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.

My paternal grandfather Gadisetti Veeranna (గడిశెట్టి వీరన్న) was born to the couple Gadisetti Venkayya (గడిశెట్టి వెంకయ్య) and Seshamma (శేషమ్మ) who lived in Rajahmundry, the city by the banks of the river Godavari. Venkayya was son of Gadisetti Ramayya (గడిశెట్టి రామయ్య) and Gangamma (గంగమ్మ).  Incidentally my father got a name Venkata Ramayya (వెంకట రామయ్య), perhaps a sign of respect that Veeranna had to his father and grandfather. My father mentioned that Venkayya was a wealthy man who owned a clothing showroom and other businesses. Veernna was his eldest son. I remember him as a simple person dressed in plain white panche, lalchi and kanduva (పంచె, లాల్చీ, కండువా) with distinct make up of three horizontal lines of Vibhoodi (విభూది) on his forehead typical to the devotees of Lord Shiva (శివ). In my childhood, he used to tell us a lot of things like he studied until VIII standard, yet could speak English fluently, the standards of work done in British rule were superb and so on. I recall his appreciation to the victories of Israel in 1967 war. Veeranna was a wonderful person, who was born rich, but lost his father at young age, survived all the troubles, and finally regained pride with the success of his son. Veeranna was a healthy man who did not even get blood pressure issue. My father mentioned that he lived about 95 years.

Once, my father mentioned that he was born in భావ నామ సంవత్సరము (the year named "Bhaava" in the 60 year cycle of Hindu calendar).  Seemingly, his mother told him that he was born on పంచమి ("Panchami") సోమవారం (Monday) and his birth star was పుబ్బ ("Pubba", also known as పూర్వ ఫల్గుణి "Poorva Phalguni").  This falls on the date July 16, 1934, and పంచమి starts at 8:32 am.  Seemingly, the date of birth, however, was recorded as July 1st, 1934 in school.  He mentioned that the teacher followed some protocol at that time possibly due to confusion in translating those details to English date.

When I look back in time, it occurs to me that my parents were extremely harmonious with each other.  In their early 20s, they had to move far away from their families because of my father's job posting as a civil engineer of the state government.  The couple lived in small and big towns all over the state on job related transfers, surviving alone by themselves.  My mother used to describe their life in those days, ups and downs, and how they managed. I recall my father appreciating her wisdom so many times. She stood by his side in every situation, whether it was easy or difficult. Those were ever lasting memories in their life.  Their happiness in those days is strikingly visible in this black and white photo.

My father Venkataramayya worked as a civil engineer on several major irrigation projects in Andhra Pradesh since 1958, pretty much laying down the foundations of modern India. At the same time he enjoyed the executive power of a government officer to appoint people for his offices. He believed in sincerity and honesty at work and supporting and protecting his staff.  His journey began from Nagarjuna sagar, and continued to Pochampad, and several other projects all over the state for decades until his retirement. It is a rich experience living with him in all Andhra, Telangana and Rayalaseema regions in the due course. He was proud of his accomplishments in his career and maintained that dignity throughout his life. He used to mention that it is satisfying to see the happiness of farmers when the waters are released to farms upon completion of a project.  This is a picture from one of his project sites.

After a long journey through their glorious life, my parents settled at Rajahmundry which happens to be the native place of my father.  My father's brother, sisters, uncles, cousins and numerous other relatives live in Rajahmundry and in the places nearby.  My mother's native place Kakinada is also close to Rajahmundry, where there are many more relatives, who loved her as their own family member.  During this period, my parents were respected as the elderly couple of both communities from Rajahmundry and Kakinada.  I recall that they were invited to so many marriages and functions as the blessings of elderly couple bring good fortune.  This picture was taken during a wedding at Annavaram temple in 2008.

This picture reminds me a visit to my parents at Rajahmundry in 2005.  Before that visit, I heard a lot about Rajahmundry from my father and had faint past memories. My parents took me around the city and showed Markandeya temple, Pushkara ghat, ISKON temple and other places located by long shore line of the river Godavari.  The rail road bridge over the river in the background is the latest among the three bridges across Godavari here. My father had a lot to be proud of his native place. The social reformer Kandukuri Veeresalingam pantulu was born here. The first chief minister of Andhra State "Andhra Kesari Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu" studied here. "Adi kavi Nannaya Bhattu" started the translation of Mahabharatam into Telugu poetry at this place. Rajahmundry's original name is Rajamahendravaram ruled by the king Raja Raja Narendra (~1022 AD) in whose period Telugu literature began.

I have known many parents who command their children, but it is different with my Dad.  He dealt with us like a friend. I remember my schooling days when he taught me geometry and trigonometry. In my childhood, he used to tell us stories, like the one where scientists make their own heaven while others hope for the mercy of Gods. We used to share stories about our relatives and our experiences in jobs. He described us the amazing story of his father Gadisetti Veeranna, giving glimpse of a life style belonging to early 20th century.  The beauty is, it connects me to many of our relatives living now at Rajahmundry.

In 2005 we visited Konala village near Tadepalli gudem (and Tanuku) where my mother's farm is located.  Konala once used to be a remote place that could only be reached by walk.  I recall the palm leaf roof tops of the houses in that village during those times. By 2005, all those have changed to well built concrete houses but with the same nice people living there. It is a different world far away from cities taking us to simple life with all greenery around us.  My father's aunt Anandam Parvathi who once grew up with his family in Rajahmundry, lives in Konala. Her son Anandam Satyanarayana garu arranged us a tour to our farm.  This is a picture taken during that visit on March 26, 2005.

This is a picture taken when my father was about twenty one years old. He was still in college at that time. I remember his natural curly hair since my childhood.  His curls look like the waves at the sea shore.