How My Ancestral Roots Shaped the Soul of My Writing

Every person carries a foundation that silently shapes their thinking, their values, and their life’s direction.

For me, that foundation comes from not just my birthplace in Maharashtra but also ancestral roots in Palakkad and the cultural atmosphere I was born into.

This is a story of gratitude — for the languages, devotion, and disciplined upbringing that became the inner strength behind my writing.

My Roots in Palakkad – A Blessing of Language and Culture

My ancestral roots are in Palakkad, a beautiful district located near the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border in South India.

Palakkad gave me something very special from childhood — a natural connection to both Tamil and Malayalam.

These were not only the languages I heard and spoke. They were also worlds filled with life.

Through these two languages, I grew up experiencing:

• family conversations filled with warmth

• festivals celebrated with sincerity

• devotional songs that created peace

• movies and TV serials that carried emotions and values

• temple visits that gave spiritual strength

• stories of Gods that taught Dharma in a simple way

This early exposure built a strong cultural awareness inside me — without force, without pressure. It came naturally.

Born into an Iyer Family – Where Learning and Faith Walk Together

I was born into an Iyer family.

In our home, tradition was not something we followed only occasionally. It was part of daily life.

I grew up seeing how much importance was given to:

• discipline

• purity in thoughts and actions

• respect for elders

• prayer and rituals

• learning and knowledge

One beautiful thing about such an upbringing is that it teaches you something very valuable:

• Faith is not a performance. Faith is a practice.
• Knowledge is not just information. Knowledge is responsibility.

The Sound of Sanskrit – A Presence in My Childhood

Along with Tamil and Malayalam, I also grew up hearing Sanskrit through chants, shlokas, and devotional recitations.

As a child, I may not have understood every meaning completely. But I always felt the strength in the sound.

Sanskrit felt like a language that carried:

• stillness

• focus

• devotion

• discipline

When elders recited shlokas during religious events, the atmosphere changed.

It became calm, pure, and powerful.

That environment left a deep impression on me.

A Cultural Upbringing Where Rituals Have Meaning

In my upbringing, festivals were never treated as “just celebrations.”

Every festival had meaning. Every ritual had a purpose.

I grew up learning that traditions are not empty actions.

They are reminders of values, discipline, gratitude, and Dharma.

In such an atmosphere, even small things become important:

• lighting a lamp (Diya) with devotion

• sitting silently during prayers

• learning why a ritual is done

• following the correct way with respect

• treating temple visits like blessings

This kind of upbringing does something beautiful.

It creates stability in the mind.

Values Over Materialism – The Greatest Gift

One of the biggest blessings I received from my roots was this simple truth:

A meaningful life is built on values, not on display.

In my cultural upbringing, rituals and traditions were treated seriously — not because of fear, but because of respect and love.

It taught me to value:

• character over comfort

• discipline over laziness

• simplicity over show

• sincerity over shortcuts

These lessons are quiet, but they shape a person deeply.

How My Roots Align with My Work as a Writer

Today, I write books and stories based on Indian wisdom.

And when I look back, I understand something very clearly:

My writing is not separate from my roots. It is connected to them.

The Iyer tradition has always been closely linked with learning, sacred knowledge, and respect for the Vedas.

Generations have protected wisdom through:

• chanting

• learning

• teaching

• disciplined living

I am not a religious scholar reciting scriptures.

But my heart feels aligned with that same spirit — to preserve wisdom and pass it forward.

My way is simple: I write short story books in easy language.

So that values can reach homes, children, and common people.

In earlier times, knowledge was carried through oral tradition.

Today, knowledge can also be carried through books that travel far and touch many lives.

That is why I feel my writing work is also a form of Seva (offering to God and society) and Bhakti (devotion).

My Gratitude

Today, I simply want to say from my heart:

I am grateful for my ancestral roots in Palakkad.

Grateful for the gift of Tamil and Malayalam in my life.

Grateful for the presence of Sanskrit chants and devotional discipline.

Grateful for a cultural upbringing where rituals were meaningful.

And grateful for a family atmosphere where values were taken seriously.

Because of this foundation, my writing is not only words.

It carries faith, feeling, and purpose.

And whatever I write today, I write with the silent strength of where I come from.

Article written by

Parvathy Ananthanarayanan Mangala

(Pen Name – Ram SwaRajya)

Founder, Ram SwaRajya Library, Ayodhya

Uttar Pradesh, India 🇮🇳