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E. JACOB

Jacob, popularly known as Chackochan was born on September 23, 1926. Even as a
youngster he evinced signs of unusual enterprise. When he was hardly twelve years old,
Abraham took him to Madras for the national Eucharistic Congress. At the end of the
Congress, when Abraham, his brother Thommy and others were waiting in the Madras
Central Station platform for the train to return home, they suddenly discovered that
Chackochan was missing. A frantic search followed. There was near despair in the minds
of relatives, as Madras was a sprawling city of millions of people, and a young boy could
easily be lost in its labarynthine streets and by-ways. The train was soon to depart, and
yet there was no sign of Chackochan. They combed places around the station and were
ready to give up the search, when Chackochan was heard screaming his lungs out
frantically seeking his uncles and others. He had been devastated that he was to return
home without his father who was admitted to the Madras General Hospital, and had gone
looking for him. That was not to be the last time when Chackochan would disappear
unannounced.

His early education was in the Convent School, followed by one year in Kadutrhuruthy
under the watchful guardianship if his maternal uncle. Then back to Kaipuzha for three
years in St. George’s English School. Chackochan was handsome, tall, popular, ready to
entertain, and willing to be sociable. He fully participated in sports, games and extra-
curricular activities. It was not uncommon to see him take part in the annual drama put on
by the school. He was naturally bright and did not need to study for tests and exams..
After completing his middle school years, he was sent to St. Ephraim’s High School, the
Alma Mater of his father. There, ruling supreme as headmaster was Fr. William, a
classmate and friend of Abraham. It was felt that Chackochan would be well taken care
of at Mannanam. He had several of his relatives and friends from Kaipuzha
accompanying him on the long daily walk of approximately three miles to the school. His
cousins Luka Pathyil, and Luka Tharayil enjoyed making mischief at least as much as
Chackochan. They had to board a ferry to cross the Mannanam canal. Chackochan and
friends took singular pleasure in capsizing the boat, especially if there were pretty girls
on the ferry. Of course this would delay their arrival in school or at home. But all of them
managed to stick to the the same story. In class, apart from being a moderately good
student, Chackochan soon proved to be a handful. Fr. William had a soft corner for the
son of his friend and confidant. But as the usually strict English teacher, “Swamy”, said
in despair: “ The wonderful Pathyil cousins are not under my control”. Those were the
years when the State Congress of Travancore was agitating in tandem with the Indian
National Congress to achieve independence for India. Chackochan and the two Lukas
joined the movement. Unbeknown to their parents, they went for rallies and
demonstrations, of course skipping classes, with no compunction. Occasionally they
would go to Athirampuzha, where Chackochan’s brother Luka would gently admonish
him, but never betray his siblings. More than once Uthup , the father of Luka would
catch them at the scene of crime. All three were brought home by boat. Uthup presented
all three culprits to his brother to mete out punishment. Abraham had very little hesitation
punishing them, though he would go soft on his late sister’s son, Luka Tharayil. But
caning was a way of life with these active youngsters. Once Chackochan came home with

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