Thazhethil Family is the main offshoot of the Pallivathukkal Family which had its origin from the Christian settlement at Kadampanad near Adoor in the Pathanamthitta District of Kerala in India, consequent on the en masse exodus of the Christian community from Chaayal (Nilackal) close to the famous temple at Sabarimala in Central Travancore.
The Christian congregation at Nilackal was formed by the descendants of the four Namboothiri families or Illams of the Hindu community which plays a prominent role in Kerala history. The four families included the illams of Pakalomattom,Sankarapuri, Kalli and Kaaliyaankal which for the first time in the history of the Christian church of Malabar embraced the Christian faith consequent on the mission of St. Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ.
The work of St. Thomas mainly centered around Kodungallur and adjoining areas. The new community grew in numbers and they moved to the south in batches. One among these batches, after their long and arduous journey from Kodungallur was forced to settle down at Chaayal (Nilackal) where the land was virgin as well as climate alubrious. Their life at Nilackal was covetable and pleasant. The happy and peaceful days they enjoyed there made them flourish and prosper. For all this they praised God and prayed to him with a contrite heart.
Before long they built a Church on a beautiful spot. Hitherto they had their worship and religious ceremonies such as baptism, marriage and burial at temporary sheds or houses and sites chosen by them from time to time. As a result of all this they became a strong and united community. But adversity was lying ahead and their prosperous days were to end, to be followed by decline and downfall.
In the days of glory they fell into evil ways, and misfortune was at their heels. Before long the horizon darkened and a set of well organized marauders or vagabonds fell upon them and plundered all their hard earned wealth. This threat was from the hooligans or plunderers called ‘Parapattom’ from the Tamil Nadu, close to the proximity of the Sahyadri hills. The attack assumed serious dimensions and became more and more ferocious and cruel as days rolled on. The physical capacity of the unfortunate Christian community to resist them was ridiculously low. The plunder which started in fits and starts in the beginning subsequently became a regular affair. Antichristian motives also crept into the attack in due course. This placed the Christian community into a predicament. They were alone and nobody approached them with any succor or support and their SOS call for a peaceful life and survival became like a cry in the wilderness.
At that distance of time, there was no well-established government, or any protective force to safeguard or help them in their defence against the attacks of the terror striking and awe inspiring robbers, who were no better than cruel and ferocious wild beasts. In the subsequent attacks that became frequent and regular, these pariahs or Parapattom, as they were called, found it a pleasure or hobby to take away the women folk also. The situation thus became really alarming. In one of the subsequent attacks, they set fire to the precious church. This landed them in a mire of despondency. Their weeping and wailing over the spilt milk was of no avail against anything. The destruction of the church was the bitterest drop in the cup of sorrow which they had to drain to the dreg. It seemed to them that even the almighty God had forsaken them in their life’s journey. The feeling that they became an abandoned people put them into interminable worries and, at this disappointed stage, it is said that many among them committed suicide and similar atrocities. At that helpless hour, a Moses, like in the old Testament Egypt, arose in their midst ready to help them in their onward march for existence.
The tragic end or annihilation of the Christian congregation at Nilackal which figures prominently in the church history of Kerala took place in the 4th century AD. Many a search has since been made to find out the forsaken Christian centre at Sabarimala and the hills around as well as the inaccessible regions of the forests nearby. At last success came by the middle of the twentieth century. Almost all the important Christian communities of Kerala, viz., the Syrian Catholics, the Orthodox Christians, the Mar Thoma Church etc.., were participants in this Herculean task and they found out the site of the old church as well as the relics and ruins of the ancient church. They also succeeded in their task to put up an ecumenical church at the site - since granted by government. This ecumenical church is being administered by the heads of the above churches and they also organized a joint council for the purpose.
Now, back to our forefathers at Nilackal, who were continuously being harassed by the cruel vagabonds called Parapattom. Under the new leadership, they took a final decision to forsake their all which they had earned during their stay there for 200 years and leave their hearth and home in their venture to find out fresh fields and pastures new. Their aim and ambition were to discover another beautiful spot somewhere in central Travancore or further south. They set out in batches not exceeding 300, it is said, to be safe and ward off difficulties, which they wanted to reduce to the minimum. The batches comprised both Christians and Hindus. They halted in many places during their long journey which continued for months when various batches settled at various places. Some settled in Kanjirappally, some in Aranmula, some in Chengannur, some in Mannady and some to what is now Kadampanad village. They place between Kadampanad and Mannady lay on a higher elevation which reminded them of their hilly abode of yester years at Nilackal. They called this place Nilackalmukal. Today, in 2012 A.D. the place is still called Nilackalmukal and it is the geographical centre of Kadampanad panchayat.
The Christians in the group in Kadampanad constructed a church on a spot on the east side of what is now the Adoor – Sasthamcotta state highway. This is the St. Thomas Church of Kadampanad, since raised to the status of a Cathedral and proclaimed in 2009 by the Catholicos of the East as “Puraathana Maarthomman Theerdhaadana Kendram.” It was also the aim of the founding fathers of this church, alias the refugees from Nilackal, to make the church a self supporting institution, so as to continue its spiritual source without any hindrance or hurdle, till the end of the world. They succeeded in this venture too by contributing funds or landed properties, each one according to his ability. Thus the St. Thomas church, now the St. Thomas Cathedral was blessed to have in its possession 25 acres of paddy fields equivalent to 250 paras - Para, a measure used in olden days to quantify grains volume, equal to 10 idangazhi, each idangazhi equal to four naazhi - of yielding paddy, fetching a huge income from year to year. This parish has thus become one of the important parishes of the Orthodox Syrian Christians of Kerala, not only in its wealth, but also in its massive building. But it had also its evil days in subsequent periods, consequent on petty quarrels, litigations etc. Thazhethil family in its days in the 18th century AD and even a bit earlier stood by to establish the rights and claims of the parish. Since then lease deeds ended in successive failures and the labour problems became serious, posing threat and difficulties. So the church management following the united decision of the general body and the approval of the diocesan metropolitan disposed off all the properties. The amount thus received went into the general fund of the parish for renovations
It is said that at about the time the church was built by the Christian settlers at Kadampanad, a temple was erected on the spot that is about 250 meters west of today’s Kadampanad main junction. This is the main temple of the locality. It is wonderful to note that a bond of loyalty exists today between the St. Thomas Cathedral and the Kadampanad Temple, a bond that seems to be the vestige of a common root and heritage going back almost two millennia to Nilackal. Once a year a procession comes from the Temple and the lone caparisoned elephant kneels at the Cathedral steps and is fed yellow-ripe plantain fruit and the jaggery-like sweetener called “Sharkara.” An offering is given to the temple and the people in the procession are given refreshments. One wonders if the harmony that exists between the Hindus and Christians in Kadampanad is at least partly due to the comon heritage and friendship of their forefathers at Nilackal.
Side by side, with the founding of the St. Thomas Church, the Pallivathukkal family also came into existence from the Nilackal refugees. Some of its members were noted for their leadership ability and virtuous of character. The Pallivathukkal family was so called because of its close physical proximity to the church as its name indicates. In 2012 A.D. the family seat was purchased by the cathedral and the land and building merged with the compound of the church.
The Thazhethil family, tracing back some 300 years, begins with Oommen Cherian of Pallivathukkal family. He had five sons: Cherian Oommen, Cherian Geevarghese, Cherian Idicula, Cherian Mathen and a celibate priest. Cherian Oommen started the Mavilayil family, Cherian Geevarghese the Kulanjilazhikath family, Cherian Idicula the Theruvath family and Cherian Mathen and the priest lived at Thazhethil.
The Thazhethil family had its share of prominent members in its roll, outstanding for strong leadership, indomitable courage, invincible resolution, unimpeachable integrity, devotion to God and empathy for the poor. They did much for the general welfare of the poor as well as for the progress and prosperity of the church. It had its golden period in the 19th century and it reached the zenith of its glory in the middle of that century. At this time the family had in its possession 800 paras of paddy fields equivalent to 80 acres and at its command plenty of hands for its agricultural labor and similar services.
At this time, there was a celibate, saintly priest in the family, who did much for the parish. He stayed mostly in the parsonage and was attached to God than to man. He was kind, pious and devout, observing lent and all the obligatory days, strictly in accordance with the tenets and canons of the church.
During the regime of this priest the spiritual atmosphere of the parish reached a high level and the people became more devoted to God. The church building, which had grown too old by this time, had breaks and cracks here and there. One day in 1899 A.D. a heavy rain, which fell cats and dogs, hit the church hard and demolished the building partially, particularly the façade and some back portion to an extent of some thirty feet. The nearby members of the parish got frightened at the thundrous fall. The pious priest was at this time in the parsonage in front at a distance of only about 60 ft, where he was safe and sound. Before long, the church committee met with the Holy Father and after long deliberations, decided to start the reconstruction immediately; it was completed promptly.
Cherian Mathen married from ‘Aviottu’ family, Kottarakkara, and they had three sons –Mathen Cherian the eldest, Mathen Kunjukoshy the next, and Mathen Geevarghese the youngest – and one daughter. Mathen Cherian married from ‘Kalluvilayathil’ in Mannadi, the Mathen Kunjukoshy married from ‘Vadakkethazhethil’ in Thumpamon and Mathen Geevarghese married from ‘Kallottu’ in Adoor. The daughter was married to ‘Unniyakkottu’ family of Maranad.
Mathen Cherian established Thazhethil Puthen Veedu (Randumavilayil), Mathen Kunjukoshy founded Kumbalathethu family, and Mathen Geevarghese inherited the family seat (Thazhethil). This site contains the history of Mathen Cherian’s successors.
Mathen Kunjukoshy had two sons and two daughters: The eldest, Kunjukoshy Mathen, married from Kizhakkeveettil, Pooyappally, and established Thazhethil Chirakonath. Our beloved Babychayan (T.M.George), retired Highschool Headmaster, is their youngest son. The younger son, Kunjukoshy Oommen remained in the family seat of Kumbalathethu and married from ‘Thayyil,’ Thevalakkara. Daughter, Sarammma, was married to Nellimoottil Chavadiyil family of Adoor. Daughter, Aleyamma was first married to ‘Koodathummuriyil,’ Vennikkulam, and consequent on the demise of the husband, she was married to ‘Nellimoottil Padinjattekkara’ family, Adoor.
Mathen Geevarghese had had three sons – the prominent advocate T.G.Mathew, T.G. George, T.G.Kunjukoshy.
Mathen Cherian, the eldest son of Cherian Mathen, built a house of his own for shifting his residence from the central family (Thazhethil). The house thus put up was in a plot covering one and a half acres, just to the north of the Thazhethil house at a distance of 200 meters – some land and paddy fields now lay between the old house and the new. As the new house compound had two gigantic mango trees, the house was called ‘RANDUMAVILAYIL,’ indicating the presence of twin mango trees. But in official correspondence it was known as the ‘Thazhethil Puthern Veedu.’ The new house was spacious and well built in accordance to Vaasthuvidya, with a padippura or kottiyambalam in the front, surrounded by a compound wall of laterite.
Mathen Cherian had five sons and two daughters. Of the two daughters, Annamma was first married to Panjippullumvilayil, Thevalakkara, and consequent on the demise of the husband she was married to Mavelil family, Ranni. The other daughter, Aleyamma, was married to the Karipottu family of Thevalakkara.
Of the five sons of Mathen Cherian, the four elder ones found it a hobby in addition to their farming work to go out for hunting and fishing occasionally. During one of the ‘Edavapathy’ monsoon seasons when it rained hard and long and the rivers became swollen, these four brothers mentioned above set out in company along with their usual followers fully equipped with the necessary fishing materials. Within half hour, they reached the Kunnathur ferry, where they stopped for fishing. There they cast their nets into the deep waters for a test trial and the catch was ample fish of various kinds, beyond their expectations. As it was encouraging, they carried on till very late at night and they turned weak and weary and the wet and chill got the better of them - they caught what turned out to be Typhoid fever. The unconscious brothers, some say, were taken back to their home in bullock carts; they died in 1065 M.E. and were buried in the cemetery of the old Orthodox Church at Kadampanad. All four were married and had no issues. They had married from ‘Mulayakkonathu,’ Chenkulam, ‘Adangappurathu,’ Thalavadi, ‘Vadakkadathu,’ Omalloor, and ‘Unniyakkottu,’ Maranad.
The marriage of Cherian Geevarghese, son of Mathen (Thazhethil Puthen Veedu) and grandson of Cherian Mathen (Thazhethil) took place when he was hardly 16 years old. The girl he married viz. Aleyamma was 11 years old, scarcely knowing what marriage was and how to behave in a new family quite strange to her. She was the daughter of Kochitty Geevarghese Cor-Episcopa of the famed ‘Thengumtharayil’ family of Makkaamkunnu, Pathanamthitta. It was more popularly known as ‘Palamoottil’. This very Rev. Geevarghese Cor-Episcopa was a close associate of Malankara Malpan, the very Rev. Geevarghese of the famous ‘Vattasseril’ family of Mallappally, close to Thiruvalla. (It was this Malpan who figured prominently in the history of the Malankara Church. Before long, he was ordained as Metropolitan and guided the destiny of the Malankara Church during the stormy days of the Church fund case called the ‘Vattipana’ case in the pages of the Church’s history. He was highly religious and pious, besides being a Syriac scholar as well as a canon expert and a top theologian. He was a glittering gem in the large array of metropolitans who adorned the see of Malankara, past and present.) The marriage of Geevarghese and Aleyamma was solemnized by this Malankara Malpan of Vattasseril.
Geevarghese was only 18 or 19 when he became the spokesman and mouthpiece of the Thazhethil Puthen Veedu. He had much to do after taking up charge of the family. His first duty was to pay back the dowry that was brought to the family as their share by the four unfortunate widows - of his late brothers - and pave way for their remarriage. In addition to family work, Geevarghese was busy with the church affairs and its litigations. Besides, he had to carry on the parental family litigation for the partition of the family properties among the three claimants, his father and his two brothers. To carry on this, he was alone, with nobody to help him.
Cherian Geevarghese and Aleyamma of Thazhethil puthen veedu (Randumavilayil) had seven sons, viz T.G.Mathen, T.G.Mathew, T.G.Cherian, T.G.Abraham, T.G.Koshy, T.G.Thomas and T.G.Mammen. In addition, there was a daughter who died very young.
T.G.Koshy and T.G.Mammen migrated to Trivandrum during the twentieth century. Consequent on the migration of T.G.Mammen, the youngest son of Cherian Geevarghese, heir of the ancestral house, the house was sold.
With the demise of T.G. Mammen, the youngest son of Cherian Geevarghese, the families of the third generation since Cherian, formed an association known as ‘Thazhethil Puthen Veettil Kudumbayogam’ in 2007 with T. A. Varghese, son of Late Mr. T.G.Abraham, as founder-president, T. M. Philip as secretary and M. Abraham as Treasurer, the latter two the sons of T.G.Mathen who is the eldest son of Cherian Geevarghese. The family history has collected information from ‘My life story in a Nutshell ‘(1997), unpublished autobiography of T. G. Koshy, the fifth son of Cherian Geevarghese. The facts were checked against information that Mathen Geevarghese had dictated to his son, T.M.Philip, in the 1960’s. See the original document on the next page. This family history is being brought out under the auspices of the Kudumbayogam.
Currently this family website is about the family of Cherian Geevarghese (Thazhethil Puthen Veedu - Randumavilayil). The family tree of Oommen Cherian, great grand father of Cherian Geevarghese is as shown below:
The below chart represents a hierarchical view of information related to our Family.
Click on the arrow(s) to open or close the family branches.