O.V.Varghese BA, BL will be honored and cherished by the coming generations of the Olassa family for his relentless dedicated efforts as the author of the Kudumbacharithram. He had referred to historical, church and government records and documents, old manuscripts, letters, memoirs and oral reminiscences of senior members of the family to prepare the charithram. He tried his level best to make it true to the facts. It was the fruit of his hard toil of about 20 years, rewriting the pages and making relevant corrections consulting with scholars in Malayalam. Paying homage to the soul of this devoted personality, his life history is portrayed henceforth.

O.V.Varghese, who was fondly called Kuttappan, was born younger to Outhakutty in 08-02-1084(A.D.1909). During that period preliminary education was given in the local learning centers known as Asan kalaries. There were Nilathezhuthu kalarikal or Ezhuthu pallikudangal everywhere in the villages. These were known as Kudipallikudangal.   Christians also initiated formal schooling on Vidyarambham day. It was a custom to give Gurudakshina to the Asan which was usually a silver coin. Special prayers were offered on vidyarambham day. Though these were Hindu customs, Christians also followed them. Sitting on the little mats spread on the floor pupils wrote with their pointed finger on sand strewn on the floor. This is called Nilathezhuthu. The first lessons were alphabet and numbers which were written on Ola with an iron style called Narayan. Asan was given gifts in kinds by the students. Asan was supported by the village providing him with things for his sustenance. After the alphabet multiplication tables were taught which was called Enchuvadi. A pupil was eligible to join the 1^st standard if he knows the above lessons. After this preliminary learning in Kalari, Kuttappan had his primary education in three schools. He got his ESLC(English School Leaving Certificate) from St.Berchman’s High School and took his BA from St.Berchman’s College. Prof.M.P.Paul, L.M.Pailee & Prof.V.R.Krishnaiyer were his teachers in S.B.College.

Then he went to Madras for his studies in Law, but he had to join Law College Thiruvananthapuram for his  FL class as he had started his studies in Madras. Even Prof. P.J.Thomas’ recommendation could not prevent his shifting. As he became an activist in State Congress protest against the dictatorship of Sir C.P.Ramaswamy, he could not appear for the examination that year, but he had the satisfaction that he could involve in the agitation for the responsible government. During this time he was staying in the Catholic Hostel Thiruvananthapuram. The cops of Sir C.P. tortured the students who stayed in the hostel. A meeting was organized in the Pettah ground to protest against the brutality and O.V.Varghese presided over the meeting. A deputation of students was sent to meet SirC.P. and Mr.Varghese was a member. Mr.C.M.Stephen who later became famous was another member. He was a student of the Govt.Arts College Thiruvananthapuram. Sir C.P. advised the members of the deputation that the students should refrain from the agitation, to which the students did not agree. So the Diwan asserted that he would suppress the agitation. C.M.Stephen was arrested. Mr.Varghese could not write the FL exam due to this political crisis.World War 2^nd started in 1939.As a result the spirit of the independence struggle got reduced. Mr.Varghese joined the Indian Army Medical Corps on July 17,1940. He served in the army till the end of the war, though he could not adapt himself to the life in Army. He retired from the Army as a Commissioned Officer in the Army Medical Corps with a pension. He returned to his native place in 1947. The life in the Military Service made him disciplined, independent and self reliant. He became bold enough to face the challenges of life. He decided to continue his studies in Law. He passed the FL Examination in 1949 and joined for BL in the Law College, Ernakulam, passed BL and then Bar Council Examination. He started practice as a lawyer in the District Court Kottayam. But in 1955, due to an illness regarding the stomach he had to quit the practice.

As a retired Army man Mr.Varghese joined Ex-Military Men Association and worked for their rehabilitation. He was the main speaker in the meeting conducted in Kottayam Thirunnakkara ground in which the then Chief Minister Paravur  T.K.Narayanan  Pillai also participated. The Ex-Service Men association was allotted 80 acres of forest land in Vandanmedu and 35 acres of land in Pampavalley. But nobody took interest in cultivating the land.

While he was a student Kuttappan had actively participated in the Literary Cultural Associations. He worked as the Secretary of The Catholic Students Literary Association and Library at St.Mary’s Church Changanacherry and also of the St.Mary’s Association Fathimapuram.

While he was studying in  S.B.College, he became the General Secretary and was nominated to the Sports Committee. He acted some roles in dramas staged in the college. Rev.Fr.Purackal was the principal during that time.

He married Rosakutty of Karikkampally Family of Edathua On Nov 24 1954.Rosakutty was an eminent teacher who worked in the different schools of Changanacherry Corporate Management.She retired from St.Shanthals Girls High School Mamood after serving as the Headmistress for five years. Kuttappan had a normal family life. Financially he was self sufficient. He built a new house and on Dec26 1957 shifted his residence from the ancestral home.

In between Kuttappan tried his hands at business as well. He took the agency of the Parry&Co for the dealership of fertilizers.He had also run the College Canteen for few years.The ancestral property of land and paddy field and the properties earned by husband and wife gave them a safe financial status. Both of them received pension also.

Their daughter Marymma was born in 1958. She is a post graduate in English and she is married to Paulson Vellanikaran Chalakudy, who is a practicing Chartered Accountant. Marymma is blessed with four children, three daughters & one son.

Though Kuttappan became weak due to old age and related health problems he managed to live a normal life. But he was laid up with fever and fell sick for six months and had undergone a surgery in the Cosmopolitan Hospital TVM. But his condition became worse day by day and he was put to eternal rest on Nov 21, 1989. Another eminent member of our family departed from among us. Rosakutty, his beloved wife who took care of him in his sickness passed away two months after his death because of heart disease on Feb 2^nd 1990.