Kundapur: Five Generations of Family Gather at Ancestral House
Daijiworld Media Network—Kundapur (RD/CN)
Kundapur, Oct 8: It’s indeed a rare occasion today when generations of a single family gather under one roof. One hundred and two-year-old Venkamma Shedty is the head of the family, and the 102nd member of her family is her great grand daughter four-month-old Sanvi.
When Sanvi met her great grandmother, it was also a rare occasion where five generation of the same family were seen together. This memorable incident took place at Mettinamane household in Bagwady village, near here, recently.
Despite Venkamma’s advanced age her memory is excellent. Her eyesight has deteriorated but she has reasonable hearing capacity. She can identify her great grand children by their voices and reciprocates in her native Kundapur-style Kannada.
Venkamma’s eldest daughter, eighty-five-year-old Parvaty Shedty, her daughter, forty-eight-year-old Malati S Shetty, her daughter Shilpa and Shilpa’s daughter four-month-old Sanvi were the five generations seen at the recent reunion.
The entire gathering was overjoyed to witness the heads of five generations seated at the traditional threshing table (a great honour in the bygone era in Tulunadu which had an agrarian society).
All 102 members of the family were present at the ancestral house on this occasion. Although, some of the family members work and live abroad, it’s a custom to come back to their hometown alongwith their families. There are 9 doctors, 24 engineers, lawyers, bank employees and entrepreneurs in this family. Despite all being highly educated, everyone addresses the matriarch as Abbi or Abba in the traditional manner.
Venkamma has eight children. Her youngest son Nandyappa Shetty is an IAS officer and serves as personal assistant of union minister Mallikarjuna Kharge. When speaking to Daijiworld, he said, “We are fortunate to belong to this great family. The childhood days come flashing to mind, whenever we gather on auspicious occasions in our family. My mother Venkamma was the only daughter of her mother. It’s God’s blessing that she has seen her family grow to 102 members. This day will remain forever in my memory”.