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As already mentioned under "The Origins" the Panjikaran clan originated
in the north, in the area in and around Angamali.
We are happy to introduce a young Panjikaran family from Poyya living in Vienna,
before we introduce Papa's brothers and sisters in detail.
Of all Papa's brothers and sisters only Papa is here in Austria.
We are all the more in contact with
"Our Origins".
Therefore it is important for us to think of them and to present them through this medium.
We would like to
attract your attention especially to the Jesuit Priest brother of Papa,
Rev. Fr. Syriac Panjikaran S.J.
whose untiring efforts for
the poor and neglected we have ourselves witnessed.
We would further like to add that we have consciously given also pictures
of nostalgic value.
After all we know how our relatives look like now.
Isn't it wonderful to see how they looked like years ago?
Here Papa, his brothers and sisters in the descending order of age.
SHE
is not a Panjikaran, but she is one of us.
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She came to us at the age of 9.
nearing the grand old age of 90, she has survived both Appai
and Amma.
She was Amma's right hand in all household duties
and in
the bringing up of the ten children.
She is in fact a bridge between generations.
She is the grand old lady who tells us stories of our grandparents
when we are on visit to
Neelimangalam.
Appai has made
arrangements in his testament to guarantee that
she is cared for till the end.
And the End has already ushered in!
She expired on 06.04.2006 at 3 pm
The funeral service was conducted at 11 am on 07.04.2006.
Generations of Panjikarans will remember her and pray for her.
Her story will be told and retold
and her memory will not vanish so soon!
Rosa Ummamma was no doubt one of us!
Our sincere thanks to Vakkachan uncle and Marykutty aunty
for looking after Ummamma till her last moments.
Obituary by Papa
A nun with vows wasn't she, the pains and joys of motherhood she hasn't experienced.
She wasn't a pedagogical prodigy,
she came never to be honoured in her world - at Neelimangalam,
at the homes of our relatives, in our parish, in our neighbourhood, in our market.
Yes, she used to tell me
that she was even often ridiculed on account of me at the market.
I used to be an ill-tempered
lad, that I tore into hundred pieces the school books almost every week.
And it was she, who
had to purchase from the laughing shop keepers new ones every now and then!
Offa, Pappachan's and my Offa, as we called her, was no genius.
She could hardly read and write.
She never wrote us a letter, she hardly ever attended the telephone.
Offa certainly has no reason to boast of
any remarkable deed!
But with the death of Offa a great woman has left us for ever
and made this world
a little poorer!
She was modesty, humility and service in Person.
She was devoted to all that was entrusted to her.
Devotion was the motor behind every movement of hers -
devotion to all of us,
devotion to all her surroundings,
and finally devotion to the almighty God,
a devotion that finally
set her irrevocable striving towards eternity in motion.
God, eternity in Person, knows fully well who is really Great!
He will glorify our Offa!
Dear Offa, we are going to miss you very much!
Your Babychan