Koravilengadu and Nasrani History
Almost all Nasrani family histories I have read , invariably contains a reference to an exodus to the south from Koravilangadu. This is deemed as a convenient starting point to family histories when the past is unknown. I shall refrain from that practice and like to explain the probable historical reason for the Koravilengadu connection.The Manglore treaty between Tippu Sulthan and east India Company ended in 1734.Tippu’s army invaded Malabar and many Christians along with many a royal houses in Malabar escaped and sought asylum in Travencore. Mariappalli, Ennakkdadu, Mavelikkara, Aranmula, Prayikkara and Nedumpuram are the names of some those royal houses in Kolathiri that settled in Travancore . These places were known by those royal houses later on. At the time of settlement of Christians by Ramayyan Dalawa( Diwan of Travencore) ,family names were coined for the Christians who came along with these royal houses, suffixing the names of trees or their stumps like palamood , plamood, Mamood, Pulimood , alumood, Mulamood, Plamthottathil, Thengumthottathil, Eettichuvattil etc. These Christians were settled mostly in an around Mavelikkara. The Puthiyakavu Syrian Christian in Mavelikkara is located in the land donated to them by the Ennakadu Royal family. At the same time the Christians in an around Tarisappalli(Chengannur) continued with their Semitic prefix “UR” like Kottur, Vettathur, poovathur etc.with their family names.Or family names ending with UR are those of families who were already there and they do not have a story of exodus from Koravilengadu.
Kaithavana Family – Beyond Kozhencherry.
The Kaithavana family hailed from Chengannur and had two family names,Mamood and Mandur. That means it possessed both the Semitic “UR”and the asylum seekers’ tree suffixed names. Since the known history clearly showed that GGP’s is from Thiruvan Vandoor , the abode of native Syrian Christians ,the Semitic Ur is more fitting. ( I mean the family name Mandur)An exodus from Kuravilengadu is not at all heard by any one. The name Mamood could be a later evolution. Besides that, the native Syrian Christians were well established in business and had a flair for that.The Malabar Christians were more connected with the Konkan culture and were not proficient in poetry and literature. The Kaithavana family members were known for their deep interest in poetry and ability for extempores- speeches . They also relished on good food and visitors were alwayss fed lavishly without any reservation.At GGP’s time I remember having plenty of natives and visitors being feasted . These are all suggestive of a family that was not a transplanted from the north of Calicut following some upheaval there or otherwise told nomads from Koravilengadu.
GGp’s father was Mamoottil Chackochen who passed away at a very young age. His mother had to live up with a lot of persecution and harassment at the hands of her in laws. That was the rule of the day in Nasrani families and one could guess her predicament when husband was no more. When the property was divided, she and the children were sent out empty handed with no share at all. No where to go , she decided to seek refuge at her father’s sister’s house -Kizhakkel at Kozhencherri.GGP was only two years of age at that time. There was no one to give him formal education, but he gathered on line practical knowledge by hard work and observations.He developed his own life’s philosophy.Rejected , abandoned and cheated by his own kith and kin at Mamottil house, he identified his life’s mission worked for that untiringly.. In his sojourn towards that goal- a well knit and prosperous family for his generations – he was cheated by many, he had hair breadth escapes.He scaled tall cliffs and traversed over treacherous precipices.No formal education , but became an accomplished Arithmetician by toggling his own invented abacus.
Will continue……..
