My father used to tell a lot about his youngest sister Mahalakshmi (మహాలక్ష్మి). After getting employed as an engineer, the first responsibility he took care of was Mahalakshmi's marriage. Mahalakshmi married Kodati Venkata Satyanarayana (కోదాటి వెంకట సత్యనారాయణ) garu and lived in Tanuku (తణుకు) of West Godavari district. My father loved his sisters. I remember visiting their places in my childhood. The families got even closer after my parents moved to Rajahmundry. Mahalakshmi's children have grown up and settled. Her grandson successfully completed engineering and settled in a well paid job.  Mahalakshmi moved from Tanuku to the home of her son Venkateswara rao (వెంకటేశ్వరరావు) in Balabhadrapuram.  A few days ago I got the sad news that Mahalakshmi also left us in pursuit of her journey towards heavens. Venkateswara rao told me that she passed away on March 19, 2023.  It happens to be three days before Ugadi (ఉగాది).  The thidhi was Shubhakrutu naama samvatsara phalguna bahula trayodasi after 8:07 am (శుభకృతు నామ సంవత్సర ఫల్గుణ బహుళ త్రయోదశి) and dwadasi before 8.07 am.

I have a lot to be proud of my father beginning from my childhood days.  In his career, he worked on the development of the basic infrastructure for agriculture of the combined state of Andhra Pradesh, the benefits of which are being enjoyed by the two Telugu states now. He used to mention that it is highly satisfying to see the excitement of the farmers when the waters were flown in to their farms once the projects were completed. He was born before India got its independence and began working as a civil engineer since 1950s after India's constitution was written.  As a government officer, he maintained his dignity, and was praised by all those associated with him. After his retirement, he lived a completely relaxed life at home.  I used to see two of his things, one is his sign board and the other is his rubber stamp as a Junior Engineer.  I copied them in this picture.  The sign board is still found on the wall of his home at Rajahmundry though rubber stamp disappeared longtime ago.  Today is his third death anniversary. I remember a lot of things about him that I am proud of and grateful to him.

My father was fond of Bammera Pothana's (బమ్మెర పోతన) poetry.  In my childhood he used to narrate the story of Gajendra mokshamu (గజేంద్రమోక్షము) from Bhagavatam (భాగవతం). I recall him singing the poems:

lAvokkimtayu lEdu dHairyamu vilOlambayye@M brANambulun
ThAvul dappenu moorChavachche@M danuvun Dassen SramambayyeDin
nIvEtappa nit@hparambe~ru@Mga mannimpamdagun dInunin
rAvE ISwara kAvavE varada saMrakshimpu bHadrAtmakA
లావొక్కింతయు లేదు ధైర్యము విలోలంబయ్యెఁ బ్రాణంబులున్
ఠావుల్ దప్పెను మూర్ఛవచ్చెఁ దనువున్ డస్సెన్ శ్రమంబయ్యెడిన్
నీవేతప్ప నితఃపరంబెఱుఁగ మన్నింపందగున్ దీనునిన్
రావే ఈశ్వర కావవే వరద సంరక్షింపు భద్రాత్మకా

sirikimjeppa@MDu SamKhachakrayugamum jEdOyi samdhimpa@M DE
parivArambunu jIra@M DabHragapatim bannimpa@M DAkarNikAm
tara dHammillamu@M jakkanotta@MDu vivAdaprOtthita SrIkuchO
pari chElAmchalamaina veeDa@MDu gaja prANAvanOtsAhiyai.
సిరికింజెప్పఁడు శంఖచక్రయుగముం జేదోయి సంధింపఁ డే
పరివారంబును జీరఁ డభ్రగపతిం బన్నింపఁ డాకర్ణికాం
తర ధమ్మిల్లముఁ జక్కనొత్తఁడు వివాదప్రోత్థిత శ్రీకుచో
పరి చేలాంచలమైన వీడఁడు గజ ప్రాణావనోత్సాహియై.

People liked Pothana's poetry in those days because of his easy and melodious style.