Gallery
Family history books and kudumbhayogam are the foundation on which family togetherness and family fraternity are reestablished. An individual gets his initial moral values from the family he is born. A noble family upbringing is his first school from which he acquires his life vision. This inherited legacy acquired from a noble family guides him throughout his entire life. Maliackal Ettukettil family is full of people who have shown high moral standards in their respective fields.
Most of the early Marthoma Christians in kerala were from Namboothri families. In those days Namboothris enjoyed lot of Rights and Privileges using their sharp intelligence and accrued wealth. Those converted Namboothris were actively involved in royal administration, and then Rulers sought their help and assistance often due to the reason mentioned. So these people were very close to the then rulers and had the power to amass Private Armies.
When St.Thomas landed in Kodungallore in AD 52 and started preaching Christianity, the first noble Bramin attracted to his teachings and got Baptized was Shri.Vishnu Namboothri, son of Vikraman Namboothri from Niranam Maliakal illam settled in Kodungallore.He took his baptism name as THOMMA. This Thomma was an accomplice and close friend of St.Thomas, who was later granted RAMPHAN Priesthood(Rampaan Pattom). In addition to Ramphan priesthood,because of his talented hospitality, he was given the power to lead the congregation. All early conversion stories were revealed later through Ramphan ballads.
Later on old Hindu believers and new Christians of Maliackal Thomma (Vishnu Namboothri) clan had drifted apart due to differences in faith believed and practiced. These new Christians fearing Bramin persecution fled to southern part of kerala. In those days there were no roads, vehicles and any mode of land transport. So they travelled through waterways. These people settled in fertile lands found near rivers and canals. In those days agriculture was the main source of livehood. They settled mostly in places such as Kuravilangad, Kaduthurthy, Vaikom, Pallipuram, Ettumanoor etc. They were attracted to these places, because of the commercial importance and fertility of land.
These communities multiplied and bloomed to large communities and they built lot of churches and places of worship. In 1653 AD after kunnankurisu declaration Marthoma community faced a split on the basis of faith and practices. Separation occurred even within same families. Two sects emerged from the split (1) Puthenkuttukar & (2) Pazhakuttukar. Puthenkuttukar defied the pope in Rome and showed their allegiance to Pathriakise of Antioch. Those who followed their original belief and practice are called Pazhakuttukar. Differences between these two sects grew day by day and they decided to migrate to areas were majority of respective sects are settled. So Puthenkuttukar went and settled in southern areas such as Niranam, Kallissery, Chengannur and Ranni. When these people shifted to southern areas mentioned above, Pazhyakuttukar,Majority settled in areas such as Kaduthurithy,Kuravilangad etc.
In Maliackal family,also split happened. Forefathers of Maliackal family, who were staunch believers in Pazhyakuttu sect moved from Niranam to Kuravilangad. From there our great grandfather THOMMEN moved to kidangore southern side, in Menachil thaluk, Kottayam Dist. near Pannagam canal .Here he permanently settled in the historical Maliackal farmland.
He and the generations followed him, were agriculturists and were famous throughout that region. Area under cultivation and yield obtained were the yardstick used to measure the importance and prosperity of one family.Acres of land under cultivation, livestock maintained, and variety of crops cultivated were used to judge“Pramani”. The patriarch of Maliackal family had all these qualities. Maliackal family still relies on farming as their main livelihood.
Present day patriarch of Maliackal family was Kuncheria, who in 1760 AD, shifted his residence in Chengalam in Kottayam dist to Maliackal Tharavadu in Pulincunoo, Alleppey Dist. In his early times, he was involved in trading and was a known Paddy cultivator in Kuttanadu. He started his family life by getting married from pazhzayachira family and settling in Pazhiyachira Tharavad. His children were Chacko, Mathen, Kuncheria & Mariamma.
Chacko who settled in pazhiyachira house had two sons named Ouseph & Kuncheria. Ouseph stayed at Pazhiyachira and his only son was Oommen. Kuncheria who got married from Nandiath kunnel family in Champakulam and they had six children. They are
Potheppy in his early days stayed at Maliackal House Pulincunno. He served as Trustee of Pulincunno church.He was Member of Sree Moolam Praja Assembly(M.L.C)A prestigious post given by the then King.In this time as member of Sree moolam praja assembly, a Palace(An Ettukettu Structure)owned by Chembakassery state of Ambalapuzha was sold by King of Travancore. Potheppy bought this palace and reconstructed this Palace exactly the same as earlier,in the middle of Velliscrackkal Farmland owned by Potheppy. This palace was fixed in the Vellisrackkal farm land area of 18 acres and Named ”ETTUKETTIL.
(Ettukettil is a traditional homestead of old Tharavadu,where many generations of family lived.This Traditional architecture is a typical rectangular structure where eight big halls are joined together with two central Courtyard open to sky.The four halls on the sides are named Vadakkini,Kizhakkini,Thekkini,Padinjattini.Thase type of architecture was especially catered to large families to live under one roof and enjoy the commonly owned facilities.)
From that time onwards Potheppy was known as Ettukettil Potheppy. All children of Potheppy took their family name as Maliackal Ettukettil.
Before the era of backwater farming Ettukettil Potheppy and Mankombu Pattar were the most famous agriculturists of Kuttanadu. Pothappy who resided in Veliyanadu,owned farms and lands in Vellisrackkal,Thyparambu padam,Poochal, Kunnamkerry, Kidangara and Rubber Plantations at Madapally areas in Changanashery. He cultivated crops like Rice,Coconut,Rubber,Tapioca and Banana. When cultivation started in Backwater area farms, he acquired lot of such farms for paddy cultivation. He was an ardent supporter of boat races and a prominent Philanthropist. His fame and name reached near and far and local folk songs praising him were sung by people of that area.Vayalar Rama Varma stayed in Ettukettil family and wrote many classic stories. While his stay he wrote and sung “Ettunadum keerthi ketta Ettukettil Pothappi”. He got married to Chachikutty of Neduvelly Panchara an ancient family of Kuttanad. They has 6 children called by below names
Children of Cheriachen & Antonichen were ardent supporters of Sports and Games and were involved in Boat Racing by owning stakes in Pulincunoo Chundan.Prominent were Fr. MC Joseph SJ,A Jesuit priest who taught in some Jesuit schools like LEO X111 Alleppey ,AKJM Kanjirapally and Loyola Trivandrum. Shri MA Chacko was Chief Engineer(Retd) in KeralaPWD. In his professional carrier he was professor of Carmel Polytechnic, Punnapra at the inceptions stage on deputation from Kerala government, he was involved in the design and construction of
permanent bund scheme in Kuttanad farm lands to stabilize two crops cultivation,which was very much used by the farmers of kuttanad.Many of the family members held and currently holds prominent positions in India & Abroad.
This meeting originally started by M.C Pothen & M.A Mathew at M.C Pothen’s residence in Pulinkunnu in the year 1989.Initially late Fr.M.C.Joseph was the Patron, Mr.M.A Chacko was the president.From 1999 onwards late Mr.Antony Chacko was instrumental in organizing the meeting in every year on Diwali Day till his demise in the year 2018.Now the office bearers are conducting the meetings once in a year on the same day itself.
© 2019 Ettukettil. All rights reserved