The Beginnings and the early Developments

The Founding Fathers

Our men and women solely for God

We are fully aware of the fact that families of the Panjikaran clan are known to live in the north and in the south of Kerala. Our recent trip to Kerala brought us the conviction that all Panjikarans, although seperated far apart in affinity and locality are of one and the same origin. Where and when this starting point is, who the first Panjikarans were and how the name "Panjikaran" came into vogue are still a matter of research.

Mr. Antony Panjikaran B.A.B.L.,
retired legal secretary to the government of Kerala (Tel.0091 471 2321191)
will be happy if our readers get in touch with him concerning these questions. He is working on a history of the Panjikaran Family.

Confessing the fundamental unity of all Panjikarans we begin however,
in full acknowledgement our limitations, with the existence of Panjikarans in
Cherthala Taluk, Alapuzha district.

KLICK ON THE PICTURE

Papa's great great grandfather, Chacko and his elder brother Kurian, fled from the north during the invasion of Tippu Sultan (1753-1799) and came originally to Uzhuva, near the township of Cherthala.
There they came into contact with the local administrators
of the rulers of Tiruvithamkoor, the Palliath Achans.

Having observed that the two brothers were of extraordinary industry and loyalty, the chief of the Achans entrusted the two brothers with the administration of wide stretches of land which in course of time came into the possession of the two brothers.

Living amidst and working along with a hindu dominated circle of friends,
Kurian and Chacko gave expression to their ardent faith by fully financing the construction of the
St. Anne's parish church at Uzhuva.
Kurian is buried under the vaults of this church.

Back again to life!
The two brothers built their new home not far from the parish church, and converted the surroundings to a beautiful garden, full of plants of various types and trees yielding tasty fruits. This vast garden is still a piece of landscape kept in its oringinal virginity, although the precious old house has been recently modernised a little.
Among others, also the owners of the Panjikaran Jewellery near the Temple of Cherthala, all offsprings of Kurian, are at present residing in this house and in the further Panjikaran Houses, built in the vicinity in recent years.

Chacko

Chacko is, as already mentioned, Papa's great great grandfather.
The Panjikarans, residing in the area around Uzhuva, were intent on permeating deeper into the northern limit of Cherthala, Vayalar, a stronghold of hindus.
Further they were on the look out for a new residential area. Decades rolled past and finally it was Papa's great grandfather who fell in love with the beautiful landscape of Neelimangalam, Vayalar,
and decided to build his abode there.

That was how a branch of the family came to be called
Neelimangalathu Panjikaran.
We belong to this branch.
Papa's grandfather was mainly involved in the construction of the house in Neelimangalam. Having lost first the mother and then the father the children, among them Vavachan, papa's Papa, grew up mainly under the guardianship of the relatives at Uzhuva.
The house at Neelimangalam was not occupied for several years.
The eldest of them, Pappachan, moved to the Cherthala town after his marriage
and took the younger ones along with.
The next was Outhachan, later Msgr. Joseph C. Panjikaran.
The only two girls became nuns and were members of the Carmelite Convent in Cherthala.
The next was Vavachan.
Younger to him was Varkey C. Panjikaran, the late professor at the University of Kerala.
The youngest, Thommikkunju, died of typhoid just after completing his school.

Vavachan

was the luckiest of them, because he inherited the abode in Neelimangalam.
After he married Aleykutty from the well known
Yogyaveedu family at Muhamma
he moved to Neelimangalam.
We, his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren call him in fond memory
"Appai"
and remember him in a special way all through these pages.
Appai´s silent devotion and dedication to all that is valuable in life
combined with the vision of

Aleykutty

our beloved
"Amma"
for each and every one of us has played the most essential role in the becoming of all of us.


Appai was born
on 03.06.1903
He died
on 18.01.1974
Amma was born
on 14.06.1910
She died
on 03.05.1978


Appai was lucky for another reason also. His brother Joseph, the well known
Msgr. Joseph C. Panjikaran
founder of the Medical Sisters of St. Joseph (M.S.J) with headquarters
in Kothamangalam, was often with him. He meditated in the quiet premises of the house and retired for prayer into the tiny "chapel" of the house. His wealth of knowledge, ardent spirituality and missionary spirit is the pride of generations of Panjikaran Family.

More about Msgr. Panjikaran

Quite recently the Medical Sisters of St. Joseph acquired the house at Neelimangalam in order to foster the momory of their founder and to develop it to a center of pilgrimage.

After the completion of the alteration works the center was inaugurated on 20.04.2006.

Click for pictures of the renovated house, now a convent

Get to know more about the Medical sisters of St. Joseph