Page 72 - Microsoft Word - My story of Pathyil Kalluvelil as told by Joseph Pathyil

72

But in 1947 he completed his B.A.( Hons) in Economics. The degree was considered
more than equivalent to an M.A. degree. The best and the brightest of the country who
completed their B. A. Honours, sat for the Indian Administrative Service examination.
This was a successor to the celebrated Indian Civil Service Examination, the most
coveted in the British Empire. George was studying for his I.A.S. examination when he
married Theyamma. Distractions of wedding, receptions, and honeymoon did not help his
preparations. But one could appear for the I.A.S. examination several times, provided one
was not yet twenty five years old. George wrote the examination - one of the most
rigurous anywhere. He was successful to move on to the second level of oral examination
one among the only twenty per cent to have been so chosen . And only very few would
ultimately be selected to the service. George unfortunately did not make it to the final list.
But he accredited himself very well.

Jobs for educated persons were not easily available then. However George was able to
find good positions in various places: editor, teacher, professor, director of tutorial
colleges, accountant, etc. etc. But George remained a person in constant search. George’s
jobs took him to some of the most interesting places. Some time in Coimbatore, a few
years in Trichy, a short time in Canpore, a goodly number of years in Kochi as Labour
Relations Officer in a prestigious company, a short stint in Goa, and after several
peregrinations, the job in Bhilai..( In Goa he had taught his students to write against the
Portuguese domination, and was advised to leave the place summarily.) For the next
twenty years he settled in Bhilai with his family.

Theyamma , true to the Biblical stricture to accompany her husband wherever he would
go, went to all the places where George found employment. She had tremendous facility
with languages. Thus she picked up Tamil, Hindi, Chattisgadi, Gujerathi, and even a
smattering of Portuguese and Kongini along the way. While George too was a polyglot,
Theyamma knew the jartgons of the ordinary people. She made friends with all kinds of
people - Russians in Bhilai, the hierarchy in Madhya Pradesh and Bombay, and
Malayalees and others all over the country. When George changed jobs, Theyamma
usually packed her things, and retired for brief periods of time to Kannanakara and
Kalluvelil, to await word from her husband. She became an expert in train travelling
carrying all her worldly goods. Abraham was invariably delighted to see his daughter.

Theyamma, of course, spent some time in Madayanakavil. And when she was there , she
was most solicitous of her in laws. As the eldest daughter in law, she had responsibilities
that she acquitted with rectitude. However, she was away often and could not be of much
help in the day to day activities of the household. And George, the intellectual, was not
interested in the mundane matters of a household.

The years in Bhilai were significant in full development of Theyamma. Hers was one of
the pioneering families in the Steel town. Therefore as people - especially Christians and
Malayalees - joined the place, they found in Theyamma a guide and friend. She had a
wide circle of people who depended on her. She was involved in the foundation of the
catholic parish, as also the Malayalee association. More than once she organized
functions, in some of which she took personal part in speaking and acting .

www.knanayology.org