Anchery Kudumbam

Infobox Anchery Kudumbam
show_name = Anchery Kudumbam (Family)
founder = Anchery Punnoose Mapilla
recognition = Anchery Family Diaspora
president = Mr. Jacob Ittoop (Roy), Ancheril Kothamangalam
secretary = Mr. V. J. George, Anchery Valiyaveettil
headquarters = Anchery Tharavadu, Anchery Kavala, Pariyaram, Kottayam, Kerala, India
territory = Anchery
language = Malayalam, English, Syriac
population = 10,000 with majority in and around Anchery area, rest in neighboring areas, various Districts of Kerala, outside Kerala at various states of India and at different parts of the world especially in Middle East & Gulf countries, USA, UK, South Africa etc.
website = [http://www.ancherrykudumbam.net/ THE ANCHERY FAMILY]

Introduction

The Anchery Kudumbam(അഞ്ചേരി കുടുംബം) family members live mainly in and around Anchery, Pariyaram, Puthuppally,Meenadom, Thottakadu, Pampady and Manarcadu in Kottayam Taluk. They also inhabit places like Kothamangalam, Adimali, Vandenmedu, Thiruvalla, Edathua, and Kudamalloor. The members practice Orthodox, Jacobite, Marthoma, C.S.I., Catholic and Pentacost Christian faiths. The present day Anchery Kudumbam are the descendants of a great ancestor, Anchery Punnoose Mapilla who settled down at Pariyaram around 1600 A. D.

The Anchery Family Descendant Branches

The Origins

The advent of Christianity in India can be traced to the landing of St Tomas at Maalaankara near Kodungallor in A. D. 52, his preaching of the gospel to people living in “five localities” there, and the consequent evolution of the first Christian community in India – the Nasraanikal or the Suriyani kristhyaanikal. ‘Nasraanikal’ as they were the followers of Jesus the Nazarin, and ‘Suriyaanikal’ since ‘Suriyaani’ or Syriac was the language of their liturgy. The Nasraanis from the above “five localities” came to be known as Ancherrikaar. (‘anchu’ = five; ‘cherry’ = kara or localities)

This time around Kozhikottu Saamoothiri, the ruler of Calicut, defeated the King of Kochi in a war and burned down Kodungalloor, the prosperous trade centre of the defeated king. This made the Nasraanis flee Kodungalloor and move to Kuravilangadu, and from there to Bharananganam. An important family among them was ‘Plaanthottathil’, and Punnoose Mapilla their prominent son. He was a successful businessman, an expert in trade and commerce, an accomplished Sanskrit scholar and above all an acknowledged astrologer. Literature on these subjects (Thaliola grandham) were among his priceless possessions. Again, he was a staunch practitioner of religious rites.

Punnoose Mappilla had to make frequent business trips to nearby Pala from Bhrananganam. During these trips somehow he courted the displeasure of Vadakumkoor Raja. So he moved to Thekumkoor kingdom. The Raja of Thekumkoor assigned him land in Thalikottai near Kottayam. (The name Anchery is associated with this place even today). The proud and mercurial man he is, Punnoose Mapilla would not bow before any one, and soon fell out with the Thekumkoor Raja too, and moved over to Mavelikara. Once when Mavelikara Raja made plans to attack Thekumkoor, those who wanted to see Punnoose Mapilla’s downfall, plotted to set him up as a spy. Instead, realising the treachery, the shrewd Mapilla passed on a warning to the other side. Having been forewarned, Thekumkoor could easily withstand the attack. Fearing reprisal, Punnoose Mapilla returned to Thekumkoor, and finally the Raja of Thekumkoor settled him at Pariyaram, which until some 50 years ago, used to be referred to as ‘Anchery Kara’ though not on official records. Even today private buses plying the local routes, issue tickets to ‘Anchery’ and not to the official ‘Pariyaram’.

Valiyaveedu

The location where Mr V. J. George has his house today, is where Punnoose Mapilla built his ‘Valiya Veedu’ (= big house), -1- which had a fortress and trench around it and a hide away cave in its well. The well and the cave were visible until recently when Georges father filled up and leveled it.

Anchery Punnoose Mapilla, the Grand Patriarch

The service rendered by the Nasraanis to the government of the Thekumkoor kingdom in the 17th century, was greatly appreciated by the King, and prominent among the Nasraanis was Punnoose Mapilla. -2- In his capacity as the Vicharakan (= advisor) -3- of the Thekumkoor Raja, Punnoose Mapilla was one of the few who could appear in person before the king to represent matters related to Christians. For his services as a Minister stretches of landed property were given to him tax-free both at Pariyaram and at Puthuppally.

Punnoose Mapilla and Puthuppally Pally

His association with the St. George’s Orthodox Church, Puthuppally was long and crucial. He used his influence over the King in the establishment of the Puthuppally Valliapally and its shifting from its original site to the present one. -4- It was at Kochupallikkunnu that the first church, known as Mar Sleeba Church, was established in the name of Mar Bahanaan Sahada by Yakob and others in M.E. 815 corresponding to A.D. 1650. Saddened by the thought that he could not contribute to the original construction, Punnoose Mapilla convinced the King to shift it to a new location, Ilumthuruthikkunnu, this time involving everybody in the reconstruction. References in other family history publications -5- to Punnose Mapilla’s “interment befitting a Lord” next to the sacred altar of Mar Bahanaan Sahada in the church, -6- acknowledge the honour and reverence commanded by Punnoose Mapilla and his crucial inputs in the construction of the church.

The End of the Golden Era

After Punnoose Mapilla, his eldest son, Kochitty Kaaryakaar, became the governor under Thekumkoor Raja. It was during his tenure that Marthanda Varma conquered Thekumkoor, demolished the Valiaveedu of the Kaaryasthan, engaged elephants to drag away the remains and burnt them. Thus ended the period of fame and glory of Anchery Tharavadu, and the family slipped into oblivion. The second son, Pothen, stayed on at Valiayveedu; the third son Cheriyan married from Painumkal in Thiruvalla and stayed at Pulimoottil, and the fourth son Varughese married from Edathua and set up house there. Even today there are members in Edathua under the house name Anchery.

Thereafter generations passed peacefully for almost two centuries. Anchery Kudumbam members were, by and large, peace-loving, God-fearing, and hard-working. Agriculture was their mainstay.

Family Reunion

It was in 1922 that the members of the Anchery Kudumbam, by then scattered far and wide, gathered together for the first time. Puthuppally Kottarathil Justice Itty Mathen of the Puthenpurackal Shaakha, took the bold initiative, and called a meeting at his residence. An invaluable photograph taken on that occasion is jealously preserved, and forms the backdrop of this website. Thus started the Anchery Kudumbayogam. The annual Kuduma Samgamam continued for a few years, but gradually died off. Again in 1952, Thomas Anchery of Othapparampil came forward to revive the annual Kudumba Samgamam, which by the Grace of God, continues till today.

The Family Today

With the onset of modern education, the Anchery family members are weaning away from agriculture as the mainstay, making forays into other zones like, priesthood, law and justice, medicine, engineering, IT, estates, pedagogy, banking, defense, government employment, and even politics. In the early days of free India’s politics, it was the initiative of our family members that secured a “Park” (now a Veterinary Polyclinic) for Anchery under the Village Upliftment Scheme. We are proud of the fact that our Family has given rise to two judges, an M.P., an M.L.A., a President of the Y’s Mens International, Panchayat members, a Commodore, a Group Captain, and countless other professionals. The first Judge, the first university graduate, the first MBBS doctor etc. of the Anchery locality were perhaps our family members. The sons and daughters of Anchery Kudumbam are now gainfully employed in various towns of India, in the Gulf, Europe, America, Canada, Africa and all over the world. With the abundant grace of our Lord, today the Anchery family is on the safe path of solid progress, as in the golden days of our great forefather, Anchery Punnoose Mapilla.

References to Punnoose Mapilla in other family history books and contemporary official publications

"1 KAIPANATTU KUDUMBA CHARITHRAM, 1983, Page 38"

“The palace-like house of Anchery Punnoose Mapilla was the largest one of those days in the Pariyaram-Thottakkadu karas. It was named Valiyavedu due to its enormous size.”

"2 SAMAGRA VIKASANA GRAMA SABHA REKHAKAL, 2001-02, Page 19."

"Published by Puthuppally Gramapanchayat under Janakeeya Aasoothranam."

While describing the contributions made by the Christians to the Government of Thekumkoor Kingdom in the 17th century, the book says on its page 19: “…Punnoose Mapilla of Anchery was very prominent among them. He was the Minister of Thekumkoor Raja. It is said that he used his influence in the establishment of the Puthuppally Pally…”

"3 KAIPANATTU KUDUMBA CHARITHRAM, 1983, Page 38"

“ …The rich and elegant Anchery Valiyaveetil Punnoose Mapilla was one of the Advisors(= vicharakan) of Thekumkoor Raja. …”

"4 KOODASA SMRITHI, 2003, Pge 25, Published by the Souvenir"

Committee of St Georges Orthodox Church, Puthuppally.

“ … The rich and minister-like Anchery Punnoose Mapilla who was the prime governor (= pradhana kaaryasthan) of Thekumkoor Raja, played the key role in shifting the church to its present location, Ilumthuruthikkunnu….”

"5 KAIPANATTU KUDUMBA CHARITHRAM, 1983, Page 79"

“ … After his death, they took care to provide Punnoose Mapilla an interment befitting a lord. It is believed that his body was buried inside the Puthuppally Church by the west of the altar of Bahanaan Sahada ….”

"6 PUTHUPPALLY PALLIYUM PARETTU CHARITHRAVUM, Page 11"

“… Puthuppally Pally was established in Geevarughese Sahada’s name, but the initial construction at Kochupallykkunnu was named after Behanaan Sahada. Therefore the southern altar of the new church is installed in Mar Bahanaan Sahada’s name. It is next to this altar that Punnoose Mapilla was buried, it is believed…. “

External Links

* [http://www.ancherrykudumbam.net Anchery Kudumbam official website]