Page 24 - Microsoft Word - My story of Pathyil Kalluvelil as told by Joseph Pathyil

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joined them there.

Theirs was a fruitful union. Starting in December 1915, Naithy gave birth to a child every
two years or sooner. The last of the twelve was born in May 1938. Two of the children
died in their infancy. Chackochan, a strapping youngster, born in 1922, drowned at the
age of three in the family well. No one saw him go to the well, nor detect him play with
the bucket and rope at the well. It was only a few minutes later, when Naithy was
searching for her son that someone mentioned that he was near the well. They found him
too late at the bottom of the well. Naithy never fully recovered from that deep sorrow.
Abraham was away in school, and when he returned and discovered that his second son
was no more, he too was devastated. He never mentioned his name ever since. The next
loss was that of Victoria, ( the first of several nontraditional names that Abraham chose
for his progeny- which included names such as Daniel, Xavier, Isaac, Thomas More,
Don Bosco, Assisi and so on) born in February 1937. She had polio and mercifully died a
few weeks before their last son was born. They were lucky that none of the children were
born with serious handicaps.

The children were sources of joy and constant concern for Naithy. In addition, she had to
look after all the routine household activities and chores related to being the wife of a
prominent person. Abraham himself was away during the day (and for some time on
week days, when he taught in Kidangore). As they grew, they had to be educated,
nurtured, married, catered to, and their children to be worried about.

The diocesan authorities requested Abraham’s services as teacher of art in St. Mary’s
School, Kidangore. Because of distances which had to be traversed by foot, boat or ox-
drawn cart, Abraham lodged with some of the well-known families in Kidangore on
week-days. Abraham was appointed to teach art since he was trained in drawing and
painting. But the Art teacher had also to double as the physical education teacher.
Abraham had no formal training in physical education. But because of his athletic body,
and because he exuded confidence in physical activities, he was appointed to teach both
Art and physical education. The School Inspector sent by the Government to conduct
annual inspection of schools sat in on Abraham’s classes in physical education, was
highly impressed by his discipline and ability, that he granted Abraham permanent permit
to teach physical education along with art subjects.

Abraham’s association with St. Mary’s for over ten years left lasting memories in his
students. Most of the future priests and lay leaders of the community were educated in St.
Mary’s. Abraham Sir, as he came to be permanently known, was the hero and the feared
disciplinarian of the school. The management looked to him for advice and help in all
matters, especially those pertaining to discipline in school. Fr. Alexander
Choolapparambil (later to become the Bishop of Kottayam) was the Manager of St.
Mary’s, Kidangore. Abraham had a very close relationship with Fr. Alexander, which
lasted all their lives. Fr. Manager depended on Abraham’s advice on many matters.
Abraham used to tease his manager from time to time. Once Fr. Choolapparambil
received a gold sovereign from a family after having baptized their baby. When Abraham
seemingly chided him that it was wrong to receive compensation for administering a

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