PALATHINKAL FAMILY TRADITION

Pakolomattom was the first Brahmin family to accept Christianity in Paloor village, described in 'A brief historical survey of Syrian Christians' in the previous page. It is believed that a branch of this ancient family called Edathil got divided into two units, one known as Thekkedam and the other as Vadakkedam. Some members of this Family later on moved and settled in Angamaly. A few others settled at Kaduthuruthy and helped in building a church there. It is said that in Kaduthuruthy, there were two families, known as Thekkedam and Vadakkedam. Later, some members of these families moved from Kaduthurthy and settled at Kuravilangadu. Even now the clans of these families are residing in the southern and northern sides of the Kuravilangad church, retaining their family names as Thekkedom and Vadakkedom. A few family members who settled at Kuravilangadu later on moved to Mallappally and settled there. The ancient Paavathikunnu family of Mallappally is a branch of the Thekkedathu family. The very famous Metropolitan of the Malankara Jacobite Church, Vattasseril Mar Dionatious Metropolitan hails from Paavathikunnu Family of Mallappally. Some members of the Vadakkedathu family, for the convenience of doing trading business moved from Kuravilangdu and settled at Athirampuzha. As this group found it difficult to go to Kuravilangadu for worship and other religious functions, they joined other traditional families of that area and co-operated in building a church at Athirampuzha.

The kingdom of Travancore, before it was united into one unit, had several smaller kingdoms (principalities) ruled by small-time rulers who were addressed as Rajas / Thampurans. At that time, Kottayam was ruled over by Thekkumkoor Thampuran and his kingdom extended from Kaipuzha in the north to Kaippattoor in the south. His capital was known as Thaliyilkotta. After Vadakkedathu family settled at Athirampuzha, Thekkumkoor Raja decided to visit the southern parts of his kingdom. The Raja and his entourage came in boats and landed at Kodimatha, late in the evening. He was keen to go back to his palace at Thaliyilkotta, which was about a mile and a half away. There were no proper roads in those days and neither were there lights (lamps) to help travel at night. They were using oil lamps, but at that time they did not have oil to light the lamps. The royal servants went in search of oil, but returned empty handed. They also reported that there were no shops in that area. Christians were the only people who were merchants in those days. This information (ie that there were no shops) agitated the Raja and he was very upset. The Raja further enquired whether there were any Nazrani (Christian) families around the place. The answer he got was negative. The story further narrates that ultimately, with the help of naked torch made with dry coconut leaves, they travelled from Kodimatha to Thaliyilkotta.

This accidental experience made the Raja think deeply and he took a decision. He knew that the presence of Nazranis or Syrian Christians was necessary for the development of trade and commerce. The Raja realised that the absence of Nazranis (merchants) at Kodimatha forced him and his party to seek naked torches for his travel to the palace from Kodimatha. To solve this problem, as well as to improve the commerce of his kingdom. the Raja decided to make a few Christian families to settle in Kodimatha. His search for Christian families extended up to Athirampuzha. Finally, the Raja invited a few Nazrani families belonging to Vadakkedathu clan who were progressively doing business there, to come and settle at Kottayam (Kodimatha). It is not surprising that they expressed their reluctance to move, as Kodimatha was not a conducive place for trade and also there were no Christians in that place. In spite of their reluctance the family head was persuaded by the Raja and also since the Nazranis had great respect and reverence for the royalty, they reluctantly agreed to relocate themselves at Kodimatha. The Raja as a reward for their loyalty gave them a gift of some landed property and paddy fields. Thus the first lot of Christians came and settled down at Kodimatha. At that time in Kodimatha, there were 72 Namboodiri, Nambiar, Nair and Maran families belonging to the upper castes. Over and above these 72 families, there was an Ezhava family called Kollanparampil and another Parava family called Paravanparambil. With the addition of Vadakkedathu Nazrani family, 75 families made the total population of Kodimatha. Thus Vadakkedathu was the first Christian family of Kodimatha. In those days also, there was a dilapidated bridge across the Kodoor river, not the present bridge. Vadakkedathu family settled on the northern side of the bridge and thus Vadakkedathu family came to be known as ‘Palathinkal’, which means ‘house near bridge’. The ancient family Palathinkal, thus came into existence at Kottayam.

Their ancient family house at Athirampuzha can be seen at Srikandamangalam on the western side near the Valiapally and the market, surrounded by paddy fields. Along with this family, other families namely Thekkedam, Thadam, Mathankunnel also resided in that area. Their primary occupation was agriculture and trading in the Athirampuzha market. These Christian families tried to build a church at Srikandamangalam. But, the landlords Ettunasseri Nambiyathiri and Punnakkal Nambiyathiri were not happy with their proposal. Whatever construction was done during the day time was damaged or destroyed during night by the mercenaries of these landlords. During those difficult days, Pazhayampalli Kaimal of a Nair family from Ettumanoor and his people volunteered to help the Christians and they helped them as night watchers till the church building was completed. As a token of gratitude and in remembrance of the help/ assistance extended by the Kaimals, the Pazhayampalli Kaimal’s family was given “Anchekalum Kooppum” on Kumbam first (February) when the grand annual feast was celebrated at Athirampuzha church.

The landed property gifted by the Thekkumkoor Raja at Kodimatha to Vadakkedathu family in appreciation for the loyalty shown is still with the clan of that family. The property was known as Akathilottu Parambu and Arakkal Parambu. At Kodimatha near the bridge where the Palathinkal family settled down was earlier used to be the anchorage of the royal boat. This land was also gifted by the Thampuran to Vadakkedathu family. Since this place was ideal for a jetty Vadakkedathu family built a house there mainly to store the merchandise they handled/traded. From this house/ shop they continued with their trading business. Later when Thekkumkoor Kingdom was conquered and annexed to the Travancore by the Travancore king, Thekkumkoor Raja abandoned his capital at Thaliyilkotta and moved to Edathummanal near Nattassery, on the eastern side of Kottayam town. The clan of the Rajas family is still living in this place. They are known as Edathil chieftains. Palathinkal family continued to supply coconut oil and other oil to this family and the Rajas were very particular in making prompt payments. In the earlier days, the Raja’s royal boat was maintained and kept in the custody of Palathinkal family. Now there are no male members of Vadakkedathu family in Athirampuzha. This family is now called as Kallumkal family. Athirampuzha Chakkalakkal Thoma and others are from the female lineage of Vadakkedathu family. Since Thekkedathu and Vadkkedathu families moved to Athirampuzha from Kurvilangadu, when the members of these two families died their bodies were buried at the Kuravilangadu church cemetery. There were no proper or good roads in those days and since the cortege had to pass through the area where the Namboodiris and other Hindu communities lived and as they objected, Mannarkunnu at Srikandamangalam was later converted to be their cemetery. Some tombs can be seen even now. From the time Vadakkedathu family (later called Palathinkal) came and settled at Kodimatha, they along with other Christian families from Pallom, Kumarakom, Kiliroor, Thiruvarpu, Aymenam worshipped at Valiapalli. Later Vadakkumbhagar (non-knanites) built Kottayam Cheriapalli.

Genealogy

Kurian of Vadakkedathu PalathinkaI was the first to settle down at Kodimatha. Kurian’s son, Ithak, continued to stay at Palathinkal. His brother Itty Ipe married and moved to his wife’s house, as adopted heir in Pulinkunnu. Ithak, who stayed in Kodimatha, had a son by name Kurian. Kurian was blessed with 3 sons Kurian, Itty Ipe and Ithak. Kurian married and moved to Parambathu family at Muttatil as the adopted heir. His progeny is now known as Cheeramvelil family of Muttatil. Nothing much is known about Kurian’s second son Itty Ipe. The third son Ithak had 5 sons and 3 daughters (information about the daughters is not available).

First son, Kurian married the grand daughter of Punnoose Tharakan of Valiaveetil of Ancheril (Eriyattu Wattasseril Eley) This clan is known as Palathinkal Kalathoor branch.

Second son, Itty married Eley of Nedumpoykayil of Meenadom and settled there. Their family is known as Palathinkal Ancheril branch.

Third son Ithak married Mariam, daughter of Ancheril Mathen of Puthanangady and stayed back at Palathinkal house in Kodimatha. This clan is now known as Palathinkal branch.

Fourth among the sons Unnutty married Aleyamma of Konapadathu of Veloor and settled at Ullattil in Puthanangady. This clan is known as Ullattil Palathinkal branch.

Fifth and the last among the sons, Itty Ipe married the daughter of Korah of Vadasseril, Kottayam and settled there as an adopted heir. Later , when a son was born in the Vadasseri family, Itty Ipe returned to his ancestral home. He settled at Arakkal Parambil, which was gifted by the Thekkumkoor Raja to Vadakkedathu family and this clan is known as Palathinkal Arakkal branch.

(Itty Ipe, who stayed in Pulinkunnu (second son of Kurian who came and settled first as the head of the family of Vadakkedathu Palathinka1) found himself isolated there as an outsider. He felt that his son may also feel helpless and out of place later and hence decided to return to Kottayam and stay with his brother at Palathinkal, Kodimatha. He got his son, Scaria, to marry Accamma (the only daughter) of Puthenpurackal family of Thazhathangady in the Malayalam Year (Kollavarsham) 891 (AD 1715) and settled there. Then suddenly ltty ]pe passed away. Later Scaria brought his mother back from Pulinkunnu to Puthenpurakkal house, where Scaria was the adopted heir. Even though Scaria, his wife Accamma and Scaria’s mother stayed together at Puthenpuraekkal at Thazhathnady, the neighbourhood of that place called them ‘Kodimatha people’. Scaria was hard working and had a flair for business. He started trading business. It prospered and thus he made substantial savings out of it and amassed wealth. At that time he acquired some landed property namely, Illilckal (Veloor), Vadakke Kavungalathu, Thekke Kavungalath, Angadical, Kallarakkal etc. He also acquired the Chempalathara property of Veloor in the Malayalam Year M.E 906 (AD 1730). Scaria was blessed with a son. When Scaria’s mother passed away, her body was buried at Cheriapally cemetery. Scaria’s son’s name was Itty Ipe. He married in the year M.E 925 (AD 1749). In the year M.E 930 (AD 1754) Scaria passed away at the age of 64. His mortal remains was also buried at Cheriappally cemetery in the 64^th row below the ‘ratha1’. In the year M.E 945 (AD 1769) a son was born to Itty Ipe and he was named Kuruvilla. Itty Ipe was blessed with another son and he was named Varghese. Both sons got married in the year ME 965 (AD 1789). Thus Itty Ipe with children and grand children lived happily at Puthenpurackal at Thazhathangady, Kottayam. The Itty Ipe lineage comprises of the families of Thekke Kavungalam, Vadakke Kavingalam, Bagavathy Parambu. Eembil, Chembalathara and Kallarakkal, spread in and around Veloor, Thazhathangady near Kottayam town. Some of these properties were lost subsequently. )

(The above narrative is about the historical beginning and this has been incorporated in the Palathinkal genealogy (Family Tree), given later in this Kudumbacharithram.)

The above article is an attempted translation by Bhasi Joseph Ipe from Malayalam published in 'Kannunnerunte Kanikka'