Eliza: Grand Daughter of Muthalithamby Saravanamuttu

Copyright©2011 VeerajaR ELIZA 'Ponnu' was a grand daughter of Saivaite nobles Muthalithamby Saravanamuttu and Vairavipillai of UDUVIL. In fact, for generations this noble family's charity "Maadam" (building) on Manipay road, right past Uduvil school, had been providing water and shelter to the pilgrims on their way to Manipay Maruthaddy Pillaiyar kovil/temple. During the annual festival throughout the month of April, the relatives took turns serving free lime juice, lime pickle water, butter milk, yogurt, young coconut water and even milk rice or sweet "Aval." As a child, I had enjoyed this charity event and remember all the excitement of pilgrims whenever a cauldron full of drinks or rice was brought in. This charity Madam of our Saivaite ancestors' still exists. Ironically, still serving the people--but, as a post-office. Next to this charity-maadam, towards Uduvil school is the dowry house of my great grandma Ponnu. This being the first, mostly concrete (local limestone formula) cement-built house (1800s), my great grandma was called "kal veetu Ponnu"--- meaning girl of the stone house. She was married to my great grandfather Dr. Robert Breckenridge who was an Alumni of Jaffna College, Vadukottai. Mind you, those days and even to this day "caste system" or class is number one criteria in considering a marriage proposal. This house was later given as dowry to Eliza Ponnu's second daughter Grace Muthumani, upon her marriage to Muthaliyar Arasasingam of Alvai. The older daughter Lily, my grand mother, married Dr. Solomon Saravanamuttu Rajanayagam and was given as dowry, the dutch built ancestral house with royal crest on top. Both son-in-laws of Eliza Ponnu were educated and held very respectable jobs. Not only that they were also from noble caste, very handsome and good looking. Worthy of the dowry?

Don't take me wrong: My grand father was the most gentle, kind hearted and dedicated doctor, I have ever known! I am my mother's daughter, Copyright©2011 VeerajaR