krishna. We have been living music” . My Mom's chiththi light music competitions.
in the US for over two decades was a good singer. So I took
now and I have a daughter the basic lessons from her. I was a member of Trichur All
“This is a fairly named Sruthi. Believe me, I used to hate sa ri India Radio junior chorus
ga ma, but when I reached group. I used to have fun since
commercial field, but I How was it like growing up geethams, I stared enjoying. I could spend with my grand
as a child in such a family Then, my mom's chithi was Ma too at Trichur. I used to get
have been fortunate to environment? Were you al- moving to Singapore. So my paid T.A., D.A and I got
ways interested in music? mom started looking out for checks after every recording
learn the mantra of good gurus. Luckily, We got for choir plus there was inter-
I used to sing film songs from introduced to a guru Sri. action with all big star teachers
seeing music in light of the age of five or six. When I Oachira Balakrishnan, Profes- of AIR Trichur station. It was
was in 5th std, my music sor of Swathi Thirunal Music good. I felt so proud when my
divinity and not teacher, Ms. Usha Ambika College, Trivandrum. interview came in the BAALA
sent me for an Inter school Vibhaagam. They inrterviewd
commercial interests.” competition. The occasion was I restarted my lessons and so me and gave me a 10 minute
Nehruji's Birthday called... did my regular competitions/ slot to sing a krithi. I studied in
Shishu Dhin. She taught me a studies/. This was my school St. Teresa’s college. In col-
light music and I won the prize. life, almost from 5th to 10th std. lege, I never really liked doing
My Journey started there. My I used to go for school youth B.Com. The subjects were
Mom used to take me for each festivals every year, either light boring and I did it for the sake
and every competition in and or classical. So you can say I of degree. Focus was going for
around Kochi. I used to listen grew up in competitions! I had competitions and winning the
to the radio and pick up film got spoilt, every time winning first prize. I won the Mahathma
songs it was more like listen- first. So much so that once if I Gandhi University Youth Festi-
ing and learning. I even sang get a second prize, I used to val classical music Hatrick.. 3
film songs for competitions get frustrated and would start times first place in a row.
and by God's grace, I used to crying. I wasn’t matured

TARANGINI
 PAGE 7

Who do you think has been from Kochi and apparently he

your pillar of support in your knew me. He had seen me in I have sung with Unnikrish-
journey so far? And how did Kochi performing in competi- nan, Krish, K.J. Yesudas,
your concerts come to hap- tions. He was also a singer, P.Susheela ji, M.G. Sreeku-
pen in the US? but I didn’t remember him. mar, Sharadha ji ( from Hindi
When we met for a party, he industry). I enjoyed with
My Mother was the main sup- enquired about me and subse- M.G. Sreekumar the most. I
port. If she hadn’t pushed me, quently, introduced me to a had accompanied him to
probably I would have got lazy. couple of Malayalee musi- Europe. Switzerland, Germa-
It was her adamancy and you cians. I started my journey to ny. I was super excited when
can say that gave me a good light music again. he invited me personally to
backbone. No stage fear and U.K.. in 2003. I got good
lot of stage experiences. After It so happened that for one of stage experience in his pro-
my marriage, I moved with the concerts of Sri K.J. Yesu- grams. We are very good
Krishna to Vishakhapatnam. das , the accompanying singer friends.
He used to work IN C.M.C. I didn’t get visa and I got an
continued my kacheris there opportunity to accompany him. You have achieved all of
too, not leaving the touch. I I got a deal of publicity. By this, while being in the US.
then had my baby girl Sruthi. God's grace, I am able to ac- Do you think this would
When she was 2, we moved to company most of the leading have been possible had you
USA. It was difficult adjusting playback singers in their US remained in India? Would it
to the new place, learning driv- tours. By the way, I just came have been better or worse?
ing, and taking care of her. back from a concert with Sri. With legends
Krishna used to work late M.G.Sreekumar. When there Good question. Being in the
hours etc etc. Initial establish- is usually no politics involved, US, we are financially in a M.G Sreekumar
ment hiccups. I still continued. everything works out well. This better position here. So, to say and K.J Yesudas
Somebody heard me sing in is a now a fairly commercial it in one word, yes. If I had
Atlanta temple and recom- field, but I have been fortunate been in India, in some sense it
mended my name to a famous to learn the mantra of seeing would have been more diffi-
dance teacher in Houston. She music in light of divinity and cult. For one, there are too
invited me to sing for an not commercial interests. I many people and we have to
arangetram of her student. I have had my share of hurdles, be financially very strong to
took the offer, in spite of not which I have crossed through break through. But also true is
having the experience to sing the help of my husband Krish- the fact that in India there are
for dance and my baby just 2 na and some good friends. definitely more opportunities.
yrs. To keep in touch with mu- Experiences over the last 10 US on the other hand has its
sic, I accepted, went to her years have taught me to be own set of challenges. Being
house in Houston, stayed mentally strong and have self- here, it is not that easy and
there for 2 weeks for rehears- esteem. Krishna's support and you have to go and beg
als with Sruthi on my lap. I push is the main thing. He is around. I wasn’t all that com-
didn’t enjoy at all honestly, my manager. He is great lover fortable doing that. My own
because while singing for of music and after marriage; cousin is a popular film star
dance, we have no freedom. he even learned to identify in Tamil (Ajith). He is BIG
We have to sing for the stu- ragas (laughs). now. But I had never asked
dents comfort. But somehow him. I feel proud of whatever
did it. In 1994 we moved to Can you please mention the I have achieved so far be-
New Jersey after Krishna’s job singers you have accompa- cause I wanted to achieve
change to Merrill Lynch. It was nied till now, and with whom something on my own.
big coincidence. One of my did you feel most excited
husband's team mates was working about?

TARANGINI
 PAGE 8

2nd time when he got a chance from the album Kumara

and so the link worked. I got sharanm in karaharapriyia
an offer the same time while I ragam (http://
was recording for the 2nd mov- www.youtube.com/watch?
ie (http://www.youtube.com/ v=JSEfkk_kp4w).
watch?v=G76DpcPp_oc). Name
of the second movie was There have been so many
Nesthama. The 3rd one was greats amongst Keralaiyers
Bharatmahan.com. One thing I in the field of music. Our
have to mention is, my Telugu community has given Chem-
speaking became better. I bai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar,
You have had some success worked hard to get the pronun- Palakkad Mani Iyer and oth-
Accompanying with your individual ven- ciation right, plus I can proudly er stalwarts of Carnatic mu-
singer Unnikrishnan tures and stint as a playback say I can read / write Telugu. I sic. Amongst the contempo-
singer, especially in the Tel- took it as challenge!! raries in light music and
ugu movie industry. playback singing, we have
Can we expect some more Hariharan, Shankar Mahade-
I have to thank the Telugu of Anitha Krishna as a play- van, Usha Uthup, Anuradha
community here. Telugu peo- back singer in years to Sriram and a young crop of
ple have encouraged me more come? Do you have any fu- singers like Naresh Iyer,
than other languages and I ture projects on cards? Mahalakshmi Iyer and many
regularly do concerts for that There have been some inde- more. What do you attribute
community here. I got my pendent albums from you. to this unusually high rate of
break in playback singing in a success for so many individ-
Telugu movie offered by a I tend to face life as it comes. uals in this field?
Telugu NRI director here. He If I get invitation from any of
used to attend my programs my film circle friends in Hyder- Yes. Basically Pattars have a
here and he had promised me abad, I will take it up, other- family back ground in music,
that he would give me a wise, I am happy doing live especially Carnatic music, plus
chance in his next movie. I programs here in the US. Re- they pour a lot of hard work.
never believed it because so garding my personal ventures, Also, I tend to think many are
many people come up with I did 2 tamil devotional albums: very smart and use opportuni-
such promises. His name is one samarpanam, second one ties to their benefit. Once they
Shanthikumar Chilmula.. He is only Murugan songs on vari- get out of Kerala, they become
software Engineer. He does ous murugan temples of USA. even smarter and they get
films as his passion for cine- I also did a Telugu album on more exposure (laughs). I
ma. Very few people keep up Shirdi Sai. I tend to find that think it has also got to do with
their promise and to my sur- Bhakthi albums have more life our religious background too.
prise, after about 3 or 4 years, than cinematic ones. I feel You know, music / religion/
I got a call from him. I went to proud when I hear it in Tem- vedas/ ragas are closely con-
Hyderabad and became the ples here. nected and historically, our
part of his project (movie ancestors have been priests/
name: Indian Beauty). I got a What is your favorite song scholars. Also, womenfolk
nice song to sing about of all times that you keep have been historically pushed
Sankranthi written by National mumbling the most? to learn classical muisc/ bhara-
Award winning writer/ poet Sri. thanatyam/ veena/ violin etc.
C. Narayana Reddy. (http:// It’s a difficult question. I like So may be, it is in our blood.
www.youtube.com/watch? kaatril enthan geethamm from
v=QZE5EicTQ24) Johny movie, (http:// Anitha Krishna maintains
That makes me very happy www.youtube.com/watch? her own website
because every Sankranthi v=ZPrZ8a5-Gbo) meghame me- (www.anithakrishna.com)
(PONGAL), kids dance for that ghame from palaivana cholai. I and blog
song in local associations. like Latajis' Yun hasrathon ke (www.aksinger.blogspot.co
daag. From my songs, I like m).
The music director invited me jannayagathil oru rajangam

TARANGINI
 PAGE 9
Virtual Agraharams
- Navneet T Narayan

Mami 1: Chamayal Aaya- numerous other activities portant and relevant? Is it

cha?
Mami 2: Oo, naaleki madh-
yanathukkum
chamachachu, microwave
oven le pootu heat panni
chapadavendithan.
Mami 1: Ennalaam un-
dakinai ?
Our Agraharam
Mami 2: Perisha onnum
pannalai. Innethekki Avial,
sambar and rice. Naaleki
madhyanathukku Pasta,
namma style, with sambar
podi.
Mami 1: Namma style Pasta
wa? adhu eppdi pannuva?
cholli tha..
.
. connected as a communi-
“Mamas now can play a
Mami1: Onakku oru
game of chess online. visheyam theriyumo? Mami
Ladies could video blog 3 Palakkad sothhu ellam
vithu US pogaraalaam,
and discuss their settle aaga.
recipes.” Mami 2: Oh, appdiya? Enge
aakum veedu ? Enna velai
chollara? Naangal ange oru
sthalam vangana ninachnde
irukkom…
And so the conversation
between the mamis contin-
ues, talking about life in
general and other people in
particular (read gossips).
While this could be easily
mistaken as a chit chat ses-
sion between mamis in an
agrahaaram thinnai, the
scope of such a conversa-
tion happening online on
chat or skype is quite possi-
ble. Similar is the case with
that happen in an agra-
haram set up. Veda path-
shalas could be easily set
up online by enterprising
individuals, teaching a
whole set of young pattars
scattered all over the
world, through popular
sites like you tube and oth-
ers. Mamas now can play a
game of chess online. La-
dies could video blog and
discuss their recipes. The
possibilities are immense
and one only needs to think
what cannot be achieved
with the use of world wide
web. But have things come
to such a pass that we may
eventually have to think of
such alternatives to stay
ty? Hell, why is it even nec-
essary to even stay togeth-
er as a community? We
have always been the odd
case, neither fitting in
amongst Mallus nor Tamils.
Add to that, with further
emmigration from Kerala
since 1970s to Mumbai,
Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai
and other parts of India,
people always found it best
to tweak their mindset with
the new local realities ra-
ther than maintain their
odd exclusivity. Thus, in the
current generation, we now
encounter pattars who at
home speak only Hinglish
and added local varieties.
There are folks who have
no idea of what a gothram
is, what is a nakshatram or
their Kavu. But wait, is all
this information even im-
something that youngsters
need to know? How im-
portant is Sandhyavan-
danam and study of vedas
to a decent level? For a
moment, let's just forget all
of this and think of only
two aspects that a pattar
carries up his/her sleeve -
unique food and unique
language, things that defi-
nitely characterize a Pattar.
Can you call yourself a
Pattar if you don't know
what is unique about your
food and language? Sample
these responses: "My Mom
makes some things, she
puts coconut oil I guess, is
that what you are talking
about?". "What's the point
in speaking a language
which is neither Tamil nor
Mallu? I am comfortable
talking with my family and
friends in Hindi and English
and I can communicate
what I want to do in life.
They don't have any prob-
lem, then why do you?"
The problem is in the fact
that this trend is growing
alarmingly, and often, even
the parents are clueless
and less conscious of these
changes. But ultimately, it's
sum total of all these
changes which will cause a
generational shift in the
community. At this mo-
ment, there is an obvious
gap between the way of life
of folks living in Kerala and
those living outside of it.
Many living outside don't
even realize that there are
poor and less

Continued..

TARANGINI
 PAGE 10
Continued..
fortunate brahamanas of
their kind still living in the
Pattar agraharams of Kera-
la. Somehow, the idea of
Pattars as a well - to - do
community has been im-
printed and established
(which in part is true) to
such an extent that the
very idea of someone strug-
The thinnai…. gling to meet their ends
meet seems like a joke.
Many agraharams still exist
which are in need of money
as a community in terms of
improvement of infrastruc-
ture, basic amenities and
renovations. They live in a
world totally different from
that of an urban bred,
weekend movie going,
Linkin park listening pattar
up in Delhi or Mumbai who
has no idea that such an
alternate reality exists for
someone of their own else-
where. Such a glaring mis-
match in a community in
terms of the conditions that
people live in, in terms of
the languages they speak
and adapt, and the mindset
in totality cannot be found
TARANGINI
elsewhere but ours. It is world wide web? A perfect
this diversity that we need place for meeting of minds-
to utilize and forge as a the traditional and modern,
single unit, ultimately work- old and young, less fortu-
ing towards the betterment nate and well to do. Would-
of each and everyone of us n't that then be a Virtual
in the community. It's pay Agraharam?
back time, and our efforts
should be in unison and
mutually beneficial. It
should be about discover-
ing of roots and acquiring
more of traditional
knowledge for those who
know they are out of touch.
It should be about offering
of intellectual capital for
the benefit of others. It
should be about giving back
to the less fortunate ones
of our community. It should
be about how we can in-
crease interaction within
the community for our
betterment in various
spheres of excellence as
individuals. Perhaps that's
what is going to keep our
community intact in future.
Given the vast distances
that we are separated by,
what best can help us in
these endeavours than the
 PAGE 11

Ranting of a “Fraud Mallu”

Being a Palakkad Iyer outside of Palakkad! - Hridya Ramani

Yeah, you might with me. Well, at people had seen the
think it's a funny that time many of movie they had an
statement to make my classmates never idea as to what ac-
and there is no big even knew a clan of cent and what the
deal about it, I found people called PIs or character actually
it difficult :( KIs ever existed. was!!

To tell you all the I never really looked As I grew older, we

truth, I truly never like a tamilian when started visiting our
realized the fact that I was small and did village more often,
Chuda Chuda Filter I am a palakkad iyer not speak the collo- the car festival, the
Kaapiyee (PI henceforth) until quial Tamil language importance of the
I reached probably too well; English was way the villages in-
class 10. Until that the main language of side Perinkulam were
time, I was blissfully communication. So named e.g.: Kariot
living and studying in people would be con- g r a a m a m ,
Chennai, totally una- fused and would as P a d i n y a a r u
“Why have I named this ware of my back- me - which is your graamam, thekke
as ranting of a “fraud ground. native, I knew it graamam etc. the
enough to say I am a temples there, how
mallu”.. I am confused
Not that my parents kerlite. So immedi- my dad spent his
or am I at the fact—am were too liberal and ately people would childhood in the vil-
did not inculcate any tell, " oh so you are lage, our ancestral
I a Mallu or am I a
discipline of being a a mallu" Naaah, I am house, the kollai, the
tamilian, I neither Brahmin girl or that not a mallu, I am krishi that we had
speak fluent tamil nor they did not tell me from palakkad and I owned, the people,
anything about my am a palakkad iyer. there were oh-so-
Malayalam… so am I native village - in That's all I knew. So many ramans in the
not the Fraud???” fact appa would tell the next question village, for example
lots and lots of sto- would be - so what meeshai Raman,
ries of his childhood do you speak at doshai Raman etc
and his village, so home - Tamil or Mal- etc. Very hilarious,
also amma but it ayalam. Got me! I but it started making
never seemed to would say we spoke sense only when I
sink in, I never re- a mix of both lan- got out of school!
ally understood an- guages... aaargh this (very busy with stud-
ything until the visit would irritate them ies maybe).
to my native village even more. Thank
of Perinkulam, god, I knew the per-
Alathur happened. fect example to give
them - you guessed
Well, people take it right, Ka-
their own sweet meshwaran from Mi-
time to realize so chael Madana Kama-
many things in life; rajan. He was my Continued...
same was the case saviour, now that

TARANGINI
 PAGE 12

from fraud PI to a encounter quite a

more real PI. few "rebels" but I am
sure they will under-
Exposure to so much stand that we will
about ourselves, realize the im-
something that I portance of whatever
never really realized they say... probably
although it may have a bit later. Well, I
been in front of me! can go on and on
Realize the history, about the community
geography and all but would like to
that gyan that appa stop here for now
used to keep giving with a BIG thank you
me, that made much - all the mamas and
more sense now. I mamis and annas n
have to thank the akkas, please contin-
College kept me community because ue the good work
Chakkai busy and the con-
nection with ooru
my talayalam or PI that you are all do-
ing.
Tamil has become
and PI hood was on- much better, vocab-
Varatti going, but all this ulary has improved, I also hope that all
was accentuated and so also the general those who are read-
anyone? increased with the
entry of the social
knowledge about us. ing this will encour-
Well, we are learning
age us and help to
“To catch the reader's networking site a lot say about our
called ORKUT into cuisine, the hows bring together all
attention, place an

interesting sentence or our lives. Most of us whys and whats Kerala iyers across
quote from the story
here have met about our traditions the globe through
here.”
through the Palakkad and rituals. Thanks this small initiative of
Iyer community to all the elders in ours in the form of a
fondly called PI this group at PI and newsletter.
comm and Kerala KIOS who are mak-
Iyer Orkut Samoo- ing it a point to post -Hridya
ham (KIOS) in orkut, lot of informative R
it made me probably threads. They might

TARANGINI
PAGE 13

Humour

TARANGINI
 PAGE 14

Introduction: Kakka Raman, the great soul

—K V Ananthanarayanan

This is the first part of Raman” because he

ghee container and
a series of articles had squint eyes and
swallowed the whole
based on real life oc- even those eyes were
ghee. You know, this
currences of certain practically blind with
ghee had been
Pattars that we be- short sight.
brought for the funeral
lieve, would be im-
rites of Raman’s moth-
mensely inspirational The first thing I heard
er.
to everyone, especially as an incident in his life
the younger genera- was really poignant
As I have it said before,
tion. and profoundly touch-
ing. He was a boy from this is a real story, and
an utterly poor family, if Raman were alive
and his mother passed todayhe would be
In our lives, we often away when he was about 100 years
come across people seven years old. On old. He passed away
who leave a deep im- the day of his mother’s
“He was called 14 years ago. I know
pression on your perso- death, he had no idea
“Kakka Raman” na, influencing your Raman because he was
as to what was hap-
thought processes, pening in the my mother’s own ma-
because he had
your actions and house. Many people ternal uncle and my
squint eyes ….”
knowledge for years to had assembled; the own dear mamaappa.
come. I had the good mother was sleeping, He used to go as a
fortune of knowing maybe sick. Suddenly, loukeeka* for sraadhd-
some such people dur- someone brought
ham chaappadu and
ing my lifetime, and I some ghee and poured
am writing this series it in a broken coconut he would get clothes
of real life anecdotes shell. For Raman, ghee like mundu, utharee-
of one such person, was a very scarce deli- yam etc. He had mar-
Rama Iyer, who left a cacy. So, with his half ried my mother’s elder
lasting impression on blind eyes, he looked sister and he loved me
me when I was just a around to see whether like his own son. In my
child growing up in a anyone was paying
childhood days of utter
typical agraharam attention to the ghee
setting, a life not many kept in chirattai* in the poverty, the clothes
people in the younger corner. When he was brought by him served
generation have expe- fairly sure that nobody Continued...
rienced. Rama Iyer had was watching him, he
another name to him. stealthily took the
He was called “Kakka

TARANGINI
PAGE 15

as my mundus. When he used to get mallumundu*or gaada*, it would be used

to stitch our underwear, periyamma’s and amma’s ravukkais* and my sister’s
pavaadais. He never wanted anything for himself. He happily gave everything
he used to get, by way of dhaanam or dhakhshina to others. I learned greatness
of giving from that great soul.

Pattar’s Dictionary

chirattai: Coconut Shell

loukeeka: a Brahmin who partakes in ceremonies and many vedic functions but
is not a qualified vaadhyar. A vaadhyaar is qualified in vedas and is well versed
in conducting the ceremonies and commands lot of respect as the family guru,
guide and maybe philosopher

mallumundu or gaada: very cheap raw cotton cloth manufactured in mills. mal-
lumundu is bleached and gaada is unbleached

ravukkais: the prototype of the blouses worn by ladies. The ladies four or five
decades ago wore it, usually it would be stitched by the ladies themselves with
a needle and thread.

TARANGINI
 PAGE 16

From the Adukulai: Chakkara Pongal

This month is synonymous in Tamil Nadu with the festival of Pongal and hence
we will start off with a sweet and we all call it CHAKKARA PONGAL.

This is a very simple recipe and why not start off the new year with something
sweet!

Ingredients required:
Rice - 1 cup

Moong dal (Paasi parippu)- ¼ cup

Jaggery (Vellam) - ½ cup

Milk - 2 cups
This is what we are
talking about :)
Ghee - ½ cup

Cardamom (Elaichi) - 2

Cashew (Kaaju) (as per liking)

Raisin (Kismis) (as per liking)

Method:
Roast the moong dal for a few minutes in a pan. Cook rice and moong dal
along with water and milk till nearly cooked. Melt the jaggery in another pan
with little water. (Strain to remove any impurities). Mix the jaggery with the
cooked rice and moong dal mixture in a pan and mix it well over a slow flame.
Add almost all of the ghee and mix for some more time. In the mean time, fry
the cashews and raisins in another pan and finally you can add it to the
cooked rice-moong dal– jaggery mixture. Also, don't forget to add the carda-
mom (elaichi) and mix once more, your chakkara pongal is ready… Chuda
chuda serve pannungo!!

TARANGINI
 Articles contributed by:
K V Ananthanarayanan
Hridya R
Navneet T Narayan
Ramaprasad Subramaniam

Special thanks to:

Anitha Krishna

Send us your write-ups/material at:

E-mail: ezine.tarangini@gmail.com
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/taranginiki/

A peep into the next issue…

Special Report on Nurani Shas-
thapreeti from our very own
correspondent Vivek stationed
at Nurani gramam, Palakkad
Bhagavat Gita for Modern
Era :the sudden turnaround by
Arjuna-the balanced approach
of Krishna-stiff admonition -
sane advice-reinforcement -
show of infinite mercy - and
wonderful transformation
Celebrity Interview: (Keep
guessing who :) )
Rantings of a “Fraud Mallu” -
more rantings about my native
village and its festivities
From the Adukulai - another
mouthwatering recipe
Humour and other interesting
tales

Inspiring stories: Another And loads of other things...

Kakka Raman episode