Valiama

Lady Valiamma Narain (1869–1954) was the Tamil Matriarch, a Tamil East Indian immigrant coming from the city of Nagappattinam in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. Valiamma spent quite a few years on the island of Martinique where she, her mother Peruammal,her father Permal, and sister Alice were indentured. Valiamma also known as Meme Veronique or Veronica married at a very early age to a young man by the name of Matrizan and adapted to the French society. They had a daughter together Anise. Problems arose between Valiamma and Matrizan's family, and Valiamma left Martinique with her daughter Anise who was 3 at the time, her mother Peruammal, and sister Alice around 1888 to arrive in Trinidad, where she worked with the De Boissiere family who owned the Champs Elysee Estate in Maraval Trinidad. Tamil being her mother tongue she spoke French creole and English Fluently. Valiamma mastered in French culinary and was taught by her mother the art of massage. Her abilities were so high in demand Valiamma built a great relationship with her clients and hosted parties and massage sessions.