What are the odds of meeting someone at a random temple event who knows the goodness of appa?
At the Muthalamman Mariamman Temple in Kalkulam, a Chennai family had gathered for their annual abhishekam to their kuladeivam.
About fifty of them—silk-clad women with gold necklaces and big jimmikis stirring ven pongal and chakkara pongal; men arranging chairs; children aged three to ten darting through the crowd in a merry game of catch. A little boy tugged at his mother’s saree, whining, “Pasikkudhu”—I’m hungry—while she tried to distract him.
Inside, the abhishekam was in full flow, the Mariamman—just the face on a pedestal—gleaming with sandal and turmeric.
I asked a gentleman where the family lived in Chennai.
“Triplicane,” he said. “Three generations now.”
On impulse I asked, “Have you heard of Dr. S. B. Mani?”
He paused, eyes warming. “He was my doctor… till he passed away. Do you know him?”
“He is my father,” I said.
His joy was immediate. He went around telling everyone, “This is Dr. Mani’s daughter!” Soon two more gentlemen joined us, trading memories of appa.
Venkatesan—the first man—smiled: “He used to charge ₹10… then ₹50. I think by the end it was ₹75 or ₹100. But whenever he saw me, he’d say, ‘vaa paa Venkatesu’ He was a man of few words. He must have really liked me.”
“My cousin also used to consult him and used to come all the way from Mylapore”
“After he passed on I did not know whom to consult for my diabetes”
I was amazed at the small, tender details he remembered.
We exchanged numbers. By then the alangaaram was complete. After the deepa aradhanai , a lady pressed a tumbler into my hands—delicious koozh with a spoon of murungai keerai poriyal and a drizzle of kaara kuzhambu on top.
Appa… you still live on—in the memories of those who received your selfless care.
Our Daddy 🥰🥰🥰😘! Yes he will live on!
Real tribute for your father’s services
அன்பே சிவமாக மானிட தொண்டாற்றி இறந்தும் நம்முடன் இருக்கும் அந்த உணர்வு.. அம்மையப்பராக
தெய்வீகம் அக்கா…
Truly Blessed you are!
A great personality.. Served with Love… Being remembered for generations. A true exemplary for the generation to come.
Lovely Megu!
Stay blessed 🙏
If the temple at kalkulam, may be Dr Mani sir is coming to see you all and his existence is shown through some one who have trusted him sincerely, good deeds never be forgotten, I salute him as my teacher
Short and sweet Meghu.. people remember him not only as a doctor but also as a noble soul- the fact that he used to charge so minimal
Years may move on, but the memories never fade in the hearts of those who met, Appa. ❤️
Wow meghu such a beautiful moment and experience. I too am blessed having experienced such moments when people remember the good deeds done by our fathers. Hope we to can create atleast 1/100th of that effect on few people in our life time
It is very rare to get bleseed with such comments about our close blood relations who are in heavenly abode. You are therefore a Rare.
It is generally said that, visiting Kuladeivam makes us to feel the space, earth and the air our ancestors felt and dwelt. It may not be ur Kuladeivam but blessing and sprit of ur father is accompanying u always and select such media to convey his blessings – i feel. My best wishes.
Good people continue to live through fond memories as their noble deeds speak for themselves. Gratefulness was palpable in the interactions with recipients, recorded beautifully by you. Heartwarming!
Well said, Ma’am. ❤️😍🥰
When someone talks about our father and says good things about him, our heart feels so, so happy — it’s one of the proudest moments.
Wow… ‘Nama appa super la!’
A father is always a girl’s first hero.
All fathers will always live on in every woman’s heart.
Your father has blessed you , he has sowed a seed for your next publication to share the Divine experiences. *Makkal sevai Mahesan Sevai* he has proved.
Well said Meghu, his good deeds stays forever and blessing u all in abundance.
Nostalgic memories to cherish!
Awesome,so blessed.Such a noble soul., Actually most of us can relate to this moment when our father’s contribution to the society is acknowledged by those who have benefited from them in one form or other.Thanks Meghu for yet another wonderful soulful rendition.
Great meghu.moments of nostalgia!God bless appas soul
Thank you for sharing your experience, Megha. My eyes welled up as I read through your post. It is a powerful testament for a life well lived. If this is not success, I don’t know what is. I bow to the memory of your incredible father who has touched so many lives. His life is a wonderful reminder to be and to do one’s best. The greatest gift he gave us all was raising you with such love and wisdom, leading by example, so you can carry forward his legacy of positively impacting the world around you in your own unique way. Thank you; you warmed my heart!
Wonderful to read this. Rare are the people who touch our lives that leave a lifelong memory of the association.
To charge Rs.10 or Rs.50 as consultation fee reflected your Dad’s commitment to humanity and to heal the sick in the true spirit of medical science.
Such a noble soul. You are a proud daughter, indeed!
என்னால் உணரமுடிகிறது
எத்தனை சந்தோஷப்பட்டு இருப்பீர்கள்.
உங்களின் முகநால் பதிவு அதை
தெளிவாக காட்டிற்று.
இறந்த ஒருவரை நினைவு கூறுவது
எளிதானதுதான்.
உறவினர்களை,
நண்பர்களை,
வேலை நிமித்தம் சந்தித்தவர்களை,
நினைவு கூறுவது எளிதானதுதான்.
நாம் இதுவரை பார்த்தே இல்லாத ஒருவர்
நமது உறவினரை பற்றி
அவரது பண்புகளுக்காக ஞாபகம் வைத்திருக்கிறார்கள் என்றால் எத்தனை மகிழ்ச்சி.
அந்த உறவினர் உங்களது தந்தை என்றால் எப்படி இருக்கும்.
கொடுத்து வைத்தவர் நீங்கள்.
அடித்துச் சொல்கிறது வேதங்கள்.
அன்பும் அறமுமே ஒரு மனிதனைப்
பின்தொடரும் பெரும் பொருள்களென்று.
உங்கள் தந்தை மருத்துவர். S. B. மணி
அத்தைகைய பெரும் பொருளாளன்.
கண்ணதாசன் வரிகளில்
அவரை நினைவு கூறுவதுதான் பொருத்தமாக இருக்கும் என நினைக்கிறேன்..
“நீ நிரந்தரமானவன் அழிவதில்லை –
எந்த நிலையிலும் உனக்கு மரணமில்லை”
இராமக்கிருஷ்ணன்
புதுவை
Very well expressed…so good
Truly a proud moment for you, Megu !…
..A ‘ family doctor ‘ was that go – to person who was capable of curing every affliction, or so we believed. Very often they didn’t fail us.
These days, their numbers have dwindled alarmingly and have been replaced by specialists of all sorts and sizes.
People like yours dad worked their way through maladies by mending people’s minds. He’ll never be forgotten nor his work go in vain.
That’s so nice and heart warming to read ! My mememories of him are distinct . His smiling gentle self !