QUEER FAMILY MEMBERS AROUND AMMA
Dear Sweet Children,
Amma is nine now. Her father Seethapathi was always anxious to somehow leave her with grandparents Janakamma and Venkata Subbayya in Tenali. But Amma had total aversion for their company for the reason that there was no love lost between Amma and her grandmother Janakamma. This silly woman thoughtlessly concluded that Amma was born under an evil star which cast its malefic influence on Rangamma inflicting untimely death. Janakamma placed the whole blame squarely on Amma for Rangamma’s death. Therefrom flowed all her evil reactions totally unbecoming of a grandmother. Her frequent ugly comments against Amma were disgusting. “How I wish this girl died and my daughter survived instead?” She would moan meriting the contempt of listeners. She had scant consideration for Amma’s sensitivities. That was why Amma firmly distanced herself from Janakamma. But Seethapathi always planned to leave Amma in Tenali to somehow unburden himself from the responsibility of looking after Amma. He did not weigh the likes and dislikes of Amma, a child prodigy that Amma was. She could study men and matters in their proper perspective. His only consideration was as grandparents it was their bounden duty to shoulder the responsibility. The matter simply ended there for him
VENKATASUBBAIAH AND CHIDAMBARA RAO
These two were sons of Narasama..
Unlike his elder brother Venkata Subbayya, Chidambarao keenly observed vivid flashes of esoteric wisdom in Amma from as early as her childhood in her talks and conduct. He therefore considered her a rich heritage for the family in general and him in particular. He kept close company with Amma observing her from every accessible angle. He was also kind to Rangamma, his brother Venkata Subbayya’s daughter. When she fell ill, he attended to her treatment in Bapatla. But a heartless fate took an innocent victim unawares and issued a disastrous decree. Rangamma tearfully entrusted her son Raghavarao and Amma to Chidamabararao who thereupon sentimentally felt that it was his sacred duty to look after Amma. Venkata Subbayya, generally mediocre by nature, on the other hand, chose to maintain a lukewarm attitude towards Amma saying that Rangamma entrusted Amma to Chidambaram. A poor excuse indeed to wash off his hands. The grandparents of Amma. thus knowingly and wilfully receded into an unhelpful background. Let us leave them there to hibernate denying unto themselves the cup of wisdom that Amma always generously held out for one and all.
It was given to the fortunate Chidambararao and Maridamma to drink deep to its lees.
MARIDAMMA THATHAMMA
Mention here must be made of an exceptional character by name Maridamma, younger sister of Narsamma, Chidambara Rao’s mother.
Ammayamma was the mother of Narasamma and Maridamma. She was such a noble and selfless woman that she even gladly offered her breast-milk to the needy babies of neighbors who were unable to meet the demand. Ammayamma had two sons – Mannava Venkaiah, Karanam of Mannava and Chalapathi Rao who never married. Seethapathi was Venkaiah’s son. He married Rangamma, daughter of Venkata Subbaiah and Janakamma. Venkaiah became an early widower. Maridamma also was a child widow. She was therefore not destined to have a family of her own. She generously looked after other families and selflessly served them. She inherited all the noble qualities of her mother Ammayamma, When Seethapathi lost his wife, Maridamma was very much grieved. Amma was only four years old. Maridamma took over the responsibility of this wing of their family also. Like Chidambara Rao, Maridamma fortunately observed divinity in Amma even from the days of her infancy. Maridamma was therefore deeply drawn to Amma.
Maridamma was highly religious and took tutelage under a Sadguru In Guntur. She was a purity incarnate. Amma had great reverence for Maridamma. She used to say that all good qualities in a human being were centered in Maridamma.
Thus we find around Amma a queer band of unhelpful relatives and also those who were attached to Amma as well. The irresponsible grandparents stood shockingly apart, while Chidambara Rao and Maridamma formed the noble duo.
VISIT TO NAMBURU
We will now proceed to a pleasant village called NAMBURU in Guntur District. Rangamma’s younger sister BHAGYAMMA lived here.
Her good husband Goparaju was the Village Karanam of Namburu. The kind couple had abundant affection for Amma unlike Janakamma. You may be interested to note that Janakamma had six daughters, of whom Bhagyamma was one. The Namburu couple always grieved that Amma lost her mother too early with none to give her adequate maternal attention and warm love, Bhagyamma and her husband took Amma to Namburu where their daughter Savithri also kept nice company. They gave her several gifts and pretty clothes to keep her merry and joyous. They prompted Amma to learn to ride the horse which Goparaju owned. Amma thus enjoyed her stay in a salubrious environment in the grand company of her hosts. But then Amma suddenly fell sick. She was put on ayurveda. But the fever persisted for three wretched months. Acute painful ulceration also appeared in the mouth causing a lot of anxiety for Bhagyamma. Seethapathi was informed. Amma had to be shifted to Bapatla. Chidambararao summoned another Ayurveda Vaidya. But he suggested allopathy to ensure quicker results as the ulceration extended farther into the interior. Injections were commenced as an alternative, VISIT TO CHIRALA
In Chirala there was another younger sister of Rangamma by name Seshamma. Again, unlike her mother Janakamma, Seshamma was much attached to Amma. One day her husband Narayana Rao happened to visit Chidambara Rao in Bapatla. He was distressed to see Amma’s sickly condition. He at once proposed to shift her to Chirala to bestow personal attention. He was deeply disappointed that Amma looked very weak. Her hair was by then removed due to continued sickness and incidental neglect which harbored plenty of lice. Amma urgently needed strong tonics too. He opined. Narayanarao said his wife Seshamma pleaded with him to bring Amma to Chirala without further delay. On hearing him, Maridamma offered services at Chirala to assist Seshamma and take personal care of Amma. Narayanarao heartily welcomed Maridamma’s offer. The three proceeded to Chirala without further loss of time. The moment they landed in Chirala, Seshamma’s joy knew no bounds. She warmly hugged Amma and wept at her bad physical condition, sickly face, shaven head and emaciated form.
The good Maridamma undertook to serve them all attentively. Amma started improving day by day. We will revisit Amma and Maridamma in Chirala and enjoy the interesting events that happened there. Let us for the moment leave Amma alone to recoup her health and flash us a smile.
(to be continued…)