Tam Brahm Life: Teenager Thiruvilaiyaadal

Translation for non-Tam Brahms:


"Saar" = Sir (the orthodox way of addressing an adult Tam Brahm male)

"Thiruvilaiyaadal" = a famous Tam Brahm movie classic; it contains a scene with a Q-A session between a priest and the God Shiva, in which the god provides spot-on (though sarcastic) answers to the priest's questions on life, the world, people, etc.

"Pirivadhu yenna?" = What are two things that are always in opposition?

"Piriyaadhadhu yenna?" = What are two things are always together?"

Tam Brahm Life: Milestones

Translation for non-Tam Brahms:

"Tam Brahm" = Tamil Brahmin

"kutti/paapa/kunju" = endearments: baby

"kapi" = coffee

"pavadai" = long ankle-length skirt

"dhavani" = an abbreviated saree

"pudavai" = Tamil word for saree

"akka" = Sister

"maami" = Auntie 

Tam Brahm Life: "Recycling, Tam-Brahm Style"

Translation for non-Tam-Brahms:

"kanna" =  an endearment, like "Sweetie"
"Chitti" = aunt (mother's younger sister)
"Atthai" = aunt (father's sister)

The situation I have described is exaggerated--but not that far from the truth. As a child, I had to make do with "used textbooks" --I can hear you thinking "So what? Students do that all the time!" But it wasn't just textbooks; I had to spend a few days erasing older material in my notebooks from the previous year, so that I could use it again for my current classes! Yes, the money situation was that bad.

On the plus side, I got so sick of writing stuff down and then erasing it, that I began to memorize things. I built a great store of poems, quotations, facts, theories, ideas etc in my head this way-- even today, I have the memory of an elephant.