Page 13 - Microsoft Word - My story of Pathyil Kalluvelil as told by Joseph Pathyil

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convent. However, in order to reinstate Achamma in style with the Tharayil patriarch,
Kochokan accepted Rs.500 from the Visitation Convent, gave the money to the
Chevalier, and royally reinstated their sister. One of the Pathyil children - usually Mary-
would go over to Tharayil to bring over one of the children of Achamma. The ploy was
for her to get the Chevalier’s permission to bring back the child, and while in Pathyil, to
be treated to sumptuous meals that her sisters in law would have prepared. Achamma
fainted the day her mother died on February 11, 1928, and never recovered
consciousness. She died on February 17, 1928.

The three sons of Kochokan were THOMMY (Thomas), UTHUP ( Joseph) and
KUNJITTIAVIRA (Abraham). The story of the Pathyil clan begins with Kochokan. His
three sons and their wives and children lived together for several years under the same
roof, in relative harmony. They all had enough common complaints to commiserate
about. When Thommy and his family moved to Neendoor, Uthup and Abraham and their
families stayed together in Pathyil for many years. The daughters-in-law would sneak to
the Tharayil canal for their weekly ablution, and it was there that they would talk freely
and share the clandestine goodies which they had painstakingly prepared for the
household, and which they were forbidden to eat without permission from the father-in
law. Years later, the two of them who had great affection for each other, would exchange
stories and laugh at their early years in the Pathyil household. While Achamma was in
charge of the kitchen and Naithy looked after all the children. Thus Naithy became the
mother of all.

Thommy married Kunjachu of Malyekal. Kochokan was not happy with the dowry that
Kunjachu brought. He spared no occasion to show his displeasure towards the daughter in
law. Not only did he mistreat her frequently, but asked Thommy to do so. Thommy and
his father were very fond of a dog given by friends from Chellanathu- friends he had
cultivated over the years in his travels with the water pump (called ponnengine). One day
as he returned from the fields, he asked his wife if she had fed the dog. In the midst of all
her other chores she confessed she had forgotten the dog. He was angry with her, kicked
her in the stomach and walked away. It was Thommy’s life-long regret that he imitated
his father in such cruel manner. Years later, Thommy would tearfully confide in his
priest-son his deep regret over the harsh treatment that he meted out to his wife under
duress from his father. When Uthuppu married Achamma, a niece of Kunjachu from the
same Malyekal family, and brought a far better dowry than Kunjachu, Kochokan’s ire
against Kunjachu only worsened. As was the custom in those days, Kunjachu went to her
house for confinement prior to the birth of her eldest son. The usual custom of the day
was for the husband’s people to visit the newborn baby, and assist at the baptism on
either the seventh day or the ninth day, failing which a penalty had to be paid to the
church. Since no one from Pathyil came for these, Kunjachu’s father took the baby boy to
Neendoor St. Michael’s Church, baptized the baby as Michael, for lack of another name.
But Kochokan forbade Thommy to visit his wife and child, until the Malyekal family
improved on the dowry. Kunjachu and the baby spent several years in Malyekal. After
the intervention and mediation of several people, including Fr. Jacob Tharayil - a friend
of the two families, and when the Malyekals added substantially to the dowry of
Kunjachu, Thommy brought his wife back to Pathyil. The boy was called Kurian, after

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