about
It is known from elders that the Marachery Kudumbam was initially stayed and lived at Mylacombu in Thodupuzha Taluk of Idukki District. But believable evidences could not be traced regarding the place of origin of the Kudumbam. They were the parish members of St.Thomas Forane Catholic Church at Mylacombu. It is believed that Apostolos St. Thomas visited Mylacombu in 1st century on his arrival at Kodungalloore in AD 52. The present church at Mylacombu was constructed in the year AD 600 in the name of Apostolos St. Thomas.
It is also heard that five brothers from the Marachery family shifted to Kothamangalam during 7th century and they lived at Kothamangalam for long. There are believable evidences that there exists a Christian family at Kothamangalam called Maracheril Tharavad and is mentioned in the History book of Christian families. The existing Christian Church at Kothamangalam during that period was Martha Mariyam Valiya Pally and the family members were the parish members of this church and they used to attend this church for worship. As the family expanded, separate groups / sub divisions were formed and they are known in different family names. The elder member of each Group / Division might have accepted the house name related with the area or place of residence. Thereafter all correspondence and communications are made in these addresses. At present there are such eight known Groups / Divisions namely
Marachery Putheth
Marachery Kalappura
Kuttichirakudy
Thorockal
Marachery Puthenpura
Marachery
Varikkattumolel
Kunnath Marachery
It is also presumed that there may be more Groups or Divisions known in different names. Though the family spread all over Kerala, most of the family members are staying in the District Ernakulam & Idukki. A small group of the family migrated to Karnataka State around 60 years back. It is also heard that there are some more groups / divisions of Marachery family exists at Bramhamangalam in Kottayam District, Kunnukurudi in Ernakulam District, and some groups in Palghat. At Nagappuzha in Idukki district also there are some Roman Catholic family in the house name Marachery. As the links to these groups could not be traced out, they were not included in this so called Maracheril Kudumba yogam.
Formation of Kudumba Yogam
As the family expanded, there arise a thought among the elders that it will be good to have a re-union of all the family members one’s in a year aiming to have better contacts and to keep good relationship between the family members. Keeping this in mind the elder members of each sub divisions gathered together, discussed and decided to form a Family union. As a result, in 1948 a gathering of the family members assembled and an organization called Marachery Family Union is established. Sri. K.I. Cheriyan, Kuttichirakudy, Nellimattom and Sri. M.P. Varghese Varikkattumolel, Nellimattom were the key persons behind the formation of the union and they were nominated as the President and Secretary respectively. The Union functioned till 1960 under their leadership. Unfortunately, thereafter the functioning of the union became slow, practically nil, may be either due to lack of communication or leadership. There was no active move until 1990.
During 1990 a re-union of all the available family members was organized at Kothamangalam Martha Mariyam Vailya Pally and another gathering at Govt. L.P. School Maramangalm. An 11-member Central Executive committee is formed and family bylaw prepared. The Bylaw aimed for the smooth functioning of the family activities and the Family Union and its bylaw registered vide No. ER 303/91 dated 10.04.1991 at District Registrar office Ernakulam. Sri. K.C. Abraham Kuttichirakudy and Sri. Shajan Varghese Marachery Puthenpura were nominated as the President and Secretary respectively.. From 1991 onwards, annual gathering is used to conduct every year on 26th January and new office bearers nominated and taken charge as per the then rules in force. Newly married couples and couples who celebrate their 25th & 50th wedding anniversary are being congratulated and greetings given. Senior most family members (80+) will also be honored in the annual general body.
As on 10.07.2020, there are about 476 families altogether and 1391 live members in this Kudumba Yogam.
Formation of Zone/Mekhala
For easy gathering and better communication, Kudumbayogam is subdivided area wise. Separate Zone / Mekhala formed namely A) Kothamangalam, B) Kavalangad, C) Pothanicad, D) High Range, and E) Karnataka. Each Zone / Mekhala has individual working committees and operates in co-ordination with the Central Committee. Family members belongs to each Division / Mekhala used to gather as and when required and discuss things related to the wellbeing of the family and its members. Kudumba yogam policy matters are being organized, discussed in the Central Committee and thereafter implemented through Mekhala Committees.
The structure of both the above committees is as follows.
Central Committee
President, Vice President, Secretary, Joint Secretary, & Treasurer are the Executive Committee members. More over Mekhala President, Secretary & one nominee from each mekhela includes the full quorum of the Committee. Just former Family President & Secretary shall also be the part of the Central Committee and both of them will be the ex-officio members.
Mekhala Committee
President, Vice President, Secretary, Joint Secretary, Treasurer and at least six Committee members forms the full quorum of Mekhla committee. If more Committee members are required, the concerned Mekhala General body could nominate according to the requirements.
Each Committees should have Auditors of their own to check and verify the Kudumbayogam financial accounts. Senior most Priest in the family shall be the Patron of the Kudumbayogam and other Priests are Assistant patrons. Sometimes Assistant patrons may also officiate as Patron according to the convenience.
List of office bearers from 1991 onwards is shown separately.
Important events & decisions in the past is listed below
1995 Feb 19th - Annual general body decided to amend the family bylaw for which a subcommittee formed with members 1) Sri. M.P. Scaria Varikkattumolel, 2) Sri. K.C. Paily, Kuttichirakudy & 3) Sri.M.P. Baby, Marachery Putheth.
1996 Jan 26th – Subcommitte presented the Nackal (karad) of the amended bylaw before the General body. On detailed discussion, Sri. K.K. Poulose, Kuttichirakudy, Sri. M.O. Varkey, Marachery putheth & Smt. Annamma Jacob, Marachery putheth were also nominated and included to the bylaw amendment committee for further scrutiny and final corrections. Patron Rev. Fr. M.S. Poulose, Marachery Putheth lead the committee as the convenor.
1997 Jan 26th - The above committee presented the modified bylaw in the Annual General body on 26th Jan and after discussion General body suggested final modification & Corrections and informed the committee to incorporate the corrections and entrusted to submit for final acceptance.
From 1997 onwards individual Mekhala committees were formed as suggested in the amended bylaw.
The first Mekhala President and Secretary are listed below.
Pothanicad - Sri. K.K. Scaria, Kuttichirakudy & Sri K.P. George, Kuttichirakudy
Kothamangalam - Sri. Sunny Paul Marachery Puthenpura & Sri. Santhosh Skaria, Marachery Kalappura.
Kavalangad - Sri. M.I. Eldhose, Marachery Puthenpura & Sri. K.P. Varkey, Kuttichirakudy.
High Range - Sri. M.A. Chackochan, Marachery Putheth & Sri. P.C. Baby, Marachery Putheth.
1997 May 18th - Approved the scrutinized and corrected final bylaw in the special General Body conducted on 1997 May 18 and the bylaw came in force hereafter.
Leksham Fund Collection - Sri.K.C. Paily, Kuttichirakudy, Pothanicad presented a resolution explaining the necessity of collecting a working fund for the future activities of the union. The then Family President Sri. K.K. Issac, Kuttichirakudy took initiative for the collection. Almost all the families contributed to this venture. The collected amount deposited as Fixed deposit in the Nationalized bank with the intention to meet the future incidental expenses of the Kudumbayogam by using the interest from FD. Later on, a 2nd collection also done and added to the previous one during 2005
2001 - A Committee for charity works was formed with committee members 1) Sri. K.K. Kurian, Kuttichirakudy, (Convenor), 2) Sri. K.K. Poulose, Kuttichirakudy & 3) Sri. M.P. Poulose, Marachery putheth.
2003 - A sub-committee was formed to prepare the family history and directory. The directory was prepared but the family history couldn’t be completed due to the lack of details. Later on, it is completed under the presidentship of Sr. M.S. Eldhose, Marachery, Kothamangalam.
2013 - Created a free family website namely www.maracheril.com.
The family Union is re-named as Maracheril Kudumba yogam and the family logo lightened. The new family name and its logo have been approved and accepted by the General body.
Kudumba yogam Directory - During the presidential ship of Sri. M.S. Eldhose, details of families and individuals such as an address, contact No. relationship etc. were collected and a multicolor Kudumbayogam Directory was published by the end of 2016 and the directory was distributed to each family. The directory definitely helps the family members for easy communication among the members. Family photos and individual photos were also included in the directory. There was no financial liability to Kudumba yogam for publishing the directory as the family members they themselves contributed. The efforts and co-ordination initiated by the Central committee is appreciable. President Sri. M.S. Eldhose, Secretary Sri. M.C. Jose and the central committee team took initiative to create a Watts app group of the family members namely Marachery Family union and the same is active from 2016 onwards. Later during 2020 the WhatsApp group is re-named as Maracheril Kudumbayoam. Information related to the members including other local news, Mekhala news etc. are used to post in this group. The group participants are active and always keep the group alive.
2019 - Formation of Karnataka Unit
In 2019 Family General body was held at Pothanicad Mekhala in which around 15 family members from Chikkamagalore of Karnataka state were also attended. These members belong to Marachery Kalappura family. Their Forefathers were staying at Maramangalam in Kothamangalam taluk. The history is, around 60 years back Sri. Ittar, the elder son of Sri. Cheriya - Achappulla, Marachery Kalappura migrated to Chikkamangalore with his wife Annam and children. Sri Ittar & Annam established their family at Chikkamangalore and presently there are 19 families and altogether 55 family members. President Kuttichirakudiyil Sri. K.C. Alias Patron Rev. Fr. Joy Marachery Kalappura and team members of the Executive committee visited Karnataka and formed a unit on 15.01.2020. The matter was reported in the General body held on 26.01.2000 in which the nominated Unit Secretary Sri. Anish Abraham also attended and the general body welcomed him and honored.
2020 - 2021
Executive Committee members of the Kudumba yogam for the next coming two years (2020 & 2021) were nominated in the General body dated 26.01.2020. The first official meeting of the Central Committee was held on 16.02.2020. The main agenda of the meeting was to organize frequent gatherings and seminars with the intention to maintain good and healthy relations among the family members. Subsequently, different suggestions were discussed and the committee members participated.
The main subjects discussed are listed below.
1. A Family web namely Maracheril Kudumbayogam to be prepared and launched as early as possible. Details such as a family chart, a family tree showing the blood relations of the family members, and other information shall also be updated timely and posted for future reference of the family members. Central Committee entrusted Software Engineer Sri. Shelly Baby, Marachery Puthenpura of Kothamangalam Mekhala to work on this job. All the central committee members were also requested to assist him by giving family data as and when required.
2. Individual WhatsApp groups of similar categories to be prepared namely Engineers, medically related persons, and those who are working in the public field such as Police, Advocates, Politicians etc. Also, a separate group of members working abroad and inside. We presume this will help easy communication among the family members and now the groups are active and communications among the participants are in line.
3. Proposals to be organized to collect working capital for the welfare of the family. Monthly savings schemes in co-operation of the family members started and the profit earned is contributed to the family capital. A part from the profit will be utilized for charity works also.
4. A separate fund to be kept reserved for charitable activities for which contributions requested from well-wishers and the collections are in progress.
Though frequent gatherings & projects were planned, nothing could be materialized due to Covid 19 during 2020 & 2021 spread all over the world. We look forward to an active involvement in the coming years.
Annual general Body May 1st, 2022. (73rd)
Venue: Service Co-operative Bank Auditorium Oonnukal in Kavalangad Mekhala.
Highlights of Cultural and entertainment programs are exhibited in the succeeding folders.
It is also decided to conduct the next annual general body on 26th Jan 2023.
The general body was also allowed continuing the existing Central committee for one more term (two more years).