Autobiography of Adhyatma Ratna Kumbakonam C N Guruswami Sarma Chapter 20-Annadhata Sambu Iyer

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 

ADHYATMA RATNA KUMBAKONAM C N GURUSWAMI SARMA (1900-1968)

CHAPTER 20

Annadhata Sambu Iyer

Kamu Athai developed Dhyana and meditative powers and never worried about worldly things. She virtually left the care of her three sons to my father. My father got her eldest son Sundaram Iyer married to his own sister in law Easwari Ammal and was getting younger sons Doraiswami and veeraraghavan educated. Doraiswamy passed his lower exams in Madura and got married to my eldest sister chellammal. he was sent to Madras for his higher Collegiate education but he did not take kindly to it.  Years before my birth, he not succeeding in his attempts to pass the F A class even after three attempts (Ref 1)went to his elder brother being by then appointed as a clerk in the Reformatory school in Chingleput. He got appointment there as amin in the District munsif court against the wishes of my father who had a berth for him in the Educaitional Service. He set up house with my sister at Chingleput. His younger brother Veeraraghavan got married to the daughter of my father's vadhyar (purohit) who belonged to batlakundu. This relationship was brought about because of one Sambu Iyer who seemed to have been serving my father as a cook and companion when he was Inspector of European schools some of which were at Kodaikanal. My father used to recount in his later days how he used to climb the hills in a pack horse called valankai mattam  in stages and how this Sambu Iyer used to accompany him and almost keep guard over him besides feeding him. after some years of service the said gentleman finding that my father was on a furlough preparatory to retirement  took his advice and with some money which was kept in store for him by my father, and using his influence with some European officer got employed as a Courier of mails from Arumuga naicker Chathiram (now called kodaikanal Road) to the hills by post coaches. His apellation was changed to mail Sambu Iyer and he became famous throughout the hills and was a welcome guest to many Europeans who inhabited the hills as a harbinger of good news. There was no other mode of conveyance to those hills during those times and Sambu Iyer had to be approached for transport both for luggage and human beings. he seemed to have been affable, good-hearted and great man, whose vow was to feed atleast ten to twelve thousand people every year. he earned very well but was always a reliable guardian for all his poor relatives and he brought up almost every family in Batlakundu. His name was remembered with respect by all and he never refused a request. This story is relevant at this juncture because of an incident which took place one day in brahma Vidya Lodge. A large man came and prostrated before my father and my father raised him with both his hands calling him "sambu". Are you all doing well?. I was asked to prostrate sambu Iyer and I did so in dismay not knowing anything about him but being drawn to him by some kind of force. he also took me up in his arms and with tears in his eyes blessed me by saying " You are my Yajaman's only child. You must grow and become great like your father". I could understand nothing about his feelings at that time. My father recounted the above story to those who were present and what I could piece from it I have narrated as above from my infantile memory. This is one incident which made a deep impression in my mind and I decided to respect that great man and feed as many as possible in my life afterwards as "food" and "feeding" were a daily problem in my life then and I had to look up every morning to a benefactor with an avidity always guessing "who will give me the next feed ?" . My God"! It was a beggar's life and being a bit sensitive, I looked so abashed when so many gave food to me kindly, no doubt, but I could never have my full and I arose as hungry after the meal as i was before it. I was praying to my Goddess- Sri meenakshi- my mother's deity who was responsible for ushering me into this world to stop this rot. (Ref 2) 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Editor's note:
1. F A is Fellow of Arts and was a two year course after high school. (VI Form). It was also a rule that if some one does not pass in three attempts he cannot proceed to B.A. 
2. I wish to narrate an incident connected with the chapter now. When my uncle returned from UK in 1964/65 , he and my grandfather were sitting in the house and my uncle for the first time started reading the manuscript of the autobiography which was being written then. He read this portion and started uncontrollably sobbing. I could understand now why he cried. None of my uncles nor my father nor ourselves ever felt pangs of hunger in my grandfather's house. I can tell the same about the numerous nephews and nieces who visited the Kumbakonam house.My grandfather went hungry many nights but he provided enough for all of us. Naturally, my eyes are also full of tears when I write this part of the narration. I have to tell you, Grandpa, you did not pass on even an iota of your suffering to us. But for reading now, we may not even know your sufferings. If I don't remember you atleast when I am having food then what is the gratitude I am showing you?
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