Reminiscing Babunana and Janaki pinni by nephew - C.V.Chelam

I know Babunanna clearly from about the mid thirties of last century.

He had his own methods of organising events. I remember it was perhaps in 1935 when we were still subjects of the British Empire. Most of the Indians were aware of the King of England and Emperor of India. When King George V died, Babunanna advised all the members of the large family at Chitrapu House Rajamundry that we should observe 2 minutes silence at 3 pm or so when he would strike the makeshift gong. It was religiously observed.

When my parents were on a pilgrimmage in early 1939, Babunanna, my brother and I were managing the farm house at Challapalli. He decided that we should try our hand at cutting the rice stalks when the regular farm labourers took their lunch break. He with his folded up Dhoti and I in my half pants took sickles and started cutting the paddy stalks. Some of the labourers tried to look back and enjoy the fun of our trying to work in the paddy field.

Later I visited him in Poona when I was in Bombay in 1949 for a project work in a Glass factory. He took
me around and finally saw me off at the Poona railway station. It was a thrill for me to board Deccan Queen which was a prestigious train.

We used to read his long letters to my father and enlighten ourselves.

It was always a joy for all of us to stay with Babunanna and Janaki Pinni at Vizag when on a holiday from Asansol. We enjoyed the Papaya fruit straight from the tree at T/13B. Thanks to his green thumb wherever he lived he had a good garden – be it T13/B or Dwarakanagar of MIG 26, HB Colony.

I remember once his calf was ill and I took it to the vet in a rickshaw. I had mud marks on my shirt and pants and Janaki Pinni was feeling so bad and to add to it when Babu nanna came and heard the story he kept chiding her for sending me. He had a genuine love for animals.