Guiding light
Jayanthi Somasundaram
Jayanthi Somasundaram
A fading signpost reads ‘Rayavaram 6 km’, directing visitors to a muddy lane. The nondescript, dusty road is in stark contrast to the destination, for Rayavaram, 70 km from Tiruchirappalli, is one of the 72 villages that are home to the famous Chettiar community in Tamil Nadu. Here, magnificent palatial homes are scattered across a typical southern village landscape. We head for the ‘MAM House’, which every villager seems to know. When we pull up in front of it, we are met by a tall and bony gentleman clad in a crisp white dhoti and shirt, his forehead smeared with sacred ash.
MAM SP Palaniappa Chettiar turned a hundred in December last year but he doesn’t look a day over 80. He is in excellent health and his memory is sharp as a tack. The only indication of his age is his slow gait but he stubbornly refuses to use a walking stick.
Chettiar is, very clearly, the patriarch of his family. Although the apple of their eye, he lives alone as every other member of the family has moved out of the village. “They keep visiting and I manage to speak to one of them every day,” he says. “Both my sons have invited me to live with them but I am happier here.”
Living alone is not easy for any silver, much less a centenarian. But Chettiar is doing just fine. He sits at the apex of the family pyramid and is the pivot of all family affairs; every major decision must be evaluated by him. His assistant, Radhakrishnan K, who was brought to Chettiar as a young lad, has worked for him for 45 years. He says his employer’s children and close relatives appoint Chettiar the head of any family business that is initiated. “The rubber estates spanning 300 acre in and around Nagercoil are still family-owned and the children have named him managing director. Although they manage the estates, they consult him on everything. And when his elder brother passed away, they appointed Chettiar managing director of the business at the age of 95. The banks were amused with the family’s choice,” he remarks with a chuckle.
Traditionally, the Chettiars are money-lenders and Chettiar was initiated into the profession at an early age. “My parents did not lay stress on education, so taking up the family money-lending business was a natural progression,” he explains. “I studied up to the fifth standard and only my youngest brother is a graduate. We have all learnt business hands-on.”
An active stock trader, it is difficult to meet Chettiar between 9 am and 3 pm on weekdays. During these sacred hours, our centenarian is glued to the television, watching the stock prices scroll across the screen. “I am not a gambler; I actively trade to keep learning and to stay busy. My profit and losses are minimal,” he reassures us, proudly producing his account ledgers that he writes himself. He says he learnt to trade by observing his father, who had studied even less than him but had great business acumen. “In those days, a stockbroker would take the train from Madras to meet my father in this house. They would discuss stocks, my father would then give him instructions. Today, I do the same but I speak to my broker over the phone.”
P Sivaji, his stockbroker in Chennai, tells us with a laugh that Chettiar is the oldest on his client list. Their relationship goes back 14 years. “Chettiar is one of my special clients. You see, the wavelengths of young people and even most seniors do not match mine and it is often difficult to communicate with them. In contrast, Palaniappa Chettiar is very sharp and knows exactly what he wants.” He adds that in the couple of seconds it takes to look at the computer screen after picking up the phone, Chettiar is already shooting names of stocks and numbers. “It is impossible to expect even younger people to be as disciplined as he is and I consider him a role model.”
The Chettiars’ skills as money-lenders, merchant bankers and traders took them to countries like Burma, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka in colonial times. But not our Chettiar. He recollects how, at the age of 12, he married 10 year-old Kannammai from the same village. “Immediately after my marriage, I was sent to Malaysia by ship to learn and manage our money-lending business. I lived there for a few years and then returned to Rayavaram,” he recalls. Ever since, Palaniappa Chettiar has managed his money-lending business, stock market trade and even the family plantations from this home.
“He loves Rayavaram and will not leave it,” says his son P L Naghappan, who lives in Chennai. “Once, a local doctor who paid him a courtesy visit thought his ulcers were cancerous and suggested a check-up. It was only after much convincing from my uncle that he reluctantly agreed to come to Chennai. When the medical tests revealed he was in fine shape, he boarded the next train home! Although all his brothers and children left the household in search of greener pastures, my father has spent 95 per cent of his life in the family home.”
Modern-day corporate organisations could learn a trick or two from this centenarian, who believes that time management and integrity are the keys to success. “If a visitor is scheduled to arrive at 10 am, I am ready and waiting 15 minutes in advance. They have set aside work to meet me and I should respect that,” he remarks. “Also, when I give my word to someone, I make sure I keep it. I’m not sure how other people live by their values, but when I commit to something, I keep my word.”
Chettiar is on the boards of many charitable organisations and social institutions in his beloved Rayavaram. He is the president of Subramanian Polytechnic College, SKT Gandhi School, an old age home and almost every other charitable organisation in the village.
His farsightedness can be gauged from a comment made by Meenakshi Sundaram, principal of Subramanian Polytechnic College, Rayavaram. “To have set up an educational institution to benefit the rural poor 30 years ago shows how far ahead he thinks. He knew the children in the village needed proper education and that’s why he funded this institution.”
Naghappan says there is a stream of visitors to his father’s home every day. “He helps people the best he can. It is difficult to say that he supports one particular cause. From education to community area development, he does it all. There was a kalyana mandapam [wedding hall] used by less privileged people and it urgently needed renovation and reconstruction; my father donated
500,000 without a second thought. It is difficult to put a figure to the amount he has donated to date.”
Palaniappa Chettiar says people consider him ‘lucky’ and ensure that he makes the first contribution, which catapults his name to the top of the donors’ list. “I actually do not work on these projects. People approach me and share their ideas and I support them the best I can,” he reveals.
It is this generosity that drew—hold your breath—close to 7,000 guests to Chettiar’s pillared mansion on his 100th birthday on 19 December last year. “Invitation cards were dispatched but we also invited everyone we met. There were roughly 220 cooks in the kitchen, working nonstop, to cater to the grand feast,” he gleams. Not surprisingly, the lavish feast, which drew guests from Chennai, Madurai and Tiruchirapalli, is still a hot topic of discussion in the Chettinad region.
“I gave away dhotis and saris to the villagers as I strongly believe in charity. While I did this at home, my sons were helping out different organisations where we live. I believe each one of us should help the poor in whatever capacity they can. But the most beautiful part of the celebration was that my entire family from all over the world came down and the house was bustling with happiness,” he says, pointing to family photographs that feature 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Our centenarian insists there is no ‘secret’ to longevity. If anything comes close, it’s his outlook on life. “I take everything light-heartedly. I never chase anything or long for something. I do what I have to and what happens is what is meant to happen.”
As for his daily routine, it’s as simple as it is disciplined. Chettiar wakes up early and says his prayers. He then takes a morning walk as he does after every meal. “The doctor has told me not to walk outdoors because I slipped a few years ago,” he shares. “I used to wear sneakers and start walking at 5 am, whether my helper arrived or not. Now I walk inside the house. Over the weekend, visitors come and time just flies.”
But he does have strict dietary habits. So, even when eating his favourite dish, like the famous Chettinad chicken curry, he takes only one serving and not a spoon more. He also cut down on the yolks of the raw eggs he swallows for breakfast.
In his younger days, Chettiar was a sports enthusiast and played tennis and badminton. But his favourite game is cricket. “I used to enjoy cricket matches but, these days, the quality of players and matches is not great,” he says, with a loud sigh, adding that he simply does not understand why crores of rupees are being spent on cricketers.
When not busy watching the stock market, chatting with visitors or taking his walk, Chettiar recites religious songs. “I know over 400 prayers by heart and I recite over 200 every day,” he says. Sometimes he wakes up at 4 am and sings these songs one after the other. “As child, I learnt Carnatic music for a short time, and although I didn’t pursue this, I enjoy that genre of music and love the kutcheri [music recitals] in Chennai.” Although not a voracious reader, he reads books on spirituality. “I read these books and sing the songs. Though my words slur, I persist as I want to keep my mind active and not have unwanted thoughts.” Another secret, perhaps, to his longevity.
Photograph by Chennai Pix
MAM SP Palaniappa Chettiar turned a hundred in December last year but he doesn’t look a day over 80. He is in excellent health and his memory is sharp as a tack. The only indication of his age is his slow gait but he stubbornly refuses to use a walking stick.
Chettiar is, very clearly, the patriarch of his family. Although the apple of their eye, he lives alone as every other member of the family has moved out of the village. “They keep visiting and I manage to speak to one of them every day,” he says. “Both my sons have invited me to live with them but I am happier here.”
Living alone is not easy for any silver, much less a centenarian. But Chettiar is doing just fine. He sits at the apex of the family pyramid and is the pivot of all family affairs; every major decision must be evaluated by him. His assistant, Radhakrishnan K, who was brought to Chettiar as a young lad, has worked for him for 45 years. He says his employer’s children and close relatives appoint Chettiar the head of any family business that is initiated. “The rubber estates spanning 300 acre in and around Nagercoil are still family-owned and the children have named him managing director. Although they manage the estates, they consult him on everything. And when his elder brother passed away, they appointed Chettiar managing director of the business at the age of 95. The banks were amused with the family’s choice,” he remarks with a chuckle.
Traditionally, the Chettiars are money-lenders and Chettiar was initiated into the profession at an early age. “My parents did not lay stress on education, so taking up the family money-lending business was a natural progression,” he explains. “I studied up to the fifth standard and only my youngest brother is a graduate. We have all learnt business hands-on.”
An active stock trader, it is difficult to meet Chettiar between 9 am and 3 pm on weekdays. During these sacred hours, our centenarian is glued to the television, watching the stock prices scroll across the screen. “I am not a gambler; I actively trade to keep learning and to stay busy. My profit and losses are minimal,” he reassures us, proudly producing his account ledgers that he writes himself. He says he learnt to trade by observing his father, who had studied even less than him but had great business acumen. “In those days, a stockbroker would take the train from Madras to meet my father in this house. They would discuss stocks, my father would then give him instructions. Today, I do the same but I speak to my broker over the phone.”
P Sivaji, his stockbroker in Chennai, tells us with a laugh that Chettiar is the oldest on his client list. Their relationship goes back 14 years. “Chettiar is one of my special clients. You see, the wavelengths of young people and even most seniors do not match mine and it is often difficult to communicate with them. In contrast, Palaniappa Chettiar is very sharp and knows exactly what he wants.” He adds that in the couple of seconds it takes to look at the computer screen after picking up the phone, Chettiar is already shooting names of stocks and numbers. “It is impossible to expect even younger people to be as disciplined as he is and I consider him a role model.”
The Chettiars’ skills as money-lenders, merchant bankers and traders took them to countries like Burma, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka in colonial times. But not our Chettiar. He recollects how, at the age of 12, he married 10 year-old Kannammai from the same village. “Immediately after my marriage, I was sent to Malaysia by ship to learn and manage our money-lending business. I lived there for a few years and then returned to Rayavaram,” he recalls. Ever since, Palaniappa Chettiar has managed his money-lending business, stock market trade and even the family plantations from this home.
“He loves Rayavaram and will not leave it,” says his son P L Naghappan, who lives in Chennai. “Once, a local doctor who paid him a courtesy visit thought his ulcers were cancerous and suggested a check-up. It was only after much convincing from my uncle that he reluctantly agreed to come to Chennai. When the medical tests revealed he was in fine shape, he boarded the next train home! Although all his brothers and children left the household in search of greener pastures, my father has spent 95 per cent of his life in the family home.”
Modern-day corporate organisations could learn a trick or two from this centenarian, who believes that time management and integrity are the keys to success. “If a visitor is scheduled to arrive at 10 am, I am ready and waiting 15 minutes in advance. They have set aside work to meet me and I should respect that,” he remarks. “Also, when I give my word to someone, I make sure I keep it. I’m not sure how other people live by their values, but when I commit to something, I keep my word.”
Chettiar is on the boards of many charitable organisations and social institutions in his beloved Rayavaram. He is the president of Subramanian Polytechnic College, SKT Gandhi School, an old age home and almost every other charitable organisation in the village.
His farsightedness can be gauged from a comment made by Meenakshi Sundaram, principal of Subramanian Polytechnic College, Rayavaram. “To have set up an educational institution to benefit the rural poor 30 years ago shows how far ahead he thinks. He knew the children in the village needed proper education and that’s why he funded this institution.”
Naghappan says there is a stream of visitors to his father’s home every day. “He helps people the best he can. It is difficult to say that he supports one particular cause. From education to community area development, he does it all. There was a kalyana mandapam [wedding hall] used by less privileged people and it urgently needed renovation and reconstruction; my father donated
500,000 without a second thought. It is difficult to put a figure to the amount he has donated to date.”Palaniappa Chettiar says people consider him ‘lucky’ and ensure that he makes the first contribution, which catapults his name to the top of the donors’ list. “I actually do not work on these projects. People approach me and share their ideas and I support them the best I can,” he reveals.
It is this generosity that drew—hold your breath—close to 7,000 guests to Chettiar’s pillared mansion on his 100th birthday on 19 December last year. “Invitation cards were dispatched but we also invited everyone we met. There were roughly 220 cooks in the kitchen, working nonstop, to cater to the grand feast,” he gleams. Not surprisingly, the lavish feast, which drew guests from Chennai, Madurai and Tiruchirapalli, is still a hot topic of discussion in the Chettinad region.
“I gave away dhotis and saris to the villagers as I strongly believe in charity. While I did this at home, my sons were helping out different organisations where we live. I believe each one of us should help the poor in whatever capacity they can. But the most beautiful part of the celebration was that my entire family from all over the world came down and the house was bustling with happiness,” he says, pointing to family photographs that feature 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Our centenarian insists there is no ‘secret’ to longevity. If anything comes close, it’s his outlook on life. “I take everything light-heartedly. I never chase anything or long for something. I do what I have to and what happens is what is meant to happen.”
As for his daily routine, it’s as simple as it is disciplined. Chettiar wakes up early and says his prayers. He then takes a morning walk as he does after every meal. “The doctor has told me not to walk outdoors because I slipped a few years ago,” he shares. “I used to wear sneakers and start walking at 5 am, whether my helper arrived or not. Now I walk inside the house. Over the weekend, visitors come and time just flies.”
But he does have strict dietary habits. So, even when eating his favourite dish, like the famous Chettinad chicken curry, he takes only one serving and not a spoon more. He also cut down on the yolks of the raw eggs he swallows for breakfast.
In his younger days, Chettiar was a sports enthusiast and played tennis and badminton. But his favourite game is cricket. “I used to enjoy cricket matches but, these days, the quality of players and matches is not great,” he says, with a loud sigh, adding that he simply does not understand why crores of rupees are being spent on cricketers.
When not busy watching the stock market, chatting with visitors or taking his walk, Chettiar recites religious songs. “I know over 400 prayers by heart and I recite over 200 every day,” he says. Sometimes he wakes up at 4 am and sings these songs one after the other. “As child, I learnt Carnatic music for a short time, and although I didn’t pursue this, I enjoy that genre of music and love the kutcheri [music recitals] in Chennai.” Although not a voracious reader, he reads books on spirituality. “I read these books and sing the songs. Though my words slur, I persist as I want to keep my mind active and not have unwanted thoughts.” Another secret, perhaps, to his longevity.
Photograph by Chennai Pix
Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
April 2014
April 2014
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