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Being my eldest brother, with nearly twenty years difference, Anna has influenced my life, right from changing my official date of birth. As soon as we shifted from Kancheepuram to Chennai, Anna took me to CSI Elementary School, Mylapore and admitted me in First standard, by advancing my date of birth by thirteen months. I had resented losing thirteen months of service in my early days of employment, but was very happy and was looking forward to my retirement during my last few months of service.
Anna, a soft-spoken and commanding personality, had taken charge of the family, even in his college days, when Appa went away on promotion/transfers. He set a very high target by being a top scorer in the district. He also guided his sisters and brothers in their studies.
By the time I finished my primary education, Anna had passed Civil Services exam and moved to Postal Services and to various places on transfer/promotion.
When I completed my studies and got my posting in Corporation Bank, I had to report for my initial training at Head Office, Mangalore. Anna was in Chennai at that time and took charge again. He escorted me to Mangalore and got me accommodation in a Ladies College hostel (Anna: 'it is not safe for ladies to stay alone in hotel.'). On completion of training, my initial posting was at Coimbatore. Anna escorted me again to Coimbatore and found accommodation in CSI Ladies Hostel there. He also spoke to my Manager and arranged for my transfer to Chennai within six months.
In our bank, Officers from South India should work for at least one term in North India and vice versa. I was posted to Bombay on promotion. I stayed with Anna and Manni at Ballard Estate. Both were so affectionate and caring and it was a “home away from home” there for me. During weekends, Anna used to take me to temples, movies, Bhagwat Gita lectures and I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there. But after a few months Anna was transferred to Delhi. But Manni stayed back for three more months, as this would be nearer to Jagan’s school. I continued to stay with Manni and Jagan and it was a memorable stay, with them. Then I shifted to Amritha Akka’s place. While there, Chooda Akka and others planned for a North India pilgrimage trip and I joined them at Anna’s place in Delhi, for a short trip to Badrinath and Kedarnath . There again, Anna had arranged for a local sightseeing trip in Delhi.
A few years before my retirement, I began planning for the same and took inspiration from Anna, who was always busy, post retirement, with a variety of interests – in current affairs, books and magazines, in enjoying sports, debates, lectures, carnatic music and so on. He had learnt French and also used to watch French films. I took cue from him and started developing interest in Vaishnavism, in addition to reading and listening to various lectures.
Anna once made his Tamil teacher, Mr.Deivasigamani very happy. When the teacher was teaching them வெண்பா இலக்கணம் - Venba ilakkanam ( grammar regarding construction of a specific type of poetry called venba), Anna wrote a grammatically correct venba about his teacher . The teacher was so excited that he stayed his touch with Anna for a very long time. With the help of a few of his students, Anna organised a felicitation function for him in a hall in T.Nagar. While in Mumbai Anna also wrote many articles to Kalki which was published by them. For one of his articles “ Dhinam oru Keerai” he got a VIP suitcase as reward and Anna promptly gave to Appa. A branded ladies nightie was also received by him and he gave it to me. Anna also wrote a one page snippet covering news from Mumbai and this was published every week in Kalki.
Anna was charitable and was contributing regularly to various old age homes, orphanages and educational institutions and told me once that our Vedas stipulated that we should donate one-sixth of our income as charity and hence he had made his practice to donate every month. I learnt to enjoy my charity only from Anna.
After Appa’s death, Anna reassured me that he , as eldest brother in the family, was my father figure and that I should feel free to approach him for guidance and requirements. Both Anna and Manni insisted that I should move to their residence, whenever I got my transfer to Chennai. When I clarified that I had acquired lot many things needed for an independent family and was also used to living alone, he didn’t pressurize me, but they both insisted that I must visit them whenever I came to Chennai. I have been doing this till date.
For a person who was so good to all his relatives and friends, fate has been very cruel and he had serious health issues for more than ten years. Despite his ill health, he was very pleasant whenever we visited him and very hospitable too.
It is indeed very sad that we lost a person who had taken so much responsibility with love and care. When I think of Anna, I am reminded of Mahakavi Bharathi’s lines :
Kannanal petru varum nanmaiyellam pesi mudiyathu
... nanbhanai, mandhiriyai, nal asiriyanumai, panbhile deivamai……
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 கண்ணனால் பெற்றுவரும் நன்மையெல்லாம் பேசி முடியாது
கண்ணை இமையிரண்டும் காப்பதுபோல், என் குடும்பம் வண்ணமுறக் காக்கின்றான்
பெண்டுகளைத் (தங்கைகளைத்) தாய்போற் பிரியமுற ஆதரித்து,
நண்பனாய், மந்திரியாய், நல்லாசிரியனுமாய்,
பண்பிலே தெய்வமாய்”
Thank you Anna, for Everything.
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