Thanickans
The Thanickans derive their family name from the house name Thannickal. Thannickal is one of the sixteen branches of Chollamadam
family which traces itself back to Kanjirakattu family of Kuthiathodu near Alappuzha,
Kerala. A branch of the Kanjirakkattu family got settled at Arakuzha, near Muvattupuzha, and came to be known as Kunnumpurathu (On the Hill). This branch spread over the old parishes of Mailacompu and Arakkuzha. It is not known
when the Chollamadam family originated from Kunnumpurathu. The traceable genealogy
takes us back to the 18th century. During the last quarter of that century one Varkey was the head of Chollmadom
family. He had three sons, viz., Mathu, Varkey and Ouseph. Mathu, the eldest, stayed at Chollamadam tharavad (ancestral home) and Varkey, the middle one, moved over to Thannickal. The youngest one (Ouseph) became
a Kathanaar (priest) and came to be known as Chollamadathil Valiyachan. He died
in the second decade of nineteenth century. The original Thannickal house was on the southern side of the Vazhakulam Carmelite
Monastery.
The family name Thannickal is derived from the tropical pagoda like tree Thanni
(Bellerium myrobalan or Terminalia bellerica). It is a purely Dravidian name. The
Hindi equivalent is Behera. In Sanskrit it is commonly known as Kalidrum. In the Nalopakyan of Mahabharat
there is a very interesting story as to how this tree got the name Kalidrum. Bellerium is used to be a popular tree as in Kerala its timber was considered excellent
for Vallam (country boat) making. The nut of Myrobalan is one of the three ingredients of Triphala, a basic Ayurvedic drug. The nut is also used in dice game. It has other uses like in dye and in
tanning leather.
Chollamadathil Varkey
who got settled at Thannickal can be considered as the founder of Thannickal family.
We may refer to him as Varkey (I) for purposes of identification. He had three sons, viz., Varkey (II), Mathu and Kurian. Varkey (II) stayed at Thannickal,
Mathu at Kallunkakudiyil and Kurian at Pichappillil.
Varkey (II) had
two sons, viz., Varkey (III) and Ouseph. Varkey (II) died in the year 1852 (M.E. 1028). Varkey (III) stayed at Thazhathe Thannickal
and Ouseph at Thekupurathu Thannickal.
Varkey (III)
was born in 1824 (M.E.1000) and died in 1901 (M.E. 1077). He married Kalamppattu Annamma in whom he had five sons and five
daughters. The names of the sons are Varkey (IV), Chacko, Mathai, Ouseph and Kurian. Out of the five daughters one remained
unmarried. The others were married off to the following families: Mullankuzhiyil (Vazhakulam), Parathazhathu (Karimannoor),
Munjanattu (Kadalikad) and Chundangayil (Avoly).
Varkey (IV) stayed
at the Tharavad. He had two daughters only, Mariam and Rosa. Mariam’s husband
was Varkey Kallunkal. Rosa
was married off to Mundanchirayil at Vadakod.
Mathai settled at Valavodiyangal (Thekkummala). He had three children Ouseph, Varghese and Annamma.
Ouseph settled in at Valiyaveettil (Mudappannoor).
Kurian settled at Peppathiyil (Mudappannoor).
The second son of Varkey (III) viz., Chacko (I) was my great grand
father. He was born in the year 1852 corresponding to M.E. 1028 and died on 30th August 1948 (15 Chingam 1124). He was baptised at Arakuzha church. Around 1890 he settled down at Poothakuzhiyil (Kadalikad). This house fell in the Mailacompu parish. He married twice first to a girl from Thadathil.
After his first wife’s death he married Mariyam of Kuzhikkattumyalil (Karimannoor). In this marriage he had nine children:
Annamma (1887),
Varghese (1889),
Ouseph (1891),
Chacko (1893),
Mathai (1894),
Mariyamma (1901),
Kocheli,
Vrishi, and
Kunjorotha (1906).
Annamma’s husband was Ulahannan Ilayidathu (Kolani – Manakkad). Annamma died in 1932.
Mariyamma was married by Devasia of Nellikkunnel (Thekkummala) in 1917. She expired on 24th September, 1996. Br John de Montfort was her son.
Kocheli’s husband was Thomman of Meprathu Kalappurayil (Arakkuzha).
They later moved over to Pooppara, near Munnar, in the High Ranges.
Vrishi was married by Thurackal Thottiyil Varghese (Alakkod) She died in 1931 and Varghese in 1991.
Kunjarotha’s husband was Ouseph Manjappillil (Ezhalloor). Ouseph
expired in 1975 and Rosa in …. Fr George Manjappilly S.J was her son.
Varghese married Idasserry Puthanpurckal (Avoly)_ Alikkutty. Varghese died on 26th August 1987.
Ouseph’s first marriage was from Kallarackal;. His second marriage was from Mekkunnel Thannickamattathil
(Mailacompu). Ouseph died on 19th
July 1988.
Mathai married Thressia of Padinjarel (Neyyasserry). He expired on
21st April
1985 and Thressia on 1st June 1989.
Chacko (II) my
grandfather was born on 5th
January 1893. His pet name was Kaku. He married Thressia,
daughter of Varkey Perumpanani Ilavungal (Madakkathanam) on 14th February 1914. She was born on 17th May 1895.
Thressia died on 20th
November 1968 and Chacko on 24th July 1988.
Chacko had only two issues, Mariyam, my aunt and Chacko (III) my
father.
