Whats in a Name? .... you pointlessly ponder?

The following is inspired by a forward titled, "Ambi mama wins."

Have you noticed that every Brahmin family has SOME/ALL OF the following people in their junta?

1. Ambi mama
The residential astrology expert, who is unceremoniously called upon to offer free(read cheap ) astrology comments, also gives unsolicited advice on matters ranging from today’s politics, cricket to acharams to be followed!
Note: Since Ambi mama is widely regarded as the most popular name in the clan, author points out that every small town in Tiruchy/Kumbakonam disrict will have the following variations of ambis Peria Ambi, Chinna Ambi, Gundu Ambi, Olli Ambi, Kutti Ambi etc.

2. Thambi periappa/athanga manni etc..
This is what happens when you marry first cousins/ uncles from your mother's side, All kinds of weird addressing happens thusly.

3. Komala athimber.
Notice a female name appended to a male relationship, very unique but popular form of address in Brahmin circles. If you are still wondering, title bestowed by virtue of being husband of Komala athai.

4. Vasu mama
This is your athai's son surviving on a hand to mouth existence in his Southern Railways Job.

5. Vengattu(Venkatesan->Venky->Vengattu)
This chithappa's son, jobless and waiting for his First job as an assistant to an auditor.

6. Vaidhi Athimber ( Vaidhyanathan/Vaidheeshwaran)
Self proclaimed expert in Carnatic music, who never misses even a single( free )ticket to the December music season.

7. Koki(Kokila->koki) appa
Floored again by male female association? Kokila is the eldest daughter of Mr. Venkatachalapathy, imagine plight of his dear wife who needs to call him by that ridiculous long name (why not Venky, You ask?- tsk tsk we don’t work that way)is thus christened as koki appa, by his beloved wife.

Note: Wife’s not called Koki amma, she goes by ambuli mami. (It’s a long story, forget it)

8. Paachu(Parthasarthy->Partha->Paachu->Baachu?) Periappa
The reader is challenged on this one. If the reader is unable to find a Parthasarathy in his family, do email the author, we will order one for you, there is too many surplus of Pachus in other families.
Note: Paternal called Pacha, Maternal Paachu; Yes tell me about it!!

9. Chubbini ( Subramaniam->Subbu->Chubbu->Chubbini) anna
Who spends his time bunking his Government job @ TVS to not only watch cricket but also forever criticize Indian team selection.

10. Ambujam Atthai
Awesome cook, known for her akkarai vadisal and Thachi mammu

11. Cheenu(Srinivasan Raghavan->Srini->Cheenu) thatha
Happily sipping Narasus kaapi & doing sandya vandanam regularly, whilst he is proud that his name has figured on the internet.

12. Badma/Bathuma ( Padmavathy->Padma->Badma->Bathma ) periamma
Mind bewildering permutations are possible on this one. I am not even going to start on it( see future blog on just this one)

13. Kitcha (Krishnamurthy->Krishna->Kicha->Kitcha) periappa
Also referred to as Kichaami = Kitcha + asami(person in Tamil)

14. Mylapore athimber
Poor chap was in Mylapore, in his twenties while making ends meet with a portion shared by 15 families, professes that he no longer lives there, and though he is happily settled in the US (with his Computer Engineer son) still grudgingly goes by that name.
Note: Variations include Mylapore california Athimber, but gets very hairy then!

15. Tiruchhi athai, Chicago chithi, Mylapore Mamanaar, Aduthathu Athimber
Location, you see, is very important to us.
Note abt Chicago Chithi: happily settled in Chicago, and learning to say "Cool, Wassup etc"
Aduthathu athimber- Next door neighbor, who is a Brahmin, suddenly BECOMES related now.

16. Kittu mama
I seriously don’t know abt this one, he exists in every family PERIOD. Possibly an adopted son who has changed name just to gel with the other tam Brahms.

17. Baby Chithi
Name says it all.

18. Bombay Kichanna
Variant/Transformation on number 13, due to his transfer to Bombay, and his age henceforth referred to as thus.

19. Drum Sundaram, Lorry Krishnan
Based on trade affiliations

20. Mottai Thatha, Vazhakai Vaishnavi, Mookuozhugu Mohana, Gundu Paati
You should be able to guess the nomenclature by now, Yes, by virtue of their appearances.

21. Glaxo athan, TVS periappa.
Happy that you are finally getting a hang of it? affirmative, Professional affiliations
Note: No name for TVS periappa - just his company + title

22. Vayadi Rakkamma, Cycle mani, othakann chandramouli, cheettu(miser) chellapa
Classified by their attributes.

23. Kunjamma
Originally alamaelu athai, god knows how her name got transformed to such.

24. Pappu(Pattammal->Pattu->pappu) patti
Why pappu? she makes very nice paruppunjathams: sandhi parichaya: Paruppu + sadam(sadam->chadam)

25. My favourite! Thambi anna
What is that you may ponder? an oxymoron dude!!, yes we have that too! He is your chithi's younger brother, so Thambi, and elder to you so anna thus- Thambi anna, also goes by thambi mama- but very confusing.

26. S. Ve. Shekar was kind enough to add the following series to this lists a series of "komli", "paapli", "thakli", "jillu", "dubuku" etc

27. Rounding it off are Chellapa, Ramji manni, Bhooma mami, Chakkarai(Chakrapani->Chikku->Chakka->Chakkarai) - sugar

Adiyaen,
Parthasarathy Narasimhan