Kavalam Family is a branch of the Pakalomattam Family which has the unique honour of having received the flame of faith and the gift of priesthood from Apostle Thomas, the disciple of Christ who came to India. This family is distinguished for its pioneering leadership efforts in the history of the Kerala Nasrani Church.
The four Brahmin households - Kalli, Kaalikavu, Sankarapuri, Pakalomattam - that received Baptism from Apostle Thomas at Palayoor, came over from Palayoor to Kaalikavu, near Kuravilangad, and settled there. Towards the end of the third century AD, some of these families shifted to places near Kuravilangad Martha Mariam Church. Since Pakalomattam family was traditionally blessed with vocations to priesthood and because they lived in close proximity to the Martha Mariam Church, they were known as “Palliveettukaar”. Later, one branch shifted a little northwards, to Panamkuzhackal and the head of this family came to be known as the founding father of Pakalomattam Palliveedu Panamkuzhackal family.
One Mr. Kurian and family belonging to the aforementioned branch travelled southwards to Kozhencherry. This place where they settled, which was a vast area of land and paddy fields, later came to be known as Thevarvelil Tharavaadu. In 1405, Mathai of the fifth generation of Thevarvelil family married from Ambukkayam family in Mallappally and settled there. A noble man of a later generation belonging to this family branch later settled in Kavalam, buying paddy fields and land, known as Velassery purayidom. As time elapsed, this branch came to be known as Velassery family.
In AD1799, Shri.Chackochan, son of Varghese and Eathamma, came over to Changanassery to do business. In 1805 Chackochan married Thresiamma, daughter of Chandy and Aley of the Thachankary family. They settled near Cathedral church, Changanassery and came to be known as Kavalam Puthuparambu family, in keeping with the tradition of being known by the name of the place from where they came. This Chackochan is the founding father of Changanassery Kavalam Family. He died in 1870.
He had three sons and a daughter - Varghese, Chandy, Mathai and Eathamma. Varghese, the eldest son built a house quite near, on the eastern side of the cathedral church and settled there. The second son, Chandichan, moved further eastwards and settled near Nedumchira. Later, the first house came to be known as Kavalam Padinjareveedu, the house of Varghese as Angeveedu and Chandichan’s house as Kavalam Kizhakkeveedu. Thus Chackochan’s sons - Varghese, Chandichan and Mathaichan’s succeeding generations came to be known as Kavalam Angeveedu branch, Kavalam Kizhakkeveedu branch, Kavalam Padinjareveedu branch respectively. The Kavalam family steadily grew in magnitude and numbers and have made their name known in Kerala and abroad.
Chackochan who did business in Changanassery prospered soon and bought much land in the heart of the town, and also in the outskirts. Agriculture was also a favourite area. Educationally, the family carved a niche for herself at a time when education was not the interest of many. The reputed members of the family Sri. P. V. Joseph, B.A., L.T., Sri. K. M. Philip, B.A., L.T., Sri. K. C. Thomas, B.A., L. T., Sri. K. J. Mathew, B.A., L.T., Engineer Sri. P.C., Joseph, Adv. Paul Varghese and Dr. P. C. Varghese are some among them. They held pioneering leadership positions in educational institutions like St. Berchman’s, Changanassery, St. Joseph’s, Changanassery, St. Aloysius, Edathua and St. George, Manimala. Sri. K. C. Thomas and Sri. K. J. Mathew have contributed to Church history, Health Sciences and Politics by way of publishing books of quality on these areas. In 1918, Sri Kochouseppachan, a member of this family, the winner of the only prestigious scholarship given by the King of Travancore, was the sole non-brahmin student in Madras Engineering College. This noble person contributed his technical expertise free of cost in the construction of numerous buildings for Colleges, Schools, Hospitals etc. in the Changanassery Archdiocese and those outside of it. His son, Sri. P. J. Jacob who qualified the Civil Service Exam, spent much of his time for the progress and welfare of the society in which he lived.
Adv. Paul Varghese was a reputed lawyer of the first generation. He was Chairman of Changanassery Municipality, Chairman of Ruby Robber Works and the Legal Advisor of the Archdiocese of Changanassery. Dr. P. C. Varghese, a humane doctor of repute, took his medical degree from Madras Medical College. He served in various Government Hospitals and was DMO in many districts. He has also worked in Marygiri Hospital Bharananganam as Chief Medical Officer. He was one among the founder doctors of Nooranad Leprosy Hospital. He did much to publish the History of this ancient and noble family.
Sri. P. C. Joseph, Kavalam Pottamkulam, has served as District Registrar in Ernakulam and Thrissur and he retired from service in 1957. His brother Sri. K. C. Kurian retired as the Rationing Controller of the Thiru-Kochi Government.
Rev. Fr. Joseph Kavalam who served in various parishes of the Changanassery Archdiocese, and numerous religious sisters, form the contribution of this family to the spiritual realm. From the year 1911 to 1970, 11 members of the family served as Trustees of the Changanassery Cathedral Church. Sri. Varghese Devasia, Kavalam Puthuparambu was the first Trustee. Sri. P. C. Mathaichan, a reputed son of the Family and Changanassery, contributed immensely for the upliftment of the poor and the less privilaged
This family has given birth to distinguished professionals in the fields of Civil Service, Science, Research, Technology, Teaching, Military, Banking, Accounting and such other areas of essential public services. The pioneers in timber business, film field, transport service in Changanassery, were sons of this family too.
Even though the land for the construction of church was given by the King, the major share of land for the establishment of St Berchman’s College, the Bishop’s House and such other concerns of importance was given by the Kavalam Family. The Family took an active role in their construction which also speaks of the generosity of the members of this Family of repute.
There are many families in Kerala which have 'Kudumbayogams'; but
not many with a century old history of Kudumbayogam. We had the rare and unique
distinction of celebrating the centenary of this Kudumbayogam in 2005, as it was started
in 1905. A photo of the members of the family who gathered in 1910 for the family meet
is a precious and treasured possession of the family.
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