M. Ragavalu Naidu

1. Thiru M.Ragavalu Naidu was born in the year 1855 to Thiru Veerasami naidu and Thirumathi Durgammal. His co-borns were one elder brother,three younger brothers and one younger sister. The details of his co-borns are not available except his younger sister whose name was chinna Thayammal. Thiru Ragavalu naidu will be referred hereafter as our "grandpa". Thirumathi Thayammal was born in the year 1865 and later married Thiru Ragavalu Naidu.His wife Thirumathi THAYAMMAL who will be hereafter referred as our "grandma", was an exemplary woman welknown for her braveness and ability in administering the family. She was the mentor to our grandpa. The family was running on right path. They were all living in own house at No.31, Nannian street, G.T.Madras. Subsequently another big residential property at Varadamuthiappan street, G.T. Madras was purchased. The family members found in the photo shown below, are 'standing fromleft, Thiru M.R.Govindaswamy naidu, Smt Kaveri ammal, sitting in the middle are Sri M.Ragavalu naidu, Smt Thayammal, standing to their right is Smt Ramanujammal and standing to their left is Smt Pattammal. Another clear picture of grandpa and grandma is also shown below.

In fact, after purchasing the property at 31, Nannian street, Madras-3 as such, grandma only supervised the extension of this property with all her skill. Our grandpa was, in earlier days, working as 'gumasta' with one Thiru SOMU NAICKER who was running plantain business. During such business, grandpa was said to have been assisting his boss with all his zeal and industry. Besides, he was honest to the core. His honesty and hard work had impressed his boss very much. Finally, when Thiru Somu naicker had become little old and on finding that his sons were not cordial to grandpa, he decided to allow grandpa to run his own business separately. The building at No.32, Bunder street, where Sri Somu naicker was running his plaintain business, was later purchased by our Grandpa. From then on fortune blossomed in the family for prosperity. The plantain business was, with fullswing, carried in the above mentioned own building at No.32, Bunder street, George Town, Madras in the name M/s Ragavalu naidu & sons. In the mean while five children were born to them. They were all grownup by that time. They were also married when they were young and settled with their family.

My father Thiru M.R.Govindaswamy Naidu and his beloved brother Thiru M.R.Kanniah Naidu were also actively participating in carrying the business. Several immovable properties were purchased including a car. They had close contact and liason with Railway authorities as the goods were being transported through railway wagons from souhern parts of Tamilnadu. Those days Trucks and lorries were not plying. The business trade name viz. M.R.&sons(in short) was very popular in southern districts of Tamil nadu especially in Trichy district as the goods were purchased solely from them. In Railway company the rules were that those who consume one lakh maund of goods, they would be given rebate of Rs.10,000. Our company only viz. M.R.&Sons were continuousely getting such rebates. This showed the volume of business our company was transacting. In Madras city also we were popular. The financial position of the family was very sound.

Though the family was passing on smooth sailing, there was little jolt. Yes Our Grandpa lost his dear mother Smt.Durghammal on Monday the12th August 1907. After three years our kind and revered grandma also attaind the Lotus of God on 19th December 1910 plunging the entire family in distress. Grandma's death should have been a great shock to grandpa and his sons & daughters. The family was slowly recovering from the distress and was back to normalcy. After about eight years the family was again gripped with distress. Our Grandpa's daughter-in-law i.e. his younger son Thiru M.R.Kanniah Naidu's wife Thirumathy Devambal expired on 16th October 1918. Within three years our grandpa had to meet more calamaties in the family. His younger daughter Thirumathy Pattammal expired on 23rd May 1921. Within few months grandpa received another shock as his eldest daughter Thirumathy Kaveriammal expired suddenly on 16th september 1921. Frequent deaths in the family had affected our grandpa very much and he was not in a position to bear with sorrows happening in the family. His health was also deteriorating, though his two sons were very much supportive to grandpa in carrying on the business. Another severe jolt shook the family . Yes our diligent and stalwart grandpa also attained Acharyan Thiruvadi on 31st May 1922. This should have been an irreparable loss to the family. It should be mentioned here that ourgrandpa and grandma had done immesurable service to the family. Any member of the family would get inspiration on remembering them . The details about Grandpa's sons and daughters would be dealt with in seperate pages. The factual story of our family continues.