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A. LUKOSE

Luka was the eldest of the twelve children born to Naithy and Abraham Kalluvelil. He
was born on December 17, 1915, in the maternal house in Iravimangalam as was the
custom. The Pannivelil family was elated at the birth of the first grandchild. Till his death
all Pannivelils called him KunjuLuka. While the Pathyil side of the family called him
Luka, his friends and admirers in Athirampuzha would always call him Lukachan. His in-
laws in Ranni called him Lukochan. His younger brothers (and cousin brothers) called
him Chettan, and to his sisters he was Kunjanja. Thus he was born to love and deep
affection, which he enjoyed throughout his life. His early years were spent in the
company of his paternal grandparents and cousins because of which he always considered
Pathyil household as home. He was named after Kochokan, and was his favorite
grandson.

By the time Lukose (as we shall call him through our narrative) was ready to go to
school, the family had moved to Kalluvelil. He early education was in St. Mathew’s
Primary School, Kaipuzha. After his schooling there, he was admitted to the newly
opened St. George’s English School in Kaipuzha. He was in the first batch, along with
Chummaru Kutty Chamakalayil and others. In spite of the occasional presence of his
father in the school as manager and correspondent, Lukose found the discipline of the
school rather inhibiting. In Second Form (equivalent to grade 7), when one of the
teachers asked him to stand up and receive punishment for something which Lukose did
not think he deserved, he walked out of the classroom, never to return.. His formal
education ended there and then. But Lukose passed off all his life as a well educated
person. His captivating personality, wavy hair, deep-set eyes and spectacles (his nephews
and nieces called him Kannaatichachan), calm demeanor, his easy smile, his ability to
speak in public, his unusual turn of phrase, his marvelous vocabulary, and his self-
confidence, belied his lack of higher education.

Abraham got Lukose to help in his manifold activities relating to the household and
farms. In 1928 when the first toddy shop was auctioned it was Lukose, barely 13 then,
who helped his father to look after many things for him. But he was obviously not yet
ready to assume full and independent responsibility for businesses. All through his
business in toddy shops, he would send his father detailed account of daily income and
expenses without fail. He would also remit all monies to his father, keeping very little for
himself. Even the household expenses would be detailed in the accounts. On June 6, 1933
Lukose married Achamma Nedunthuruthil, born on July 30, 1917, and baptized in
Kaduthuruthy. Achamma had studied in the Convent school in Kaipuzha. Abraham used
to help in the production of plays and entertainments in the school. During one such
occasion he had helped to “make up” Achamma to act the part of Lucifer. He was
impressed by the young lady, and decided to propose the marriage alliance with Lukose.
On June 26, 1933 they were married. It was on the same day that his sister Mariamma
was given in marriage to Chamakala ChummaruKutty. (Some people had a superstitious
belief that two marriages on the same day in the same family, in the same pandal would
bring about tragedy to one of the parties !!).

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