My Mother Karuna Satyam, was a doctor. She made sure I knew my history. These little conversations that I had with her, which shaped the way I know my world. My Mother’s great great Grand uncle was a Tanner, he was also a Hindu. He got converted to Christianity when the Canadian Baptist missionaries came to Kakinada, which, at that time was called co-canada, after the Canadian Baptist mission was first set up.
Taalluru Thomas Gabriel, (Born Talluru Marayya), born in 1837 Narsapur, was the son of a servant of Judge. He travelled along with his father as the Judge was transferred around Andhra Pradesh. He was very keen on telegraphy, so he bought himself a dummy telegraph and learnt how to send messages. He secured a permanent job at the telegraph company. He later became a Christian at the age of 20. After that he went around sharing his new found belief and in and around the west and east Godavari district. From 1867, he was very instrumental in helping the Canadian Baptist missionaries to set up churches, to provide employment in schools, churches and government officer, to organize unions, to educate both men and women of that area. This helped them also start many hospitals and schools for both boys and girls.
My great grandmother and grandmothers themselves were nothing short of strong women with empowered ideals. My great grandmother, had 12 children and she was able to make sure that each of them was educated and had government jobs. My grandmother herself studied to get a job in a government school and went on to study even higher and receive a Telugu pundit degree, while taking care of 6 children and stuck in difficult marriage. They were from a time when family stays as a unit, and breaking it was unthinkable, so she brushed aside the difficulties and stayed in strong for her children. She was known for her hospitality and her for culinary skills. The Chary house was always had food for a hungry stomach, and love for anyone that needed it. That was how my grandmother was till almost the very end, when she had her moments of clarity, she would still ask us if we had our food, or coffee.
She was the reason why my family on my mother’s side is so close knit. I have never met my grandfather, he passed on before my mother got married, but all I know of him was that he was a perfectionist. He was a man of many talents, he could braid my mother’s hair as a child, he could stitch, and he would play the Violin because he voice was not steady due to some neurological disorder. He taught my mother how to sing. These qualities show in my mother and her sibling and in most of the grandchildren.
My dad’s side of the family, My Grandmother, Mrs. Nagaratnamma, became a Christian a few years after my father was born. In her dreams she could see God, talking to her and that is how she became a Christian, and was instrumental in turning the whole family to follow her example. She was a woman of prayer, characterized by peace and virtue, the whole village would ask for her prayers before embarking on any new venture. My grandfather Mr. Venkata Krishnaiah was a fun man. He would make silly faces to make us laugh. I remember we had a jolly good time with him till her passed on when I was 6.
I’m proud of the heritage I carry