I : Recollections by Dr Jesudasan Peters
Note: My mother’s only brother and my uncle, Dr Jesudasan Peters, whom we reverentially called ‘Mama’ is now 91 years old and staying with his daughter Esther Gracy and son-in-law Victor Devaraj in Chennai. I had contacted him a few days back informing him of my father’s birth centenary on 29 Jan 2025. He sent me a beautiful remembrance handwritten in Tamil by his daughter, which I will always cherish. He also shared some old photos of my father who was also the first son-in-law of the ‘Peters’ household.
Four years after marriage of my father (K P M Sundharam) with Kitchi Peters (my mother) in 1952, my grandfather S. G. R. Peters passed away, leaving the education and marriage of his five daughters and one son with his widow (ie my grandmother). Being the only son-in-law at that stage, my father helped the Peters siblings, some of whom were still teenagers, with emotional and material support to the extent feasible. The translation of this poetic yet emotional remembrance message is as follows:-
OUR UNCLE … FOREVER …
Marrying our sister, he became the family’s elder son as well!
He became the beacon for my mother, filling the vacuum of our father’s loss!
Brought up the girls like a canoe coming ashore in rough waters!
Helped the lone boy, that’s me, by being my best mentor!
You have a place in our hearts having told humorous stories to our children in the 90’s
Your amazing story never ends! We fail to sneeze out the turkey berry fruits (or Sundakai in Tamil) lodged in our noses like your love and kisses! Your memory never fades!
You were our strength when my mother left this world!
I shall always cherish your loving memories!
II. Recollections by D. Dorairaj
I am probably the only one to be closely related to both (ie K P M Sundharam and Kitchi Sundharam) sides. My mother (Grace) and Kitchi-akka’s mother (Esther) were ‘real’ sisters in Pambatti village. I knew, Kitchi-akka’s family very well even before my marriage. However, I could not attend Kitchi-akka’s wedding since being in the Army, my leave had got over by the time I came to know of it. It was much later that I became K. P. M. Sundharam’s co-brother after my marriage to his sister Theresa.
I have lot of fond memories of K. P. M. Sundharam. During the 1950’s, I was posted in Delhi Cantonment (Kirby Place). I was single at that time and used to come home whenever I got an ‘outpass’ from my Army unit. Sometimes, we even cycled all the way from Maurice Nagar to Odeon Theatre only to see a Tamil movie and had a good meal on our way back home. I remember him as a foodie. In this process, we also became good friends.
K. P. M. Sundharam was singularly responsible for my marriage to his younger sister, Kulandai Theresa. The wedding invite too was sent on his behalf for which I will always be grateful. The wedding was solemnized St. Mary’s Church in Old Delhi.
As my co-brother, he always guided me at every stage of my personal and professional life. He helped me financially with a soft loan when I had to purchase a plot in Janakpuri which I returned over time. This gave my family and me the much needed stability. I really appreciate and owe my gratitude for his love and concern for my family, in general and me, in particular.
