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Abraham could not give daily and constant care that these undertakings required. His
wife had too much to do without these additional burdens. His children were not
enthusiastic about such undertakings. Therefore when they helped, it was half-hearted. In
course of time these enterprises had to be abandoned. He was not an inventor; rather he
was an innovator and an imitator who adapted what he observed and read.
Abraham took great joy in fun-filled activities with his children. The whole family went
by boat to the Knanaya Conventions. A trip such as the one to Kallicherry would take
several days by boat. But it was a week of fun for all. Since he had acquired the biggest
boat in Kuttanadu he could take the whole household in it to go long distances, and
literally live in the “house-boat”. It was also used as a base of entertainment and strategy
meetings during the conventions. The family went to Kottayam for the annual boat race.
There, Abraham’s boat had a front-row position to watch the race. When the race was
over, the whole family usually went to see a cinema or a drama. It was the annual outing
that all looked forward to. Abraham took the family on pilgrimages and trips to many
places in the boat. He would regale the children with stories of old concerning many
families that dotted the banks. He taught them to observe the geography of the place and
enjoy the beauty of the area.
Abraham enjoyed travelling. In 1936 he took one of his sister-in-laws _ Aleyamma - who
wanted to join the Sisters of the Poor to Bangalore. He also went to Mangalore to meet
his friend V.J. Joseph. There he stayed as a guest of the Municipal Chairman. In 1938 he
went to Madras (present Chennai) to attend the National Eucharistic Congress along with
his eldest brother his brother in law (Kunjeppu Nelluppadathu), and his son Chackochan.
At the end of the Congress he had severe attack of appendicitis, and he had to be admitted
into the Madras General Hospital for surgery. There he met several English doctors and
nurses. (Two of the nurses who looked after him were Molly and Crissy, and he gave
these two names to two of his grand daughters.) Chackochan was brought back by his
uncle. As the group was waiting at The Central Station for the train back to Alwaye,
young Chackochan (hardly ten then) was sad at going back without his father and
wandered away from the group. Fortunately they found him as the train was leaving the
platform, got him on the train and came home. In 1947 Abraham accompanied his son
Joseph (Uppachan) who wanted to enter the Juniorate of the Brothers of St. Gabriel in
Coonoor. He made some very lasting friendships as a result of this visit, and on his
return encouraged many youngsters to join the Brothers. He would go again and again to
visit this son in Coonoor, and later in Madras and Kazipet where he studied or worked.
He kept very close friendship with the authorities of the society, hosted their visits to
Kerala, and helped in their causes. In 1953 Abraham, accompanied by Naithy went to
Goa on a pilgrimage at the tomb of St. Francis Xavier. From Goa he came to Madras to
visit Joseph who was studying in Loyola college and to visit Mylapore and other places
of interest. One of his daughters - Theyamma, who was married to George- was usually
out of Kerala. He visited her in Coimbatore, in Bhilai and other places on various
occasions. In the 50's he went as a delegate to an All-India Conference of Lay Catholic
Leaders in Nagpore. There he met several famous Catholic leaders. He took advantage of
this occasion to visit Vardha, one of the ashrams of Gandiji. He studied especially the
nature cure techniques used by the Mahathma. In 1964 he joined the pilgrims going to
www.knanayology.org

