This document is the introduction to the history book of the Kizhakkekara family. It acknowledges the contributions of the ancestors who established and maintained the family and its traditions over generations. It hopes that recording the history will help preserve the memories and legacy for future generations. The introduction honors the ancestors and seeks blessings for the well-being and unity of current and future family members. It concludes with a prayer asking God to protect the family and fulfill their needs and aspirations.
2. ii
Name of the Book
Kizhakkekara Kudumbacharithram
(History of Kizhakkekara Family)
Written
Malayalam K.T. Thomas, Mob: 9447139489
English K.C. Mani, Mob: 09542029226
Editorial Board
Chief Editor: K.T. Thomas
Sub Editors
Johney George
Dr. Jose Francis
K.V. Mammen
K.C. Mani
Published on: 08.10.2011
Published by:
The President & Secretary
Kizhakkekara Kudumbayogam
Kizhathadiyoor P. O.
Pala
D.T.P. & Lay Out & Printing
Printech Multi Color Press,
Thodupuzha
Ph: 227191
President : Prof. Jose Joseph
Secretary: K.T. Thomas
For Private Circulation only
Website : www.kizhakkekarakudumbayogam.com
3. iii
ka¿∏Ww
c‡w hnb¿∏m°n cm]-Iset∂y A≤zmn®v,
∑-bpsS hnØp-Iƒ hnX-®p-sIm-bvXv,-
IpSpw-_sØ imtJm-]-im-J-I-fm°n hf¿Øn
hmKvZm--tZ-i-tØbv°v t]mb ]q¿∆o-I¿°v
Cu IpSpw-_-N-cn{Xw ka¿∏n-°p-∂p.
42. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 14
CHAPTER - 1
KIZAKKEKARAS OF PALAI (KERALA)
Origin & Growth
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS -THE PEOPLE
The Kizhakkekara families form a very small fraction of the
Malayalee population. Their history may be said to span a period of less
than 400 years.
Even so a genuine interest has been evinced by the elders of this
small group to record the history of the clan, so that children and grand
children of the Kizhakkekara families living in India and overseas may
get to know the roots of their origin, while family members of the rest of
the Malayalee community may become aware of the presence of the
Kizhakkekara clan and story of their emergence in Kerala.
The name Kizhakkekaras emanated during 1690 - 1700 when the
hero of the story, the 2nd son of a family of 3 sons chose to settle down
with his family on the eastern part of the family estate. Since then, this
family and their generation came to be called Kizhakkekaras, meaning
the "easterners".
ABOUT THIS BOOK
As a result of the continued interest shown by the leaders of the
clan to record their presence in Kerala an account of the families of the
Kizhakkekaras was being written from time to time from the beginning
by members of the clan and most of the writings were done on palm
leaves according to the prevailing practise of writing down important
events and happenings taking place.
During the period 1847 - 1961, the Palmyra documents were com-
piled and in Malayalam Language made into a hand written manuscript,
which later on was got printed. The person responsible for this transition
from palm leaf documents to hand written manuscript - during the above
period was Kizhakkekara Peedikayil ITTYIPE ITTYIPE of the genera-
tion. The handwritten manuscript - compiling all the earlier Palmyra leaf
documents is still available in the house of Pedikyil in Palai.
Rev.Fr.Dr.C.T.Kottaram who was overseeing this work selected Sri
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
43. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 15
K.I.Varkey B.Sc.,B.Ed,. on 15-12-1972 for the above task.
Another important development contributing to the emergence of
the book during the period was the setting up of an organisation called
the "Kizhakkekara Paripalana Yogam by elders of the clan consisting of
20 members, 3 among them being priests,who were been on maintain-
ing a historical account of the Kizhakkekara families.
The first meeting of the Kizhakkekara Kudumba Yogam was held
in 1911 A.D. (Kollavarsham i. E. Malayalam Era. 1087) at Karotte Veetti
House in which 3 priests and 17 heads of various branches attended the
meeting. The following are the names,in these founder members:
1. Mathai Kathanar, S/o Itty Cheriathu - Alakkal Branch
2. Ulahannan Kathanar, S/o Varkey - Karotte Veettil
3. Ouseph Kathanar, S/o Itty Ipe - Peedikayil
4. Varkey, S/o Varkey - Karotte Veettil
/ Pulimalakunnel
5. Varkey, S/o Thomman - do
6. Thomman, S/o Thomman - do
7. Itty Iype, S/o Itty Cheriathu - Alakkal (Cashier)
8. Varkey, S/o Cherian - do- Vakaniyil
9. Itty Iype, S/o Cherian - do - do
10. Cherian, S/o Cherian - do - do
11. Cherian, S/o Thomman - do - do
12. Agusthy, S/o Ittycheria - Karotte Veettil
/Pulimalakunnel
13. Unnicheria, S/o Eapen - Puthanpurackal
Eenthunkal Pakuthiyil
14. Itty Iype, S/o Eapen - do - Kaitholil
15. Mathai S/o Eapen - do- Puthenpurackal
16. Eapen, S/o Thomman - do- Thattamparambil
17. Itty Iype, S/o Itty Iype - Peedikayil
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
44. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 16
18. Agusthy, S/o Thomman - Peedikayil / Kaitholil
19. Itty Iype, S/o Thomman - do
20. Unnicheria, S/o Thomman - do
During the 60s of the 20th century, the manuscript of the
Kizhakkekara history was printed, with updated information about the
families living up to that time.
Since then, and during 2011, a fresh attempt was made to update
the details of Kizhakkekara families. This year, 2011, was also the 100th
anniversary of the yogam. It was also at this time that an English version
of the Kizhakkekara's history was prepared by Mr. K. C. Mani of the 8th
generation of the clan (see the family tree of the clan ) to create aware-
ness about their origin among the countless number of Kizhakkekara
families living abroad without the knowing to read and write the Malayalam
language. It was the curiosity and the zeal of a new beginner to dig up
facts of historical development that made him look for the early begin-
nings of the clan families which took his research up to the Biblical ori-
gins of the group. This will surprise many readers now and in the future.
A red alert : The writer Mr.K.C.Mani (Kizakkekara Alakkal Branch)
feels it necessary to alert all Kizakkekara family members particularly
the women about the prevalence of inbreeding genetic disorders noticed
in large number of children as well as adults. It will be necessary to check
this information in all their alliances for marriage in the coming years.
A good Counsel :-
It is recommended that a serious study be given to the issue
of Jewish presence in India, and its impact on Malayalee commu-
nity by reading the book of Abraham Benhur a Keralite author. The
book is titiled "The Jewish background of Indian people."
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
45. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 17
CHAPTER - 2
THE HISTORY OF THE KIZHAKKEKARAS OF PALAI
The history begins with Errakonni Puthan Purakkal Thomma
Panikar who had established a trading centre at Palai in 1696 A.D.who
was the youngest of 7 sons of Erakonni Itty Cheria.
Puthan Purakkal Thomman was himself a renowned and well -
established clan called Errakonnies who had settled themselves in
Mevada near Kottayam.
The question naturally arises about the background of the
Errakonnies.
THE ERRAKONNIES :-
Who are the Errakonnies and where did they come from?
Historians have recorded evidence of the presence of a group of people
at Palayoor who went by the family names - Sankarapuri, Pakalomattom,
Kalli and Kaliankal, they were Afghan Pathans of Jewish origin, who had
settled in Palayoor near Guruvayur, and who had been converted to Chris-
tianity by St. Thomas, the disciple of Jesus, sometime during 52 - 55
A.D. These Afghan Pathans were engaged in buying spices and condi-
ments, sandalwood and other perfumery ingredients and precious stones
to be shipped back to Alexandria and Rome. To safeguard their activities
a legion of Roman soldiers were stationed in Cranganore and Palayur,
the port cities where ships came from Africa and Europe.
It is useful to remember at this juncture, that Christianity was not well -
received in Rome and the Roman soldiers stationed in the port area did
not take kindly to the Jewish Pathans and Jewish Pathan converts in the
area. they were harrased by the Roman soldiers, and prevented from
carrying on with their trade. This was the situation up to 325A.D.Hence
after the converted Afghan Pathan family moved out to other places.
For reasons stated above there was compelling reasons for the
migrations of the members of these families from Palayur to Angamali,
Edappally, Kuravilalgad,Kottayam,Niranam,Etc,. In their Moments of des-
peration, the migrated families cursed the place which they were forced
to leave and place is now called Chavakkad (Shapakkad).
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
46. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 18
Out of a fraction of the group which moved to Edapalli, some moved
to Manarkad near Kottayam and prospered in their trade some other
moved further to Mevada near Palai and set up trading in spices. The
group which moved from Edapalli to Manarkad belonged to Pakolomattom
clan.
Near Mevada, was located Errakonni, and the ruler of Errakonni
took a liking to the immigrant community on account of their experience
in trading, and invited them to come over to Errakonni to set up a trade
centre. In those days, Errakonni was fast becoming a popular centre for
trade and commerce. The migrant families accepted the offer of the ruler
of Errakonni and started their trading activities in Errakonni. Since then,
they were called "Errakonni-Mappillas".
It will be useful to remember the Jewish link(Afghan Pathan) in the
clan name of Pakolomattom and the Errakonni - Mappillas, to know the
origin of the Errakonnies and the splinter group, Kizhakkekaras.
Some time during 1341, continous rains caused great floods in
Kerala which resulted in heavy siliting of the Periyar river, disabling trade
activities to the Pathan Families at Angamali. The Periyar river which
was flowing to Crangannore port also changed its course and started
flowing to Cochin and Wipin Island also formed during this time.The
Pathan families staying at Angamally were compelled to move out to
Eddapally near Alwaye and to Kurvilangad,and other places in search of
trading activities.
THE KIZHAKKEKARAS :-
We made a mention about Errakonnin Puthan Purakkal Thomma
Pannikar and his 3 sons of whom, the 2nd son was the founder of the
Kizhakkekara clan.
Before we take up the life accounts of the 3 sons, there is an
interesting account of Thomma Panikkar himself. The account is about
his inherent generous nature and Compasion to help people in distress.
In 836(kollavarsham) Thomma Panikkar was on his way to Kochi
to buy the merchandise for his business centre at Palai, he spotted a
young Brahmin lad sitting on the road - side at Piravom. On enquiry, he
found that the lad was held in bondage over the non - repayment of a
loan taken by his father who had left on a pilgrimage to Benaras and was
delayed on his return journey. The lad had been kept as a hostage and
he was left most of thedays starving and unattended to, by the creditor.
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
47. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 19
The lad was from Vadakkum Manakkal Illam. Thomma Panikkar took
pity on him, repaid the debt and released him from his bondage. This is
just one incident of the many generous deeds said to have been done by
him, during his lifetime. Now we return to the 3 sons and how they fared
in their lives.
The 1st son, named Ottaplakkal Ittycheria became a minister in
the service of Meenachil Kartha, the ruler of Palai. This enabled the
family, to become respected. Marriage alliances with well - to - do fami-
lies, having landed propery, were arranged for his sisters of whom there
were 3. His position as a Minister, brought honorary title of "Panikkar" to
the father, Puthan Purakkal Thomman.
The 3rd son, named Padinjarekara Mathai took over the family
business of trading and rose to bcome very rich and earnd the title
"Tharakan" .
As for the 2nd son Itty Iype (THE HERO OF OUR STORY) he
became well - known as a martial art professional, which enabled him to
be recognized as a chieftain in the area. He was well remembered for
settling local disputes, and bringing peace among the warring factions in
the area. He concentrated on developing agriculture. He played an im-
portant role to save his father when he was attacked by one of the dis-
missed labour heads, while taking a nap in the courtyard of the house Itty
Iype caught him and informed his brother minister Ottaplackal Itty Cheria
who in turn ordered to shoot him at Kanattupara. He married from the
house of Pallipurath family (Pakalomottam clan),He raised a family of 3
sons and 5 daughters. Even his marriage was not with out adventure.The
bride who was said to be the only sister of Thomas Methran (Bishop)
was interested to get married to a respectable family. There was a diffi-
culty which he had to face.The ruler Ancha kulathu panickker who wanted
her to be married to a young man from Kunnumpurathu family.This pro-
posal was not agreeble to Thomas Methran, Because the Kunnumpurathu
family was of inferior rank among the Catholics of that time, Therefore
Thomas Methran selected our hero Itty Iype as the Prospective
groom.When the marriage was concluded, and the bridal pair was being
attented to with other ceremonies in Pallypuarathu house a soldier of the
ruler Anchakulathupanickker showed up and started creating trouble by
cutting down the lamb hanging in front of their house to which IttyIype
became furious got up, and kicked out the soldier to the delight of all
who had assembled there.Thus began his married life,and the genera-
tion of Kizakkekara .He lived a shortlife of 11 years,and raised a family of
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
48. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 20
8,3sons and 5 daughters.
At the time of writing this historical account in July of 2011,AD, there are
10 to 12 generations of the Kizakkekaras.
Chapter 111
CONNECTING THE PAST WITH THE PRESENT
In the Previous chapters we mentioned about the presence of fami-
lies of Jewish ancestry in diffrent locations of Kerala State,and how from
out of these families, a connectivity has been estsablished to some
malayalee families.
Our connecting thread is the Erakonnies, and the splinter group
the Kizakkekara clan, whose history we are narrating in this book. It will
be useful to remember that descendants of Jewish origin have been
settled in Kerala for almost 2000 Years,Historical evidence backed by
archaeological findings show that these Jewish descendants are also
seen to have established their presence in other parts of India-Punjab-
Kashmir,Central India,Eastern India,Maharashtra,Karnataka,South India,
(Tamil Nadu) and Kerala A further understanding of their movement leads
to even earlier periods, earlier to Abraham to know how long back in in
time these peoples originated ,and when and how they came to be spread
out so far?
If the Reader is acquainted with Bilble,you will recall that the world
was destroyed by a great flood from out of which only 8 people were
able to escape in a big size boat and the family which surviced the flood
was the family of Noah his wife, his 3 sons and 3 daughters in law,
The Quaranic account of the flood is very similar to the narration
in the Bible, It mentions the survival of Noah and his family and a pair of
all animals and birds as stated in the Bible. All the ancient population had
records and beliefs about a flood. For instance the Indian mythyology
records the "Matsya" avatar (Fish incarnation of vishnu) in which a
venearble saint was warned of a forth coming flood in 7 days, and he
was advised to escape in a boat with a chosen group of 7 sages.The
Greek philosopher Plato narrates in his book Timaeus. "The Gods puri-
fied the world with a flood allowing only a small number of shepherds to
escape". The Chinese also have a story about the flood in their book "Li-
Ki" which states as follows:-
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
49. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 21
"The pillars of the sky were destroyed, The Earth shook to its
foundations,The Sun and Stars changed their Tracks, The Earth cracked
open.The great order of the Universe was destabilized . All these bad
events took place because man disobeyed the supreme Lord of the Uni-
verse. The Chinese tradition acknowledges the escape of a family headed
by Nuah (Noah) the righteous man, his wife, and 3 sons,Lottan (Ham)
losheen (sheen) and jah-hu (japath) by building a very broad ship and
taking on it pairs of animals and birds.
Just as it was among the people in the middle east, Greece , Egypt
India and china, the anceient occupants of the American continent had a
legend about a cataclysmic flood which had ravaged the world known to
them, and from out of which 3 to 8 person saved themselves in boat,
which settled down on a hill. The survivors came down to the plain and
populated the world.
Dear Reader, all the above details are furnished to establish the
point about the commonality of belief and similarities of the stories re-
garding " great flood", which destroyed the world leaving behind a hand-
ful of survivors.
This historic event had taken place somewhere between 4000 and
3000 BC.
Noah and his family:- The first family on Earth
The boat in which one family of 8 members survived, was said to
have settled on top of a mountain. This mountain has since been identi-
fied as the Ararat peak mountain in the Armenian ranges, east of modern
Turkey. This is the same area refered to in the Bible the Quran, and the
Sumerian epic of Gulgamesh,
Noah the first parent of the world after the flood is said to have
settled down with his family in a location called "urattin" which is situated
in Turkey-Armania.
With their preflood experiences the family started a pastoral life.
The Bible records that Noah was the first man to plant a vineyard(gen
9:20).
The descendants of Noah's sons Shem, Ham and Japheth devel-
oped settlements along rivers and spread out through the length and
breath of the world.
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
50. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 22
NOAH'S DESCENDANTS
The Bible records that during plege"s time the people of the world
were divided,(gen.10.25),
Now ,Reader this is a pointer to the spread out situation of Noah's
decendants, going their separate ways during the time of Pledge's- who
was one of the great grandsons of Noah.
They formed separate tribes, and drew the limits of their domains
settlements.
Anthrapological studies speak about 6000 odd clans of people on
earth, Tracing their ancestry to the Semitic, Hameric and Japhethik stocks.
Bible records that 26 of these great races descended from shem,
30 from Ham, 14 from Japheth. It is these 70 tribes who created the
civilisation of the bygone days,
These races lived on the sea coasts, along the great rivers of
Asia,Africa and Europe.
As at the time of writing in 2011, there are 6400 millions people on
earth belonging to 6000 groups,speaking about 3000 languages, Based
on the structural and grammatical similarities, philologists have grouped
them into 10 main categories as follows.
(1) The Indo-european (2) the semitic (3) the Sino-tibetian (4) the
Dravidian (5) the ural-altaic (6) the Malayo-polyuresian (7) The African -
Negroid (8) The American-Indian,
(9) The caucasian and (10) Micellaneous(viz the Astree and Mundra).
From the Semitic stock(after Noah"s son shem) the prominent
people who emanated into tribes were - the Herbrews (later Israelites)
the Ishmaelitis etc. The 13 Arab tribes were also from the Semitic stock.
They mostly lived in Tigris basin, the Medi teranien coast and Arabia
.Their main language of the Middle Eastern, and North African countries
is Arabic.
The Hametic stock (after Ham the 2nd second son of Noah) are
believed to have lived in Babylon, Egypt,Somalia, Ethopia and Libye .
The youngest son of Ham was canaan. He is credited as being
the founder of 11 tribes who were found settled in an area extending
from Bogoskoy in Asia minor to Gaza on the Mediterranien coast until
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
51. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 23
2000 BC.
All tribal dialects spoken in African Continent are the languages of
the descendants of Ham. (Hametic stock) They are popularly known as
the Negroid races.
The canannites who had reached Indus valley and later on moved
to the southern Indian peninesula spoke Dravidian language- The lan-
guage of the people who developed the Indus valley civilisation as found
in the excavation of Mohenja-Dara and Harappa. Dear Reader, have
you heard about these remarkable cities which were known to have high
standard of civilisation as we know it now?.
The cananites migrated further south, establishing homesheads
in the Godavari, Krishna and Cavery basins. The Dravidian languages
were mostly spoken by the tribals and the socially backward communi-
ties of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,Tamil Nadu, and Kerala and these
were the legacies of the cananaties.
The Japhethites :- The descendants of Japeth the 3rd son of
Noah were known as the Aryan race, they had settled in the areas north
of the Tropic of Cancer in Europe, central Asia, and northern Iran. From
out of them, the Anthrapologists trace the emergence of wild tribes of
central Asia, including the Scythians, Turks Tartas, parthieans and Huns.
They gave rise to the languages identified as Indo-European, which
are the dominant language-group in the present day world. There are
five branches of the Indo-European language.
They are (1) The Indo - Aryan (2) The Indo-Iranien (3) The germanic
(german, English, Swedish) (4) The Roman (italian, spanish, french,
romanien) and 5th the Baltic slavic.
Hindi ,Urdu,Punjabi, Sindhi,Gujarathi,Marathy,Bengali,Orya and
Assamees are the offshoots of the Indo-Aryan language of Sanskrit.
Modern scientific findings, and religious texts enable any serious
thinking mind to accept that the history of the human race began at one
point and with one family. The vast multitude of generations that have
populated the globe during the years since 3000 BC, have necessarily a
link among themselves whether -they be dressed up in white, black, brown
and yellow skins.
The fact and the understanding behind the fact is a compelling
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
52. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 24
realisation that we are all from the same family- and we are cousins to
each other - never mind if the rank of the cousinship is first,Second,Third
or the thousandth
Beginning from the time of Noah (3000 BC) when mankind got a new
lease of life on earth we reach upto the time of Abraham(2166-1991BC)-
his son Issac(2066-1896 BC) and his grandson Jocob (2006-1859 BC).
Jews move to Egypt and undergo life as slaves :-
Jacob and his 12 sons moved to Egypt when their land was rav-
aged by a severe famine. When they migrated to Egypt in 1876 BC.The
joseph family members were only 70. During the next 430 years this
number swelled up to 2000,000. When Joseph the son of Jacob occu-
pied a prominent position under Paroah the Egyptiean ruler the jewish
people lived happily. But the later rulers of Egypt began to make life
difficult for the Jews, imposing hard conditions of labour, and severe
punishments for mistakes made. The Jewish women were forced to kill
their newborn male children.
During their stay of 430 years in Egypt the descendants of the 12 sons of
Jacob had divided themselves into 12 tribes, with the following names.
1) Reuben 2) Saimon 3) Joseph 4) Judah 5) Zebulum 6) Issachar
7) Dan 8) Gad 9) Asher). 10) Napthali 11) Ephraim and 12) Benjamin.
The Jewish people were liberated from the Egyptian captivity by
the strong hand of their God, under the leadership of Moses.
Although their God helped them to leave Egypt, cross the Red
Sea and Took them towards Canan the promised land, he became angry
with their constant acts of desobediance, and revolt against himself so
much so the jews were made to wander in the area for 40 years, until the
older generation who had shown rebellion and distrust perished , and the
remaining people were young and obedient.
They reached Canaan in 406 BC conquering many rulers, and
taking possession of large areas of land around Jericho.
The Jewish people form a Nation for themselves -Israel ;-
When the Jewish exile from Egypt finally moved into the country
of Moab under the leadership of Joshua, they were by engaged in battles
with many rulers of near by kingdoms, big and small conquering them all
and seizing large areas,The Bible records in Joshna 11.16-17 the defeat
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
53. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 25
of 31 kings and annexing their kingdom.
The conquered land was divided among the 12 tribes, and the
land thus occupied by the 12 tribes was called Israel and its location
extendedd from the eastern shores of the Mediterranean sea to the Jor-
dan Valley- the Valley of Lebanon, and to the South of Mount Harmon.
Israel was made up of a collection of village republics (panchayat
in the Indian administrative practice) These village units were governed
by leaders, and tribal chiefs, some of the tribal chiefs who were known
for their wise counsel and good judgements in settling disputes, and quar-
rels among the people were known as 'Judjes'find pre- eminent place in
the Bible.under the chapter judges. between (1406 and 1025) BC the
Jewish people now known as Israelies were adoministered by Judjes,there
after the Israelies found it necessary to have a king to rule all the tribes,
so as to have a fighting force drawn up from among them to meet the
frequent battles arising from the neighbouring kingdom..
The first king was saul,who was succeeded by David,who made
Jerusalem the capital of Israel. After David Solomon (well known for his
wisdom, which attracted many kings from far and near to attend his court
ruled Israel till his death in 937 BC to this time the land of Israel was
under one ruler king.Thereafter the 12 Tribes carved the nation in to two
parts,the north and south Israel- the northen part was taken over by 10
tribes and the southern part by the 2 tribes Judah and Banjamin. The
northern part was called Israel with its capital setup in Samaria. The
another part became known as Judaea, with its capital in Jerusalem.
The Israelies disobedience ;-
With life well settled and prosperity in their land and home, the
people of Israel begen to forget the instructions given by moses, regard-
ing ' worshipping false gods" They started worshipping gods of the peoples
whom they had conquered in battles Due to the persuasion of their women
whom they had taken up as wives or concubines. As these wives were
women of different religious.beliefs, and not guided by strict code of con-
duct, the Israelies soon found themselves livings a life far moved from
the law of Moses and worse, in total negation of the covenant which God
(Jehooah) had made with them through Moses,
The Israelies were warned of their erring ways, and betrayal of
the covenant with God by prophets like Elijah, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Micah,
and others.The Israelities, turned a deaf ear and even began to pros-
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
54. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 26
ecute the prophets who warned them of their evil ways,
The Punishment :-
The punishments to samaria the northern kingdoms of Israel and
Jeruslem the southern part of Israel came one after another true to the
warnings given by the prophets. The neighbouring kingdoms,who were
once afraid of Israel's power because they believed that the Israel were
people, in whom their God was ever present and always protected them
from enemies now began to see the difference in their life styles, change
of worship, and the ebbing away of their moral fibre. They rose up indi-
vidually and collectively against Israel Syria, Assyria,Babylon, Egypt,
persia, rose against Israel with devastating consequences.
The Assyrean emperor Sargon 2 conquered samaria and took
27290 Israelities prisoners in 725 BC The southern Judah kingdom was
overran by the Egyptian king Neko in 608 BC who took a good number of
Israelist as prisoners, The babylonion king Nebuchadnezzar attacked
Judah and took of Israelists prisoners in 607 BC. The babylonion kings
attacked Israel again and again successively in 597 BC,587 BC and 582Bc
, taking away nearly 80,000 prisoners and settled them in Babylon.
The last of the kingdoms which dominated Israel were Greece
and Rome. Greece under Alexander took over Israel by defeating Per-
sians in 333BC. Although Israelities were treated with leniency by
Alexander his successers illtreated and persecuted them installing Greek
god zeus in the temple at Jerusalem. The Jewish tribe of Maccabees
prevailed against the mighty Greeks and seized control of Judah, and
purified the temple in 165Bc. They even fought the other Isreali tribes in
the Northern part of the Kingdom captured the town of Samaria, and
destroyed the temples built for the cannite goddesses.
However their freedom from foreign domination was shortlived,
since a Roman General named Pompeii stationed in the city of Dam-
ascus, attacked Judah in 63 BC capturing Jerusalem. This was the last
foreign domination. After the Roman occupation. Israel was literally blown
off the map due to continous rebellion of the Jews against Roman occu-
pation, leading to severe and cruel repression of the Jews in Israel. Not
withstanding the fact that a Jewish king named Herod was appointed
ruler of Israel under Rome's approval, the Jewish rebellion continued
well into the years when Jesus was born and far later until Rome came
down with a heavy hand, crushing the Jewish resistance, destroying the
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
55. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 27
temple of Jerusalem, and putting an end to the very presence of the
Jews in Israel. It was a sad end to the heroic resistance put up by the
Jews, when the last remnants of them numbering about 800 comitted
suicide on the top of a hilly terrain called "Mazade".The year 70 AD is
remembered as the time when the great diaspora (the great uprooting or
displacement) of the Jews took place scattering them all over the world.
Speaking of the Jewish Diaspora, two periods are remembered
first when they were exiled to Babylon in 607 BC and the 2nd in 70AD
when they were pushed out of Judah by the Romans.
This is one part of the sad story of the Jews who began their lives
on earth, as a nation full of promise and achievements, giving rise to
great civilizations, and finally ending up as losers, with no homeland of
their own and marking each passing year from 72 AD till 1947 AD with
the prayer "that the next year will see them in Jerusalem".This was the
prayer of every true blooded Jew for well over 1075 years since 726BC
till.1947 AD, when the United Nation organization announced the birth of
the nation of Israel- For the time being this was a happy ending for the
scattered Jews.As we write in 2011 AD, Israel was found to be hostlile
and inimical to many of these Arab neighbouring kingdoms - particularly
Iran which has openly stated "Israel must be wiped out from the world
map"
The other part of their sad story concerns the lost tribes, and our
narration of all the above history has a certain relevance in knowing about
the lost tribes-we discuss the issue in the next chapter.
Chapter : IV
THE CONCLUDING PART OF THE STORY :-
The Reader is invited to the passage in the Bible (Math.10.6) where
Jesus Christ advises his disciples' to go in search of the lost sheep (tribes)!
He was referring to the enslavement and deportation of nearly 27300
families from the northern part of the Kingdom of Israel by Sargon II of
the Assyria.
In the year following their deportation there was no further news
about what happened to them.The deportation took place in 627 BC.and
their where abouts remained un known.
So when Jesus come on the scene almost 6 countries had rolled
out.On the basis of the hypocthesis that a new generation in every 25
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
56. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 28
years, about 24/or 12 generation would have emerged.During the 6 cen-
turies since the capture and Departation of the Jews from the northern
part of Israel no information about them was available so they began to
think that some trouble or calamity he has overtaken their kinsmen taken
as slaves. Thus the notion of ten lost tribes in which began to to take
shape . It was these lost tribes Jesus referred to as the lost sheep. No
doubt later on Jesus spoke about the lost sheep in a broader context to
indicate the inclusion of each and every soul that strays away from the
path of righteousness labeling them as sheep that had lost its way.
It was the exhortation of Jesus addressed to the disciples that
impelled St.Thomas to go to India 2 times when he came to know of the
presence of Jewish settlements in the north, and north western part of
India, at the first instance and later on about their presence in the south-
ern part of India.
Were these people the descendants of the lost tribes.,
if so how did they reach out so far from the places of their incar-
ceration?
The Jewish families of the 10 tribes of the northern Israel who
were taken to Assyria were informed that their kinsmen in the southern
Israel kingdom were also conquered by the kings of to their homeland
Israel and made slaves and taken to other kingdoms.
Emperor, Sargon, attacked Samaria and took 30,000 Israelites as
prisoners (2 Kings 18:12) .The Assirians also started marrying women of
Israel and a new generation called Samaritans was born.
The captive Israelites multiplied in their places where they were
deported to as slaves began to spread out to different parts of the Earth.
Research evidences show their presence in Sindh and North - western
provinces, Baluchistan(Baluchistan ranges are called Solomom ranges)
in Hindu Kush region, Thakshila (Rawal Pindi), an important place of
learning and trade centre on the silk route to China- and also to Afghani-
stan, Kashmir, Pakistan,india, Africa, Europe, America, China, Korea &
Japan, etc.
Researchers were able to establish their presence in those areas,
on account of their foot - prints which they left behind. The foot - prints
were mainly the similarities in the technique they used to bury their dead.
The jews and their descendant's graves and the grave sites were called
"Dolmens" wherever they went.
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
57. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 29
An explanation about Afghan pathans :-
It is claimed that the grandson of King Saul of Benjamin tribe was
called Afghana and that he rose to become the head of the army. When
Nebuchadnezzar, the emperor of Babylon overran the kingdom of Israel
in 607 B.C. and took 80,000 Israelites to his kingdom. Afghana was said
to have escaped with his followers and made good his way to a place
called Gore near the HinduKush ranges. he was astonished to meet
many families of the lost tribes already settled there keeping Jewish cus-
toms infact and speaking fluent Aramic language. He is said to have
gathered them under his leadership- they were called Afghanas, which
later became the name of the country now called "Afghanistan". The
term "pathan" came from word "path" meaning ten in the Dravadian lan-
guage which was widely spoken among the section of jews in the
medterranien region. Pathans therefore came to be associated with the
people settled in the region.
It may be remembered that the Israelites found in this region were
indeed the 10 tribes who were called the "Pathans" the details of their
arrival and the setting up of their kingdom of Afghanistan are furnished in
"Mahasan-I-Afhghani", a document compiled by the Iranian writer,
"Nemathulla Harvi", who was a historian in the court of the Emperor
Jahangir, in 1612A.D.
It may be mentioned here that the Afghanistan Pathans who were
of the lost tribes and many of them had embraced Islam,"Sunni"were
they also called Afridis (in Persian Afridi means new arrivals). The first
king of Afghanistan was from the Afghana clan, called Ahmed Shah, and
the kingdom lasted from 1747 to 1973A.D.
Even though many of the lost tribes converted to Islam, they con-
tinued to observe many rituals and socio-cultural practices of the lost
tribes. They were known to circumcise their male infants on the 8th day
after birth,
They Kept separate mats for prayers (Talith),wore marriage rings
(Hupa), observed menstrual cleanliness abstained from forbidden food
(camels and horses),avoided boiling flesh in milk observed distinction of
clean and unclean bird meat, observed sabath, lighting of candles on
sabath days, and praying towards Jerusalem, smearing of blood on the
doorsteps during epidemic, rearing of goats for special festivals, keeping
the book of 'psalms' below the pillow during an illness and the display of
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
58. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 30
the star of David in their houses. The presence of many Hebrew words in
Afghan language, naming of hills and hill ranges after famous Jewish
leaders( Ranges in Baluchistan called Solomon ranges), all bear witness
to their jewish heritage .
Over the centuries, some of the Jewish Pathans now called Af-
ghan pathans belonging to the lost tribes were following the silk route
for their trading activities and found themselves travelling to the west
and east coast regions of India, passing through the present day Madhya
Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states to reach
Kerala in pursuit of trading in spices, condiments, sandalwood and pre-
cious stones, In kerala they settled mainly in sea-ports, like Cranganore,
Palayur, Thondy(Calicut), Paravoor, Quilon and riverside towns like
Cocomangalam(Malayattor ) of Periyar, Niranem and Nilakkal of Pampa
River most of which were spice producing centres. They were also found
living in Marayur, Wayanad, Pathanamthitta.
This is the brief history of the movement of the Jews of the lost
tribe to Palayur, the starting part of the Kizhakkekara clan.
An explanation regarding the confusion about who St.Thomas
converted?
In the light of research and studies, making use of the epigraphic
and literary sources, modern historiographers like Prof. Elamkulam Kunjan
Pillai came to the conclusion that the ancestors of the present day
Nambudiris established their temple centred gramas, in the span of the
8th and the 9th centuries in Kerala. Only by the 9th and the 10th centu-
ries of the Christian era, many of the temples in kerala were constructed.
Dr. Keshavan Veluthatt states that the 32 Nambudiri gramas re-
ferred to in "Keralolppathi" suggested that their migration to Kerala was
during the 8th century.
The reason for this confusion was because some of the Pathan
families embraced Hinduism during their long stay in India and became
known as Bhatts and Bhattathiris in the Konkan Coast. Iyers, Iyengars
and Shastris in the Western Coast and those settled in Kanchipuram
called themselves as Tamil Brahmins and they spread to Mylapore. Those
settled in kerala were the early converts and not nambudri brahmins.
Following this, Jewish Pathans delect (reomove) the portion also mi-
grated to the above places in search of trade. This prompted St. Thomas
to visit Mylapore and other areas.
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
59. Ing-t°-°c IpSpw-_Ncn{Xw 31
St. Thomas came to india on two occations.
People remember the epic journey of St. Thomas in A.D 52 to
Cranganore in South India. This journey was done on ship along the
popular sea route by taking advantage of the "HIPPALUS" wind which is
the south west monsoon winds as we know it now. What is not so well -
known and recalled is the fact of St. Thomas's 1st visit to North India. He
went to Taxila to help design the architecture of the palace of the Parthian
King, Gondophorus (BC 95 to AD 45). He is said to have followed the silk
- route to reach Taxila along with a leader in trading, Mr. Hebban who
told him about the presence of large Jewish settlements in and around
the place. St. Thomas converted many Jewish Pathans to Christianity in
the area of Takhshila. There he was made to understand that there were
many Jewish settlements in South India also and to reach them, the sea
- route was the best option.
There is a mistaken notion that the very first converts were Brah-
min numbudris
And this took place in AD52(i.e first century after christ). This is a
wrong belief.
India was thus, twice blessed to have the presence of this pre-
cious saint of the Lord and the early beginning of the conversion to Chris-
tianity of the lost tribes besides the Indian people, who had not known
Christ. He spent 20 years in India. He was martyred in Mylapore on the
3rd of July A.D and Christians in South India observe this day as
"DUKHRANA".
It may be recalled that when Jesus exhorted his disciples to go out
to the 4 corners of the Earth and bring to the people his teachings, he
made a special mention to seek the lost sheep - meaning the families of
the lost tribes which was one of the main reasons of St. Thomas to come
to far away India, where he was given to understand the members of the
lost tribes had migrated and settled (Mathew 10.6).
We noted earlier that St. Thomas had heard about the presence
of Jewish families in South India when he went to Taxila. When he reached
Cranganore Port in Kerala Coast, he was surprised to find that the Jew-
ish Pathans spoke Aramaic language and many of the socio - cultural
practices were similar to that of the Jewish people of Israel.
The first conversion took place in Palayur where 4 families namely,
Pakalmattom, Shankarapuri, Kalli and Kaliyankal.
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○