Going back in time almost 200 years, going back in space to Tanjavore is as far as I can imagine today. A terrible famine hit Tanjavore and drove many Brahmin families, mostly cultivating land, to flee to nearby places where there was easy food. One such person was Parameshwaran (the First). He was Anna Thatha's great-grand dad, i.e Kiki's & Advika's great-great-great-great-grand-dad!!
Parameshwaran (the First) was a very shrewd person. He came to Tiruvarpu, Kottayam district, Kerala and started a series of businesses. By the time he was 80 (and dying), he owned many acres of cocunut farms, mortgage business.... (shhhhh! also lots of tobacco farms). He lent money and ultimately confisicated many acres of land. Sources say that he lent Rs 2000 and by the end of 5 years, he was the owner of 5 acres of land. He managed to evade many excise officers under the umbrella of Namboodris. In any case, he left behind a great legacy and his wife, Parvathi to his 3 sons.
Eldest of the 3 sons was Subramoney (the First) who was a paavam mercenery thatha. Krishnan and Ananthan were the other two sons - three of them shared the 'burden' of their blind mother. Subramoney (the First) continued to lend and collect money. He married Rukmani (which we suspect was a inter-family marriage) to give birth to Lakshmi (well-known as Athai) and Parameshwaran (the Second) Thatha. Both Athai and Parameshwaran (the Second) Thatha had glowing white hair, rolling eyeballs, less pigmented skin from birth. Parameshwaran (the Second) Thatha was a very helpful, generous person. He continued selling cocunuts to make a comfortable living. He married late, to our very own Tiruvarpu Pati. I guess many of us know the story hence ....
There are still many gaps in my understanding of our ancestors. I request everyone to add titbits/anecdotes about our ancestors.
