Articles posted by: Kudumbayogam Secretary

An English translation of The Modayil Family History written by Late Philip Ninan Sir is getting ready. If any of our family members is interested in buying a copy please give your name, so that we can assess the number of copies to be printed.

Naming Modayil

By George Ninan, Modayil Arampulickal
(These are only my opinions, are speculative and subject to verification)

This deals with the origin of the family name, “Modayil”. Modayil Kudumbayogam adopted the name “Modayil” in 1970s and variations like “Modale” should be avoided so that we do not create confusion for later generations.
In 1970s, there was no definitive idea on the origin or the meaning of the name “Modayil”. The family names in Kerala are clear identifiers; like Mavungal, Puthenpurackal, Bungalawil, Thazhathekuttu, Melethekuttu, Vazheparampil, Arampulickal etc. All have a meaning to identify the location or its character. It was speculated in the Modayil History published in 1974 that it originated from Munggu or husk of the rice which may have been called “Moda” or “Mode” in earlier days. It is not a convincing story. Do we have a more logical and convincing story?
In the mid-1900s, most Modayils lived on “Dew Mill” or Mujathanam hill and in the adjoining valley stretching to Nedugadapally and Panayampala. Apart from a few Kayyalathu houses around “Mattatipadi” kavala, the entire land area stretching more than 1000 acres of land was occupied by Modayil family. Possibly this land was bought or leased from Travancore Kingdom in 1800s; most possibly a forest when bought or leased.

Most if not all the five families or main branches (now left Modayil Kudumbayogam most regretfully) like Kizhakayil (not Kizhaku of Modayil) lived in land here and there on the opposite side of the Mallapppally Nedungadapplly road. They did not live on the Dew Hill or in Manjathanam.

The lowest part of that large area of Dew Hill or Munjathanam Hill is the land lot owned by Kuruvillachayan (Vazheprambil Sucy’s father); adjacent to Mavungal & Grace House (M. O. Varhese). None of those who lived in that area or anywhere else had kandom or paddy fields in 1900s.
Mallappally kandom has two distinct parts; lower kandom and upper kandom. Lower kandom gave 100 fold yield while upper kandom gave only 30 fold yield (typical figures).

Lower kandom, being close to the Manimala river, is submerged in water most of the year in those days; while upper kandom was mostly dry and only submerged during the annual flood season. While cultivating paddy in the upper kandom was relatively easy, that was not the case in lower kandom. We have to find the narrow window of the yearly season when the lower kandom is not submerged to sow the rice (nellu). Then the struggle starts. For at least a month, we must ensure that the budding rice plants are not submerged/decayed or all are gone for the year.
The lower paddy fields are segmented with a skirt (varmabu) around each segment. If it rains, then the water must be pumped out immediately. We used a giant wooden wheel as a manual pump. A person has to step on each step of the wheel and make the wheel go round to pump the water out. The effort of dewatering needs to be coordinated with those who own the paddy fields nearby; even though segmented.
Now I come to the point of all these. Though I said that, no Modayil owned lower paddy fields, there was one exception. My father owned at least two acres of paddy fields and dewatering was a major exercise. And Kuruvillachayan helped my father occasionally. And he will come back after the dewatering exercise with a few Varals; which I still consider the most tastiest fish of all.
That is not also the point. My father always used the term : “Velutha Modayil” in those conversations dealing with dewatering. I now assume that they owned adjacent paddy fields and lived on the other side of the lower kandom or Pathicadu side; the opposite side of Mallappally.
Now, Modayil Appachen lived there too at the kandom bank; cultivating paddy in 1700/1800s. I make this short by concluding that the word “moda” meant banks of the kandom; in those days. This is because the family name of those people (now reported as Nairs) who lived at the opposite bank is also Modayil.
It is also worth noting that our Modayil Appachen who cleverly embarked on paddy cultivation in 1700/1800s was able to make & save one Rupee which was reported to be the price he paid for Dew Hill property/Manjathanam for his children.

**2 August 2019 by George Ninan- Arampulickal**