Pallithanam Luca Matthai
Encyclopedia
Pallithanam Luca Matthai was born in the year 1882 in Kainady
village of Kuttanad
.
His father and uncle were the pioneers of kayal cultivation ( reclamation of cultiviable land from the Vembanad Lake
) in Kuttandu.Since he lost both his father and uncle when he was only eighteen years, being the eldest son in the family he took over the family estate.
The life of Pallithanam Luka Mathai can be considered as the history of Kayal Cultivation in Kuttanad.During the Fifty years of his farming career, he spear headed the reclamation activities of more than one third of the total 'Kayal Nilam's(Kayal Nilam refers to the cultiviable land reclaimed from the Vemaband Lake).His first venture of kayal cultivation was the reclamation of Cherukara Kayal. Cherukara Kayal is considered as the first kayal nilam that was reclaimed from the deeper sections of the Vembanad Lake.
During the period between 1900 to 1904, he reclaimed the Pallithanam Moovayiram Kayal, and Madathil Kayal.But reclamation activities came to a halt because of the ban on reclamation imposed by the Travencore Raja in 1904.
After the removal of the ban, in 1914 Luka Mathai along with some other prominent families in Kuttanadu, reclaimed E-Block Kayal measuring a total area 2,400 acres. This is the biggest kayal nilam in Kuttanadu. In the later half of the thirties he led the reclaimation of H Block and R Block Kayal.
Pallithanam Luka Mathai who had served as member of Moolam Thirunal of Travancore
's Praja Sabha (Popular Assembly) was considered as the pioneer of cooperative agricultural movement in Kuttanadu.His life marked the beginning of the epoch of first generation Kayal Raja's of Kuttanad.(Kayal Raja is the term generally used to refer to the prominent kayal cultivators in the Kuttanadu region). From the beginning of his farming career at his teens (he was only eighteen years old when he reclaimed the cherukara kayal), he brought together like minded people and successfully led the reclamation activity from 1900 to 1940.
In 1931, in order to strengthen the farming community in Kuttanadu he founded Kuttandu Karshaka Sangham. He spear headed the debt relief struggle that resulted in the enactment of 'Agricultural Debt Relief Act'.
His love for the common people and urge for their uplifting is evident from the contributions he made to his native village of Kainady.
Our Lady of Dolours Church in Kainady stand on the land donated by him.
Using his influence as the member of Moolam Thirunal of Travancore
's Praja Sabha (Popular Assembly), he established a primary school in Kainady in 1921 and in the initial years he acted as the manager of it. This school eventually named as A J John Memorial high school.
Pallithanathu mathaichan was one of the founder leaders of All Kerala Catholic Congress.
Though he belonged to an aristocratic and orthodox syrian christian family he actively supported his contemporary and great social reformer Ayyankali in his efforts in eradicating the social inequalities that were prevalent in the Kerala society.He invited Ayyankali to the ancestral home of Pallithanam.In a grant event, accompanied by snake boats Ayyankali along with his followers reached the Pallithanam Tharavad and as a token of protest against casteism made 'Panthi Bhojanam' . This is a perfect testimony of Lukka Mathai's, broadmindedness, generosity and love for the downtrodden.
On the Christmas day of 1962, the exemplary life of that great visionary came to an end.Category:1962 deaths
Kainady
Kainady village is located in Neelamperoor grama panchayat. It is a small island and consists of picturesque paddy fields and small canals. Population consists of Hindu and Christian denominations...
village of Kuttanad
Kuttanad
Kuttanadu is a region in the district of Alappuzha, in the state of Kerala, India, well known for its picturesque vast paddy fields and its geographical peculiarities. It's the region with the lowest altitude in India, and one of the few places in the world where farming is carried out below sea...
.
His father and uncle were the pioneers of kayal cultivation ( reclamation of cultiviable land from the Vembanad Lake
Vembanad Lake
Vembanad Lake is the longest lake in India, and the largest lake in the state of Kerala. It is also one of the largest lakes, in India. A lake spanning several districts in the state of Kerala, it is known by different names in different localities viz. Punnamada Lake in Kuttanad, Kochi Lake in...
) in Kuttandu.Since he lost both his father and uncle when he was only eighteen years, being the eldest son in the family he took over the family estate.
The life of Pallithanam Luka Mathai can be considered as the history of Kayal Cultivation in Kuttanad.During the Fifty years of his farming career, he spear headed the reclamation activities of more than one third of the total 'Kayal Nilam's(Kayal Nilam refers to the cultiviable land reclaimed from the Vemaband Lake).His first venture of kayal cultivation was the reclamation of Cherukara Kayal. Cherukara Kayal is considered as the first kayal nilam that was reclaimed from the deeper sections of the Vembanad Lake.
During the period between 1900 to 1904, he reclaimed the Pallithanam Moovayiram Kayal, and Madathil Kayal.But reclamation activities came to a halt because of the ban on reclamation imposed by the Travencore Raja in 1904.
After the removal of the ban, in 1914 Luka Mathai along with some other prominent families in Kuttanadu, reclaimed E-Block Kayal measuring a total area 2,400 acres. This is the biggest kayal nilam in Kuttanadu. In the later half of the thirties he led the reclaimation of H Block and R Block Kayal.
Pallithanam Luka Mathai who had served as member of Moolam Thirunal of Travancore
Moolam Thirunal of Travancore
Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma was the ruling Maharajah of the Indian state of Travancore between 1885 and 1924, succeeding his uncle Maharajah Visakham Thirunal .-Early life and education:...
's Praja Sabha (Popular Assembly) was considered as the pioneer of cooperative agricultural movement in Kuttanadu.His life marked the beginning of the epoch of first generation Kayal Raja's of Kuttanad.(Kayal Raja is the term generally used to refer to the prominent kayal cultivators in the Kuttanadu region). From the beginning of his farming career at his teens (he was only eighteen years old when he reclaimed the cherukara kayal), he brought together like minded people and successfully led the reclamation activity from 1900 to 1940.
In 1931, in order to strengthen the farming community in Kuttanadu he founded Kuttandu Karshaka Sangham. He spear headed the debt relief struggle that resulted in the enactment of 'Agricultural Debt Relief Act'.
His love for the common people and urge for their uplifting is evident from the contributions he made to his native village of Kainady.
Our Lady of Dolours Church in Kainady stand on the land donated by him.
Using his influence as the member of Moolam Thirunal of Travancore
Moolam Thirunal of Travancore
Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma was the ruling Maharajah of the Indian state of Travancore between 1885 and 1924, succeeding his uncle Maharajah Visakham Thirunal .-Early life and education:...
's Praja Sabha (Popular Assembly), he established a primary school in Kainady in 1921 and in the initial years he acted as the manager of it. This school eventually named as A J John Memorial high school.
Pallithanathu mathaichan was one of the founder leaders of All Kerala Catholic Congress.
Though he belonged to an aristocratic and orthodox syrian christian family he actively supported his contemporary and great social reformer Ayyankali in his efforts in eradicating the social inequalities that were prevalent in the Kerala society.He invited Ayyankali to the ancestral home of Pallithanam.In a grant event, accompanied by snake boats Ayyankali along with his followers reached the Pallithanam Tharavad and as a token of protest against casteism made 'Panthi Bhojanam' . This is a perfect testimony of Lukka Mathai's, broadmindedness, generosity and love for the downtrodden.
On the Christmas day of 1962, the exemplary life of that great visionary came to an end.Category:1962 deaths