I am so excited to connect to my roots and my friends and be able to write with a purpose, I feel happy to have triggered tender emotions in many, and instigate a drive to remember ancestors and friends, like remembering old movies and evergreen songs.
Foresight of our forefathers has made us what we are in terms of education and existence with self-respect. I feel so indebted to all of them for giving education and farming great importance. My great grandfather Muttethu Tharakan and his wife made sure their sons got excellent education and I remember my Valiappachen continued farming after retirement.
Oldest Son K. G. Abraham lived in Trivandrum, He was BA, BL, and he was Assistant Accountant General of Kerala. Second Son K. G. Alexander was a lawyer and lived in Kayamkulam, and youngest Son K G. Kurian went to Kottayam, dedicated his life to serve Christianity.
Most of Amma’s cousins were in Government service, in various parts of India and it was taken as a pride to serve the Government, professional achievement and financial security after retirement. Position and Pension. I had the opportunity to meet all of them during my educational tours, from school and college. I made it a point to write to all of them and visit them when the tour party reached New Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore, Madras etc.
Amma’s oldest cousin K.A. George became a priest the pride of Kunnumpurathu family.
My Grandfather was the 3rd of 4 siblings, he studied in Trivandrum staying with his older brother, and I remember Valiappachen telling us, there was no examination center in Kerala and he had to go to Madras to write his exams. His degree certificate was issued from Madras University. Even though he majored in Physics, the certification said BA.
He was very fond of his older brother and wife, I have seen the reverence and respect that he had given his older brother. It is always a pleasure to remember the value of respecting elders and the fear of God.
My Valiammachy’s father, Koshy was a farmer; his family name was Thayyil, from Pallickal, near Mavelikara she had 4 brothers and 2 sisters.
The oldest brother was Koshy Ipe, I called him Menakalikkal Appachen. I remember his sprawling home with antique furniture’s all over, in teak, rose wood and mahogany, influencing my furniture designing intuitions.
He was a sharp shooter, and a hunter with license, the walls of his drawing room was adorned with Rifles and stuffed animals. Taxidermy, that’s what he did to mount his catches on the walls, well I don’t want to name the wild catch and get authorities to chase me to his grave. It was my first peek of wild on a wall.
The other brothers were Koshy John, Koshy Daniel and Koshy Titus. Their names are remembered through their sons, my Amma’s cousins who bear the same name.
Valiammachy had 2 older sisters and we called them Ezhankulam Ammachy and Bharanikaavu Ammachy. As mentioned in my last blog, people were known by the place of their abode, I have never heard their real names.
Incidentally we are all connecting to each other and I spoke to a few in US. It’s a warm feeling. There is one cousin and family travelling from Middle East to be with me.
Communication technology is bringing a lot of family and friends together; we should all take advantage of the advent in communication and form family and friends trees. This is a good way to connect and contain unwanted behavior and unforeseen incidents amidst young and old. A check and measure when we are all far and wide. Friends and Family can be a good support system to mould the next generation.
When each one of you connects, we form a chain which can never be broken a Block Chain!!!!
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