Alemkunnapuzha
Family is a traditional, Aristocratic,
descendants of First catholic community in North
Parur. Parur’s cultural history goes
back to AD – 52 when St. Thomas, Apostle
of Jesus came to Kerala and established 7 churches.
Parur Kottekavu church is one among them and is
a pilgrimage centre. The old church which
is believed to be the original temple when St.
Thomas converted the Hindu Brahmin to Christianity
by performing a miracle of lifting the water upwards
and holding it at Air. The evidence of our family
tradition is manifested from the fact that the only
late personality who is buried inside the old
church is our great grandfather. Alemkunnapuzha
Ouseph Avara. He was born on 7th October 1856.
He married Anna at the age of 17 years on 12th
January 1873 only daughter of Vainthala chakala
mattath Kunjuvareed, a great landlord in the Vainthala
region. He died at the age of 53 years on
27th October 1908 and is buried inside the old
church. The tomb still exists there. |
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that time family is honoured by the church considering
the service rendered by them you will notice that
the old church in 1650 Bishop of Nasrani Saba
H. Ex Mar Francis Ross Bishop of Malankara Nasarani
is buried on 1st Sunday of Makaram 1924 in this
church and other than that only our great grand
father’s tomb is still existing
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only one daughter who is married to Shavaliour
Kunjuvareed Kanjirakat thachil by virtue of which
they inherit our first generation bunglow still
existing in Parur. The descendents of their
eldest son Mr. Lonappan who is married to the
sister of chakola brothers, Trichur is staying
in that house now.
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After
that great grandfather who is buried in the church
our grandfather’s tomb is in the present
cemetery at the highest denominated number 5001,
which is equivalent to 5001 ana paid to the
church as a donation in 1938. All these historical
data’s confirm the aristocracy and tradition
of our family.
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Another great personality
Rev Fr Paul Alemkunnapuzha our
grand father was the first Municipal chairman
of the Parur Municipality, the first Municipality
of Kerala. He retained that covetous position
from 1938-1941. During that period among
the notable unprecedented growth achieved are
remembered by the people even today.
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- The establishments of sessions
court at Parur was his personal attempt and
rapport with the Dewan of Cochin
– Travancore.
- Construction and blessing
of St. Thomas Kottekavu church with this unique
architecture and size was completed during
his time in 1938 as vicar of the church.
His tenure as Vicar from 1913-1921,
1935-1941 and 1952-1954 has carved a niche
in the history of the church.
- The famous Market where
2 days in a week all the essential commodities,
vegetables and fruits are brought from
different regions and auctioned. When he was
the vicar, the present Market that caters
to thousands of families and is the bread
and butter of hundreds of businessmen,
was the property of church and he donated
that place with his influence with church
hierarchy to establish the market. Today he
is remembered as the Godfather of the business
community of Parur Town.
- Establishment of St. Aloysius
High school exclusively for girls and St.
Paul’s school for boys was a great
achievement in the educational field.
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On his retirement at old
age, his enthusiasm, vigour and dynamic leadership
quality inspired him to establish the orphanage
at Edakunny, Karudutty with acres of rubber plantations
acquired through his share of ancestral property
and church support.As a last wish of his priesthood
his body is buried in a special “Chappel”
built exclusively for him at Edakunny.
Another great personality is Mrs. Anny Thayil
the daughter of our grandfather’s sister
was a member of the first legislative assembly
of Cochin – Travancore. Her acumen in political
field as a freedom fighter and congress stalwart
earned the distinction of becoming minority commission
member at New Delhi, equivalent to cabinet
rank during the time of Mrs. Indira Gandhi as
Prime Minister of India. Our present existing
generation is descendents of our grand father’s
Mr. Cherian and Mr. Kunjavara.
Even now the existing “Tharavad”
at Parur is 300 years old. The grandfather
of that house did not have any children and his
brother’s descendants are staying there.
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