Sorrow engulfs house in Srirangam

No 104, Komala Vilas, Alamelu Nilayam has been maintained in the traditional way for long. It is built in the usual pattern of a Brahmin family’s house. It is believed to be the house where Jayalalithaa’s mother Vedavalli alias Sandhya spent some time during her childhood. When Sandhya was 8-years-old, her father (Jaya’s grandfather) moved to Mysuru and there Sandhya was married to her relative Jayaram to whom Jayalalithaa was born. By tradition, Jaya was named after her grandmother Komalavalli.  

The 125-year-old building which is on a sprawling 4500 sq feet was once owned by Pudukkottai Diwan Shesha Ayyangar. It retains its quite grandeur till now. It was bought by the present owner S Lakshmi Narasimhan’s mother Alamelu in 1966.  “We have heard that Sandhya paati (granny) was living in the house when she was a child. Later during 1949 to 53, they used to pay frequent visits to the house along with baby Jayalalithaa,” said S Varadharajan, son-in-law of Lakshmi Narasimhan. “She has done so much for the people of Tamil Nadu and especially to the Srirangam temple. I am sure, she will definitely find a place in heaven,” said Indira who is past 72 years. The inmates of the house could not hold their tears when they heard about the demise of the CM.