Our Family History

Got to know the flashback story from my granny recently.

We hail from a village named Cauveripalayam in Gobichettipalayam Taluk, Erode district, Tamil Nadu, India. In 1880's, my ancestor Mr.C.R.Rangasamy govunder had expired and his wife Mrs.C.R.Kuruvaayal was not treated great and so, left the place and came to her mom's home. They had a son named Mr.P. R.Palanisamy govundar (P.R). Kuruvayaal stayed at her father’s place and didn’t return back to Cauveripalayam even after awhile. Her father had given her half acre land for survival. Mr.P. R was very hardworking, courageous and helpful to all the villagers in many ways. With his dedication and hard work, he has turned this half acre land to six acres. If there is any injustice happening, he would immediately move to the court and sue a case. Some of the villagers didn't like this act and preferred to solve issues within the village through village panchayat. My granny adds that if he hadn't spent so much for the lawyers, he would have had much more peaceful life and earned more.

Mr.P.R married Mrs.P.Thiruvammal and had a son named Mr.P.Kuppana Govunder (KG). They have had daughters before the birth of son. All the daughters expired within 5 years of birth. An astrologer has told them that Dust God (What a belief!!! A God for dusts) has some anger on this family and to name his son as Kuppan (“Kuppai” in Tamil means Dust), which would be tribute to Dust God.

Mrs.Thiruvammal expired when KG was 5 month old. Mr.KG’s maternal uncle didn’t like the behavior of Mr.P.R as he was running to the court often. He took KG to his house and bought him up there. Mr.KG eventually married one of his maternal uncle’s daughters Mrs.P.Lakshmi who is my granny, narrating this story. Mr.KG, my grandpa expired on May 11, 2008 (just two years back). He was very lovely, sweet, soft-spoken person. My days with him was great. I was his pet as I was the only grandchild for him. If I have heard this story from him, it would have been even more detailed.

Mr.KG also had daughter first who didn’t survive (Should they have named a daughter also as Kuppai !?!?.. That was a crazy belief) and then had a son Mr.K.Viswanathan who is my sweet dad. I am only daughter for my dad. They didn’t have son but I survived :-). Granny ends the story saying that if there are no sons in a family, the family tree is supposed to have ended and any curse in the family will not continue. She finds it as a curse to have only one child in all the generations.

Found myself proud to know the little history of previous 4 generations