The Origins Of the Keerikattu Kudumbam
"Remember the days of old, consider the generation-long past, ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you" Deuteronomy 32.7
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Towards the middle of 15th century, the revered father, the founder and leader of Keerikattu Kudumbam, Mr Karingattil Koshy was born into a family known for its antiquity and societal elitism named the famous Thekke (South) Karingattil Thumpamon. His father was a recipient of awards from the Raja of Pandalam for his bravery and use of weapons. He got his son Koshy married to Kochithamma, the daughter of Thomman Tharakan of Marathummootil, Venmoney. He had a brother who was a priest.
For some reason which is not clear, Koshy had a difference of opinion with the Raja of Pandalam, and Koshy broke the tusks of Raj's elephant and ran away from Pandalam and took asylum in the place of Valia Koikal Raja at Venmoney. As a practice, when someone takes asylum under another Raja, the Raja under whose jurisdiction the assailant was losing authority over him. Hence no criminal action could be taken on Koshy. Mr Koshy who took asylum at Venmoney, started living with his wife and son at his in-law's house at Venmoney. MarathumMootil Tharakan the father in law of Mr. Koshy, was serving the Raja Valiya Koikal Thampuran during those days in his official work. Tharakan goes to the palace every day.
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One day Tharakan, at the palace, met the Raja Valiyakoikal Thampuran and requested the Raja for a piece of land in order to construct a house for his daughter and son-in-law. The Raja conveyed that land suitable for living was almost exhausted and what was available, it seems, was not suitable for living. However Raja said that he would give the names of 4 plots on 4 pieces of paper. He was asked to entrust the chits with names to the priest. Let him place it on the tabernacle and let him celebrate the Eucharist. After the Eucharist, let him take one of the chits from the four. Whatever the name on the chit, that shall be the land on which the house can be constructed. Accordingly, the land obtained by the chit taken after the Eucharist was Keerikattu Purayidam. It was full of scrub jungle and trees which was cleared and the house constructed. The daughter and her husband were rehabilitated. From that day Keerikattu Kudambam was born and the couple who was the origin of Keerikattu Kudumbam lived happily.
Their only son Chacko, as he reached adulthood was married to the daughter from one of the famous and ancient family, Koluthara. After some time, Koshy, the father of the first generation left this world, leaving the family responsibility to his son Chacko. Chacko's married life brought forth, one son and three daughters. The eldest daughter was married at Puthenpurakkal, second daughter at Kandathil and third daughter at Mangad. The son Koshy was married from Palathum Thalakkal, Kadakkad.
Having lived long comfortably and happily seeing children and grandchildren, the second generation father Chacko expired. Koshy the third generation father had two daughters and five sons namely Koshy, Geevarghese, Itty, Mathunny and Chacko. The descendants of these five sons are known as five branches of Keerikatty Kudumbam and they are Chakkalethu, Navolil, Ozhumannil, Kuriyalloor and Keerikattu. Out of the two daughters, an elder daughter was married to Vaidyan Veetil Chengannur and second daughter to Veppum Tharayil Venmoney. During the period of this third-generation father, all those family properties were acquired. He died when he was 80 years.