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9. PANNIVELIL ANCESTORS

As the story of Pannivelil, and especially the Nellupadathu family, revolves around
Kaduthuruthy, a word about the ancient church is in order. Tradition has it that the first
th
church in Kaduthuruthy was built in the 6 century. The Knananites moved to
Kaduthuruthy and were mostly involved in commerce. Closeness to all the waterways
made the place a centre for much activity. The king of Vadakancore donated the land on
which the present church was built in 1456. In 1596 a single-stone cross, fifty feet in
height, was erected in front of the church – perhaps the tallest in all of India. The first
Apostolic Vicar of Kerala was consecrated in that church. In 1890 Monsignor Makil, the
first Vicar General for the Kananites, was also consecrated in Kaduthuruthy church. The
architecture, the symbols, and the sacred vessels of the church are treasure troves for
historians. The Nellupadathu family has been a pillar of support for the church.

Naithy Pannivelil’s ancestry can be traced to at least ten generations. At several points,
the family tree intersects with the Placheril and Tharayil ancestries. A branch of the
Kalingela family of Ettumannoor, lived in Mannanam for some time, and was known as
Thalassery. When they were invited to settle in Kaipuzha, they lived in Malayil.
Ittikuruvilla of Malayil married a Malyekal girl, and settled in Poothathil. Their son,
Chacko, married from Kandothu. They had two sons: Ittikuruvilla who came to be known
as Tharakan, and Thomman who settled in Manjoor, and came to be known as Thomman
Makil. Thomman married Mariam Padiyanickal, of Paingalam, and had five sons:
Kochokan who settled in Pannivelil in Iravimangalam, Ittiavira who lived in Makil,
Ouseph who became a priest, Ittikunju Pralel, and Thomman Makil Puthenpura.

Kochokan Pannivelil married Naithy Thayil and had three sons and two daughters.
Mariam was married to Kizhakeveettil, and Chachy to Placheril. His eldest son Chacko
married Kochanna Maniala. Kochanna was the only daughter and had inherited great
wealth. Chacko and Kochanna lived in Nellupadathu, which was one of the several
properties that Kochanna owned. They had no children. Chacko was a pious person. He
decided to go on a pilgrimage to Goa, to pray at the tomb of St. Francis Xavier, to grant
him children. The legend is that he went to Goa by foot. However true that be, since
faster modes of transportation were not easily available, he took a long time to return. On
his return to Nellupadathu, he was shocked to see Kochanna in the company of Mathai,
the steward. The story has it that Chacko saw them eat together. The real sight was
probably more compromising. In any case, Chacko walked away in deep despair to
Pannivelil, never to return to Kochanna. He built a hut for himself, and tried to kill
himself by setting fire to it. Fortunately, the fire was put out before grave damage was
done. After the initial period of depression, he lived in his own quiet quarters in prayer
and fasting. He knew his end was approaching, and summoned the priest to give him the
last rites. He died peacefully. Kochanna felt it her social duty to go for the funeral. She
went there with the silk scarf with which the widow traditionally covered her husband’s
body. The Pannivelil women who had already done the ceremony would not allow
Kochanna to have anything to do with Chacko’s funeral. The Makil family revered him
as a saint. Fr. Joseph Makil {Vallyakunjeppachan} kept the skull of Chacko for several

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