Profile
Kudumba yogam Changanacherry
CHANDY GEEVARGHESE
GIRISSA
7
KOCHANDY CHANDY
Male
Married
MARIYAMMA, Thengummoottil, Chennakkattuveettil, Alapuzha
Sons
1 . O.V.CHANDY
2 . O.V.POTHEN
3 . O.V.MATHEW
4 . REV.FR.ALEXANDER OLASSAIL
5 . O.V.OUTHAKUTTY
6 . O.V.VARGHESE
7 . O.V.THOMAS

Daughters
1 . MAMMY
2 . ANNAMMA
3 . THRESIAMMA

KochadyChandy son of KuruvilaKochandy (ValiyamuthalPididkaran) had settled in the so called ancestral property Thopilpurayidam situated in Umbizhichira half mile east of his ancestral home. This has already been mentioned before.Chandy Ghevarghese was the one and only male heir to Kochandy Chandy. Varghese had a brother named Scaria who died at a very young age. His father also passed away soon after settling in Thoppil house. It was not safe for a widow with 3 kids below the age of seven to live alone. His uncles were worried about this. In order to solve this it was suggested Varghese Chandy and his wife, son of his eldest uncle Kochandy Vareeth may stay in the Thoppil house to help the family and they started living there. Varghese was seven years of age then. The small family survived under the guidance and help of this cousin and the other uncles.It is said that ‘Ghevarghese’ was a name prevalent among the Greeks in ancient times. That may be the reason behind this difference of name. This name was used mainly for official and formal purposes. Among relatives and friends the name was shortened to other forms like‘Girisa’ , ‘Girees’, ‘Giyama’ and hence he was known with those names.

          From the very young age Ghevarghese happened to be involved in documentations related to ancestral property deals. A money lending documentbetween his forefathers and the Changanacherry Lakshmipuram palace was originally signed on 1049 (Malayalam calendar). When it was renewed in 1054, Ghevarghese who was then 13, also signed in it. In order to share the assets with Ghevarghese, his uncle Kochandy Vareeth, registered a partition deed regarding the properties earned by Kochnady Vareeth and his father in ‘Karkidakam’ 25 of 1059. It was intended to hand over the shares of Kochandy Chandy to his descendants within their rights. In this document also Ghevarghese put the signature at the age of 17. Hereafter Ghevarghese who was a minor and his widowed mother had to take the responsibility of the properties and the households. Circumstances were not favorable for getting much education. English education was not possible locally. He had to be satisfied with the primary learning of Malayalam and Tamil. But his passion for reading enabled him to improve his knowledge. He became proficient in the books of Christianity and the old and new testaments because of this inherent reading habit. When we examine the condition of the location of Umbizhichira, when he started living in Thoppil property, it is a wonder how far the Changanacherry town has developed. The Thoppil estate and eastern suburbs were jungle with trees and wild animals. As it was the abode of so many birds the land got the name ‘Thoppil’.

He got married at the age of 21. He married Mariyamma, the only daughter of Shouriyar of the ancient Thengumootil Chennakattu family of Allepy and Annamma of Chodhirakunnel family Thottakadu.

He followed the footsteps of his forefathers and brothers who fought for the benefits of church and society. He fulfilled the duties vested on him with utmost sincerity and integrity. He was not at all biased

He served as the Trustee (Kaikaran) of the Changanacherry parish several times. At that time some people tried to evade the chiiti installments due to the church. Then Ghevarghese went ahead with legal proceedings against them and retrieved  most part of the money. The Bishops of Changanacherry  from Dr Laveenge to Bishop Kalassery were confident about the leadership and capability of Ghevarghese. The first bishop of Kottayam, Bishop Mathew was in great appreciation of him. When the bishop came to Kottayam to take charge Ghevarghese went to meet him. When there was an agitation against Dr Laveenge, and some people rebuked him personally, Ghevarghese was prominent among those who stood as firm supporters and solace to the Bishop. Ghevarghese was a strong and mighty figure who lived with great manliness  throughout his life. His wife Mariyamma died at the age of 67 after being in death bed for only a day. Rev Fr Outhachen (Rev Fr Joseph Olassayil) of Vadakeveedu gave her the final sacraments. He came there unexpectedly on that day. It was a Friday. Her own son Fr Alexander Olassa had been serving as the Parish priest in Pondicherry mission during this time. He was the fruit of her ardent prayers that any one of her sons should become a priest. It was not expected that he would be able to attend his beloved mother’s funeral. Anyway a telegram was sent to inform the sad news. It was really difficult to reach Changanacherry from such a remote village in Tamilnadu where there was no means of transport. But just as the funeral procession reached the boundaries of the Thoppil house, he showed up and was fortunate to join the service as the main celebrant for his beloved am machi's funeral. After some years in March 1945 Ghevarghese also passed away. He had been laid in bed suffering from Rheumatism for 4 to 5 years. He was conscious till death. He was buried in Changanacherry parish cemetery in the same row as of his forefathers. Rev Fr Kurian Olassa and Rev Fr Outhachen Olassa were the main celebrants of his funeral. His son Rev Fr.  Alexander Olassayil who had been serving in Pondicherry could not reach and attend the funeral service.

Sons :

  1. Chandy
  2. Pothen
  3. Mathew
  4. Rev Fr Alexander
  5. Outhakutti
  6. Varghese
  7. Thomas

Daughters

  1. Mammi, married to VarkeyPothenKappilKoyipalli,PunnakunnathuserryPulimkunnu
  2. Annama, married to Joseph Chacko MoolamkunnamPuthenpura,Vezhapara
  3. Thresiamma, married to Antony Valliyaveetil, Champakulam

 

Yes