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power. While the Bishop agreed to send priest observers, he did not commit himself to
participate in the convention. Thus was started The Knanaya Catholic Mahajana Sabha,
later to be called Knanaya Catholic Congress. Mr. Chacko Manthuruthil was the
Chairman of the Reception Committee and he and a host of other volunteers from
Kaipuzha worked day and night to plan the functions. It was a tremendous success.
Elections for office bearers were held and as expected Prof. V. J. Joseph was elected
President, Thomas Makil as Vice President, Joseph Chazhikat as Secretary, Abraham
Ambalathunkal as joint Secretary and Abraham Pathyil as Treasurer. The V.I.P.s, as was
to be expected, stayed in Kalluvelil, and Naithy looked after their culinary needs.
Kaipuzha was in a festive atmosphere during those three days. At the concluding item of
the Garden Party (prepared by Naithy and a host of workers), Bishop Choolapparambil
suddenly made his appearance. He had been receiving secret report about the convention,
and when he was convinced that the lay leadership was not out to rival the clergy, he
decided to bless the endeavour by his presence. The annual Knanaya conventions that
followed tried to emulate and outdo the founding convention in Kaipuzha. The next ones
in Kaduthuruthy, Kalluserry, Kumarakom and so on were grand affairs. Abraham was at
the forefront of the organization and helped it grow by personal effort and financial aid.

Abraham’s loyalty to his friends was legendary. When Joseph Chazhikat decided to run
for the State Legislature, the first person he consulted was Abraham. Abraham undertook
to finance him, and to personally accompany Chazhikat in his campaign. Abraham spent
several weeks on the road (by-ways, and paths would be better expression, as there were
hardly any roads in the constituency), visited numerous households to persuade people to
vote for Chazhikat. Abraham’s family did not see him for more than a month as he was
immersed in political campaigning for his friend. When he returned, he was exhausted
and ill. But his friend won the election handily. The first congratulatory function was
arranged in Kaipuzha. Unfortunately, Abraham who had made all the arrangements, and
for whose sake Chazhikat had consented to be felicitated in Kaipuzha, was too ill to
attend the meeting. However, after the function was over, Chazhikat and the V.I.P.s
visited Abraham, where a sumptuous dinner awaited all of them, and a fat envelope to
defray part of Chazhikat’s expenses was handed over to him as a personal gift from
Abraham.

Abraham’s activities were not confined to the betterment to the Knanaya community. He
organized squads of people to construct roads and canals in Kaipuzha. Voluntary labor,
helped by free toddy and food, was readily available. During the months when there was
no work in the field, Abraham was able to persuade people to help with the construction
of these facilities. Several persons willingly ceded part of their property to construct
roads. Abraham paid compensation to those who were reluctant to part with their land. In
some cases, his followers did not hesitate to encroach on reluctant landowners.
Abraham’s popularity rose. There were a few in Kaipuzha - prominent, rich families -
who looked at this with jaundiced eyes. One of the roads that Abraham had thus built
leading to his house was closed off by one of these jealous persons. Long years of
acrimony ensued as a result. The present access road to Kalluvelil was constructed after
that incident.

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