Memoir of My Forefathers

Karanavar’s Reminiscences

Karanavar is the senior-most uncle of joint families of yesteryear who followed the Marumakkathaayam tradition (matrilineal system) in the Nair Tharavads of Kerala. The present Karanavar of Ningileri Tharavad is Sri Ningileri Thayillath Vasudevan Nambiar. As he is completing his 90^th star birthday today  (ആയില്യം, 4 ഏപ്രില്‍ 2020 ശനി) (DOB: 1105 മീനം 26 ആയില്യം or 8 April 1930 Tuesday) let us offer him a Navathi Pranamam. This memoir is written by his nephew NT Unnikrishnan.

Introduction

I am jotting down some of these memoirs with the idea that they will be fascinating for the coming generations as they provide glimpses into the people, places, and social practices of the society of 70 years back during the end of the British rule in India. I have also added some historical facts to the narrative (shown in Text Boxes) to provide the right context and background. 

Wg. Cdr. NTV Nambiar (Retd.)

 

Wg.Cdr. NTV Nambiar (Retd.) is the only living member of eight siblings. Presently, though he has normal age-related memory loss and sometimes can’t recognize even his close friends and relatives, he has sharp recollections of his childhood days. It is like tugging a thread of an old tapestry – the whole thing comes out effortlessly, when you ask him a question about his school or college days. He describes various incidents about his father in such detailed manner as if they took place just yesterday.

Family of NTV Nambiar

His parents Sri K Kelu Adiyodi (1885-1981, 96y) and Smt. N T Meenakshi Amma (1900-1952, 52y), had eight children; they are in order N T Madhavan Nambiar (1916-1990, 74y), N T Padmavathi Amma (1920-1992, 72y), N T Padmanabhan Nambiar (1922-1996, 74y), N T Padmini Amma (1924-1987, 63y), N T Kamalakshi Amma (1928-2009, 81y), N T Vasudevan Nambiar (b1930), N T Chandramathi Amma (1932-2002, 70y), and N T Sulochana (1939-1946, 7y). 

His eldest brother late NT Madhavan Nambiar, after serving for many years as the Principal of Guruvayurappan College, Calicut retired from service as the sub-registrar of Calicut University. It was his elder brother Madhavan Uncle, who served as the local guardian for his school admission at Vellore, Tamil Nadu and provided his date of birth for the school records as 15^th Mar 1931 after some mental calculations. That stuck as Uncle’s official DOB since then. After retirement Uncle discovered his real DOB, which was 8^th Apr 1930, from a jataka-kuripu maintained by Padmavathi Valiamma!

Father Sri K Kelu Adiyodi

Vasu Uncle’s father, late Sri K Kelu Adiyodi, served as a Magistrate in the Malabar District of Madras Presidency, British India. He was born in 1885 and passed away on 1^st April 1981 at the age of 96. Valiachan retired from government service in 1945 at the age of 60 years as ACTO (Assistant Commercial Tax Officer), Cannanore (now Kannur). During his tenure as a Magistrate with the British Government he had served in almost all Taluk courts of Malabar District. Valiachan’s father-in-law was Ayiliath Narayanan Nambiar, who was a famous District and Sessions Judge at Thalassery, the then Headquarters of the District Judges of North Malabar.

After retirement from government service Valiachan served for two years as Honorary Bench President in Vatakara Court. In 1947 he took charge as the Manager of Kadathanad Kovilakam looking after the vast estate and property of Kadathanad Rajah (King). After serving there for around four years he retired from active service in 1951 to settle down in his house, Padmalayam (also known as Kuniyil House) in Kuthuparamba. Ever since his wife Meenakshi Valiamma’s untimely demise in 1952, Valiachan was staying with his eldest daughter Padmavathi, who had become a widow early in life at the age of 29.

Valiachan in his 70s

Valiachan spent his retirement years mostly reading newspapers and various spiritual books, of which he had a good collection. Though there were two family temples nearby (Padinjare Ambalam in the adjacent compound and Kizhake Ambalam within 2km distance), Valiachan hardly visited these dwelling places of Gods. I had spent my entire schooling years (1953-1963) in Padmalayam house with Valiachan and Padmavathi Valiamma, before joining Victoria College, Palghat for the last batch of the Pre-University course of Kerala University. It was probably this long association with my grandfather, during my formative years, that kindled my interest in spirituality, my disinterest in temple rituals, and my voracious appetite for reading!

Interesting Titbits

While staying at Padmalayam, Valiachan’s duty as an Honorary Bench President required him to pay a visit to Vatakara court once a week. The modus operandi of the visit was that Uncle (or an attendant) would go to the nearby bus stop at Paral and on seeing the Vatakara bus will signal it to a stop. Then he will go back to Padmalayam house and accompany Valiachan, who was adorned in his official attire, back to the bus stop. This two-way trip of about 2 km to ferry Valiachan was of course on foot and consequently the bus with all the passengers would be waiting for about 20 minutes for the dignitary to arrive! By then the bus conductor would have cleared the front single seat for the VIP passenger for his official trip to Vatakara!

While Valiachan was working as Honorary Bench President at Vatakara court, Kadathanad Thampuran heard about him and sent word through an Ooraalan (messenger) that he wanted to meet Valiachan. Accordingly, one day, straight from the court, he went to Kadathanad Kovilakam and reported to Thampuran. Valiachan was in his official attire – a coat with a tie, shirt tucked under a white dhothi (mundu), and sandals. On seeing this, the attendants at the Kovilakam Padippura (entrance) were flabbergasted and duly told Valiachan: “Oh no, you cannot go in front of Thampuran, the Rajah of Kadathanad, wearing these clothes!”.

Valiachan in his official attire

Those days it was customary to wear only a Veshti (a length of cloth loosely wrapped around the upper half of the body) while being ushered in front of the Rajah. Valiachan told them to please inform Thampuran that he has come straight from the court, as Thampuran wanted to see him urgently, and he would be pleased if Thampuran met him in this dress. The attendant came back and announced that Valiachan can come in whatever dress he was wearing! Valiachan removed his sandals and went inside Thampuran’s chamber. The story goes that Valiachan was probably the first person to stand in front of Kadathanad Rajah fully dressed! As a result of that meeting Valiachan was appointed as the Manager of Kadathanad Rajah to look after his vast estate and property.

Thampuran’s eldest son in those days was a vagabond aimlessly spending his youth, enjoying his father’s wealth. Valiachan often used to admonish the young man not to engage in acts that will damage his father’s reputation. His constant counseling brought rich dividends as the young man in later life turned out to be a responsible person with a good government job. Uncle remembers him visiting Padmalayam, standing in front of Valiachan very reverently and saying with gratitude that his current status in life is all due to Valiachan’s guidance.

School Life of NTV Nambiar 

Vasu Uncle studied 1^st standard (1936) at Koyilandy, where Valiachan was posted. There he went to one Chalyar (the name of a community) school along with Radhetathi (wife of late Dr Ayiliath Krishnan Nambiar, Payyannur and mother of Dr. Kochukrishnan) whose father was a DYSP and staying diagonally opposite to the Magistrate’s house across the railway line. That time the police department was headed by a British gentleman who used to visit the Magistrate's house on duty. Uncle fondly remembers this ‘white’ Uncle lifting him up, throwing him in the air, and performing his exercise routine!

L to R: Kamalam, Chandramathi, Padmini

During Valiachan’s stay in Koyilandy, my mother (late NT Padmini Amma) and her younger sister Kamala Elayamma, used to complain that the sandy road to the school was very hot, as they walked barefoot in those days; but no one took their complaints seriously! One day their mother, Meenakshi Valiamma had to walk to the railway station to take a train to Tellicherry and she personally experienced the scorching heat of the sand while covering the short distance. On her return, the first thing she did was to ask Chandu, the handyman, to call the cobbler and make leather sandals for everyone. Thus the three kids got their first sandals! The girls had V-shaped straps and the brother had cross straps for the sandals. Chandu was a very strict disciplinarian and he used to caution the kids not to make any sound in the kitchen while eating. Later Valiachan helped Chandu to get a peon’s post in the government service. Chandu after retirement used to visit Valiachan regularly at Padmalayam, Kuthuparamba.

The Punkah

When Valiachan was transferred to Cannanore, Uncle studied in the 2^nd and 3^rd standard at Mooliyil school there. Valiachan’s next posting was at Ottappalam where Uncle studied in the 4^th standard. There they stayed in the Magistrate’s bungalow which had one gate to the main road and another gate to the adjacent compound housing the court building. As there was no electricity in those days, there used to be a manually operated contraption of a fan, called punkah, in the court room. It was in the form of a rectangular piece of bamboo mat, covered in a white piece of cloth, and hung from the ceiling (see photo) that would swing to and fro, as someone sitting in the adjacent room rhythmically pulled the chord attached to the fan by a pulley. A peon, called the punkah wallah, was specifically employed for this task and Uncle, as a child, remembers occasionally taking over this 'fun task' from the peon, of course making sure that the peon will not get an earful from Valiachan as he would be busy at work in the adjacent room!.

Vasu Uncle, Kumar Uncle, and Ramachandran Uncle had studied together in Kuthuparamba School situated adjacent to the present court. There, Uncle remembers Keloth Gangadharan uncle, who was in the 8^th standard, singing the school prayer song in his loud sonorous voice which can be heard throughout the school.

Uncle had second rounds of schooling both at Ottappalam in the 6^th standard and at Cannanore in the 7^th standard (1944). This time at Cannanore he studied in the Municipal High School situated adjacent to the court. From there he was dispatched to Vellore for further studies because his elder brother, N T Madhavan Nambiar was working as an English Lecturer at Voorhees College, Vellore and Valiachan was about to retire from the government service. By the way, Voorhees College, Vellore celebrated 118 years of service in the field of education on March 20, 2017.

Voorhees College

Uncle studied in Vellore for four years (1945-1948) in Voorhees High School, till 11th standard. In the first year he had to learn reading and writing Tamil as it was the medium of instruction in the school. But, by the second year, English medium classes were started as lots of non-Tamilians had arrived in Vellore that year as evacuees from Burma (now Myanmar).

That year, in 1948 the first SSLC examination after India’s Independence was held and to everyone’s chagrin the question papers were leaked. Till then the printed question papers used to come from England and this was the first time the question papers were printed locally. During the annual vacation Uncle had gone to Kuttipuram where Valiachan was working as the Manager of Kadathanad Kovilakam. When a re-examination for SSLC was conducted Uncle had to go to Vellore again to appear for the exam. After finishing the school Uncle joined the Intermediate course at Voorhees College, Vellore. On completing the Intermediate course in 1950 he joined the Indian Air Force.

Story About His Brother

While at the Voorhees college, Uncle heard an interesting story from the college peon. His elder brother N T Madhavan Nambiar, after completing his MA from Christian College, Madras in 1938 (when Valiachan was serving at Ottappalam) had come for an interview for a Lecturer’s post at Voorhees College, Vellore. The peon mistook the rather youngish looking fellow (22 years old) for a student and tried to shoo him away saying that all student admissions were closed for the current year! Imagine the peon’s plight when he saw the young man appointed as a teaching staff there!. From Vellore, Madhavan Uncle had gone to SD College, Alleppy as Professor of English and later to Guruvayurappan College, Kozhikode as the youngest Principal ever appointed there.

N T Madhavan Nambiar

Another incident Uncle recollects is about Sreedharettan (late Sri CS Nambiar, my Science Teacher at Kuthuparamba High School and winner of the President’s National Award for Teachers) who was working as a Demonstrator at Voorhees College and also as the warden of the hostel. Sreedharettan along with Padmanabhan Uncle had completed BSc from Annamalai University, Chidambaram, where he was an active student leader, in spite of his slightly handicapped leg! Uncle was a keen hockey player and one day Sreedharettan, on seeing him play barefoot, bought a pair of brown canvas shoes for him – his first pair of shoes!.

Indian Air Force Career 

NTV Nambiar, joined the Indian Air Force in 1950, was commissioned on Oct 3, 1964 and retired from service on Apr 1, 1983. He got a Commendation medal of Honor from the Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal H Mulgaonkar on Aug 15, 1977.

NTV Nambiar's Wedding

As  is customary in those days, after he got a permanent job in the Indian Air Force, his father found an appropriate alliance and fixed Uncle's wedding. Accordingly, his father dispatched a letter to his son to come over immediately for the marriage to be solemnized. Uncle, after his commanding officer rejected the leave application for the wedding, wrote back to his father saying that in Armed Forces marriage is allowed only after the age of 25.

His father immediately contacted his wife's sister's daughter's husband Major KT Narayanan Nambiar, who was serving as the ADC (Aide-de-Camp) to President of India. Consequently Uncle's commanding officer called Uncle again and 'ordered' him to go on leave and get married. In his family, Uncle was the youngest male to get married at the young age of 23.

With Mrs. Ayiliath Saraswathi Nambiar

Uncle has many stories to tell about his flying days as a Flight Signaler in the Indian Air Force. One story I remember particularly well is about a young bright Air Force pilot, who was selected to fly VIPs and was assigned as the pilot of then India’s Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The VIP pilots had to renew their flying certificates every six months through a rigorous test. Mr. Menon was the senior Air Force instructor who administers the flying test. He wanted to teach the young brash pilot, who was a little arrogant and very proud of his abilities, a lesson. The test was in a twin-engine aircraft and the pilot along with the Senior Instructor took off from the airfield. In the middle of the flight the Senior Instructor switched off one engine and commanded the young pilot, “please take over”. Without batting an eyelid, the young man switched off the other engine also and told his senior instructor, “Sir, you are the expert, please take over!”. The story goes that the senior instructor started literally sweating and finally had to beg the young chap to take control of the dangerously downward-arching aircraft!

Commendation by the Chief of the Air Staff

Air Force medals

In Leh, Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir

Daughter's Reminiscences

The following are recollections of past events during NTV Nambiar's service in the Air Force, as recounted by his eldest daughter, Vasantha.

Indo-Pak War of 1965

The 1965 Indo-Pak war lasted barely a month. Even now, the wail of a siren sends my heart racing! Back in August and September of 1965, my Dad was stationed in Pathankot, while my Mom, my two sisters five-year old and one-year old, and I, ten-year old, were in Agra.

We Three Sisters

During the war, young volunteers gathered the residents in an open field, instructing us on how to protect ourselves during a bomb blast: lie on the ground, chest up on elbows, and tightly cover our ears. Soon after, trenches were dug throughout the city, even in front of each classroom, forming shapes like I, V, L, and T.  I understand that all the trenches were dug in a zig-zag pattern so that if a shrapnel would land in the trench, it would only get the people in that section, not further down the line.

At school, we practiced drills – running to trenches at the sound of the bell. We'd crouch within them, heads below the surface, seeking meager protection. As the war worsened, schools eventually shut down. Darkness fell each night as a blackout was declared.

Panic echoed amidst the darkness. Instructions, "Light band karo" (switch off the lights), crackled from an unseen source. Fear gnawed at us. The chilling wail of the siren sent us, my mom, three sisters, and our neighbor's nine-year-old, scrambling into the trench. I, a mere ten years old, huddled close to my six-month-old sibling nestled in my mother's arms. Running to and hiding in the trenches had become a nightly ritual, a grim routine of the war.

One elderly Sikh grandmother, ever-present in the trench, recited prayers in a continuous murmur. My five-year-old sister, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, innocently piped up, "Is Dad coming to drop bombs?" A chuckle rippled through the tense atmosphere amongst our neighbors!

One night, I was jolted awake to an uproar outside. The sky bled crimson, filled with fiery red balls. Cries of "bachao bachao" (save us) resonated from nearby villages. Meanwhile, frantic knocks pounded at our door, urging my Mom to join them in the trench. My Mom stood calmly by the window, gazing out. Fear welled up inside me, urging me to join them, but exhaustion seemed to have settled on my mom. "We all have to die someday," she whispered, her voice strangely calm, "let it be today."

Sometimes during the day time, the phone in our landlord's house would break the monotony of the day with its occasional ring. It would be a call for mom, either from Pathankot or Leh, filled with static and barely intelligible. Often, since Mom was unable to decipher such calls or who was on the other end, she used to remain in the trench, persuaded by our concerned neighbor.

Packet Aircraft Sorties

The Fairchild Packet was a common aircraft type that Dad and his teammates often flew. Agra was the base for transport aircraft Fairchild Packet C-119 Flying Boxcar, an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet. This type of aircraft was of the second world war vintage brought over from the US, the last of which was phased out of the US military in 1975. Used extensively by the IAF in those days, these were known for its boxy design and were used to carry cargo, personnel, sick / wounded patients, mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute.

Image Copyright: USAF - Travis Air Force Base Public Affairs

When Dad was present at Agra, his younger crew members of Packet aircrafts, who were bachelors, often used to join us for breakfast to taste Dosa. Sambar, and coconut Chutney prepared by my Mom. Their visits always involved a group of three, and the coconuts were sent ahead through a bearer the day before. Anyone traveling to Bangalore on sortie was expected to procure the coconuts. Uncle Mehta, a pilot, was one such frequent visitor. We children used to have great fun during these breakfast events. Several years later in 1980 we heard that Uncle Mehta tragically lost his life in a plane crash. 

Uncles Mehta, R Sharda, Mathur with my sister Latika

During a takeoff run at Agra-Kheria Air Force Station on 22 February 1980, the Packet aircraft he was piloting, engaged in a local training mission carrying four crew members and 43 paratroopers, stalled due to insufficient speed while attempting to avoid a cyclist or pedestrian on the runway. The aircraft came down rightwing low and burst into flames. Tragically, 46 occupants perished in that accident except a paratrooper, who was seriously injured.

The obsolete C-119 Fairchild Packet aircrafts, nicknamed the “Flying Boxcar” for its boxy fuselage, were involved in several accidents. Read the gripping account of a Flight Lieutenant's audacious act in November 1982 -  Mid-Air Mission Impossible: The Legend of Gutsy Gaur. He risked his own life by hanging himself upside down beneath a flying C-119 Fairchild Packet to repair a crucial nose-wheel, preventing a potential disaster and saving the lives of seven fellow air warriors.

A Near-Death Experience

My Dad often recounted a harrowing incident from his flying days stationed at No. 6 Squadron in Pune. He was a Signaler in a B24 Liberator, a four-engine workhorse aircraft tasked with essential runs to various airbases. They were a crew of eleven men, including a pilot, copilot, engineer, navigator, signaler, and six gunners. One such mission took them to the remote Nicobar Islands.

Liberator Aircraft at Car Nicobar

Taking off from Lohegaon Airbase in Pune, their journey towards Car Nicobar Island took a dramatic turn. One of the propellers sputtered and died, sending shivers down their spines. The engineer tirelessly worked to coax it back to life, while the plane circled precariously, losing altitude with each passing moment.

The tense silence amongst the crew was broken only by the frantic whirring of the remaining engines. They were ordered to prepare their parachutes for a potential water landing – a daunting prospect considering the crocodile-infested waters below.

Just as hope seemed to dwindle, the engineer's skilled efforts brought the engine back to life. Relief washed over them as the plane stabilized and continued its journey. Upon landing safely in Car Nicobar, the crew, visibly shaken but alive, captured this photograph at the airport, a permanent reminder of their brush with disaster.

Last Days of NTV Nambiar

Uncle was not used to taking any medicines and hardly visited hospitals. He was hale and hearty even two weeks prior to his passing on Nov 3, 2023, doing everything himself. Ten days prior to his demise, he suddenly became weak, finding it difficult even to walk to the dining table. Doctor said his BP is low, he is disoriented, and suggested giving ORS powder. That is the time we employed a caretaker. We were fortunate to get someone immediately and he turned out to be highly experienced and very good at his job.

For the next 10 days uncle was the center of attention. The house, normally sleepy, was suddenly alive with Shrikant, the caretaker, continually chatting with Uncle in a loud voice. All of us in the house were entertained by his questions such as 'what news, achaa', 'shall we go to the town for a round', 'how about going to the market to get some vegetables', etc. When he persistently asks these questions, uncle would oblige him with equally witty answers, but sometimes with a bit irritated answers showing his frustration. 

He was 93 years of age and he had no history of coronary heart disease. So his death could be a cardiac arrest, when the heart stops pumping blood to the body and the person stops breathing normally. Death, biologically, is the irreversible cessation of vital processes in our cells or tissues. 

Enduring Legacy

Uncle tied the knot at the young age of 23, and their wedded life continued for a remarkable 70 years, culminating in a joyful celebration of their platinum anniversary in 2003. He leaves behind a large and loving family, including his dear wife, three daughters and their husbands, six grandchildren, and even three great-grandchildren! Notably, the eldest of his great-grandchildren is already 20 years old, a testament to the enduring legacy of his life and love.

Uncle's Family

Peaceful Passing Away

Today, on Nov 2, 2023, we saw death at close quarters, at the moment the soul was leaving the body in a state of serene tranquility. His eldest daughter Vasantha was holding her father's forehead with one hand and his chin with the other hand and watching his calm and composed face. His lips were moving as if he was trying to say something. In a few minutes, when we were watching closely, the subtle motions ceased. Vasantha's hands on the serene face loosened. I understood that was his last breath. Just to confirm, I discreetly checked for breathing, finding no signs of life. His passing was the most peaceful and painless farewell we had ever experienced. His final moments embodied dignity and a quiet sense of life completion, leaving us with a profound sense of peace.

In Memoriam

ഇതു പൂര്‍വ്വികരുടെ പ്രാര്‍ത്ഥനയാണു:

അനായാസേന മരണം 

വിനാ ദൈന്യേന ജീവനം 

ദേഹിമേ കൃപയാ ശംഭോ 

ത്വയി ഭക്തിമ ചഞ്ചലം!

अनायासेन मरणं 

विनादैन्येन जीवनं । 

देहि मे कृपया शम्भो 

त्वयि भक्ति अचन्चलं ॥

anāyāsena maraņam 

vinādainyena jīvanam. 

dehi me krpayā śambho 

tvayi bhaktim acancalam.

ദൈവമേ, ഭക്തനായ എനിക്കു അങ്ങയുടെ കാരുണ്യവും കൃപയും കൊണ്ട് ദീനമില്ലാത്ത ജീവിതവും ജീവിതാവസാനം ആയാസപ്പെടാത്ത സുഖമരണവും നല്‍കേണമേ എന്നർത്ഥം. 

It means, O God, grant me, a devotee, with your mercy and grace, a disease-free life and a comfortable death without strain at the end of life.

It is a feeling of emptiness today, 3rd Nov 2023, after returning from the cremation ground where uncle's physical body was consigned to ashes.