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V.V.Vanniaperumal – Muthammal
Vanniaperumal was born as the third, but second son to V.Vannia Nadar and Ponnamal on 17.12.1892. Though he was very knowledgeable and intelligent, he did not continue his schooling after ninth standard. He could not write his final ninth standard exams as he fell sick, so he did not want to continue in ninth standard again.
Soon after he left school, he was employed at the Kona.Cheena.shop. Then, he started his own groceries shop under the name V.V.Vanniaperumal Nadar. After that, a company called V.V.Shanmugha Nadar and Brothers was established. Hence, he shut down his groceries shop.
He married Muthammal, daughter of Madurai N.S.Vinayagamurthy Nadar and Vazhavandammal. N.S.Vinayagamurthy Nadar's Native place was Palayampatty. He was one of the founder signatories for the establishment of 'Nadar Mahajanam Sangam' at Madurai. He was also a prominent person in the society and business at Madurai.
The family of my mother, and her relatives had high regards and respects for my father. For any issues within themselves, my father's opinion and decision were respected.
"The Hindu Nadar Girls' School started during 1910 grew step by step, when it was upto 7th Standard education, there was not enough place for the students in 'Villan Macchu Veedu'. Due to the great efforts of V.V.Vanniaperumal Nadar, the present Kshathriya Girls Primary School building was built at a cost of Rs.25000/- on the Arisi Kadai Magamai's Devasthana Land. The school from 'Villan Macchu Veedu' was shifted during the year 1932. (Source-The history of Kshatriya Girls' School)
He was interested and skilled in civil drawings. He has helped several people by making a layout design for their houses.
Though he was interested in serving the social public, he had to devote himself to the business responsibilities as the other brothers were fully involved in social activities. He used to foresee, out of his own experience as to when it rains, and accordingly advice the workers to take away the grains kept under sun for drying in the Toor dhall Mill. During night he used to go for supervising the mill for himself. He used to have a walking stick in which there was a long sword inside. He had a strong will.
He used to procure goods on cash and at a lowest price. Though he was responsible and controlling procurement, production and sales, everything was under the watchful eye of the eldest brother V.V.Shanmugha Nadar. During difficult times, Shanmugha Nadar handled the situations expertly with his verbal and communication skills. V.V.Dhanushkodi Nadar who was incharge of Tuticorin branch imported rice, pulses and other grains from their Rangoon branch, he sold them at a considerably low margin and attained high sales and thus, improved the business.
All the four brothers were united in conducting the business with family bondage. V.V.Ramasamy Nadar involved himself in full time politics. He spent a huge sum of funds on social service and on political elections. There were marriageable sons and daughters for the four brothers. Hence controlling the expenditure became a necessity. Though they conducted the business together unitedly, they decided to have their expenditures separately in their own individual capacity. During those days, people who were involved in politics became famous, but they lost their wealth. Cash in V.V.R. Account was depleted because of over drawings. During such time, due to his political influence, he got the order for exporting rice to Colombo, this deal ended up making huge profits. During the property division, there was difference of opinion. Swami Sankarananda guided to delete the political expenses from the account of V.V.R. and split the property equally among the brothers. The brothers accepted the words of Swamiji and preceded their business independently. This happened during the year 1942.
Our family was committed to the Self Respect movement of Periyar E.V.Ramasamy. In the joint family, our sister Tmt.Nagarathinam's marriage was conducted in a revolutionary 'Self Respect Marriage' method. The customary 7 days marriage was reduced to one-day.
Even after the split, V.V.R. continued his political life vibrantly. He contested the TN state assembly election during the year 1962. My brother Rajendran and I came to know that our father is planning to give a huge sum for the election expenditures. We told the same to our mother and asked to her to stop this. But, our mother told that whatever your father is willingly giving to his brother is from his hard earned money and hence you do not have any rights to question him.
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Our mother was a simple person. Our father used to take the decisions of the marriages of my sisters at the shop itself. Our mother was only informed much later about these decisions. But, my mother never had any complaints or hard feelings about this. She was simple, modest and prudent. She has studied upto sixth standard. She was very religious and spiritual by nature. She used to read all the books published by Ramakrishna Mutt. She used to participate in the Anthar Yoga sessions conducted by Swami Chitbhavananda. Our father also used to listen to the spiritual lectures of Swami Chitbhavananda. Our father used to fast full day, in the memory of his father on the Amvasya day.
Our periamma Valliammal took the whole responsibilities of all the family functions and guided us all properly. We cannot forget the devoted service and medical care rendered by chinnamma Sivgamiammal when our mother fell sick and was bedridden. She did medical services to all. Our Pooma Gandhimathi Ammal used to bring all of us together to let us know and introduced the relationship to her grandsons and grand-daughters. Thus, she brought us all together to strengthen the family bondage. Our father's sister Vennandiammal, Bakkiyakkal and Saraswathi Akkal never missed to attend to our family functions and take a lead.
My father commenced his separate business during the year 1942. I was then learning business at the V.V.S. & Bros. firm at Bombay. Due to the partition, I came back to Virudhunagar. My father continued Dhall, Edible Oil and Areca nut business. He branded the Edible Oil as "ANANDHAM GINGELLY OIL" and concentrated on both oil and Areca nut businesses. During 1943, he started a firm at Madurai. He had a train season ticket to travel to Madurai daily for pricing the Areca nut and came back to Virudhunagar. He used to wear the dhoti in a panjakatcham form. He had a prestigious look with the shirt. He used to wear a coat when he comes to Madurai. He was very prudent. He carried all the accounts books himself from the railway station to the shop. I also had the habit of walking to and fro from the shop to the railway station.
He then started a Areca nut commission agency. He lent a large sum to those who sent Areca nut on commission basis. We also procured Areca nut from Kerala and Colombo. I took up the responsibility of Madurai branch and developed the business in various fields. In 1945 he created a partition deed among his three sons for the sake of savings in Income-Tax. The business continued as before. Our periappa (V.V.Shanmuga Nadar) indicated that this system was wide of the mark, and also warned that what if his sons ask for splitting up the properties. My father responded firmly that he will split and give away their shares.
Our father wished and told to my younger brother Gunaseelan and me, that in his lifetime he wanted to conduct the marriage of his grand daughter Porkodi, Rajendran's daughter, on a common share within the family. We expressed our happiness and consent on the same. He gave the responsibilities of the marriage arrangements to Kasthuribai, who exceeded expectations of all and made the function a grand one.
People of Madurai were delighted to use and purchased on high demand, the supari from Kerala, named as 'Thenkasi Pakku (supari)'. But, many of the sellers used this demand, and mixed Colombo Supari and Kerala Supari, branded them and sold as 'Thenkasi Pakku'. I conveyed the same to our father and said that we may also do so. But he refused and said that it was wrong. I tried to convince him stating that it is affecting our sales and that consumers like the mixed product and insisted on my request. Our father told that we will not put our brand seal on the sacks of the mixed products, we will only sell saying that the product is a mix of Thenkasi and Colombo suparis. Then only he agreed on this condition.
The Government imposed a restriction on importing of Colombo Areca nut. But we got quota based on the earlier imports of large quantity. We earned a huge profit in this
Thirukkural 1.2.18. Verse 215 - Duty to Society
The wealth that wise and kind do make
Is like water that fills a lake.
Likewise V.V.Vanniaperumal started a charity mission during 1959 namely 'Anbu Illam' (the home of love). He also initiated his efforts to start an elementary school along with this charity home which blossomed in 1963.
In 1962, the management of Senthikumara Nadar College started a women's college. They also decided in the committee that the college will be named after the top donor. On this, my father told them that he knows a friend who is ready to donate but made a demand that the name of the donor should be without mentioning the caste or religion and also the patron should be from his family. When everyone present there eagerly asked for the identity of the person and he said that it was himself. Everyone applauded on this. When he returned home from the meeting with a garland, our mother asked our father about the same. He responded that, I gave, they put.
My father had high regards and respects for the eminent leader Kamarajar. All his charity works were inaugurated by Kamarajar.
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During the TN state assembly elections in the year 1952 there was hectic contest. Our periappa V.V.Shanmugha Nadar took the responsibility and contributed to the success. During 1957, now the responsibility was given to our father. During that period, Congress party-members came forward to support in the election works. He was told that there are unreliable persons in politics, hence find a trust-worthy person for handing over the responsibilities. My father said that Congress party-members are faithful towards the party and work genuinely and that one should not ignore them. Thus our father brought together all persons in harmony and contributed to success of the party.
Every year, our father invited his sons and daughters, grand sons and grand daughters and their families. He held a feast for three days; he also gave them clothes and money. It was an opportunity for all the family members to be united in one place and enjoy each others' presence. As he gave the profits earned from the Areca nut business for charity, he also gave away a share of his earnings to his kiths and kins, needy and poor people. He gave gold and money to all his grand sons and grand daughters.
When our maternal grand mother expired, our father distributed her jewellery in a manner that a major share of jewels to be given to our Chitti Visalakshi, and next large share to Chitti Avadaiammal and he gave a very small token bit to our mother. Also, he said that all the properties and bank balance to be given to her son, our only maternal uncle Subbaiah Nadar.
Our father took the Chairmanship of Virudhunagar Ayyanar Spinning and Weaving Mill. Several people took part and purchased share because of the respect and regard they had on our father. He also purchased shares from the Virudhunagar Steel Rolling Mills. I indicated that this will not earn profits. He responded that he wished not to make profit but looked forward to develop industries in the local city and increase employment opportunities for the localites.
He also handed over responsibilities of the management both of these mills to some relatives, who were graduates, thinking that they were dependable. He relied on them because they were educated, smart and that they will manage the mills in a better way. But they were not trustworthy and indulged themselves into spurious activities. He was very upset after knowing this.
My father had a concern that Anandam did not go for a college education. Later he told to his elder sister Bakkiyakkal that "whatever Anandam had told me was always right, but I have only not listened to him." I still today consider this statement as the best compliment and his blessings given by my father to me.
My father was interested and fond of carnatic music. When he was young, he learnt vocal music from the famous Chinnamani Bagavathar. He played harmonium. During that period, the association with people of dance and drama was considered immoral. Our peria atthai Vennandiammal came to know about this she complained to the family. The music classes were stopped for him.
But later he engaged music teachers for my sisters to learn vocal music and violin. When I was schooling, during summer holidays, I was also sent to music classes.
He had a great collection of music record discs of golden fame singers like S.G.Kittappa, K.P.Sundarambal, S.V.Subbaiar Bagavathar. He used to enjoy listening to them. Later, he started listening to M.K. Thiagaraja Bagavathar's songs for rest of his life.
Later stage of his life, he used to tell his friends that he got everything he wished and wanted in his life and that he was very contented, so he will welcome death at any point of time.
When he fell sick, we visited him at the Madurai Hospital. He was always listening to M.K.T. songs playing in the recorder. When I was there he was very normal and talking to Kasthuribai and me. He also wanted to know about the news in Navasakthi Newspaper about the instance of resignation of Finance Minister T.T.K. At that time all of a sudden he had a massive heart attack. Even after all the good efforts of Dr.Thangaraj, he went to the abode of God.
He lived according to the following Thirukkural throughout his life.
Thirukkural 1.2.20 Verse 231 Renown
They gather fame who freely give
The greatest gain for all that live
Written by
V.V.V. Vannia Anandham |
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