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Picture
of Kunnamkulam
In this connection, it appears necessary
to give a picture of Kunnamkulam. Famous Kanippayoor Mana is
situated at the entrance of Kunnamkulam Town. The ancestors
of Illam had close historical connection with “Kadamattathu
Kathanar”. It was the headquarters of Talappilly Raja.
‘Carnavar', the elder from the Thavazhi was the head of
Raja Swaroopam (madappad). His royal seat was at Kakkad within
the town. The Thavazhi was separated into three i.e., Chiralayam,
Manakulam, Chittanjoor. Kunnamkulam town is one of the notable
Orthodox Christian Centers from the very inception of Christianity
in India. Christians were protected and promoted by the Raja
in olden days and thereafter. They were acted as the chief executive
in all fields of activities. Christians were specialized in
trade and agriculture and done a very good role for their masters.
Consequent on this relationship they were developed in wealth
and power. Raja Swaroopam were reduced as had happened to some
other landlords in Kerala as consequent on introduction of land
ceiling by Law. However the standard of wealth among Christians
were considerably improved, probably be happened due to their
hard work and by utilizing the changed system wisely.
Our Forefathers
During the course of time, the family had
spread over to different villages around Talappilly Taluk. Our
Forefathers selected the village Chowanoor (Pattuparmbil) to
settle down. The village Chowanoor can claim sufficient historical
backing considering the existence of caves of Stone Age. Besides
this, the visibility of the great monument i.e., ‘Kudakkal
Parambu’ at Chermanangad village has also close proximity
of 2 miles radius to Chowanoor. The village Chemmanthitta, from
where the historical remains of Augustus Caesar’s coins
were excavated in 1942, is also a place not far away from Chowanoor.
The people of the village are of the belief that in the said
village there were Jewish communities before Christ considering
the close proximity of Paranoor River. Paranoor River has the
continuity of navigational facility unto Cranganoor in olden
days. (Not broken until now.) Koothoor family in Chowanoor village
might have settled down before the period of Aadi Shankara.
They flourished in large and years after, before the time of
Portuguese in India, three of our ancestors first started migration.
One to Kottapady near to Punnathoor Kovilakam and other to Chittanjoor
near to Chittanjoor Kovilakam and the last one to Penghamukku
near to Cherulimana with an ambition for cultivation of Paddy,
Coconut and Areca nut by procuring land from the above landlords.
Here, it is to be noted that several groups of ancestors had
migrated to Kunnamkulam town and suburban villages year after
year and settled down with separate entity.
Kottapady branch of Koothoor family had established their skill
in administration by holding ‘Adhikari’ title awarded
by the Samoothiri/British. The famous family “Koothoor
Paramel” is also one migrated to Kunnamkulam from Pattuparambil.
Similarly the family members of ‘Victory Group of Companies’,
Kunnamkulam are also the people migrated to Kunnamkulam from
Pattuparambil from time to time. Our ancestor (Kottapady branch)
Sri.Tharappan shifted from Kottapady to Chittanjoor in 1790
along with his mother (due to demise of his father Vareed) to
the land provided from his maternal family (Panakkal) situated
in an area adjacent to Chittanjoor-Anjoor road. At his age of
seventy, he had a chance to visit the Holy Land along with Rev.
Fr. Joseph Pulikkottil (H.G Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Divannassious
5th) and Rev Fr. Mattamal from Kandanad in 1864. It is known
that his participation with the team was voluntary. People of
the village is of the belief that Tharappan's grand father had
a close association with H.G Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Divannassious
1st (Kalamchaitha Achen) and might had played his petty role
during the period of construction of old seminary by residing
with His Grace. He might have witnessed the Padayottam (attack)
of Tipu Sultan in 1789 in Arthat Church by sharing the scene
with the Parish priest during the time. The Observations made
by Rev. Dr Francis Buchanan and Rev. Claudius Buchanan during
his visit to Kunnamkulam in1796 and 1806 respectively enlightened
the facts.
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