MY HANGUPS(ALL IN THE FAMILY CAN READ AFTER MY DEATH)
Years back when Sadulla
street demolition and reconstruction was
considered my view was to sell off the land and take my share. At that time the price was at the top about 1
crore per ground and I would have got 70 lakhs ( even assuming the “sanctity”
of 1/3rd share ). I though I
shall take this money and run away. This proposal was put for discussion in the
family. I though all the stake holders present in the city will be
participating. When the proposal was sent on email both Ashok and one member of
RR’s family supported me When Suresh
came for discussions he brought only Ramesh who was then present in the
city. He did not bring the patriarch RR
himself. When Suresh came in, his first words were “selling is not an
option”. I felt like telling him that
this is supposed to be a discussion and not just to inform a unilateral
decision of one of the stake holders. I
thought this will be taken as an offensive remark and as I am never comfortable
in oral discussion with Suresh because of his overpowering and condescending
manners (“I know what is to be done. You hear me” that type of attitude). So actually there were no discussions on that
day and Suresh had his way and he made his decision that new building will be
constructed and small portion will be allotted to me.
Due to some legal formalities for Suresh and his siblings
getting the loan for reconstruction it was necessary for the shareholders of
the plot RR and RV should hand over the plot to Suresh (and perhaps his siblings). I had no other alternative. If I had refused
the plot will remain vacant and I myself cannot build even a hut for me without
permission of the other share holder. I
had to search for a flat or go in to a retiring home for elders which I could
have done with my small corpus. But what
is the use. The vacant plot will be swallowed by some land sharks and I would
not get anything out of it nor any body else.
This should not have been the concern because neither I or nor Ashok is
going to get any benefit of the ancestral property which I write about later in
this note..
The day I abdicated my right it was the saddest black day
for me(sadder than the day of Kamala’s death) and I not only deprive myself but
also ashok of this property. I shall
always remember that day.
Now the proposal of reconstruction started. First
demolition. Rr asked to me to talk to
some architects for demolition party and I gave am address given by a friend of
mine. But the ultimate selection of this
demolition party WAS NOT MINE BUT THAT OF RR AND PERHAPS UMA. Suresh was thinking that the goof up in
demolition and delay was my responsibility which was utterly wrong. . Ok there was delay in demolition. But what about construction. When was the Drawing ready? How may times the
drawings were revised.. When was the
drawing frozen? During all this time
Suresh did not care to consult me about the construction. It is true that when proposal came up for
sharing the reconstruction expenses will be shared ahok, very rightly, refused
to put in any expenses –which is fortunately good step in this unfortunate
episode, I shall explain later. I do not
know because of this reason that Suresh did not care to consult me at any of
stages. Suresh is always of the opinion
that old chaps (Perisugal) should not have any view and they should keep quite.
Only once in the very early stage some drawings were shown to me and
subsequently these drawings were changed without either my consent, approval or
even knowledge. Though Ashok had not
participated in the expenses my 70 lakh property is with Suresh and the annual
interest for this 70 lakhs will be at least 7 lakhs which Suresh owes me. So the whole construction was done under the
direct supervision of Suresh and he had no courtesy even to ask me to have a
look at the construction at some states and give my comments. Of course I should not have expected as
according to Suresh Perisugal cannot have any comments to make . I myself visited the plot a number of times during
construction and gave my comments by email to Suresh Why
should Suresh care for Perisu’s comments.
Ultimately a small part of the house was allotted to me with
handkerchief size kitchen. The rooms are small.
The bedroom is so small that I cannot put two of my cots presented my
father-in-law when we started life in 1970s,
The living room was also small and with some peculiar idea of the
architect 16 square feet of this room was lost to me due to open from bottom to top. To whom this has benefited I do not
know.. It not only reduced the living
room space but also added an extra window.
I do not comment about the other room which belong to Suresh and his siblings.
Had the building given to a builder, I would have got at
least one flat in my own name with separate entrance, not definitely
handkerchief size kitchen and truly independent. After my death ashok could have sold the flat
and take the money. Even that is
lost. I am rather unlucky that I do not
get anything out of my ancestral property neither this Sad street plot nor any other field and
house Pattamammal had in Koothanoor. I do not even know the details of
transactions. I understand from Devudu
that Lakshmi the Great of Koothanoor made 15 lakhs though I did not pursue to
know the details. I remember that a small amount from Lakshmi was given to
me.
Now I come to the handkerchief kitchen. The kitchen does not
have proper facililties for storage of vessels. Every time I have to bend down
and sit down to pick up the vessels. How
did Uma expect an old man of 85 years old to do these bending
exercises? Will she do it when she gets
to my age? Here I shall blame Uma and
shall not excuse her. Suresh may not know about kitchen requirements. Uma knows my interest in cooking I also told them in one of the email
messages the kitchen equipment I would like to have . In spite she did note care to take care of my
interest and arrange for a decent size kitchen.
At the same time she managed to plan and got a Carnegie Hall size kitchen
with a service area which is double the size of my handkerchief size kitchen. Her requirements are more than mine but what
a contrast. Uma is a religious
person. Religious persons are supposed
to have compassion, care for others’ interests etc. Religion should not be mere palliative for
the vicissitudes of life which liquor also can do. I always have the grievance that Uma did not
take care of my interests not only in the matter of Kitchen but also other
rooms. She should have advised Suresh. It is not enough to think that I take care of
myself and my family alone. .
Now lets us come to the future scenario. The construction took a long time, I think
more than 5 years. My Agnavasa lasted
more than that of the Pandavas. The construction was completed only in
2011. Now let us look into the future. Most
of the generation next to Suresh and also his two siblings are abroad and it is
highly improbable that they will come and settle in Chennai in the near
future. Next generation is also most
likely to get married abroad and settle there. (That is why it was amusing that
these siblings and their spouses were taken to the construction site whenever
they come here for view though the persons who were going to live there were
not shown..) Only Preeta will be here (I
presume) and she got married to an affluent family and as such Sadulla street
will only be temporary parking space for her.
In the recent future, for at least another twenty years the house and
the plot will not be sold. By that time
suresh ,Ramesh and Ashok will be more than seventy years old.. The selling may be even very much delayed. . Now what happens. By that time the house and the plot will
belong completely to RR clan and nothing for my line which stops with
Ashok. It will be as if the will was
written to bequeath the property to RR only and not to me. Even Pattammal could
not have visualized this though I am sure she would have been happy that the
property would go to the clan of her favorite son. Of course I have lots of grievances with
Pattammal and that is not relevant here.
It is good Ashok has not contributed for the expense of
construction otherwise even that money would have gone into the corpus of the
property which would ultimately belong to the RR clan.. Even some pittance of money may be offered to
ashok but I would rather advise ashok not to have less than 70 lakhs. As I have
written earlier the annual interest of 7
lakhs (may be nominal for handing over
1/3rd portion of the plot to Suresh) would have much amply taken care of the rent for the small space including handkerchief size kitchen allotted to me perhaps for the next
five years. By that time the portion will revert to Suresh and his siblings. It
is therefore right and correct on part
of
Suresh and siblings to pay Ashok 70 lakhs. The incidental charges of getting RBI permission etc can also be absorbed in the interest due to me on the 70 lakh property given to Suresh.
Suresh and siblings to pay Ashok 70 lakhs. The incidental charges of getting RBI permission etc can also be absorbed in the interest due to me on the 70 lakh property given to Suresh.
I was also amused when Suresh offered the old cot used by RR
to me at the time of shifting. Usually
the used items will be given to charity by rich people to poor people.-used
clothes, used furniture etc. Again this is a condescending helpful attitude of
Suresh to old people.
I always cherish independence to a fault. I advise my friends not to abdicate their
property even to their own children as long as one of the spouses is
alive. Once the property is abdicated
the old people lose all their rights.
This is the way of life and life is never fair. I would like to have my
own friends, my own servants etc. But
Uma flatly stopped me from appointing Kanniamma as my domestic help. It is true
that Kanniamma is not a paragon of virtue, perhaps a devil but a known devil,
and for that who is paragon of virtue in this world. But she had lot of respect for me and I have
trained here how to look after me.
Because of Uma’s intransigence I was compelled not appoint
Kanniamma. This also I shall not excuse
Uma. Again her religion did not make her
a better person, to have compassion and sense of excusing people who have done
mistakes. As Christ and Buddha said
there is nobody who has not sinned sometime or other. Uma and suresh have offered their ‘HELP” in getting a domestic help etc. They
also offered HELP in taking care of me if I go into hospital. What a patronizing attitude. There was no such offer of help when I went
into the hospital when I was in Sadulla
street .
They offered help even getting domestic help. Once I get such a domestic
help I will not be able to dismiss here without their permission.
Having said all these I myself is not a paragon of
virtue. I have my own hang ups and I
have done mistakes and sins not once but a number of times. I am also difficult to live with. That is why I have never lived in a joint family. Many years I have not lived with my wife even
though she was one of the finest persons I have come across.. Kamala was not
outwardly religious (may be she is follower of festivals etc in form) but she
had compassion and was helpful to others. Yamuna still refers to her only as
“madam” and not by name and remembers
her kindness and helpful attitude to all.
My family may think that I am a coward who could not talk
about these things while I am alive. But what does it matter if they think of
me like this after my death. I am not a
historical hero who wants memory of my life should be lesson for others.
