In fond memory of a true legend..

Today, July 16, 2010, a year since Smt. D K Pattammal passed away and the Trinity of Carnatic Music came to an end. Smt. M L Vasanthakumari, Smt. M S Subbulakshmi and Smt D K Pattammal formed the Trinity of Carnatic Music, each known for their own uniqueness. It is very unfortunate that the world of Carnatic Music has lost all its three beautiful queens and a void prevails. Having known Smt D K Pattammal personally, I stop here today to think about the most wonderful woman I’v ever known. In spite of her recognition as one of the Queens of Carnatic Music, she was more popularly known for her clear diction and patriotism. Her effective and emotional rendering of Bharathiyar’s songs appealed even to the masses. Am not here to write about her accomplishments in the field of music owing to two reasons, 1. Neither do I have the knowledge nor do I deserve to write about a legend’s achievements or strengths, 2. The media is there with all the information about her that I don’t really have to repeat them. However am here to write about the wonderful person that she was which only those who got to meet her in person would know about.

I consider it my biggest Blessing in life to have had the opportunity to meet her and spend some time with her a few times. A picture speaks a thousand words and every picture of her will depict that ever-smiling face with so much grace and simplicity. That is DKP. In spite of her huge accomplishments, she was unimaginably simple and humble. A perfect woman that anybody would want to idolize. She was the epitome of love, affection and grace. Be it anybody who came to meet her, she took so much personal attention on them. She would talk to them so lovingly wearing that beautiful smile always. She would bless people heartily, wish for all the wonderful things for them and would keep wishing for all the goodness for quite sometime that anybody would begin to believe that all her Blessings will come true. Such is the effect of her hearty and genuine Blessings.

In spite of her old age creating as much physical pain as it can, that smile on her face never vanished away. She would personally enquire people about their well-being and family, making each person feel so special and important, be it even a total stranger who has met her for the first time. She would ensure that everybody who visited her were treated well and given food. Her granddaughter once mentioned that Pattamma (DKP fondly known as Pattaa or Pattamma) would sit every morning in front of the idol of Lord Ganesha at her home and pray for everybody she knew, mentioning their names individually. When I say everybody, I mean everybody, from her family to her students to her students’ families to her servants to just everybody she knew. Such was her concern.

It’s unimaginable how such a great achiever can be so down to earth too. Forget her achievements, but it’s hard to believe a person with such amazing traits, immense love, affection, simplicity, all the time and all so genuine. A totally pure person by heart and mind and behaviour. She had everybody meeting her beginning to adore her and admire her limitlessly. In fact, one of her long-time and close acquaintances, said that she wanted to be born as Pattamma’s daughter in her next birth, but then corrected herself saying that a daughter gets married and goes away. So she wished to be born as the cat at Pattamma’s house so that she can keep coming around Pattamma’s feet all the time. Such was the craze people developed for Pattamma.

Pattamma, aged 90 and her husband Sri. Iswaran, aged 96, shared such a beautiful bond that it used to be so beautiful to see them talk. However, Sri. Iswaran also passed away shortly after his wife’s loss.

Am not sure if I have expressed completely about Pattamma’s persona to the extent one knows her or if I have done any justice to the wonderful human that she is. Somehow, am not really satisfied, for once I feel that I am unable to actually express all that she is. I’v spent very less time with her, but it is those few moments that have left behind a strong impact in me. I just wish that if I can be at least ten percent of what she was, then my purpose of existence would be fulfilled. I truly idolize her and so do many for she is one woman who has truly enriched the lives of many and lived a perfectly fulfilling life that’s next to impossible. Vaazhvaangu vaazhndhavarin vazhi sella virumbugirene!