User:Chennattucherry

Awareness about tradition is worthy. It will be always interesting when it’s the story of pride and potentiality. The challenges our forefathers faced, the brave paths they poised, the victory they made; it’s all that fuel up generations from generations to generations.

To know better about the “Chennattussery Family”; we may travel a bit more into the Kerala history. The mother root of the “Chennattussery Family” is from “The Kolath Family”. Kolath / Kolathu / Koleth family is an ancient Suriyani (Syrian) Christian family, based in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, India, spread all over the world. They are popularly known as Syrian Christians in view of the Syriac (classical form of Aramaic) liturgy used in church services since the early days of Christianity in India and not for any Syrian migration. They are also known as Nazaranis (followers of Jesus the Nazarene).

Even though it’s not so easy to mark out the Kolath family history of 2000 years; on depending to the oral traditions, social and church history this effort made now, may be considered as a humble attempt to express the sprit and gratitude to “Thee”, he who leads throughout times without end. In the year AD 1342 an Arab historian visited Malabar in Kerala. According to him 12 rulers reigned in Malabar at that time. One of the powerful Kingdoms in Malabar was Kolathunadu ruled by King Kolathiri. During his reign his capital was at Karipath in Thaliparambu. Thereafter the capital was shifted to Ezhimala.

At Karippath, the Kolathiri had some dispute with the Brahmins (Hindu Priestly class), and he shifted his operations to Ezhimala. Since Brahmins alone can do rituals and perform Poojas, he was left with no other option but to invite Brahmins from Tulunadu - a place well known for the cultural and fighting spirit of Kerala. Tulunadu is the birthplace of famous warriors like AromalChekavar, Unniarcha and so on.

As King Kolathiri was a powerful ruler, the Brahmins who disputed with him were left alone. Fearing vengeance from the King, all the Brahmins there left Kolathirinadu. They traveled further south and settled in Kodungallor. Kodungallor was a port town that carried business with many other foreign countries. In fact St Thomas also landed in Kodungalloor on his Appostolic mission to India. Kodungallor was invaded by CheramanPerumal who founded the Chera Dynasty. This Dynasty was a powerful one and the ruler was very pious and generous.

In AD 52, St. Thomas Apostle landed in Kodungallor. He converted many Brahmin families (Nampothiries) to Christianity. The CheramanPermual who was ruling at that time, gave enough freedom to St. Thomas to propagate Christianity. St. Thomas did many miracles there and the King himself was blessed with the arrival of St Thomas. This was the golden period of Chera Dynasty.

In AD 345 KnaiThomman - a Jewish businessman along with 400 men landed in Kodungalloor. CheramanPerumal ruling at that time, gave them land and freedom to do business. They exported Pepper, Ginger, Cardamom and other spices to far away countries. Kodungallor flourished as the best business port in Kerala. The King gave special status and designations to KnaiThomman and his men.

In 1500 AD, a Portuguese ship while on its voyage to Goa landed in Kodungalloor. The Christians in Kodungalloor welcomed these Portuguese sailors and accorded them a warm reception. However the king feared that these sailors are spy, that they with the numerous Christian families therein will overthrow him. Hence the king took repressive measures on the Christians. Fearing the anger of the King, the Christians escaped from Kodungalloor and migrated to Kadumthurithy. But they could not cope with the Kadunthuruthy King and so they traveled further south. These Christian families on their way to the south were scattered with some families settling in Ramapuram, Kuravilangadu, etc. Some migrated further to the South. Among those families such as Pakalomattam, Kalikavu etc. Our forefathers, Mathai and Thoma also travelled South and landed in Kozhencherry. There Thoma settled at a place East of river Pampa and Mathai (the younger one) settled on the West of the river (Nedumprayar). Since these brothers came from Kolathunadu, they were known as KolathKudumbam (family).

Mathai had one son who got married to a girl from Champakulam. After Mathai's death, his son also came to an untimely end survived by his wife and a child as the wife and child were left alone, the wife's family took them to Champakkulam. There at Champakulam they had family connections with the Kurialassery family. Even though Mathai's property at Nedumprayar was sold, it is still known as 'Kolathpurayidam'.

Thoma settled in the old road (PazhayaTheruvu) however, due to water shortage, he sold that property to the "Pattars" (Brahmins ) and settled in Kattoor, North of Kozhencherry. He had a son named John. One day as John was going to Aranmula he passed through the "Old Street", and finding his ancestral land, asked the Pattars (Brahmin) to give him the land for a price. However the pattars did not sell that land. Thereafter John sold the property at Kattoor and went to Ullannor. However the locals there were not good people to mingle with. By that time he heard that Kozhencherry was going to be a settlement colony for some reputed families. Thereafter he returned to Kozhencherry, but could not buy his father's land from the Brahmins. However he purchased another property very near to his ancestral property in the name of his son Mammen Koruth. This property was known as Kuravakkala. There is a tradition that the womenfolk of the Hindu family - Meladathu, after conducting religious rituals used to do 'Kurava' (a special sound) by putting their fingers in to the mouth and creating that special sound. It is from this MammenKoruth. The family tree begins with all its branches. Thus by tradition Kolath family is a Brahmin family hailing from Kolathunadu carrying Royal traditions with them. They are known for their nobility and piousness. They were good businessmen /administrators, advisers for the ruling families and is one of the established families in Central Travancore.

Kolath family had some royalty from the King of Pandalam. Tradition says that when John went to Ullannor- which is within the Pandalam Kingdom, he must have given some special services to the King. The King in reciprocation of his services has granted him a Royalty, which was followed for a very long time. Thereafter nobody took interest to collect the royalty from the King.

Thus tradition of Kolath family goes back to thousands of years and they are proud of the same. Kolath family is considered as one of the respected Aristocratic families of the Central Travancore. Only very few families can boast of such a tradition in Central Travancore- Kerala.

The Three fathers; Thoma, Yohannan (He got two daughters and one son named MammenKoruth), MammenKoruth. It is from MammenKoruth all the Kolath Branches sprouted out.

St. Thomas Christian Tradition of the Kolath Family may be simplified as that; St. Thomas came to Palayur in 52-54 A D .Palayur was one of the 64 Brahmin villages in South India. St. Thomas conversed with the Brahmin priests performing rituals (Pithirpuja) at "Thaliyakulam" before PalayurShivashetram. He witnessed them throwing water upwards into air while performing rituals. St. Thomas asked why the water fell back to the ponds, if your gods received it? Thomas then claimed if he prayed in the presence of his living god, the water would stay in the air. The Brahmin priests resisted this because it was against natural laws, but they said they would take his advice, and follow the new path, if his prayer worked miracles. And so Thomas prayed and the water stayed in the air and the Brahmins immediately took baptism from St. Thomas himself. The five families ordained as clergies were from the Brahmin families of Pakalomattom, Kalli, Sankarapuri, Kalikavu, and Kolath. It may be because they were already doing priestly activities.

The famous families of the “Kolath Family” in Kuttanadu (Alappuzha District) are :-

ALANCHERRY (VEZHAPRA)

CHENNATTUCHERRY alias CHENNATTUSSERY (RAMANKARY)

KAITHAPARAMBIL (VEZHAPRA)

KANDAKUDY, NELLUVELIL (KAINADY)

KANNADTTU (VEZHAPRA)

MULAMKUNNAM (VEZHAPRA)

NADUCHIRA (VEZHAPRA)

NELLUVELIL KADANPLAVILL (THUMBHAMAN)

NELLUVELIL KANDATHIL (VEZHAPRA)

PADINJARE NELLUVELIL (VEZHAPRA, PUNNAKUNNAM, PULINKUNNU)

PALLIKALAM (PALLIKUTTAMA)

PULIYATHARA (VEZHAPRA)

THAZHAMADATHIL (VEZHAPRA)

THENGANAKALAM (VEZHAPRA)

VILLUVURATHIL (VEZHAPRA)

Let’s now put into words the “CHENNATTUSSERY” family saga from the time of Vaidyan C V Joseph Chennattussery also known as Vaidyar Appachan. He married Annama Joseph Kalacherry from Kainakary, Alappuzha. Being a good housewife, she was always keen in being strict to prayerful life same like her brothers Rev.Fr.Gasper Kalacherry, Rev.Monsignor Francis Kalacherry and Rev.Fr.James Kalacherry who being wholly devoted to the church and made significant contribution for the development of the Kerala community in means of education and better life style. St.Berchmans' College, Changanacherry, Yuvadeepti College (The present “St Joseph College of Communication” - “Media Village”), Kurishumoodu, Changanacherry etc are few among the examples of their sincere efforts, leadership and creativity. The patriarchic delightful specter maintained perpetual progress, peace and prosperity all the times. As the children grew up; along with love and care, the parents gave much importance to prayerful life, mutual respect, identifying the heroic inhibition in self and boosting up the power within.

Vaidyan Shree C V Joseph Chennattucherry is such a shining light, a premium fragrance, whose honest passion to the science of life was transmitted to his youngest son Vaidyan Shree C J Kunjachan Chennattucherry and crossing the boundaries of time, been passed on to his youngest son Dr.Justin K Chennattucherry.