Part One Early History

50 AD to 1700 AD

The history of our family too like all many other Syrian Christian families bears a lot of legends carried down the ages. Just because it cannot be proven by clear historical records, it does not mean that the facts we have inherited can be dismissed as untrue. We believe that the history of our family dates back to the first century.

It has been historically accepted that St. Thomas, the apostle, began his mission in Kerala in AD 52. The fact that St. Thomas arrived in Kerala in AD 50 can be inferred from the following quote.

The legend that St. Thomas came to Kerala in AD 50 and converted a number of families to Christianity is the one that our family subscribes to. We believe that our history stems from here when Kunjon Rajan, a Kshatriya and the youngest price of Chirackal Kovilakam, Kodungalloor converted to Christianity in the year AD50. What is being unfolded here is the incidents that led to the conversion of this Kshatriya warrior Kunjon Rajan believed to be the patriarch of our family.

The famous city of Kodungallur was inhabited in the first century by many prominent Brahmin and Kshatriya families like Kalli, Kaliyangal, Sankarapuri, Pakalomattam etc. These families converted by St. Thomas are historically famous. The Sankarapuri Kshatriya family ruled over the land of Maliankara (Kodungallur)and the Chirackal Kovilakam was related to them. Kali Devi, of the Kodungallur temple, was worshipped as the chief deity by all these important families. The Kovilakam of Kunjon Rajan was near this temple.

Human sacrifices to appease this goddess was a tradition and practice followed regularly. Each year, a male child under the age of five, selected by lot from one these prominent families, would be sacrificed. Thus in the year A.D. 50, the lot fell for the one and only child and nephew of Kunjon Rajan of Chirackal Kovilakam. Kunchiamma, the grandmother of the child, was in unbearable grief since the fall of the lot. She wanted to save the child even by sacrificing her own life. Despite that they decided to sacrifice the child on 31st December of A. D. 50 for which necessary arrangements were made by the natives, relatives and temple officials.

St. Thomas had landed in Kodungalloor a few days before this and was staying at the residence of a great Jewish merchant there. While staying there he had heard about the impending human sacrifice in the temple and longed to witness it. On the day of the killing, the apostle arrived at the temple with his Jewish friend. The apostle, dressed in saffron robes, was mistaken for a sage and invited by the temple authorities to occupy a dignified seat. On noticing him the mother of the child prostrated before the Apostle and begged him to save the child and accept her as the sacrificial object instead. The Apostle who understood the agonizing tradition and practice of human sacrifice told her that she and her child and all those who choose to believe in the living Almighty God can be saved. Upon hearing this she promised that she and her family would believe in the God that the Apostle referred.

The apostle immediately ordered that the child be brought along with a vessel of some water which he used to baptize the child in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. The child was then released for sacrifice. Conservatives who understood the apostle's attitude towards human sacrifice challenged the apostle to a test of strength. The apostle, on the other hand, humbly allowed the child to be sacrificed. As usual, the sword-wielding priest took the child and entered the goddess's sanctum sanctorum and locked the door. People waited outside anxiously to see what was going to happen. The door of the closed hall did not open even after the traditional time, causing a commotion among the people. So they broke open the door. The sight amazed everyone. The priest had disappeared while the child was safe and sound and playing. The sight caused great consternation and commotion. The human sacrifice stopped. About two hundred people, including members of the Chirackal family, were baptized accepting Christianity.

While the arrangements for the sacrifice was being made, Kunjon Rajan was travelling somewhere in ‘Pandi’. As soon as he heard of the disruption of the ritual he immediately rushed back furiously to avenge the offenders. But when he arrived at the scene and was apprised of the facts he too placed his faith in Christ. Thereafter, he was baptized in the temple pond by the apostle himself.

Thus the legend that we sprung from the Chirackal Kshatriya family, one of the earliest converts to Christianity, stayed with us. It is believed that the descendants of this family lived for almost four centuries in Kodungalloor until the Arabs invaded the city. As a consequence, the Jews and Christians fled to various places. Among them our ancestors chose to move south and settled in Udayamperoor, the headquarters of the Villarvattom royal family. After a few centuries here they moved to Kuravilangadu a flourishing Christian settlement, where, it is believed, that our forefathers led the Malayalee Christians as they were experts in warfare.

The next migration by few prominent Christian families as well as ours was further south, first settling at Kurichi and later at Polackal in Changanssery. Our family adopted the name Polackal derived from the name of the place and continued to live in Changanssery for a long time while flourishing in large scale trade and becoming influential people in the society. It was here that our family members became known as Polackal Tharakans, which title, is believed to have been bestowed by the Kings of Thekkumkoor.

Eventually, a group moved westward to Champakulam from Changanssery while another moved eastward to settle in the Thelli Pullad area. The family, now known as Valiya Polackal in Changanassery, belongs to this lineage. A section of those who moved to Champakulam settled in Edathua. Their descendants are the Kattumbhagam and Karimparambu families. Until recently, the people of Changanssery and Edathuva used to hold joint family gatherings at Polakkal.

Our ancestors who went eastward from Changanssery settled in the Thelli-Pullad area. Then they moved to Othara at the invitation of the Othara Lord. There, they started a Kalari camp for training the soldiers of the Lord of Othara.

When the King of Pandalam learnt about our ancestors’ skills in martial arts and weaponry they were invited to Pandalam to lead their army. Thus the Polackal Tharakans settled in Pandalam and led the army of the king of Pandalam. At that time there was only one church in Venmoney for Christians to worship. The King of Pandalam then cut a special path for the Polackal Tharakan Christians to go to Venmoney Church for worship. Today's Kulanada- Venmoney Road is thought to be the road that was built then. Thereafter, Polackal Tharakans moved to Venmoney as it was inconvenient to travel so far for worship. Their ancient abode in Venmoney is still known as 'Amboleth Polackal'. While there, Polackal Tharakans rose to prominence in wealth and fame winning the favour of the King of Mavelikara through the friendship and help of the Unnithans of Illikulam, who were the local landlords.

While leading a glorious life here an unfortunate incident brought a setback to the family. They had a row with the Dalawa (A minister) of the Pandalam court, who had usurped the special rights enjoyed by the Polackal Tharakans for the church feast (‘Ettu Noyambu’), which resulted in the death of the Dalawa. Fearing the wrath of the king they immediately fled with their family and belongings to the border principality of Mavelikara. While entering the state they had to encounter several obstacles in acquiring paths and property, which they overcame by paying a price higher than the prevailing. They entered Mavelikara through Cherianad where a toll was being collected under a jack fruit tree. This property later came into possession of our family and was referred to as 'Chunka Plavu Nilkunnathil' in the documents. This is where Kocheriya Kochitti, the second son of Kocheriya Tharakan moved from Thazhakara and the house that was erected there was re-erected at Polachirackal , Nellimala Eraviperoor.

After crossing the territory of the King of Pandalam, Polackal Ummumman Tharakan and family settled down in a temporary shelter on the banks of the paddy fields called 'Pola' owned by the King of Mavelikara at Vazhuvady just across the Anchankovil River. It was here that the family acquired a new name by combining Pola and Chira to form Polachirackal and thereafter became known as Polachirackal Tharakans. This was sometime in the early eighteenth century. Ummumman Tharakan then presented himself before the King of Mavelikara with precious gems. Impressed with this gesture, the King visited their place and granted tax free properties as much as he had wanted. They enjoyed these properties until modern land laws were enacted in recent times. Gradually they earned the praise and privilege of the Lords of Mavelikara While Ummumman Tharakan and his son Ummumman Kujnana Tharakan lived in Vazhuvady the son of Ummumman Kujnana Tharakan, Kujnana Ummumman Tharakan of the third generation then moved to Polachirackal, Thazhakara where they flourished even more. This books deals with the genealogy of Kujnana Ummumman Tharakan.

Kujnana Ummumman Tharakan who settled in Thazhakara was an accomplished farmer and trader. He scaled his business to wholesale trade in tobacco and opium in the districts of Kollam and Kottayam with headquarters in Mavelikara the trading capital of modern Travancore. They had prospered so much that they acquired vast tracts of land, wealth and fame.

Kujnana Ummumman Tharakan had four sons; the eldest son Kujnana Tharakan Polachirackal Kizhakkeveed, second son Kocheriya Tharakan Polachirackal Padinjareveed, third son Kochukoshy Tharakan Polachirackal Padinjarepura and youngest son Kiriyan Tharakan stayed at Vazhuvady Koodathinal. Theirs was a joint family living in a 'Nalukettu' with a common kitchen, which was under the customary control of the eldest person as head of the family. The ill effects of this system obviously showed up as a rift among the siblings.

Kujnana Tharakan who was living in Kizhakkeveed had only one son, Kujnana Ummumman (Valliappen) who was from the fifth generation and was the founder of the Kizhakkeveed branch.

Kujnana Ummumman Tharakan’s second son Kocheriya Tharakan married Annamma from Adoor Kadakkad and settled in Polachirackal Padinjareveed. He had four sons;.The eldest Kocheriya Ummumman first married Mariamma of Vadakke Thalakcal and after her death took Aleyamma of Nalloor, Arattupuzha , Chengannur as his second wife. Kocheriya Ummumman is the founding father of the Padinjareveed Branch .

Kocheriya Kochitti, the second son of Kocheriya Tharakan, married Achiyamma of Eraviperoor Sankaramangalam and settled in Cherianad. He is the founding father of the Cherianad branch.

Kocheriya Kunjuninan, the third son of Kocheriya Tharakan, married Anniyil Achiyamma from Kattanam. He is the founding father of the Anniyil branch.

Kocheriya Kochukoshy the youngest son of Kocheriya Tharakan, married Kochithamma of Karthalil Kandathil, Kuttoor. He is the founding father of the Kuttur branch.

Kochukoshy Tharakan, the third son of Kujnana Ummumman Tharakan, married Mariamma, the daughter of Kiriyachan of Mavelikara Padinjare Thalackal and stayed at Padinjarepura .He had two daughters and two sons. His eldest son Chackochanachan married Achiyamma of Sankaramangalam. He is the founding father of the Padinjarepura branch.

Kiriyan Tharakan, the youngest son of Kochukoshy Tharakan married Mariamma of Chalakuzhi Family, Thiruvalla. Kiriyachanachan is the founding father of the Kumbathittayil branch. Kochukoshy Tharakan's eldest daughter was married to Mepral Poothiyot family and his youngest daughter was married to Kayyalakkakathu, Karthikappally.

Kiriyan Tharakan, the youngest son of Kujnana Ummumman Tharakan, got married from Koodathinal, Vazhuvady. He had only daughters. The eldest daughter was married to Mavelikara Padinjare Thalackal , the second daughter to Mavelikara Thazhakara Medayil and the third daughter to Vazhuvady Vadakke Thalackal .

Thus the seven branches of the family and their history outlined under Part II in the following chapters are based on the descendants of these founders:

1. Kujnana Ummemmen (Valliappan) – Kizhakkeveed
2. Kocheriya Ummumman – Padinjareveed
3. Kocheriya Kochitti – Cherianad
4. Kocheriya Kunjuninan – Anniyil
5. Kocheriya Kochukoshy – Kuttoor
6. Chackochanachan – Padijarepura
7. Kiriyachanachan - Kumbathittayil