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fray. In 1928, he went to the auction for toddy shops and acquired one- year lease for the
outlet in Kaipuzha. There were threats and warnings. But he was a determined person. He
had bodyguards. He also had influence in the police force. Gradually opposition ended,
and he was left in peace. Abraham quit teaching in 1929, to concentrate all his energy in
agriculture and abkari outlets. His initial investment in the business was partly financed
by his brother Uthup and other Christian friends of his. He compensated them, and went
into business on his own. It was lucrative. In time he leased more shops and outlets in
many parts of the district. At the peak he had fourteen shops - small and big.

Abraham found that the Abkari contractors lacked unity, since most of them were
uneducated people. He persuaded them to start a State-wide association, of which he
became the first president. Tax levy on the contractors was excessive. After several
petitions and requests that went unheeded, Abraham decided to meet with the Maharaja
of Travancore. Through persistence he managed to have a meeting with the king, who
took a liking for him. Abraham was directed to meet with the Chief adviser to the
Maharaja, who at that time was Sir C. P. Rama Swamy Iyer. He met with Sir C.P. more
than once. Many years later in 1965, Abraham would call on Sir C.P. in the latter’s
summer cottage in the botanical gardens in Ooty. Sir C.P. by then had retired and was
writing his autobiography. It was amazing to discover that the great (and controversial )
administrator remembered Abraham, and reminisced about their times together.

Toddy shop business from which Christians had excluded themselves for puritanical
reasons, became the chief occupation of Abraham for several years. But the business
required constant attention and he needed reliable persons everywhere. The flagship
among the outlets was the one in Athirampuzha, which was a gold mine, especially
during the festival days. His eldest son, Luka, who had discontinued his education very
early on, became the manager of Athirampuzha. Kunjeppu Elakattu was the coordinator
of all shops. Toddy had to reach all outlets every day, twice a day from far-flung places.
Several boats and reliable men to ply the boats were needed to be dispatched daily. With
no phones and such modern amenities, supply had to be steadily assured, quality
maintained, and clients satisfied. Abraham himself rarely tasted toddy, though he could
discern quality by smelling the stuff. He would visit the various shops on occasions. But
he directed the mammoth operation from his study. Every day couriers arrived with the
latest accounts, cash, and request for supplies. He directed people to various places as the
need arose. Money - in hundreds and thousands,- was counted and locked away in his
cupboard. It would be taken and deposited in the bank - far away in Kottayam- only
sporadically. There was thus plenty of cash at home. And there were several mouths to
feed with the money. Apart from his own children- twelve were born and ten survived
childhood -, there were grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and neighbors.
On any given day there were easily a dozen mouths to feed. And all ate well and
sumptuously. Boats were rented out at night to the fishermen, and they gave their best
fish as rent. There were ducks and poultry in the compound. Naithy grew a vegetable
garden which provided a steady supply of vegetables.

During the harvest season, there was a stream of workers in and around the house. Due
to the vast and far-flung holdings of paddy fields, Abraham appointed three (the usual

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