Memories are fragile...short, fragmentary, gossamer like, intangible; yet, they are also some of the precious belongings one can boast of. I know that all of us have memories of our childhood locked safe and secure in our hearts. We share them with others if we include them in the circle of our love and joy.
Dhamayanthi clan is a large one and almost all our early memories of childhood are linked to our grandparents, especially Dhamayanthi aaya.
Our childhoods were special, because they were spent in the large ancestral home of NMR thaatha and Dhamayanthi aaya with what seemed like a huge population of cousins, aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas.
For me personally there are so many moments that can be recalled that I thought I would put them down and share them with the whole Dhamayanthi clan, which is now constantly expanding, constantly welcoming newborns, new daughters and sons - in- law, not to show what they have missed, but to show them that they are part of this family and that the past can become a part of our present.
NMR is the patriarchal head of the family of seven daughters and two sons and Dhamayanthi is the matriarchal head of the family.
The sons and daughters
- Chandran
- Manohari
- Jaya
- Nalayani
- Kumudhini
- Bharathi
- Kala
- Sivakumar
- Sathyavathi
I've tried to produce a family tree. I feel that the younger generation needs to get in touch with the past of the older generation if they have to feel included. Times are rather difficult for us...we all live in different corners and pursue different careers, but what binds us is all the feeling of oneness that is there, inspite of distances and places.
I feel this is more for my own pleasure too...as I try to recapture my childhood memories with Dhamayanthi aaya...and the large household in which I was but a part, a part that is unique by itself...just as every one's of the clan is.
