Praveen's World

I come from a traditional family background and belong to Gauda Sarswath Brahmin community. We Gaud Sarswaths are followers of Madvacharya and our ancestors are supposed to have migrated from Kashmir (From a region called Gaud Desh on the Banks of River Sarasvathi now in Pakisthan) many many years ago. That’s how the name Gauda Saraswath Brahmin has come. (Information source unknown). They slowly migrated to Goa and then also to down south. Please see the map which shows the migration route of Konkanies.

I belong to a very average family from Central Kerala – Alleppey, now known as Alappuzha. It’s famous by the name “Venice of the East”. My father is from Alappuzha and mother is from the very next district, Kottayam. These two places were previously linked only by boat service, but now its well linked by bus service also.

I would like to divide my family into two parts – Dad’s side and Mom’s side

My family has only four members. My parents, me and my younger brother.

My parents are not so orthodox and not so liberal. They believed in providing both their children with good culture and education and that has given great results. Now both my parents are leading really happy life as both their children are well settled in life.

My father (Kantha Kumar) retired as a Kerala Government Employee in the year 1997. He used to work as a telephone operator in T.D. Medical College, in Alappuzha District. Now he is enjoying his retired life in Kerala. My mother (Leela Bai) used to work with ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) as an office staff till 1984. After that she left the job as has been a wonderful homemaker and raised us the best way they could. Both me and my brother thank them from the bottom of our hearts for the way they grew us.

My father's family was in Alleppey itself (As far as I know), and my mother's family was in Kottayam.

My brother (Krishna Kumar) who is younger to me, has done his MBA and currently working with MetLife Insurance company as a Manager - Partner in Cochin (Kochi). He has worked really hard through his Graduation and his PG years and even after that to get his first job. I love him a lot for the way he is. In the recent past (last 5-6 years), I have seen a greater degree of determination in him.

As our house is in the heart of Alappuzha town, we get lot of visitors which includes our friends and relatives and we really enjoy this. All these years what I have seen is there will be at least one extra person for lunch or dinner every day, and the best part is that, my mom is always prepared for that.

We had a sort of joint family in Alleppey.

My dad is the youngest of the three. With their parents no more, dad and her elder sister’s family are staying in nearby houses in the heart of Alappuzha Town. Her daughters are settled in Maharashtra, the elder one, a housewife settled in Dahanu (Maharashtra & Gujarat Border) and the younger one a Lecturer in Chemistry in G.N. Khalsa College, settled in Thane, Maharashtra.

My dad’s eldest brother and his family are settled in Thiruvananthapuram. They have two children; the eldest one married and settled in Bangalore with two kids. The younger one is also married and is working from home now.

That’s all for now from his side.

Ummmm... It's a big family on my Mom's side. She belongs to the great Thricovil Family of Mannanam, Kottayam district. They are ten siblings. She has 3 brothers and 6 sisters. All of them make sure that they get together for any function in the family. I have uploaded a photo of one such get together at Cochin. 

Eldest brother is no more now. Four of his sons are well settled in their own professions.

Eldest sister married and settled in Thiruvalla, with 5 children (All are married and settled). Prateeksh, Rajesh, Ramesh, Geetha and Prabha are their names.

Next sister is married and settled in Alleppey itself. They live very near to our house and near to A.N. Puram temple. She retired as a School Headmistress. Radhakrishnan, her eldest son is working with National Stock Exchange, New Delhi. He is married and has a kid. Second daughter Jyothi is married and settled in Dombivli, Maharashtra. Third daughter Poornima who is an MCA recently got married and is now settled in IT Captial of India, Bangalore.

Next sister is married and settled in Kottayam itself. Bindu, her eldest daughter, working with M.G. University, is married and has a kid. Venu, her second son is working as a lecturer in T.D. School (+2). He also is married and has a kid now. Veena, the youngest is doing her PG in Kottayam itself.

Here onwards all are younger to my Mom.

Next is my mom's brother, working with BSNL as an Engineer. He is settled in Kottayam. Has two wonderful children, Lakshmi and Parvathy. Lakshmi has recently joined for Comupter Engineering at Model College in Kochi and Parvathy is in Kottayam itself.

Next is another brother who is settled in Kottayam itself. He owns a very big stationary store at Athirampuzha market. He has three children, Ajith, Anand and Srikanth. Srikanth is the most hyperactive and smart kid of all of his generation.

Next sister is settled in Thuravoor, Alleppey district. She is working as a teacher in T.D. School. Has two kids, Anita (Married & has two kids) and Anish (Now studying in Bangalore)

Next and last two sisters are settled in Cochin (Kochi). Rajamma, working in T.D. School as the Headmistress now, has 3 sons - Arun, Vinay and Ajesh. Arun is working and the others are studying.

Nirmala (We call Nimmi Chittamma) is married and has 2 children - Nitu (recently got married and her husband is working with Indian Army) and Geethu, studying. Nimmi chittamma is a house wife and her husband is working with Syndicate bank.

The above explained is the main root of the family from my mom's side. There are lot of subroots, which I don't recollect as I am not in continuous touch with all of them. And if I start listing them down here, I think it will be never ending. So I believe this much is enough of my family background.