Chapter 18 Centenary Celebrations of Kandathil Kudumbayogam

Transcription

1 Chapter 18 Centenary Celebrations of Kandathil Kudumbayogam As stated earlier Kandathil Kudumbayogam was established by Late Sri. Kandathil Varghese Mapillai in the year 1892.It was started as a Joint Stock Company the 3 rd Joint Stock Company and 1 st Kudumbayogam Company in Travancore. The two other companies are The Punalur Paper Mills and then The Malayala Manorama. Kudumbayogam Company under the leadership of Kandathil Varghese Mapillai flourished well and there were Board of Director to administrator the affairs of the company. Though the company was registered in 1892 activities commenced in When Land Reforms Act came into being the company opted for voluntary liquidation and started Kudumbayogam Association in Kudumbayogam and other activities continued and 1990 Kudumbayogam with all the pompness celebrated the Centenary. It was a two day function 27 th and 28 th of September The first day celebration was at Kandathil Tharavad Vallankulam and the second day at The Malayala Manorama, Kottayam. As it is customery and traditional the function started with Holy Encharist (Qurbaene) at Kaviyoor Sleeba Church where many of our forefathers are laid to rest. Qurbaene was attended by a large number of members. Kandathil Tharavad was beautified and decorated for the unique function. Arches were built. The entire activities were organised by the Governing Council with Sri. K.M.Mathew (Mathukuttichayan) as President, Sri. K.C. Mathew (Mathukunjachayan) as Secretary, Sri.K.C.Varghese Mapillai (Kunju) as Convenor and Mr. Eapen Mathai (Mon Nedumbroth) as Joint Convenor. Big Pandals were erected on the Northern and Southern side of Tharavadu. Family tree was depicted with seven lamps at the entrance decorated with tender coconut leaves. A decorated Photograph of Kandathil Varghese Mapillai was placed on the stage. Mathulla Mapillai, Mariamma and Varghese Mapillai would have been enjoying this from the other world. Ladies who were married out of the family gave a pleasant surprise. They dressed in typical Syrian Christian style with Chatta, Mundu, Kavani and Vilikka brought varieties of home made Palaharams in Bamboo Container. Elders of the family and the ladies married into the family received them in the traditional style. A symbolic demonstration of unity in the family. Lighting of the lamp A big Nilavilakku with six branches decorated were

2 lighted by senior members of each branch. The big decorated lamp at the centre was lighted by President and Secretary.What a wonderful sight it was!! Distinguished guests Sri. K.M. Chandy former Governer of Madhya Pradesh, Mahakavi Sri. Puthenkavu Mathen Tharakan, Prof. S.Guptan Nair were received at the entrance and escorted to the dias by Kudumbayogam President Sri. K.M. Mathew, Secretary Sri. K.C.Mathew, Convenor Sri. K.C. Varghese Mapillai and Joint Convenor Sri. Eapen Mathai.Prayer song highlighting the charity service of Varghese Mapillai Valamerum Vayalininnu Vilakoyyon Vithitte Karshakanaro Varghese Mapillai was sung by famous playback singer Ambilikuttan. This was followed by the symposition Kandathil Varghese Mapillai and the Cultural field. Sri. K.M. Chandy inaugurated the symposition in the absence of Sri. T.K.Ramakrishnan, Minister for cultural affairs and his message was read out. Sri K.M. Chandy in his inaugural speech highlighted Varghese Mappillai stating that he was the one who brought the Christians out of the situation of singling out from the cultural field with no exposure to literature by the Portugese Metropolitan Menesis in Udayamperoor Synod in In his talk, Prof S. Guptan Nair exalted Varghese Mappillai, founder of our Kudumbayogam that his birth, which, in 1857 had much coincidence with the Great Indian Mutiny which was also in the same year and the establishment of three major Universities. He added that Varghese Mappillai was the one who brought honour to prose writers also of that era because of which Kottarathil Sankunni is remembered now for his prose (Ithihya mala). In fact the Sahitya Parishad in 1927 is a mere continuation of the Bhashaposhini established in The great poet Puthencavu Mathen Tharakan in his speech assessed Varghese Mappillai in another angle. What Varghese Mappillai did through journalism is the task of a University, (when Christians were not allowed to study in Hindu tradition, Varghese Mappillai s father sent him to Kunjanassan, a Hindu guru, to study). He did a great service to Malayalees by familiarising them with western books. Varghese Mappillai translated many of Shakespeare s Dramas (eg. Kalahani Damanakam Taming of the Shrew) prior to which only Kalloor Oommen Philipose tried a translation. Among many prominent Nair families who were invited for the Celebration was the Kunnathettu Family who gave the plot for establishing the Kandathil Family. Kandathil Kudumbayogam President Sri K.M. Mathew honoured Kunnathettu Sri Thankappan Pillai representing Kunnathettu family by presenting him with a Nilavilakku. The present heir of Kandathil Tharavadu Sri V. M Thomas (Babu) and the mother of the Tharavadu Kochumariamma Kochamma also were honoured. The formal function came to a close with the Vote of Thanks by the Committee Convenor Sri K.C. Varghese Mappillai. The family members and the guests of honour had a sumptuous lunch delighting the original Kerala Vegetarian dishes by the famous Culinary Specialist Hari Thampan from

3 Tripunithura. Ofcourse the family members must have reminisced the nostalgic moments of a father and mother with eight children having food inside the house, 180 years back. The family members assembled in the main pandal after lunch and had business meeting, the main agenda of which was the venue of 101th Kandathil Kudumbayogam and to pass the Income and expenditure Account and to give away the prizes for those who had scored highest marks in various public examinations followed by entertainment programmes (Mimics Parade by Cochin Harisree). The Second Days Celebrations were at Malayala Manorama, Kottayam, the name which carries the family name Kandathil worldwide. The magnanimous venue decorated and named as that of Vallamkulam itself, Kandathil Varghese Mappillai Nagar. The main entrance of the Malayala Manorama was made the main entrance to Kandathil Varghese Mappillai Nagar too. Varghese Mappillai s garlanded photograph was placed at the entrance arch near K.C. Mammen Mappillai s bust statue. From the very early morning family members started flowing into the Manorama from Vallamkulam, Tiruvalla, Kuttoor and Niranam by video coaches and cars. Those who came by rail were also directed to the venue by special transportation arrangement. Separate badges were arranged for each branch and detailed programme cassettes were also supplied in order and in different counters. The Kudumbayogam President and the Chief Editor of Malayala Manorama Sri K.M. Mathew (Mathukuttychayan) was at the entrance, receiving family members with his wholehearted smile. The chief guests Sreeramakrishna Mission Chief Swami Ranganadhananda. His Grace Mar Coorilose The Catholicos designate, the former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister and Tamil Nadu Governor Dr. P.C. Alexander, Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University Dr. U.R. Anandamurthy were received and led to the dias with the accompaniment of our traditional percussion instruments Chenda. Ulakinnadeesanam Udyana Palakante Malarvadiyanee Maha Prabanjam.. beautiful lyrics by P. Bhaskaran was the Prayer Song sung by Rev. Fr. M.P. George and his team. In the Necrology conducted by Sri K.C. Varghese Mappillai, Mathulla Mappillai founder of Kandathil Kudumbam and Varghese Mappillai founder of Kandathil Kudumbayogam were fondly and reverently remembered. In the proud welcome speech delivered by Kudumbayogam President Sri K.M. Mathew, he said that the respected guests had given a new meaning, fame and pride, to such a meeting of the family. He added that 28 September 1990 is to be recorded in golden letters in the family history. Head of the Sreeramakrishna Mission of Hyderabad and chief Leader of Sreeramakrishna Mission Centres all over the world, the Great Acharaya who is a shining star

4 in the line of generations of Sreeramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, and who was the only one keen to be heard by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru even at the age of 82 years, came to bless the family with his presence. He said that spiritually, he is bonded to Kandathil Family, as the whole world is to be like a bird s nest where familyhood is the best ashram. Nithyolsavam bhava thwaesham Nithyashree, nithyamangalam In the Presidential Address His Grace Mar Coorilose The Catholicos designate, described K.C. Mammen Mappillai as a man who had ardent faith in God, even when National and Quilon Bank was wound up and Malayala Manorama was sealed and that the famous traditional Kandathil family comprising of such eminent personalities is an asset to the Orthodox Church. The Catholicos designate released the Kudumbayogam cassette go ahead, march ahead by giving a copy to Sri K.K. Abrahan, Maniyanettu Kandathil. The programme was formally inaugurated by lighting the lamp placed in front of the photograph of Kandathil Varghese Mappillai by Dr. P.C. Alexander and other Chief Guests. Dr. P.C. Alexander, in his inaugural speech remembered his closeness with Mammen Mappillai and said that if Mammen Mappillai were not born in a small town like Kottayam, he would have become a Tata or a Birla. Dr. U.R. Anandamurthy, in his felicitation speech said that modern city culture has become a threat to family as an institution. Kudumbayogam Secretary Sri K.C. Mathew,Koickal delivered the vote of thanks. Later based on the family history Sri K. Ubaidulla conducted a quiz competition which was very interesting and knowledge oriented. Finally everybody dispersed for lunch. After the lunch the first programme was a Kathaprasangam by V. Sambasivan. May be because, this is a family get-together, he selected the family story Anna Kareena by world famous Tolstoy. When this was over, it was time for a tea break. Family members presented some simple programmes connected with the family greatness. As inscribed on the logo of the Centenary Celebrations, Faith, Hope and Love, the Kandathil Family members when celebrated the Centenary, proclaimed to the world that they would ever be the Ambassadors to spread these values. Even today we the member of Kandathil family cherish the love, affection and unity demonstrated. Let us take the family torch forward. We have one blood one voice. As extract from the speech of Swami Ranganadhananda.

5 The Kandathil Kudumbayogam is certainly a unique institution which, unlike some others in Kerala which got started and later disappeared, has continued to flourish as a growing family unit in spite of two or three minor changes in its legal status. During the past one hundred years. it has grown from a nuclear family of a few members to a vastly extended family of about a thousand now. This family has thrown up two outstanding personalities in Sri. Varghese Mappillai and Sri. Mammen Mappillai, besides a number of distinguished members, both men and women, who have held, and are still holding, responsible postions in various fields of human endeavour in India and abroad. Place of Spirituality in Life What is that which holds a family together? In our industrial civilisation, we rarely get an extended family. And even a nuclear family is in trouble today, in spite of better communication facilities, availability of gadgets and labour-saving devices meant to make home-life easy and comfortable. These external comforts and conveniences, however, have not helped to achieve better heart to heart communication between the members of one and the same family. Such communication tends to become confined to external formal levels and not heart-whole. Something seems to be missing in men and women, which is needed for all inter-human communications, in such an intimate setting as family life, to be effective and satisfying, and the relationship abiding. Indian culture discovers that missing something as the spiritual element by which alone can one love another and be loved by that another. It is the spiritual quality of life that makes for human beings developing the capacity to dig affections in each other and ensure stability in society and in married life. This spiritual capacity has nothing to do with what is called formal, dogmatic, creed-bound religion : it is the fruit of the science of religion, the science of human possibilities, the science of the spiritual growth of men and women, as understood in Vedanta. If that is the weakness of the modern industrial society all over the world, it is slowly afflicting India also, inspite of the noisy. showy, ritual-ridden and occasionally violent type of religion which is plenty in our country today. Your Kudumbayogam is able to withstand that current disintegrating tendency and achieve a balance between the centripetal and centrifugal forces ever operating in any human group. You have different family groups, living even far apart, yet remaining as an integrated Kudumbayogam. When you study this phenomenon, you see the importance of that dimension of religion which I referred to as the science of spiritual growth, a growth which can come to men and women, as much from without any formal religion as from within a religion, if that religion's rituals and ceremonies, etc. are approached with the one question: have they made me grow spiritually? You feed children, you plant trees, and see that they grow; that is the science of growth. Why should we fail to apply that scientific criterion to such an important field as religion? 3. The Two Kandathil Pioneers The two pioneers of your Kudumbayogam and of the Malayala Manorama were upholders of Christian spirituality. They had the blessings of such a religion in the love of God in Jesus Christ. That love being universal, it made them the friends and servants of all communities and groups in this beautiful State of ours. They achieved greatness by yoking efficiency to service. The beauty of the Kerala landscape found its complement in the beauty of their hearts and minds; and that made them draw the hearts and minds of the people of Kerala

6 to them. The two outstanding members mentioned above are pioneers, both in the limited sphere of the Kandathil Kudumbayogam and in the vaster field of Kerala society, politics and culture. As pioneers, they had to face trying situations and overcome challenging problems. The character-traits that enabled them to overcome all these and gain the abiding love and respect of the people of Kerala are worthy to be studied and emulated by the youth of our country today. I love greatness in any field of life; I want to study the formative influences that went to make a person great. 'Great convictions are the mothers of great deeds', says Swami Vivekananda and he says further, 'The history of the world is the history of a few men and women who had faith in themselves'. Courage, honesty of purpose, and love and service of man without being conditioned by caste, creed and social status considerations all these were the propelling forces behind these two human dynamos in their life-long work of human transformation in modern Kerala in its journalistic, social, political and literary fields. All pioneers in any field of life have a common trait their courage grows as difficulties increase. While visiting Oslo, during my Government of India sponsored four-month lecture tour of seventeen European countries in 1961, my Norwegian friends took me to Norway's marine museum which houses the ship built for Fridtjof Nansen for his North Polar exploration trip in : it was used by RoaId Amundsen also for his South Polar expedition in ; it is 800 tons when loaded. Mrs. Nansen gave it a significant name: Fram which, in Norwegian means: Forward; and Nansen gave himself a maxim: When starting on any great expedition, Cut the ropes and burn the bridges behind you; there is then no other alternative but to go forward!. This is in tune with the famous exhortation of the Katha Upanisad made famous by the free rendering of Swami Vivekananda: Utthisthata, jagrata, prapya varan nibodhata 'Arise, Awake, and stop not till the goal is reached!". 4. The Indian Renaissance The whole of India was then experiencing a cultural and political awakening in the wake of the common political subjection to the British getting more and more odious to the Indian people. Political struggles for freedom from that subjection were going on side by side with another type of struggle in the socio-economic field, inspired by our study of some of the humanistic values of Western culture. The centuries-old rigid and heirarchical Indian feudal society was struggling to become a modern democratic society and nation. This is the modern Indian renaissance piloted by outstanding personalities such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Mrs. Annie Besant, Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi. These movements had their impact on Kerala also and it marched in step with the rest of India. It is necessary to know the revolutionary scope and range of this renaissance: and we get an insight into it from Vivekananda literature.