Prior
to administration of Colonel Munro the Government of Cochin did not at any
point of time directly interest itself in the education of the people. The
state did not maintain or aid any schools, but left the people to make their
own arrangements for the education of their children, (The Cochin State Manual by C. Achutha Menon.)
Xavier
Master Chembalamsseril, my father’s cousin, told me that Kumbalam was a seat of
learning in the early days. The Nambuthiri
Brahmin children were taught the rudiments of knowledge in their own homes till
the ceremony of Upanayana, or
investiture with the holy thread, after which they were sent for further
studies in Sanskrit Vedic school, ‘Vedic
Pathasala’. During the reign of Kulasekharas, the Oli Desavazhi Nambuthiri of
Kumbalam established and maintained an indigenous ‘Veda Pathasala’, to
impart Vedic heritage and knowledge in the Guru-Shishya
(teacher and student) traditional manner, in Chamakkad attached to the Siva
Temple at Kumbalam. The Desavazhi Nambuthiri of ‘Oli Mana’
engaged a few venerable Veda Pandits and scholars, to teach them by way of a
systematic and synchronized Vedic chanting. Formerly they used “Devanagiri” script for writing and “Malayalam” script was used during the
latter period. They taught ‘Aksharam’ (letters), ‘Vakya-reethi’ (reading and writing sentences),
‘Vyakaranam’ (Grammar), ‘Amarakosham’ (Dictionary), Sidharoopam (Sanskrit Grammar), Sanskrit
‘Slokas’, hymns or stanzas, the
multiplication tables and elementary arithmatics and science, literature,
poetry, drama and rhetoric. They were also taught ‘Karmakanda,’ (system of established ceremonies,) ‘Nyayam’, (rule or manner of proceeding,)
‘Tharkom’, (logic,) ‘Vyseshikam,’ (an adherent Kapada’s system
of logic,) ‘Purva-Mimamsa’ and ‘Uthara-Mimamsa’ (investigation, of Vedas
the two philosophical systems,) ‘Suthi-Samgraham,’
(Pregnancy and Childbirth,) Agama Shastra,
(which is the study of conducting ‘Puja,’
‘Homa,’ the rituals of temple
worship) and other Vedic practices. They also received practical training in ‘Yagnas,’ (a sacrifice) and ‘Homas’ (a sacrifice, chiefly of
clarified butter, an oblation to fire.) The Veda ‘Pathasala’ was
specialized in teaching the ancient Indian traditions: the Vedas (Rigveda,
Yajurveda Samaveda and Atharvaveda,) Upanishads, Vedantham,’ (an Upanisad, the aim and completion of Vedas,
pantheism esp. as thought by the Advaidas,) Aranyakas
and other Hindu scriptures. Epics and Shaivic
scriptures from the Dravidian tradition too were part of the Syllabus. Those
books were written on Palmyra leaves. The children of all the ‘Mana’ used to attend the classes. Well
known ‘Pundits’, learned men, from
various places used to visit this ‘Veda Pathasala’
and addressed the students. It was unfortunate and unjust that children
belonging to backward classes were denied admission to the ‘Vedic Pathasala’. Much later
yet another Sanskrit ‘Pathasala’
was opened at Udayathumvathil at Panangad.
Apart from that there was an ‘Udayathungeswarat Sanskrit Panditha Maha Sabha’; an assembly of learned Brahmins for
higher learning in ‘Vedas’ was
situated adjacent to Dewaswom Kacheri,
which used to meet regularly near the Sanskrit
‘Veda Pathasala’. Astrology, Yoga, Music, Dance, Sculpture were taught as
additional skills. Students came from distant places like Alleppy on the south
and Trichur on the north for higher studies and they used to stay as guests
with Brahmin families at Kumbalam. Sanskrit
Pundits who used to go by ‘Odi-vanchi’,
swift canoes, to visit the Sree Krishna Temple at Guruvayoor; the Vadakkunatha
Temple at Trichur; the Mahadeva Temple at Vaikkom; the Sree Krishna Temple at
Ambalapuzha and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple at Thiruvananthapuram, and those
Brahmin Pandits, who went to the
Padmanabhaswamy Temple for ‘Murajapam’,
(a costly ceremony of reciting the Vedas whilst standing in water,) which was
commenced at the instance of His Highness Anizham Tirunal Marthanda Varma
(1729-1758) as penance for the wars and deaths he had committed during his
reign, also used to stay in transit in Brahmin houses for some time to
participate in this Panditha Maha Sabha.
In
1504, the barbarian invasions of zamorin at Kumbalam; the chaos and confusions
that ensued and resulted in the evacuation of ‘Nambuthiris’ from all the other ‘Manas’ and the decision of the
Kochi Raja to centralize administration, temporarily submerged what was left of
our educational system; but in time the new zest and passion for knowledge;
those students at Kumbalam south who were interested to pursue their studies went
by canoes to St. Peter’s High School at Kumbalanghi. Alexander Parambithara,
later an MLA and a Speaker of the Kerala State Legislature, was one of the
headmasters of that high school. Some of
the students joined Sacred Heart High School at Thevara or S.D.Y.P. School at
Palluruthy. A few of the affluent students pursued their studies in St.
Albert’s High School or St. Teresa’s High School at Ernakulam. Those who wished
to become teachers walked long distances and crossed ferries to reach Mangai
High School at Maradu to attend the Teachers Training Course.
Later the Sanskrit ‘Veda Pathasala’ was converted into a ‘Kudipallikudam’. Then interested
students were taught Ayurveda as well. With the conversion of the Oli ‘Nambuthiri’ into Christian faith, the properties
of ‘Kudipallikoodam’, school, were
handed over to the the ‘Devaswom’. The
school was gradually closed down due to misappropriation, mismanagement and
lack of financial support.
Kumbalam
St. Mary’s L.P. School was established in memory of Pope Pius-X in the year
1913, during the reign of Diwan, A.R. Banerji (1907-14). During that time His Excellency Arch-bishop
Louis Pazheparampil (1847-1896-1919), was the head of the diocese of Ernakulam,
Fr. Augasthy Panikulam was the vicar and manager of the St. Mary’s school.
Thereafter, it was upgraded as a U.P. School in the academic year 1962-63.
I
have learned that Paily Tirunilath-Thayamkeril, was the first headmaster of
that L.P. School. Nanappa Kaimal of
Naduvammuri (he was married to the grand-niece of Chakkanat Kochu-Govinda
Kaimal), Narayana Panicker Thandasseril, Govinda Kaimal Thengumpilly, Papputty
Kallarackal, Ithamma Kallarackal and Varkey Vadakkanezhath were the other
teachers of that school to start with. Little later, Kochuvarkey Kareethra,
Madhava Menon Thekkinezhath, Sankara Narayanan Kovilakath Aroor, Krishna
Mattammal, Thevara, Kochuthressia Varkey Karithanam, Thomas
Tirunilath-Thayamkeril, Sr. Karithas (Palathingal), Sr. Rubina (Kaithakottil),
Sosamma Vadakkanezhath, Rajalekshmy (Hindi teacher), Lissamma Kadavil (Sr.
Maria Cicile), George Powathil Sr. Amos, Sr
Aimad, M.P. Mary and Kunjamma Scaria Edathamara joined as teachers, with
whom I had acquaintance with. P.K. Radhakrishnan is the present headmaster of
the U.P. School. Roy V.R. a talented singer, is the new office assistant of the
school. The century old St. Mary’s U.P. School is getting ready for the jubilee
in the academic year 2012-13. I wish further development and progress to the
School and hope the management and the teachers would be able to satiate the
thirst for knowledge to the interested students of this Island.
The
Desavazhi took the initiative and
started a ‘Kudipallikudam’ near
Thayyath ‘Nair Tharawad’; a Panicker
of that Thayyath Nair Tharawad was
engaged to conduct classes for the students in that neighbourhood. That school
too was closed when S.R.V.S.M.G.L.P.S. (Sree
Rama Varma Shastabdya Memmorial Girls
lower Primary School) was opened. In 1915, the Sree Sankara Vilasom Nair Sangham, with the help and assistance of
Shri. O. Rama Kaimal Son of C. Kochu Govinda Kaimal of Chackanat, who was an
accountant of His Highness Parikshit Thampuran, took the initiative for opening
the Kumbalam S.R.V.S.M.G.L.P.S. (Sree Rama
Varma Shashtabdyapurthi Memorial
Girls Lower Primary School.) There was co-education up to the second standard
after which students were segregated.
It
was in 1935, the S.R.V.S.M.G.U.P.School Kumbalam started with C. Govinda Kaimal
(Palluruthy) as head master, a Preparatory Class taught by Madhava Kaimal
Master Chala and Form I (Std. V) with Narayanan Master Pazhayakolil as the
class teacher, R. Raghavankutty Menon and M.A, Kaimal (BCom Master) were the
other teachers. In the year 1936 it was recognized as an Upper Primary School.
Thereafter a young graduate, T.R. Raghava Panicker of Thandasseril was
appointed by Narayana Kaimal of Pulluvalli, then President of the Sree Sankara
Vilasom Nair Sangham as the caretaker and teacher of that UP School. Shri. T.R.
Raghava Panicker, a scheming and ambitious man, made earnest efforts to develop
and improve the school. In 1947, it was upgraded as a Girls High School. He
wielded respect from the student community and the public and that helped Shri.
T.R. Raghava Panicker to become the first elected President of Kumbalam
Panchayat (1952-60 and as administrator till 1963.) On his death that high
school was renamed as Raghava Panicker Memorial Secondary School, Kumbalam,
which is a milestone in the development of education and literacy in Kumbalam
desom and village. Shri. K.P Sadasivan is the present principal of the higher
secondary school. It is now managed by his children, Adv. Rajappan and then
Adv. Balakrishnan Thalasseril.
In
fact ‘Appachan’, my father, was
taught in the ancient ‘Veda Pathasala’
method of teaching mentioned earlier by Ayyappan ‘Asan’, (a revered teacher). Some of his contemporaries in the
neighbourhood, both boys and girls, some of them belonging to backward castes
too were allowed to attend these classes free of cost. I still retain some of
these books and the Ayurvedic books, deeds, documents ‘Theeturams’ and ‘Theetu’,
orders and communications, written on Palmyra leaves, which are kept intact for
posterity. Some of the books were borrowed by Ayyappan Asan who was conducting a ‘Kudipallikudam’
in Chennamveettil Madom for the locals. After completion of his studies with
Ayyappan Asan, ‘Appachan’ joined Girls High school, Kumbalam, to pursue his studies
in the eighth standard. Next year he was shifted to Sacred Heart High School at
Thevara.
There
is a N.I.J. (Nizrat Islam Jamayat) L.P. School at the south-east of Kumbalam
which was established in 1968. Abu Haji Ponnappilly took the initiative to
reconstruct the mosque. He made it graceful with four attractive minarets. He
was instrumental in setting up the N.I.J. L.P. School in the vicinity of the
mosque.
Around
150 years ago a formal school, St. Antony’s School, was established in
Panangad. Students from the lower classes of society were not admitted in the
school. Therefore, a Pulaya S.P.S. School was established for the lower
caste. Mr. Paul Louis, Sahodharan
Ayyappan and Pandit Karuppan gave financial assistance for the setting up and
development of the school. Mr. Paul Louis was a former nominated MLA from the
Anglo Indian Community; Sahodaran Ayyappan (1889–1968)
was a social reformer, journalist, politician, and was one of the followers of
Sree Narayana Guru and Pandit Karuppan was a crusader against untouchability and other
social evils prevalent during his time, whose relentless efforts in uplifting
the socially, economically and educationally backward communities, and he was a
human rights activist and leader from the fishermen community, from the Cochin
State. In 1910, the Islanders of Kumbalam were fortunate to give a reception to
Sree. Narayana Guru (1854-1928), a great sage. Guru visited Kamoth temple at
Panangad as well. Guru was a great social reformer, who vehemently fought
against caste and communalism. The Guru’s famous slogan, “One caste, one
religion and one God for men” became the motto of a progressive movement that
brought about the historic Temple Entry Proclamation (1936) by His Highness Anizham
Tirunal Marthanda Varma (1729-58), the Maharaja of Travancore State, the first
of its kind in India, which opened the holy places of the State to all Hindus
irrespective of caste. But Guru’s visit to Kumbalam did not develop into a
movement for the progress and development of the lower castes in the Island.
Due to the fight between the Nairs
and the fishermen community, the said Pulaya School was closed down in 1936. It
was around the same time that the Salvation Army was conducting a school in
Cheppanam. With its closing down, Rev.
Fr. Joseph Painunkal took over its reins and started a Desabandu School.
It was only in 1928 that the lower castes were allowed entry and admission to
this school.
Kamoth
L.P. School at Panangad was established in 1919 at the instance of Gopala Menon
of Manga-madom and Shri. Kuttan Nair of Parakkat. Shri. M.P.Krishna Menon,
Shri. M. Krishna Pillai and Shri. Achutha Panicker were the first three
teachers of that Vinjanodhayam School. It became a U.P. School in 1925. In 1955
Shri. V. Gopinatha Menon Velakadavil became the headmaster and manager of the
School. He made earnest efforts for the development and progress and in 1968 it
became a High School. Thereafter in 1997 the high school was upgraded and now
it is known as Gopinatha Menon Memorial Vocational Higher Secondary School, now
managed by his son, O.G. Sunil. Smt. V.M. Lathika is the present principal of
the vocational high secondary school. Shri. Gopinatha Menon Velakadavil was the
former headmaster of that High School and the former President of the Kumbalam
Panchayat (1963-79).
The
central government of India, the federal states and the private sector have
made huge investments in the field of education, training and medical care,
resulting in a massive turn out of human capital. Now, India is a leading
supplier of human resources to the world. No doubt, this has helped India
resist global recession to a great extent.
Excerpts from
MEMOIRS
An autobiography
by
Joseph J. Thayamkeril
Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.
josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com
