A STATUTORY CHRISTIAN BOARD IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR

The location of a monastery or church is always very distinct. For example, the CMI (Carmelites of Mary Immaculate) Monastery at Thevara in Cochin, an indigenous Syrian Catholic religious organization founded in 1831; the founder friars of that monastery had a vision. They knew how to generate funds from the Catholic Community for their development projects. These far-sighted friars bought large extents of land in Thevara. This was predominantly dominated by the fisher folk.  These fishermen were then economically weak and socially, culturally, and educationally backward. At the outset the friars set up a primary school, and a small printing press. The school gradually developed into a high school with a hostel; and recently they set up a CBSE School as well. They further expanded into the making of Sacred Heart College, an Arts and Science College, which was established in 1944 with magnificent buildings fringed with attractive gardens and potted plants,    a large library, a spacious auditorium, vast play grounds and facilities for both sports and games. At present the college is accredited with five star statuses and a grade by the NAAS (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) and it has become an autonomous college. The college offered 14 under graduate and 14 post-graduate courses in varied subjects to cope with the demands of the modern age. The printing press too grew considerably. They renovated the church and monastery building. These institutions offered jobs for a lot of people. A different class of people with intellectual acumen, abilities, good values and virtues came to be associated with these institutions. A good number of them settled close to the college out of convenience. The elite in the City of Cochin also moved to this area not only for its scenic backwater location but also due to the availability of important amenities for the development of their children. This made drastic changes in the lives of common man. Now the people living in Thevara are all literate; they are all employed, living in stylish and modern buildings. Their living conditions too have improved considerably. Privation and sufferings are stories of the past. Nobody can ignore the great contribution and services of the friars and the nuns of varied congregations in the field of education, health and social service sectors. The yeoman services they have rendered for the peace and progress of common man especially in the State of Kerala is highly laudable. I cannot but comment that these ideals they upheld are realities of the past. I am amazed to note the changing scenario.

 Day by day the values and virtues are failing; deterioration has extended its tentacles to all walks of life including Christianity. The profession of a friar and nun especially secular priests have degenerated into a mere livelihood for many. Indiscipline disobedience, lecherous behaviour and materialism are the rules of the day.

 I was flabbergasted when a protest march was taken out by the secular priests brazenly through the public roads in the City of Cochin, a few years back, against their spiritual leader and Bishop Dr. Sebastian Mankuzhikari, who tried to introduce the ancient Chaldean order of worship in churches under the Ernakulam Diocese. The secular priests finally succeeded in ignominiously transferring him to an insignificant diocese at Thamarassery in Kozhikode district.

Another unfortunate and shocking episode reported in the news media was that of the vicar of St Mary’s Church at Njarakkal and a section of the fanatic religious group of parishioners, who criminally intimidated and assaulted two CMC sisters with the common intention to take control and management of the Convent School situated on the first floor of the convent building and the Poor Home, which was established in 1945. Both these belong to the CMC Convent at Njarakkal. The vicar’s futile attempt was on the basis of a fraudulent by-law fabricated by him in connivance with the Bishop of Ernakulam diocese. They manipulated and obtained orders from the Deputy Director of Public Instruction. This was done without the knowledge of the sisters of the convent. The provocation for the atrocious and concerted acts was due to the dismissal of the service of their Manager, who was the vicar of St. Mary’s Church at Njarakkal. He was appointed to the post of Manager by the Mother Superior of the Convent. The Vicar was asked to leave on the charges of mismanagement and misappropriation of the funds of their school. In order to cover up his wickedness, conspiracy, and to wriggle out of the grievous felony, the Vicar of Njarakkal Church filed a writ petition, WP(C) No. 30106 of 2006 of the High Court of Kerala, and obtained a judgment dated 11-08-2010 from the single bench, which was technically in his favour. But the single judge erroneously omitted to consider the real bone of contentions in the case. What the judge failed to realize was -who bought, and to whom the landed property of the school belonged and who started the original Convent Girls School. That was the crux of the issue. Aggrieved by the judgment of the single bench, the Mother Superior filed an appeal, WA No. 28 of 2011 before the High Court of Kerala. A division bench presided over by Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair and Justice B.P. Ray heard that appeal in detail along with other connected appeals filed, WA Nos. 28, 48, 66, 69 & 76 of 2011, and passed an elaborate, common, appellate judgment dated 12-4-2011, reversing the judgment passed by the single judge. The Vicar, the looser, moved Special Leave Petition No. 12909 of 2011 before the Supreme Court of India, but the SLP was dismissed as per order dated 17-5-2011 and upheld the appellate judgment passed by the division bench. The Court upheld the absolute right of the Mother Superior of the Convent over the Little Flower Convent School and Poor Home and the right of the Mother Superior of Little Flower Convent, Njarakkal, in Ernakulam district as the Manager of both the institutions. The Convent sisters further created history of sorts when they sued a Syro-Malabar Bishop of the Ernakulam diocese and the priest of St Mary’s Church, Njarakkal for criminal intimidation, conspiracy and forgery, and for man-handling two CMC sisters with their common intention to take control and management of the school and Poor Home belonging to the convent fraudulently.

I too have personal experiences wherein the Bishop of Ernakulam diocese and secular priests, through murky deals, were involved in making such blatant moves. I knew personally that the bishops tried to unduly influence and coerce owners of private chapels to assign their properties to the bishop of Ernakulam. On another occasion, they trespassed into my private property and illegally erected a ‘Bhandaram’, the church offering treasury, which they removed when a complaint was moved against the bishop and the secular priest with a copy to the Sub Inspector of Police. Their concerted acts were in blatant violation of the tenets of Christian Commandments, teachings and practices.

The vows of “poverty, chastity and obedience” are conveniently forgotten by the priests. Nowadays priests liberate themselves from the cassock. They are often spotted in hotels and cinemas in the city. They drive around in their own posh cars, which is the new status symbol. Education has become a business for the secular priests; they charge exorbitant fees for admission to schools, colleges and professional courses. Lump sums are demanded   for the appointment of teachers and lecturers; the Carmelite Missionary of India (C.M.I. friars and C.M.C. nuns) are no exception. Selfless service has become anathema, abhorrence and abomination to them. I was disturbed by a recent revelation in our leading local daily, “Malayala Manorama.” It had reported that the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Jacobite Bishop Kuriakose Mar Clemis, paid three crore rupees to the hierarchy to get the ‘Bishop’ title four years ago. Merit is often overlooked.

St. George, at Edappally, Edathua and Arthungal in Kerala, was a Roman soldier posted in Palestine. He was carved as the representation of a man (warrior) on horseback pursuing a dragon. The tradition is that the hero is supposed to have attacked the dragon and killed the monster concealed himself, and preyed upon the human race. This episode had no foundation in history. However, in 1494 Pope Gelasius I included George among those “whose names are rightly reverenced among us, but whose actions are known only to God.” In 1963 the Church, bowing to scholarship, removed St George from the Universal Calendar, Thirty-seven years later Pope John Paul II, bowing to popular faith, reinstated him. It is just a shame that nothing certain is known about him. I was rudely shaken up to hear that twenty-five crores of rupees were spent to construct St. George Church at Edappally. It may require another five crores to complete it. Most of the churches were reconstructed or are under renovation, spending exorbitant amounts when the global economy is in the grip of a recession. Aren’t austerity and simplicity the need of the hour? I would have appreciated if the Church had invested this money for erection of an industrial unit which would generate employment and feed the hungry mouths and / or they utilized it for the modernization of their school and hospital at Edappally.

I was again perturbed at the revelation of Sr. Jesme, an able and efficient principal of St. Mary’s College at Trichur, Her university records eloquently speak about her outstanding academic brilliance. Sr. Jesme, (Jesus and me), in her autobiography in Malayalam namely “Amen: Oru Kanyastrhreyude Atmakadha” (An autobiography of a nun) reveals the group interests, politics,, quarrels and fights for power and positions in their convents and educational institutions. It portrays the outbreak of suppressed sex among the convent sisters and in their college hostels and also exploitation of sex by the priests. It explains the harassment meted out to her as principal for her truthful and correct decision to oppose the collection of capitation fee for various new courses and illegal donations and unfair appropriation of caution deposits from students by the management. The hierarchy in their provincial house at Trichur and some of the superior nuns branded her insane and made endeavours to put her in mental asylum in order to usurp her seat of principal of the college. Ultimately she put an end to the bitter episode by taking a hard and painful decision to quit her Carmelite Missionary Congregation (CMC) at Trichur.

The friars, nuns and secular priests of various orders and congregations extract large amounts of money as capitation fees for admissions to medical, engineering, and other unaided courses in their management quotas.  They do the same for appointments to the posts of teachers and lecturers in their institutions. Did they keep and maintain accounts for such money collected? Did anyone audit such accounts? Everybody knows that these amounts are misappropriated and mismanaged. Many of the friars and nuns and secular priests pilfer such funds to help their close relations. Who will bell the cat is now the moot question?

Sodomy, incest, the abuse of nuns and the molestation of children have been endemic in the Christian Church from its very origins. Abuse of children in Church-run institutions by celibate priests has become an international scandal. The Churches that once were the gathering point for entire communities are now half empty with only gray heads during worship. Disgusted with sex abuse scandals, highly exaggerated and fabricated gospels and fables, and for other reasons like exploitation of the laity on sacraments, mass attendance is declining among the younger generation, under age group of 30, in the western countries including Italy. Did a myriad of books and articles start to decay? Recently my cousins, Celin Jose and Jose Neerackal, who were working at Scotland, told me that a church at Dundee in Scotland has been converted into a beer parlour. How colossal is the problem? We have reached a stage where we cannot imagine being anything but a Catholic. Can the Church really reverse this exodus of young adults? The population of the world is exploding, but the Church is losing ground. The Church is in a steep state of decline. A few blind believers could be cheated and exploited throughout their life; the Church could cheat or exploit some of their sheep for some time but the Church cannot cheat or exploit all their sheep for all time to come. Everything, faith or institution, which had a beginning and growth has an ending too. This is a natural rule of law.

Shibu K.P. (Kalamparambil, Karukutty, a former friar of Vincentian Order) in his autobiography, “Oru Vaidikante Hrudayamitha,” (This is the Heart of a Priest) discloses, “The convents and nunneries are being converted into brothels. The priests have sex with nuns at night in these convents. Because of these acts, the chastity of the priests and nuns has come under suspicion. Their love for God has shrunk. Some of the clergy indulge in watching pornography and reading pornographic material. They lose themselves in this habit. These books and DVDs are kept in secret places and can’t be found easily.”

I was stunned, when Bishop John Thattungal, of Kochi diocese, who raised a storm following his decision to adopt a thirty year old woman as his daughter, has been suspended by Pope Benedict XVI, in 2008.

Some of the secular priests and their hierarchy would quarrel over doctrines during the day and sexually harass nuns during the night. Old wine and other people’s wives are their weakness. I was astounded by the revelation of Sister Mary Chandy in her autobiography “Nanma Niranjavale Swasthi,” (Peace to the One filled with Grace), revealed, “The cry of a baby came from the bathroom of one of the inner rooms along with the sobs of a woman. We used our might to force open the bathroom door and what we saw would break anyone’s heart. A nun who had given birth to a child was pushing the head of the baby into the closet. The bathroom was filled with blood. The legs of the child, which were sticking out of the closet, were kicking for life.” She describes some of the sexual harassments meted out by a number of nuns in convents at the hands of some lecherous secular priests. Convent sisters are coerced to offer – how many jugs of wine, how many cauldrons of food, and how many young nuns to some of these secular priests! The hierarchy and the mother superiors of some of the convents abetted and encouraged such heinous crimes. They coerce these young nuns into “sin” as part of the oath of obedience. Those who questioned it were harassed and had to leave the convent like Sr. Mary Chandy, who was forced to hit the head of a secular priest with a wooden stool to avert an attempt of molestation and rape on her. Some of the secular priests and the hierarchy of the convent chase them even outside their territory and try their best to malign and ostracize them. I take this opportunity to bring to the notice of the priests and friars, especially those of the Roman Catholic Churches that Article 23 of the Constitution of India prohibits traffic on women. Therefore those who harass and sexually exploit the nuns on the basis of one of the vows they had taken which is “the vow of obedience” shall be prosecuted for offences, convicted and sentenced to undergo imprisonment prescribed under the Indian Penal Code.

Retreat is becoming the new money minting business of the last quarter of the 20^th century. The spiritual leaders, inter-alia, advise the throng of believers to take care not to let the anger, the grudge, whatever they are harbouring inside them which poison their life; forgive your enemy and forget the episode is the elixir for chronic ailments like cancer. I don’t know the veracity of their statements. However people fall for it and gave alms liberally to them. Brother Dhinakaran became a multi-millionaire and started a university of his own. The self proclaimed Bishop Yohannan bought thousands of acres of plantations, built palaces, acquired schools and colleges. The friars of Vincentian congregation started popular mission retreats at Potta. When their retreat turned out to be a crowd puller; they bought sprawling areas on either side of NH-47 on the banks of River Chalakudy. They are extending their territory eastwards to the foot-hills of Sahyadri Mountains. Their products like Jose Anathanam and his nephew has made huge investments in real estate. They bought a prime property, vast area, at Kumbalam abutting the NH-47 on the western side and backwaters on the eastern side.  Mullakkara Devassy is trying to outdo others by campaigns and by the sale of his CDs. Fr. Sebastian Kaiparambath, a charismatic product, former vicar of a church at Udayanapuram (2004-05) made a prophesy that the sun would vanish and the water is going to engulf the earth. His prophesy spread like a wild fire. The blind believers hoarded bundles of candle sticks and match boxes to deter the ensuing darkness. The candle and match box manufacturers made a quick buck. Such foolish prophets and self-proclaimed saints are mushrooming. They are misguiding and looting their blind believers. I recall the words of Desmond Tutu, “When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said ‘Let us pray.’ We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.” (Desmond Mpilo Tutu, (born on October 7, 1931,) is the first black Archbishop of Cape Town of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa. He is a social rights activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid. He was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1984.)

The rabbi sighed, “How the days rush by, how rapidly the one pursued the next! Dawn, dusk, the passage of the sun, the passage of the moon after moon; the children became men, black hairs withered, the sea ate into the land, mountains were stripped bare and still the One they awaited did not come!”

The Catholic Church should stop the practice of recruiting in novitiates at a very young age. The young boys and girls who have the “Call of the Lord” should be fully convinced and aware of what they are going into. Only then will they be doing justice to their choice in life, the life of celibacy and sacrifice which will make them totally dedicated and devoted. In the event of he / she cannot stay a celibate, it is better to liberate them from the prison of celibacy. Let them abandon the holy life, strip off the cassock, and get married and settled in life. Holy Bible, Apostle Paul advised the unmarried and the widows (1 Corinthians 7 Verses 9,) “But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” In the event of a priest or friar or nun desires to marry, their parental share / patrimony deposited in the monastery or convent or with their hierarchy should be returned forthwith with 6% simple interest on filing his / her application expressing his / her wish to leave the order/congregation. Such individuals may be permitted to marry and lead a normal life with their family. It is the duty of the Catholic Church and the society to accept and rehabilitate without any stigma attached to them. The Catholic Church should realize and accept the fact that sex is not a sin; it is only a biological necessity. Kamala Surayya (Madhavikutty,) the daring woman and a great novelist, ripped the mask of sexual taboos in the orthodox society. Morality is nothing but lack of opportunity. There are only two unpardonable crimes in the code of sexual conduct, rape and telling of lies or breach of promise. The outbreak of suppressed sex is one of the major problems our society faces today. The Catholic Church could also bring reforms, “like the priests of Ancient Christians, the secular priests of Roman Catholic Church also could be allowed to marry and maintain a family.” This would prevent sexual exploitation of hapless and unwilling nuns in convents.

More shocking than the sex was the violence and cruelty that went with it. The CBI is once again directed by the High Court of Kerala to probe into “the Abhaya case. The ghost of Sr. Abhaya, the victim of a murder case in a convent at Kottayam, haunts top echelon in the religion and the society.”

I am of the opinion that a statutory Christian Board, similar to the Devaswom Boards in Kerala State, shall be constituted by the government to control and manage the church properties fraudulently obtained from the laities and to audit their accounts. Mismanagement and misappropriation of church funds and funds of educational institutions, hospitals and others have to be curtailed. Moreover, in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India and the security and safety of its citizens, a foreign sovereign or Pope or Patriarch or anyother person shall not be allowed to interfere in the affairs of our Churches or Faiths. Put an end to all the vestiges of the colonial rule. A competent and qualified person from among the laymen or a priest can be appointed as Pope or Patriarch to head the statutory Christian Board with the concurrence of the Govt. of India. Such Pope or Patriarch shall not have any allegiance or subjugation to the Pope at Vatican or Patriarch in Antioch or elsewhere and shall be treated as equal to Pope or Patriarch elsewhere.

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

KUMBALAM VILLAGE

Kumbalam Village is a cluster of tiny islands with sylvan surroundings, namely Kumbalam, Panangad (including Madavana and Udayathumvathal), Cheppanam and Chathamma. These Islands are popping out in the Vembanad ‘Kayal,’ Lake, and the shores of which are washed by the gentle waves of the backwaters. In olden times, Kumbalam desom was a seat of higher learning in the Vedas, a significant military base, a military training centre, and a hub for trade. It is situated on the Muzuris-Kollam (Kodungallur-Quilon) inland-navigation route through which Megasthenese (B.C. 98), Pliny (A.D.23-79,) Ptolomy-2 (A.D.126-161), Marco Polo (A.D.1290-93) and other foreign travelers cruised this region, and making this location geographically significant. It is a potential destination for tourists. Kumbalam was the prominent among the ancient Vendanat asylums and was one of the most significant among the sixty-four ‘Gramams’, Brahmin settlements in Chera Empire. At present, it is one of the major developing sub-urban islands situated seven kilometers South-west of Ernakulam in the City of Cochin. There are a lot of similar Islands on that stretch, further to the east as well as to the west, south and north. The four lined National Highway (NH-47), and the service roads on either side pass through the north-western side of Panangad Island and south-eastern portion of Kumbalam Island. The Ernakulam-Thiruvananthapuram railway line via, Alleppy also passes through the Kumbalam Island.  Kumbalam has a major railway station too. It is the southern gateway to the commercial City of Cochin for people coming from Alleppy and the other southern districts of Kerala State. It is also a significant landmark in the National Highway and Southern Railway maps. The Islanders occupying the southern areas, who previously enjoyed the stillness of night, have now started to adjust to the demented shrieking of sirens from trains moved fast tearing the countryside  and the hum of heavy traffic on National Highway-47 that lulls them to sleep.

Kumbalam, a sub-urban island, and part and parcel of the agglomeration of Greater Cochin Development Authority (G.C.D.A.,) situates on the south-western side not far from the border of the Corporation of Cochin. Panangad Island situates on the south-eastern side of Kumbalam and the other two Islands, Cheppanam and Chathamma are placed at a stretch further east. These tiny Islands comprised in Kumbalam Village were a part of the erstwhile Chera Empire. The 9^th and 10^th centuries of early Kulasekhara rule constitute a “Golden Age” in Kerala history. Rama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal (1090-1102 A.D) was the last king of Mahodayapuram who was defeated by Chola King Kulottunga, and burned down the city of Mahodayapuram. Rama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal moved his base to Kollam and attacked Chola capital and Chola king Kolottunga was defeated (1100 A.D.) and he regained freedom for Chera country. In the meanwhile, his matrilineal nephews took control of his empire. He voluntarily moved to Kollam. Through the stories that were narrated to us by our grandparents, I was familiarized with Oli Desavazhi Nambuthiri, my ancestors, who were in the governing council of the King. He and his ‘Nair’ forces, escorted the Chera King and his entourage with all their enormous wealth up to the entrance of River Pampa enroute to Kollam. Rama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal (1090-1102 A.D.) mentioned in Rameswarathkoil inscription is therefore regarded as the founder of Venad Kingdom. Oli Nambuthiri, the ‘Desavazhi’ of Kumbalam, my ancestors, used to renew their century old allegiance and friendship with the erstwhile Chera King (King of Venad,) who was domiciled at Kollam. Then they moved to their palace at Padmanabhapuram, Later, His Excellency Anizham Tirunal Marthanda Varma, the   Maharajah of Travancore shifted his headquarters to Kawadiyar Palace at Thiruvananthapuram. Venad attained the status of an independent kingdom during his reign.

In the beginning of 12^th century Kumbalam became a part of the princely State of Cochin.  In 1755, Ramayyan Dalawa, at the instance of His Highness Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, Maharaja (1729-58) of the erstwhile state of Travancore, annexed Karappuram (Cherthala Taluk,)  and then Kumbalam became the southern boundary of the State of Cochin. Still there are boundary stones, laid with the inscription “KO-THI” in Malayalam (“KO” on the northern side and “THI” on southern side of the stones popping out in the mid backwaters,) situated in between Kumbalam and Arookutty to demarcate the boundary of erstwhile states of Kochi and Travancore. Later, on July 1, 1949, Kochi merged with the princely State of Travancore and was renamed as Travancore-Cochin (or “Thiru-Kochi” in Malayalam) with the written understanding that the capital shall be at Trivandrum and the High Court shall be at Ernakulam. Subsequently, both Travancore-Cochin and the former district of Madras Presidency, namely Malabar joined together to form what is the present Kerala State on November 1, 1956, which is the domain of the ‘Malayalis’ in the Union of India. Therefore, the history of Kumbalam cannot be different from the rest of Kerala State and the rest of the Indian peninsular region and the sub-continent.  Kumbalam has made its own special contributions to the geographical, historical, political, economic, social and cultural aspects of life.

         

Kumbalam, the main Island, is a narrow strip of land. It is about four kilo-meters in length and an average of about one kilo-meter in width. It is one of the major developing Islands of Kumbalam Village. “Ramada Resorts”, a five star Resort, has erected their edifice on the waterfront at the southern-tip of the Kumbalam Island. Its landscape and the view across are breathtaking. “The Choice Foundation” too has opened their head office in the adjoining waterfront with sprawling lawns and an infinity pool. Our virgin island is now a prime area for big time investors. The islands comprising Kumbalam Village are Kumbalam (literally meaning an island with a pot-belly); Panangad (a land afforested with ‘Choonda’ palms); Cheppanam (originally a sheltered island afforested with red mangrove, Red ‘Kandal’, Rhizophora applicata or mucronata;) and Chathamma (a land of demons or a land where you can see a variety of water birds). Panangad situates on the South-east of Kumbalam. Cheppanam and Chathamma are smaller sheltered Islands placed at a stretch further east. Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) situates in the north-western area of Panangad Island abutting National Highway-47. A few housing projects have come up in Panangad Island.

          Census Report 2011: Area according to Type of Land: Kumbalam is a Grade I Grama Panchayath and Village. The total number of plots is 1952 and total area is 2079.62 Hectres (corresponding to 513667 cents or 5136.67 Acres.) There are 823 plots of wet lands having an area of 449.45 Hectres (corresponding to 1110.14 Acres); and 1129 plots of dry lands having an area of 1630.17 Hectres (corresponding to 4026.53 Acres.) Forest area is nil. The total area of the panchayath roads is 10 .35 Acres. The price of land is five lakh rupees per cent. The total length of the National Highway passing through this village is 3.5 kilometers. Kumbalam is situated at 9.916667 degree North latitude and at 76. 3 degree East longitude. The total number of panchayath wards is 19. Kumbalam Panchayat area comes under the Palluruthy Block Panchayath, Ernakulam District Panchayath, Trippunithura legislative constituency and Ernakulam parliamentary constituency.

As per the Census Report of 1901, the total population of Kumbalam Village was 7472 out of which 3754 were males and 3718 were females. The total number of cows was 3057, calves 91; buffalos 4 and sheep 91.

Census India Report of 2011: Population of Kumbalam Grade I Grama Panchayath and Village:  The total population of Kumbalam Village is 29193 out of which 14406 are males and 14787 are females. The total number of literates is 25853 out of which 12976 are males and 12877 are females. 62. 97% of the total population are Hindus (religions and all castes put together,) 12.42% are Muslims and  24.33% are Christians and others 0.28%.

Population of Children with age of 0-6 is 2518 which is 8.63 % of total population of Kumbalam (CT). In Kumbalam, Female Sex Ratio is 1026 against state average of 1084. Moreover Child Sex Ratio in Kumbalam is around 1005 compared to Kerala state average of 964. Literacy rate of Kumbalam is 96.15 % higher than state average of 94.00 %. In Kumbalam, Male literacy is around 97.98 % while female literacy rate is 94.37%. 

The number of scheduled castes is 2438 and scheduled tribe is 48. The number of scheduled caste houses is 778 and they all have potable water connections but only 665 houses are electrified. It is unfortunate that only 5 houses have latrine. (The state government and the panchayath should render necessary financial help to them to have such significant amenity.) 

The total number of buildings is 7225 out of which normal houses are 7207. There are 912 huts. (These hut dwellers require interest free financial help, from the government and panchayath, which shall be allowed to be repaid in reasonable instalments.) There are 6 unnumbered buildings as well.

Boundaries: These clusters of Islands are bound by the Vembanad ‘Kayal’, Lake. Thevara and Konthuruthy Islands within the limits of Corporation of Kochi; and Nettoor Island under Maradu Municipality situates further north. Udayamperoor Panchayath situates further east. Aroor, Edacochi and Edacochi and Palluruthy Islands under Corporation of Kochi position further west. Willington Island on the north-west and Perumbalam and Arookutty Islands comprised in Alleppy District situates further south. 

Excerpts from

 MEMOIRS

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril
josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com memoirs

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com

THE GREAT DELUGES OF 1341 AND 1924 AND SIGNIFICANCE OF FLOOD PLANNING

Due to great deluge in River Periyar the ancient port town of Muziris in Malabar Coast, which is depicted in every known map of antiquity, disappeared suddenly and without a trace. It was presumably because of a cataclysmic event in 1341, in the River Periyar that altered the geography of the region. A new land mass accreted suddenly on the western coast from Kodungallur to Alleppy. The flood water breached the land mass, between the present Fortcochin and Vypeen, and opened up the present Cochin Estuary or ‘Kochazy’ and harbour and helped in the formation of Vembanad Backwater. The Islands located on the northern side of Cochin estuary is popularly known as the Vypeen Islands changed access to the River Periyar. It was only the most spectacular of the geological changes and land formation that have been going on in that area from time immemorial. A geophysical survey of the region has shown that 200–300 years ago the shoreline lay about three kilometers east of the present coast and that some 2,000 years earlier it lay even further east, about 6.5 km inland and in those days Trippunithura, Kaduthuruthy, Athirampuzha, Kottayam, Changanassery and Edathwa were tiny port towns on that stretch of coastline. If Muziris had been situated somewhere here in Roman times, the coast at that time would have run some 4-5 km east of its present line. The regular silting up of the river mouth finally forced it to cease activity as a port.

During the early days low lying areas at Kumbalam were ‘Uppalam,’ lands used for manufacturing salt from brine. After the monsoon, the salt water was allowed to fill in the low lying areas situated on the eastern part of Kumbalam. The bunds would be closed after filling with brine. The water would evaporate in the scorching sun. In a few days time we would get pure salt. As per the colonial Settlement Registers, a few items of our ancestral wetland properties, comprised in old Sy. No. 71/5, Padanna-nilam, and old Sy. No. 91/7, Uppukattathara, of Kumbalam village in Kanayannur taluk. Uppukattathara meant that the drained land was used to store “the manufactured dry salt.” Those properties are situated near the house of Ousepachan Ameparampil and Ouseph Kalassery. It was one of the sources of our ancestral income. During the unprecedented deluge in 1341, a new delta namely Kumbalangi, which meant a curtain or shutter to Kumbalam, was formed and its position is further west of Aroor and Edakochi. There are some other islands beyond Kumbalanghi Island namely Kannamaly, Chellanam, Kandakadvu and Kannamaly belt blocked the brine that used to come directly from the Arabian Sea through the water-pass between the Aroor-Edacochi sand-bund, which was popping in and out in backwaters. That event put an end to our ancestral salt manufacturing business.

After the deluge of 1341, lots of sand was deposited in wet lands at Panangad and Cheppanam Islands in Kumbalam Village. Gradually, a few of the Illoms/Manas at Kumbalam and some of their close Nair Madambis too shifted their residence to such large drained lands at Panangad.   Puthuva Illom/Mana suffered great losses due to the floods at Alangad area and they shifted their residence from Alangad near Aluva and settled at Kumbalam south area.

The Great flood of July 1924, or the popularly known flood of 99, which occurred in 1099 ME in the Malayalam Calendar, when Rivers Periyar, Meenachil,  Pampa, Muvattupuzha and others originating from Sahyadri Mountains and hills flooded in Kerala state, South India. The rain continued for about three weeks. Many districts of the present day Kerala were deeply submerged in water by this flood – From Trichur to Ernakulam; from Idukki to Kottayam and even up to Alappuzha including Kuttanad region. Even a huge mountain called Karinthiri Malai was washed away by this flood and the road to Munnar also vanished along with it. As the road to Munnar was lost by this flood, a new road from Ernakulam to Munnar became necessary. The present day road from Ernakulam to Munnar was constructed after this event.

The old generation of Kerala believes that the cause of this great flood was a major breach of the Mullaperiyar Dam. That is why the flood was so powerful, even at Munnar, and tore apart even a mountain as big as Karinthiri. The breach of Mullaperiyar occurred 29 years after the dam was constructed. At that time, there was no other dam in the region and there is no other possible reason that can be attributed for such a destructive flood.

The devastating flood claimed thousands of lives, animals and birds, and caused severe damages to buildings, roads and other structures, and heavy damages to crops in Kerala. Most of the areas in the erstwhile Travancore and Cochin states and parts of Malabar region were submerged under the flood water. In Munnar around 485 cm of rain fall was reported during the flood and wide spread destruction occurred. Kundala Valley Railway, one of the first narrow gauge railway lines constructed at Munnar was completely destroyed by the flood waters. This flood is still a fearful memory with the old generation still alive in Kerala and most of them were kids then. Also, as a historical touch of this flood, the church-records in most ancient churches were also damaged by this flood. So, in almost all ancient churches, the church records start only from 1924 AD.

Yet another significant episode was the conversion of Scheduled Castes (Pulayas) of Kumbalam Islands to Christian faith during the deluge of August 1924. The floods lasted for about two weeks. Kuttanad and Alleppy in erstwhile Travancore, and  deltan regions of Kochi lay submerged for days in the water that was gushing in, nature’s fury with a vengeance. When the Islands in Kumbalam Village were submerged, the Scheduled Caste families suffered the most; rain water flooded their dilapidated huts. Fr. Joseph Painumkal, a Syrian  Catholic priest, took the initiative and provided them with food, clothes and shelter in the church buildings. They were engaged for casual labour. Lured by this some of them were converted into Christian faith.

However, floods can also bring many benefits, such as recharging ground water, making soil more fertile and increasing nutrients in some soils. Flood waters kills pests in the farming land. Flooding can spread nutrients to lakes and rivers, which can lead to increased biomass and improved fisheries for a few years.

For some fish species, an inundated flood plain may form a highly suitable location for spawning with few predators and enhanced levels of nutrients or food.  Bird populations may also profit from the boost in food production caused by flooding.

In the changing scenario of enhanced population, culture and civilization it is significant for the state to focus their attention on flood safety planning. Now people are more dependent on electrical power and potable water supply. Floods also frequently damage power transmission and sometimes power generation, which then has knock-on effects caused by the loss of power. This includes loss of drinking water treatment and water supply, which may result in loss of drinking water or severe water contamination. It may also cause the loss of sewage disposal facilities. Lack of clean water combined with human sewage in the flood waters raises the risk of waterborne diseases, which can include typhoid, cholera and many other diseases depending upon the location of the flood. Damage to roads and transport infrastructure may make it difficult to mobilize aid to those affected or to provide emergency health treatment. Flood waters typically inundate farm land, making the land unworkable and preventing crops from being planted or harvested, which can lead to shortages of food both for humans and farm animals. Entire harvests for a country can be lost in extreme flood circumstances. Some tree species may not survive prolonged flooding of their root systems. Floods may cause food shortages leading to price increases as well.

 

Flood forecasting and flood warning too are important. Critical safety facilities, such as hospitals, emergency-operations centers, and police, fire, and rescue services, should be built in risk prone areas of flooding. 

Excerpts from

 MEMOIRS

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com

REVIEW THE LAW RELATING TO PROHIBITIION OF CHILD MARRIAGES

          A century ago, people in our country firmly followed the age old customs and traditions of getting married when still young; to be more specific, before or immediately after they attained puberty. My paternal grandparents, Oli Thressiamma and Oli Ousepachan, got married at the age of 12 and 15 respectively. Same was the case with my maternal grandparents, Elykutty and N.J. Chacko Neerakal who were 8 and 15 years old respectively when they got married. They had their first child when she was 19. All their children were healthy, good-looking and brilliant. This was the general trend in families throughout the country. Most young people, especially girls, are physically and psychologically ready to get married as soon as they attain puberty. The norm that was widely followed was, “the earlier the marriage the better.”

          As I understand it, child marriage has a number of advantages. Being young, the couple understands each other better; both of them have the benefit of growing and learning together, adapting to new surroundings and situations, making them extremely compatible with each other. This makes the transition of adjusting into the spouse’s house a much easier process. It is easier to create a family when one is young. In their close affinity, there is hardly any room for confrontation. I have never seen my grandparents fighting each other. Since they take up responsibilities at a very early age, they tend to be more serious about life and plan their future accordingly.

          This can be set against the lifestyle of single men and women, who (in most cases) are more laid back, giving them extra time on their hands to engage in past times such as smoking, drinking and taking drugs, under the pretext of “enjoying” life; following the misconstrued ruse of being “cool.”

People who oppose child marriage would say that it would adversely affect girl’s education, personal development, job prospects and personal income and childbearing goals. Some argue that she might be pulled out of school, and separated from her peers. I disagree that early marriage would keep people from studying and/or building a career. If there is a will there is a way. Young couples manage to combine studying at the university, having a family and even children. If you have the desire, determination, dedication and devotion nothing could prevent you from getting higher education. Another case that is widely argued is that child bearing at a young age leads to high rates of maternal and child mortality. However, this stand is not justified in the present scenario, where medical attention in various disciplines is available in every nook and corner of our country.

The youngsters of our country suppress their innate sexual drives. When you get married late; you won't get those years back. Little do they realize that there are many other significant things to achieve in life? The cleverer a person becomes the more difficult for him/her to find a partner in life. It is not easy to live together if two people have two completely different, even contradictory views on life. Furthermore, a woman’s chances of getting pregnant decrease as she grows older. When a woman crosses thirty, infertility issues are almost doubled.

Virginity is sexual abstinence until marriage. Historically, premarital sex was considered a moral issue which was taboo in many cultures and considered a sin by a number of religions, but since about the 1960s, it has become more widely accepted, especially in western countries. Arousal of sex is a natural hunger, a biological necessity. I have heard people say, “Morality is lack of opportunity.” In western countries, dating is very common. They enjoy sex from a very young age. Their youngsters leave their parental homes and move into dormitories when they attain puberty. In case a boy/girl doesn’t have a girl/boy friend; their parents are anxious and they would take their child to a psychologist. But modern relationships are much more complicated; people date more partners before settling down; cohabitate and procreate without getting married; and might marry later in life when they are sure that they won’t desert each other. It is astounding to note that at present a majority of the young Americans below 35 years are unmarried.

It is always advisable to take some marital counseling courses before getting engaged and married to someone. Sex education programs are now available to teach the youngsters about reproductive health, safer sex practices, sexual abstinence and birth control. It will help you to avert teenage pregnancies and other problems in life. Marriage is not a bed of roses. Couples should be ready to make adjustments and accommodations and should be prepared to share their joys and sorrows to make their life a success. It is significant to bear in mind that “life is a stage in which much has to be endured and little to be enjoyed.”

Awakening of sex, sexual intercourse and masturbation are quite natural. It’s healthy and perfectly normal. I have observed it not only in human beings but in other mammals as well, and it is unnatural to control it. We have to realize the fact that sexual relationship is not a sin at all and it is a biological necessity. There are only two unpardonable crimes in the code of sexual conduct, rape and telling of lies or breach of promise. Christianity teaches sexual relationships as abhorrence, crime or sin. They say that sexual relationship, masturbation and the child born out of a wed lock too is the result of sin. Their teachings are absurd and against the Rules of Mother Nature.

Christianity further teaches that the blemishes or sin has to be cleansed by a sacrament (a sacred ceremony of reparation, penance, compensation, self-punishments, atonement or apology) namely baptism. The sacraments are invented and introduced during various periods to extract money from the blind believers and the church discourages their independent thinking in order to exploit them. Zoroastrianism originally invented the theory of heaven and hell as a means of income or livelihood for their hereditary priests. Mithraism too adopted it and Mithraism ultimately merged in Christianity. It is pertinent to note that there are neither intermediaries nor sacraments in Islam, another offshoot of Judaism.

          Delayed marriages and suppression of sex is a curse of the Indian society, and is a major reason for many of the problems that surface in Indian society. The innate urge of immature children to experiment with the new found changes in one’s body due to puberty, is often exploited by relatives, friends, pimps and other rich and influential people in society  including politicians, top officials in the executive and the judiciary; and affluent grand old Muslim men from abroad arriving for muta-marriages. I was astounded when the media pointed out that in some cases, the rape victim’s own parents were the ones involved in such heinous crimes. It can be concluded that half of India’s problems can be solved if children get married at the right time.

          No doubt, the best age for having your first baby is roughly when you are twenty years old. In such circumstances there would be a fourth generation in most families. The main advantage here is that in the extreme event of both parents dying prematurely or in the case of  divorce, there would always be grandparents or great-grandparents to look after the children; the children won’t become orphans; a burden on society.

A girl child attains puberty at her young age of thirteen or earlier and the boy at the age of 15 or little later. It is beyond human reasoning. There may be slight areas of dispute in the matter of child marriages, which has to be ignored. Beyond his limitations, man tries to create a new order in society and nature, thinking that he is the master. He never realizes the fact that the Acts and Rules he is making is contradictory to the Rules of Mother Nature. Like our parents and grandparents did, children should be married before they attain puberty. Otherwise there would naturally be outbreak of sex and rich and influential people in the society would exploit young children. It is not fair or proper for the Parliament to interfere with the personal freedom and privacy of individuals and it is against the Rule of Nature to fix a minimum age of  18 and 21 for marriage. Marriageable age does not come within the realm of the parliament. Let wisdom dawn on Parliament to review the prohibition of child marriage and make necessary amendments in this regard. 

Excerpts from

 MEMOIRSR

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com