History

One of the most ancient and reputed Syrian Christian families of Central Travancore, the origin of the Modayil Family can be traced, wading through custom and tradition, to one of the seven Brahmin Families first converted to Christianity by the Apostle St. Thomas. The family name ” Modayil” originates with its founding father ‘Modayil Pothen’ a very pious and devout Christian, full of love and compassion for his fellow beings, especially the poor, the down-trodden, the untouchables and the outcastes. Well respected in society for his moral rectitude, deep spirituality and religious fervour, he was a Colossus among his contemporaries. He married Achiamma / Andamma from Kakkudy family in Vennikulam. A noble and efficient housewife, she was reputed for her kind and charitable disposition and unflinching faith in God. Modayil Pothen to us, the members of the Modayil family is like Abraham the Patriarch to the Israelites.

Many interesting anecdotes in the life and time of Modayil Pothen are narrated in ch. 3 para 6 to 19 (Pp 59 to 68) of the Modayil Kudumbacharithram written by the late Mr. Philip Ninan. Just three of these are mentioned here:o.

• Modayil Pothen was in the forefront of the delegation which met the C.M.S. Missionaries, the Rev. J. Pitt at Mavelikara and the Revds. Benjamin Bailey and Henry Baker at Kottayam for obtaining their sanction to construct a C.M.S. Church at Mallappally. When the Revds. were hesitant about conceding to their request, Modayil Pothen stood up and uttered the following words, ” You have come here as C.M.S. Missionaries to teach us the Truths of the Gospel, and if you now fail to do so, you will have to answer for that before the judgement seat of Jesus Christ, on the Last Day”. This moved the Revds. and they called back Modayil Pothen and expressed their willingness to establish a C.M.S. Church at Mallappally. Accordingly the Church building was constructed during 1836-42 and consecrated on 07-09-1842 (see para 8).
• The First convert to Christianity in India from the scheduled caste who was christened Habel, was a slave of Modayil Pothen. His conversion was possible only because of the active interest, support and co-operation shown by Modayil Pothen, as well as the compassionate treatment meted out by him towards the backward castes in general and his own slaves in particular. The above incidents are narrated in the History of the C.M.S by W.S. Hunt (see P. 62, para 9 to 11 of the Modayil Kudumbacharithram).
• Modayil Pothen called his three sons to his death-bed and gave them his last advice, “My sons, sometimes others may cheat you, suffer it, but never cheat anyone” (see para 18).All that we know about the ancestors of Modayil Pothen is that his father was Chacko of Chavanickamannil, who was the son of Kunjumman of Kizhakayil, one of the earliest settlers of the family in Mallappally. Chacko had two brothers:-
  • Kurien of Valliyaveettil and
  • Kunjumman (jr) of Kizhakayi
•   Modayil Pothen had two brothers:-
  • Kunjumman of Enattu, and
  • Chacko (Jr) of Chavanickamannil, his only sister was married into the Kokkodiyil family in Thalavady.

The ancestors, of Modayil Pothen worshipped in the Niranam Church established by the Apostle St. Thomas and thereafter in Kalloopara Church established in 1340. By AD 1834, a new church was built at Vengalasserry in Mallappally, in which Modayil Pothen and others joined, where a dispute and quarrel occurred. So, Modayil Pothen and a few other peace-loving elders left the Vengalasserry Church and made efforts to establish a new church at Mallappally. Accordingly the first C.M.S. Church in Kerala was built between 1836-1842 at Mallappally was consecrated on 07-09-1842.us.

A preliminary meeting of a few members of the Modayil, Kizhakayil and Valiyaveettil families in and around Mallappally was held on 20-09-1970. They decided to form a Kudumbayogam, but two opinions arose as to whether the name of the Kudumbayogam should be Kizhakayil or Modayil. So a representative body was constituted to assess the majority view, which was reported to the meeting of the delegates held on 11-10-1970. The majority view was in favour of the name “Modayil Kudumbayogam”. Hence it was unanimously adopted by the same delegates meeting. The late Mr. M.O. Varghese Retd. Labour Commissioner formally inaugurated the Modayil Kudumbayogam, in the presence of the delegates numbering 55. The delegates meeting also elected the Patron, office- bearers and members of an ad hoc Executive Committee to function on behalf of the Modayil Kudumbayogam till a Constitution is adopted by the General Body Meeting.Their names were as given below:

• Patron : Mr.M.P.Mani.B.E
• President : Rev.W.C.Varghese
• Vice President: Rev.M.C.Chacko.B.A.B.D
• Gen.Secretary: Mr.M.J.Philip.B.A
• Asst.Secretary: Mr.K.V.Varghese
• Asst.Secretary: Mr.P.M.Thomas.B.A.L.T
• Asst.Secretary: Mr.M.P.Philip.B.A.B.T
• Treasurer : Mr.Philip Ninan.B.A.L.T
• Legal Adviser : Mr.O.Joseph.B.A.B.L
• Member : Mr.P.C.Korah
• Member : Mr.Chacko Varghese
• Member : Mr.P.T.Thomas
• Member : Mr.K.C.Varghese
• Member : Mr.K.C.Joseph.B.A.L.T
• Member : Mr.N.C.Kurien
• Member : Mr.M.O.Thomas
• Member : Mr.M.P.Koshy

Two sub- committees were also elected, one for drafting the constitution and the other for writing the Kudumbacharithram.

Regrettably and contrary to the spirit of the decisions of the delegates meeting, a few prominent members of the Kizhakayil and Valiyaveetil families assembled on 25-10-1970 at the residence of Kizhakayil Major C.A Pothen and took a decision to form the Kizhakayil Kudumbayogam, as a ‘rival’ to the Modayil Kudumbayogam (see P.7 & 8 of the Minutes Book (Vol.1) of the Modayil Kudumbayogam in which the minutes of the Committee of the Modayil Kudumbayogam held on 8-11-1970 are recorded and also Pp. 24 and 25 of the Kizhakayil Kudumba Charithram written by the late W.K. Jacob, Valiyaveettil). They also entrusted Mr. W.K. Jacob to write the Kizhakayil Kudumbacharithram, which was published in 1972. Even after this vertical split, the Enattu Family and a few members of the Valiyaveettil Family continued to associate themselves with the Modayil Kudumbayogam, till 27-12-1996.

In the General Body Meeting and election of office- bearers of the Executive Committee held on 27-12-1996, the members of the Valiyaveetil family declined to elect their representatives to the Executive Committee of the Modayil Kudumbayogam, and thereafter, never associated themselves with the Modayil Kudumbayogam. We have reliably learnt that they formed a Valiyaveettil Kudumbayogam. Even though notices and invitations for the Kudumba Sammelanam held on 27-12-1997 were sent under certificate of posting to all the Registered Members of the Valiyaveettil Family, none of them attended the Sammelanam. (see page.17of Vol. 2 of the Minutes Book of the Modayil Kudumbayogam in which the Minutes of the General Body/Sammelanam. held on 27-12-1997 are recorded). They have de facto voluntarily, abandoned the membership of the Modayil Kudumbayogam and therefore are no longer members of the Modayil Kudumbayogam. The Membership of the Modayil Kudumbayogam at present consists exclusively of the members of the 3 branches of the Modayil family- Viz; Modayil Koipuram, Modayil Padinjarekoottu and Modayil Kizakekoottu families.

In the delegates meeting held on 11-10-1970, it was resolved inter alia to constitute a sub-committee for drafting a constitution for the Modayil Kudumbayogam. In pursuance of this and subsequent resolutions of the Executive Committee, a fully democratic constitution, ensuring efficiency and transparency was drafted by the sub committee consisting of the following members :-

• Mr.O.Joseph B.A.B.L
• Mr.Philip Ninan B.A.L.T
• Mr.M.O.Varghese M.A
• Mr.M.P.Punnoose B.Com, H.D.C

The draft constitution was adopted by the General Body Meeting held on 29-09-1971. Thereafter, amendments to certain clauses of the constitution were approved in the General Body Meeting held on 27-12-1976, vide pages 281 to 285 and page 3 21 of the Minutes Book Vol.1.

The final authority in all matters relating to the Modayil Kudumbayogam rests with the General Body, except those delegated to the Executive Committee or to the office bearers of the Kudumbayogam. The affairs of the Kudumbayogam are conducted by the Executive Committee elected from among the members by the General Body meeting in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and decisions of the general body Meetings and Executive Committee meetings. Equal number of members representing each of the 3 branches of the Modayil Family are elected to the Executive Committee, which in turn elects the President, Vice-president, Secretary, Joint secretary, Treasurer, Legal Adviser; and the General Body appoints the Auditor.

Modayil Kudumbacharithram, 1974 by the late Mr. Philip Ninan, B.A; L.T ;

Modayil Kudumbacharithram by the late Mr. Philip Ninan B.A; L.T; Retd. High School Head Master, was written by him during 1973-74. At that point of time, he had harboured the hope that the members of the Kizhakayil, Valiyaveettil, Panickamuriyil, Enattu and Chavanickamannil families would join the Modayil Kudumbayogam, eventhough some of them had formed their own separate Kudumbayogams, such as Kizakayil Kudumbayogam, Chavanikamannil Kudumbayogam, Valiyaveettil Kudumbayogam, etc. This he did in spite of the fact that the late Mr. W.K. Jacob, in the Kizhakayil Kudumbacharithram written and published by him in 1972 had deliberately excluded the genealogy of the Modayil family after the IV th generation on the ground that they had their own Modayil Kudumbayogam-see page 85 of the Kizhakayil Kudumabacharithram, 1972 by the Late Mr. W.K. Jacob. This hope was completely belied with the voluntary withdrawal of the Valiyaveetil family with effect from 27-12-1996. Since then, only the decendants of Modayil Pothen, Viz.members of the Modayil Koyipuram, Modayil Padinjarekoottu, Modayil Kizhakekoottu branches of the Modayil family are the members of the Modayil Kudumbayogam. The youngest members of the Modayil Family now belong to the   VIII th generation, starting from Modayil Pothen.

According to clause (p) of Article IV of the constitution of the Modayil Kudumbayogam, a service of Thanks Giving is conducted as the first programme of the Annual Kudumba Sammelanam of the Modayil Kudumbayogam. There is a prescribed and approved Order of Service for this, which includes: