Final Booklet

Shri S. Valliappan & Smt. Nachal
July 15, 2017 Orlando, Florida
From your friends in Pittsburgh, PA
ஆயிரம் பிறை கண் ட நீங் கள் இன் னும்
பல நூறு பிறைகறளக் காண
எல்லாம் வல்ல, எங் கும் நிறை பரம்பபாருள் உங் கள்
இருவருக்கும் நல்ல ஆரராக்கியத்றதயும்
நீண் ட ஆயுறளயும் வழங் க ரவண் டுகிரைாம் !
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நீங் காத பெல் வம்
நிறைந்து வாழ்க!
On this auspicious திருநாள் we wish the Valliappans everlasting
blessings. Over the years we have enjoyed his sense of humor, and to
see humor in mundane things. Here are examples:
When they were living in Fox chapel., Natchal was desperately
looking for a job to keep her busy. One day she recruited a coconspirator,
Saraswathy Vasudevan, and walked into a packaging
plant in the neighborhood. The manager wanted to try them. He asked
them to pick up items from a fast moving conveyor belt and put them
into boxes. The two ladies were like Lucy and Vivian from “I Love
Lucy” working in the chocolate factory. Seeing the trouble these two
were having, and learning that they were from Fox Chapel, the manager
showed them the door. Close your eyes and imagine this scene. This
is even better when Valliappan tells this story.
One day Dr. Viswanathan, who goes by “Vichu,” called Valliappan
on the phone: “This is ‘Vichu’ speaking.” Valliappan did not quite
know who he was and asked “Which Vichu?” To this day the poor
guy is known as Which Vichu. (I am laughing out loud while typing.)
Valliappan is in his elements in Chennai. For many of us it is frustrating
to deal with people and the chaotic ECOS. Not for him. One
morning the watchman Ezhumalai was complaining about fever. When
Valliappan asked him what happened, the watchman said “Saamie, last
night my samsaram came in my dream and really cursed me.” When
asked where she was, he said she had been dead over 15 years. I think
most of us men can empathize with Ezhumalai.
There is a saying in Tamil தம்பி உள்ளான் படைக்கு அஞ் சான் , or
“A man with a younger brother will not be afraid of an enemy’s army.”
In my case I'll substitute சககாதரன் , (brother) for தம்பி.
We are happy to be with the Valliappans today, which makes life a
lot more enjoyable.
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— Mani and Manoharan

My Recollections of Nachal & Valliappan
Nachal and Valliappan, Towering caring couple for the Pittsburgh
Indian community during1970 -2000. My family and I are deeply indebted
to him as our family doctor, and a special caring person to my
mother.
He was always available (numerous hours) for medical help to the
silpis when they were building our Venkateswara Temple.
Nachal has always been our close friend. While I was in working
committee, later executive committee, and Chairman of Trustees of the
Temple spent many hours with Valliappan to resolve number of crisis
issues at the Temple. Recall being at his house with Raj Gopal and
Manoharan at 1or 2 in the morning discussing the future of the temple.
Valliappan had words of wisdom we respected. During the purchase of
the land where our temple stands today we needed down payment and
he came through with $4000 and it helped us build the Great Temple
that is today.
It was at his suggestion in the late 1970 that we should allocate 15 to
10% to 15% of temple
income to a trust
fund for the future
maintenance of the
temple. Our Temple’s
trust fund is
now over several
million dollars.
Gita and I wish
Valliappan and Nachal today on the 80 th birthday of Valliapapn as
they both revisit their vows with many happy years ahead.
— Gita & Kalathur Narasimhan
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The Language of Friendship… ...
“The language of friendship is not words but meanings.” — Henry
David Thoreau.
Both Nachal Achi and Dr. Valliappan embody
this commitment to friendship: individually,
they are both uniquely giving, warm, loving,
affectionate, and reach out to friends during
good times and during life’s challenges. Dr. Valliappan,
for his part, has selflessly helped many
of our families and us with medical issues. On a
community leadership level, he was solely responsible
for total implementation of the golden
chariot project for the S. V. Temple, from conception
to finalization. Natchal, for her part, has contributed her culinary
skills to help raise money for many projects at the temple, including the
Ekanha Sevai silver swing. The impact of her green thumb can be found
across many home gardens in the United States. When she takes on a
task, she commits herself totally and strives for perfection, as reflected
by her characteristic “no way, nga!” when faced with taking a shortcut.
As a couple acting together, Natchal’s and Dr. Valliappan’s generosity
and contributions to the community are even greater. They are
extremely supportive of each other too.
On the humorous side, Dr. Valliappan
used to call Natchal from the office daily
and ask her “enna-ma?” The office staff
started to wonder why he was prescribing
her a daily enema.
We wish Dr. Valliappan, Natchal, and
family ALL THE VERY BEST forever.
— The Seshadri & Raghupathi Families
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My Grateful Memories of the Valliappans
After my husband Mani’s passing away, for several years, I did
not go to any social function. The very first celebration I attended
with my son Ram was Nachal and valliappan’s 25 th Wedding Anniversary.
Although I had not known them well at that time, I can never
forget the love and affection Nachal and
Valliappan showed in inviting me to the function.
This very thoughtful gesture touched my
heart and made a big difference in my life. ,
I have always been a part of Valliappan Family
celebrations over the years since that time.
My father Ramalingam Sarma fondly remembers
Nachal’s famous Kai Murukkus she made
for my dad’s 80 th Birthday celebrations two
decades ago.
My dad sends his Blessings. Our very Best Wishes to Natchal,
Valliiappan and family.
The Very Loving & Affectionate Valliappans
Our namaskarams to Natchal and Valliappan on this very special
day. My mother is sending her Asirvadham and Best Wishes to them.
Our acquaintance during our Pittsburgh days grew very strongly
with our Florida connection.
We enjoy their visit to our place and our time together. So loving
and affectionate.
Looking forward to many more such occasions.
— Sudha and Vatsan
— Geetha Manian
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Valliappan — A Friend in Need,
Always at Your Side
Evergreen Memories with Annan & Aachi
October 1986. Ganesh was working at McDonalds late evening and
had a learner’s permit which allowed him to drive alone only till midnight.
Anasuya, Padma and I, returning from a late evening concert,
picked him up with Anasuya driving home the car Ganesh drove to
work. Remembering need for milk, I made a quick left turn to the Convenient
store. The last I remembered before passing out was a big bang.
When I woke up I saw police extricating me from the smashed car.
Padma was lying unconscious inside the store. The police flew her in
Life Flight helicopter. Not seeing Ganesh, I and police rushed to the car,
to find Ganesh pushed pinned from the passenger to the driver seat.
Police got him out and sent him in an ambulance. Seeing me hunched
and in pain, police sent me to Passavant hospital with along with Anu.
Anu called Dr. Valliappan at that odd hour. He must have called
many hospitals at that odd hour to locate my children. He drove to
Passavant, got myself released and drove us to AGH. Ganesh was in
coma and hospital doctors did not give any hope.
Valliappan comforted us and said Ganesh will be
back up in another day and brought us back
home. It was Valliappan’s comforting words of
hope that carried us through that difficult day.
Annan is always a great performer at Pongal Festival at the S.V.Temple.
Aachi’s delicious recipes at Vegetarian Delight, sumptuous portions to customers.
What a fine experience… … Looking back!
The following morning, nurse from AGH
called to inform that Ganesh is out of coma. His
first query to the Nurse was if Pirates won!
Nachal and Dr. Valliappan! God acted through
you when we were helpless!
— Anasuya, Natarajan and family
— Yours forever, Meenakshi and Kathiresan
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… but Valliappan Can Be Angry Too!
Valliappan’s kids would vouch for Valliappan getting angry.
Which father does not get pissed off at his kids while raising them? But
not many saw him getting angry in public. He did once that I saw.
It was a New Year party in the Y2K era. Those days, people would
bring home-cooked items for parties.. The news of the New Year party
would have spread. A bunch of young Y2K IT guys and gals landed at
the gathering. Like locusts flying over a green patch of land, they went
to the buffet table, finished the food, and left — வந்தார்கள்,
உண் ைார்கள், சசன் றார்கள் .
This touched a raw nerve in Valliappan. He was livid. He said,
“இந்த பசங் கடள எல்லாம் உள்டளகே விைக்கூைாது!”
alliappan was so natural that Nachal blossomed into an assertive
self-assured woman in her own way, in her own time.
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She is so disarmingly simple and straightforward that not many can say
“No” to her requests.
And Nachal speaks her mind. Nachal started celebrating the Pongal
festival in the traditional way with firewood for making the pongal as
part of the festival. Decades ago, in a
Pongal festival, a few young boys — they
are now doctors, engineers, and lawyers—trained
by their fathers, recited the
Aditya Hrdayam. Their recitation did not
come out loud and clear. Many of us
observed it, but kept quiet. Nachal, having
listened to enough Sanskrit hymns in
the temple, went to their parents and
told them straight, "என் னங் க இது சமாணசமாணன் னு ஆதித்ே-
ஹ் ருதேத்டத சசால்றாங் க? ஸ் பஷ் ைமா சசால்லகவணாம்? "
I wish Valliappan & Nachal a very long and healthy life.
— Kollengode S Venkataraman
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Valliappan’s Compassionate Nature…
How people interact with strangers is a good indicator about their
innate nature. On this score, Valliappan comes out a winner.
In 1986, we were quite new to Pittsburgh with no friends, and
Venkataraman was hospitalized at Forbes for a heart condition about
which I knew nothing. I was standing forlornly with dread, with my
two daughters, one a 5-year old and the other, my months-old baby.
Valliappan was not our doctor, but as he was walking down the
corridor in the hospital, he saw an anxious and worried Indian woman
with two small kids. He approached me. When I told him about
Venkataraman, he talked to him, went out of the way and checked out
his charts, and told me nothing was seriously wrong. I was immensely
relieved -- never underestimate the
power of being reassured in your
own language!
His kindness towards a stranger
was an indication of his compassion
for people. Later I would meet him
at the temple and get know both him
and Natchal well.
He says he never remembers this
event; he wouldn’t — because it is
most commonplace for him to act
this way. But I have never forgotten his kindness.
I wish Vaillappan & Nachal a long, healthy life with their children
and grandchildren.
-- Premlata Venkataraman
நட்பு — or Friendship… … for Life
We don’t even know when we first met Natchal and Valliappan. They
both have been a part of our lives always. We do remember our surprise
at meeting Valliappan, Chandra’s tutor from Tanjavur Medical
College in Pittsburgh. Chandra affectionately calls him “Vathiyar.”
We cannot think of funny incidents, stories — only kindness and
generosity when we think of the Valliappans. In our minds they both
are defined by their sense of humor, generosity to their friends, and
kindness to all.
We can picture the Thooku with idli, murukku and other goodies
that Nachal brought us many times. No one makes badam halwa like
her. I salivate even thinking
about the gooey saffron –tinged
halwa wrapped in wax paper.
The heated sun room in their
Fox Chapel home with jasmine
and other plants inspired me to
garden.
They are keepers of traditions,
be it Pongal Paanai, old time
foods, and wedding rituals. They remind us that even in these foreign
lands we can continue to celebrate our culture and traditions. Nachal
and Valliappan have touched so many lives, helped so many people
doing it all without any expectations.
The following TirukkuraL sums it all up.
நட்பிை்கு வீை்றிருக்றக யாபதனின் பகாட்பின் றி
ஒல்லும்வாய் ஊன் றும் நிறல.
“The crowning glory for friendship is when a friend supports unflinchingly
in all ways.”
— Usha and Chandra
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Photo: Raman Venkataramanan
Celebrating Our Milestone Day at
the Valliappans’ Home
It was the year 2001. My parents and nieces were here for the summer.
We knew it was our 25th wedding anniversary, but did not plan
on anything special since it was only six months after Vasudevan’s
mother passing.
Wonderful Friends and Gracious Hosts
Happy Birthday (Sadabhishekam).
When we think of primary care physicians in Pittsburgh,
Dr. Valliappan is the first of the two physicians who comes to our mind.
We all know him as a compassionate physician. He has served people in
New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
For us, he is a dedicated, devoted, and wonderful human being,
who worked tirelessly for the good of the community in Pittsburgh.
Valliappan also reminds us of the fact that one can and should pursue
ones passion no matter what ones age is. He is an amazing artist, both as
a photographer and as a painter, who has created some wonderful pieces
that decorate many a places.
But our Pittsburgh “family” thought otherwise. They coordinated a
surprise anniversary party for us. That evening at Valliappans' home
with our friends and family, who made us so special, will be for eve
cherished by us for our lifetime. My mother remembers even now that
party and always enquires about Natchal and Valliappan.
Nachal has always been a wonderful host and that evening she
excelled and so did Valliappan. Vasudevan and I were blessed that our
milestone day was celebrated in their house.
We are happy to be in their company on his 80th birthday and pray
to Lord Muruga to bless them with a long, healthy, happy and peaceful
life.
Our humble namaskarams to Valliappan and Nachal.
Every time we attend the Pongal function in the temple, we definitely
think of Nachal and Valliappan, who always used to take a lead role
in the temple functions. Nachal and
Valliappan spearheaded the Thangaratham
project; be it getting the silpis
from India, coordinating various
activities locally, feeding them, and
entertaining them, they were upfront
and in the center.
Nachal and Valliappan are also
admirers of nature; they maintained
a lovely garden in their place in
Pittsburgh that delighted every one.
They are also very gracious hosts. Above all both Nachal and
Valliappan are a lovely couple who brought up their children well and
are now enjoying their time with all their grandkids.
We wish them good health and happiness always .
— Saraswathy and V. Vasudevan
— Padma and R. Venkataramanan
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