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families had prepared a skit or some item for entertainment. It was a very intimate and
joyful gathering. The all-night session brought much comfort to Abraham and Naithy.

On the whole, the last ten years of his life were filled with pessimism and bitterness. In
1969 his youngest son went to Canada with his family. One of his grandsons, Xavi the
second son of Luka, and his wife Celine, stayed in Kalluvelil to look after the grand
parents.. One or two of the grand children had always lived for varying periods of time in
Kalluvelil. But Xavi was more than a grand son. Having lost his mother at an early age,
he was very attached to his grand parents and did everything in his power to make their
old age comfortable. Abraham tried to be stoic in his adversaries. But often he was
furious with people around him for what he perceived to be their foibles. His other sons
were preoccupied with their livelihood and their children’s future. (Abraham had
partitioned his possessions among his five sons in the 1960's, keeping for himself and his
wife the use and enjoyment of the properties of his two youngest sons.). Cash flow
dwindled to a mere trickle. He was too proud to ask for help. In the occasional letters to
his youngest sons he demanded money to cultivate their fields, conveniently ignoring that
when the harvest was taken, they would get nothing. So they were reluctant to send much
money to him, little realizing the dire needs of their parents. Servants and people around
him exploited Abraham’s physical inability to supervise. They were paid wages for very
little work. Deterioration was inevitable. His daughters visited and catered to him loyally
through these years. In 1972, Joseph and family, and 1974 Mathaikunju and family from
Canada visited him. But instead of being happy reunions, these were bitter encounters. In
1975 Naithy fell and broke her hip and was permanently bed-ridden. Gradually she lost
her memory. She needed constant care. One of the neighbors, and a loyal servant -
Eppachan and his wife looked after Naithy and Abraham with great solicitude.

Abraham’s immersion into naturopathy was an effective mask to hide the deteriorating
state of things. What was not available became part of the therapy that he preached and
practiced. He wrote and published several tracts extolling the virtue of simple living. He
made an effort to blend naturopathy, ayurveda, Indian traditional ways, and his own
religious convictions into a holistic scheme. He tried to find comfort in religion, as never
before. But while he claimed to hear the inner voice of God, he also riled against persons
around him. His elder brother - Uthup- who had become a regular and loving visitor to
the household was his great comfort. Uthup would walk to Kalluvelil, and persuade his
younger brother to go for short walks with him. Uthup died in March 1976. Abraham was
distraught at the loss of the last of his siblings and predicted that he himself would join
him within a year. .

In 1976 Chackochan and Thommy were invited to visit Canada and USA. Abraham
readily encouraged them to go, assuring them that he would be alright in their absence.
Xavi and Celine and his daughters were never too far from Abraham and Naithy. On
August 22, about six weeks into their American visit, they received a message from Xavi
to return immediately as Abraham was admitted to Caritas Hospital. Both of them left
immediately, hoping and praying that he would be alive when they reached home. They
visited him in the hospital. After a few more days, he was sent home as the doctors could
do very little. Abraham came home to Kalluveli. On September 16, Fr. Vijayan, one of

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