Preface
HistoryIt is the first edition of our family history that is published in 2001. In 1934, Shri. Baby, member of Kollamana family and Shri M. Varghese, member of Kalloor family (the 1st President of our Kudumba Yogam) made an attempt to conduct a joint meeting of our Kudumba Yogam. Unfortunately, it could not be accomplished then. But, they could identify the branches of our family and record it in writing . We are not in possession of clear documents as to when and how this family originated. The main sources came in handy for preparing the previous history of our family were the information recorded by our ancestors which was verbally passed on to their predecessors. We could understand our previous history from our ancestors like Sri. K.M Abraham (Avarachan), member, Kollamana family; Shri M. Varghese Kalloor; Shri Pappachan Kollamana and Shri Idiculla Pazhangeril. Also, we could gather information on our previous history and the main events of those days from the oldest of those who are alive now namely Shri P.P Idiculla Madathil, Shri K.M Punnoose Kollamana, Smt.Thankamma Joseph Kollamana and Dr Thomas Philip, Pazhangeril . In addition to this, we got some information about our ancestors from the Niranam Church, and Paliekkara Church. It was from ‘Naveekaranam’, the book written by Rev. Kovoor, the first Vicar General of the Marthomite Church, that we got the details of Kollamana Potha. There is reference of Kollamana Potha in the Kandathil family history, as well. It can be understood that Kollamana Potha was the most prominent among those who helped for the existence of the Malankar Orthodox Church. Shri. Itty Mathew and Shri. M. V. Biji provided necessary information on Manethumali family and that on Kanekattu family by Shri Idiculla Varghese and Shri M.A Baby. Besides, it was solely the unstinted co-operation of all members of the families that made this attempt successful.
The method used in the descriptions in this book is as follows: The Family Tree indicates that the families of the 9 children of (4 ancestors belonging to the 13th generation) are seen expanding in the 14th generation; that of their 20 children in the 15th generation; that of their 61 children in the 16th generation, that of their 135 children in the 17th generation, that of their 175 children in the 18th generation, that of their 110 children in the 19th generation and that of their 49 children in the 20th generation.
Shri. K.M Koshy (Nebu) has been collecting the details of the family members from 1989. Efforts have been diligently made to include all the details received till date without mistakes. Even then, there many be errors and omissions. Thanks are due to those who helped in writing this book viz. Shri Kollamana K.M. Koshy, Shri Kollamana K.A. Abraham, Shri Madathil Abraham Mathew, Shri Pazhangeril Dr Thomas Philip, Kollamana Smt. Ammini Mathew, and to Shri Reji Philip of Pazhangeril and Shri K.M. Mathew (Biju) and to all our family members who cooperated in this attempt . This book is intended for our family members only. It is requested that no opportunity be given to others for criticizing the book.
President, the Kudumba Yogam
P.P. Idukkala Madathil
The Significance of Family History
In these days, by the word ‘family,’ it is briefly conceived as the one including the head of the family, his wife and their children in general. In the past, this was a joint family. It was a big family of grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, the children, brothers and their families.
Firstly, Apostle Poulose in his letter 3:14-18 written to Ephesius has described the basis of family as under:
“ For this reason, I fall on my knees before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its true name. I ask God from the wealth of the glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love, so that you, together with all God’s people may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ’s love”. Secondly, it is the mutual trust between its members, love, unselfishness, sacrificing mentality, discipline, the headsmanship of the head of the family and the revolving of the other members around the motherhead of the family who virtually is the proton here, mutually tied to each other by a power of attraction in a strong bondage of love which actually is in consonance with the essence of universe.
It is the physical and mental health of the family unit that acts in this manner is the basis of the progress and peace of the society. If, instead of sacrifice and love, there is belligerence in family, the society will go on getting weakened rather than growing. Families had its origin millions of years ago in pre-historic age. In these days, they had lived together as joint families in huts since they were unsafe. In due course these joint families began to stay in ‘ettukettu’ house.
This was the pattern of the family life in Kerala before three generations. But, a system of staying after apart other the marriage has evolved now among us. Immediately, after the marriage, a new unit of the family is instantly set up with one’s wife. The fact that it becomes necessary to live in other countries, the high tide of individualistic thinking and an independent decision-making has paved the way for this change. The modern communication and transport facilities have also facilitated the wide deployment of families.
The Message of the President, Kudumba Yogam - 1998
My dear members of the family, I praise the Lord for enabling us to join together today. Also, I praise the Lord for grating me this chance to become the Ist President of this family. As the Psalmist has said that, “How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity”, how beautiful is this reunion of ours! In 1934, Kollamana Baby and I had made an attempt to conduct our family meeting. Unfortunately, it could not materialize. But, then we tried to identify the branches of our family and to put it in black and white.
The members of our family belonged to the Namboodiri caste before becoming Christians. At the time of Conversion in Kerala, our ancestors adopted Christianity and settled in Kuravilangad. Due to the atrocities perpetrated on them by the Hindus, they later came to Niranam and settled there. It was then that our family came into being accepting ‘Kalloor family’ as its name. A section of our family went to live in Thiruvalla an engaged in business and agriculture. Since they had traded in Kolla chilli or red chilli, the family assumed the name ‘Kollamana’. It was Shri Avarachan who was staying at the eastern side of our family house in Kavumbhagam. The western side was of Kalloor. After the death of Avarachan Kollamana, that family later became a part of Kalloor family. Another group from Thiruvalla interested in business and agriculture shifted to Punalur. Our branch that was established in Punalur is known by the name Pazhangeril. Shri Idiculla, my younger brother of Pazhangeril, is now laid up in 5 the family home in Punalur . Since he had noted down all the details required for our family history in a separate book, we have been able to trace the history of Pazhangeril family. Even now, he clearly remembers all the relevant facts of the past. At this juncture, I specially remember Idiculla who is very happy in having convened the joint meeting of our family. And, I also pray for all the blessings of the God. Another branch which was interested in agriculture in Kavumbhagam came to be known as Manethumali family. Today we have the eighth generation of our family. It is the family of Kochidukkulachettan of Kollamana that existed generations before is the Madathil branch. My younger brother Idiculla who is the Vice President of our family, also has provided in writing all the information required for our family history In short, before eight generations, our forefathers belonging to Kolloor, Pazhangeril, Manethumali and Kollamana families were direct brothers. Madathil family is a branch which had originated from Kollamana seven generations before.
Avarachan alias Kollamana Potha who lived seven generations ago was the pride of our family and of our Church. At the time of reformation in the formative days of the Malankara Church when the reformists had taken over full charge in most of our churches, it is much commendable that our leaders could bring almost all the churches under the Malankara Syrian church though they had to make much scarifies in retaining our churches in good stead. The prominent among our leaders were Kollamana Potha (Avarachan); Kodiyattu Yacob Kathanar and Chalakkuzhi Mathu all of the Kattaprath church. It was a Psalm Sunday. The dead body of Kollamana Avarachan who was killed in the attack of the opponents when the Holy Mass was being celebrated in the Church was buried in the Paliekkara church. Though murder was not intended, it turned out to be murder case. It can be said that the history of all the families formed in the early days is linked to the history of our church. Ours is a family that worked intensively in the construction of Paliekkara church, Kattappurath church and Thekkedath church in Thiruvalla.
It was Kollamaneth Abraham, father of my elder brother Onnoonnichayan who served as the Trustee of Paliekkara Church. He utilized our landed properties in a large scale to conduct the court cases filed against our churches. It resulted in the diminution of our landed property.
Our forefathers were quite pious and firm believers, and this prompted me to dwell into our old history. Besides they lived their lives for our church. Thus, the time has passed by. It is because of their tribulations that we can now freely pray and live. Today, we need more belief in God than in the Church. When our family has grown and spread as different branches, our members happened to be in Marthomite and Knanaya Churches. Now, we honor all Churches and all gospelisation works. Jesus Christ did not establish a Church, but he had died on the cross for all the people and for their sins.
We have been brought at the cost of Jesus Chirst’s blood. He has made us his children, We should grow in his Word and should grow Spiritually. Only then, the future generation will be blessed. We are giving much prominence to our coming together and to prayers. Let us give all glory to Jesus Christ giving Him the first place. Nothing without his presence will sustain. In the church, when we the believers join together to praise the God, here, in the family meeting, we the brethren together make an occasion to praise the God. We come together not for the name or glory of our family, this family meet has to be a model for our future generations. Here, we have equal status. We give special allowance only to the age of persons; we do not discriminate between members on the basis of financial or educational status. We should not promote a thinking as to who is more important a among us. We should not quarrel with each other. Everything should have an order here. No matter of dispute should be discussed here. If possible, try to evolve a consensus We need to remember that our children follow us who are their elders. We should not be the ones who blame our brothers and sisters.
The real brother is one who advises confidentially. Let us remember that humility and patience are the qualities that the others hold in esteem.
Our Family Day is celebrated on the Sunday that falls just after Easter in the respective places. In the coming years also, this should be continued. Those who are seniors by age in each area should give lead to it and present a report of the same in the succeeding family meetings. We should pray for our family that day. We have to think how we should spend our family fund in future. The expenses of our Kudumba Yogam could be met only with the interest of this fund. Cutting down the expenses considerably, we have to show interest in helping others. First, we have to care for those who are financially suffering in our family. Then, we extend our helping hands for the gospelisation activities of our country. It is because of our lack of initiative that our country is still in darkness without being gospelised. We should remember that each of us is responsible for this situation. We should not forget the advice of Jesus that “ You should propagate my Words and make all of them my followers”. We should pray specially for India’s gospelisation; we should extend our help for it also. We are very happy that the representatives of Missions India, an organization based out in Thiruvalla working for the goespelisation of our country, have participated in today’s meeting We have to remember them in our daily prayers and to help their activities, too. If we do this, our family is partaking in fulfilling the work for our Lord along with them.
Today is the day on which we have fulfilled our dream. We shall together share this happiness. Praying to God that the meeting of our Kudumba Yogam be the day of happiness, peace and unity, let me conclude my speech.
M. Varghese, Kalloor
Thiruvalla
30.12.1998