Thadikkaran tharavad is considered to be very ancient - consisting of agriculturists, businessmen and artisans. Due to natural calamities like floods, warfare between petty kings(Naduvazhies), invasion of Tipu Sultan of Mysore and other extraneous reasons, families of this tharavad were scattered during different periods of history. Besides these, some of the kings of Kerala, particularly Sakthan Thampuran of the erstwhile Cochin kingdom, had a special liking for enterprising Syrian Christians. He, therefore, patronized them and persuaded them to settle down at some selected strategic centres of his kingdom to develop trade and commerce for which purpose he had provided free land and other facilities. In view of this, like several other prominent Syrian Christian families, Thadikkaran families also had responded positively to the request of the sovereign and settled down in different places of his kingdom. Consequently, Thadikkaran families got distributed all over Kerala. Today there are clusters of Thadikkaran families at Valapad, Edathuruthy, Moozhikulam, Kuthiathode, Vathuruthy, Ezhikara, North Parur and surroundings, Mattoor, Pirarur and at various places in Trichur and Ernakulam districts, details of which are available in the book `Thadikkaran Family’ published in both Malayalam and English by the Thadikkaran Family Association, Edathuruthy. It is now known that a branch of the Thadikkarans has been flourishing in the Fiji islands since the early twentieth century. They are the descendants of the Kuthiathode line(thaivazhy). A few details received about them are included in the above mentioned book. Unfortunately, as mentioned earlier, reliable evidences are not available to ascertain the exact origin of the Thadikkaran tharavad. No evidence is forthcoming about the first Karanavar(forefather) of Thadikkaran tharavad, nor is information available about the exact relationships of some of its branches(thaivazhies). However, some historical events in Kerala indicate that the Thadikkaran tharavad is quite ancient. Koonan Kurissu Satyam
The famous Synod of Diamper held at Udayamperur near Ernakulam in 1599 under the initiative of Archbishop Alexis de Menezes of Goa, had created widespread unrest and disappointment among the traditional Marthoma Christian community. (The traditional Christians are called Marthoma Christians or St.Thomas Christians since their ancestors are believed to have been converted by St. Thomas the Apostle). The unrest was mainly due to the banning of some of the customs and beliefs of the traditional Christians under the threat of excommunication and also the prevention of native priests from occupying important ecclesiastical offices by Archbishop Menezes with the connivance and support of the Portuguese rulers. The displeasure of the community could not be expressed publicly as the Portuguese were influential and militarily strong at that time. But on January 3, 1653, there took place an epoch making event in the history of Marthoma Christians of Kerala. It was on that day that a section of Marthoma Christians assembled at the Mattanchery Church, tied a big rope on the cross of the church and touching that rope, took the now famous oath known as ‘Koonan Kurissu Satyam’. It was a protest against the prejudicial and partisan attitude of the Portuguese authorities against the Marthoma Christians and their blatant interference in the liturgy, customs and culture of these ancient Christians to subjugate them and to latinize them. That protest turned against the Church of Rome also which appeared to be in league with the Portuguese. Those Christians who vowed not to have any truck with the Church of Rome, later decided to join the Jacobite Church which was not under the Pope nor under the Portuguese influence. Thus, for the first time, the Jacobite Church came into existence in Kerala and several members of various prominent Christian families joined the new Jacobite Church. As a result, some members of reputed families like Pynadath, Payyapilly, Kakkassery, Thottungal, Maliyekal, Areekal, Arakkal, Mechery, Menachery, and Manjaly, besides some members of the Thadikkaran family, were separated and hence these families are today represented in both the Catholic and the Jacobite Churches. Thadikkaran families of Pirarur and Mattoor near Kalady belong to the Jacobite Church. This is enough evidence to show that the Thadikkaran tharavad was in existence much before 1653 and was a part of native Marthoma Christian community. Similarly there was a split in the Catholic community of Trichur Diocese in the recent past, as a result of which a section of Catholics including some members of the Thadikkaran family joined the Chaldean Syrian Church.Thadikkaran families of Anchery(Valarkavu) belong to this Church.
Edathuruthy In Edathuruthy, there are two branches of the Thadikkaran family. The first branch may be named the ‘A’ section and the other the ‘B’ section. The exact relationship of these two branches could not be traced and more research would be required to unravel the lacunae. However these two branches were closely linked to each other. The two Ikkrus of the fifth generation of the ‘A’ branch, namely, Kochanthony Ikkru (11112) and Porinchu Ikkru (11122), married from the ‘B’ branch and it is believed that those marriages were solemnised after taking special dispensation from the Church. Hence it is assumed that they were very close and not distant relatives. The earliest persons known from the ‘A’ branch of the Thadikkaran family are Vareed Moothar (01) and his son Anthony (11). Anthony (11) had two sons - Ikkru (111) and Kunjuvareed (112). Kunjuvareed was childless. Ikkru married Kunjalichy and they had five sons -Kochanthony (1111), Porinchu (1112), Lonappan (1113), and Kunjuvareed (1114). Ikkru‘s eldest son Kochanthony (1111) married Mariam, daughter of Chalissery Anthappan Lona who came from Kaipamangalam and settled in Edathuruthy. Kochanthony and Mariam had four sons and four daughters.The eldest son, Ouseph who was born on 23-5-1876, died early. Besides him, they had three sons - Kunjuvareed (11111) , Ikkru (Yohannan) (11112) and Lona (11113). Kunjuvareed settled in Illathuparambu, Ikkru in Panikkassery Parambu and Lona in Kolanthra Parambu. Ikkru‘s second son Porinchu (1112) married Mariamma, daughter of Kanichayi Kochittoop of Ambazhakad. They had three sons - Anthony (11121), Ikkru (11122) and Ouseph (11123) and two daughters - Kunjalichy (11124) and Eleeswa (Sr. Carlony) (11125). Anthony settled in Mattupuram parambu, Ikkru in Vazhiyile parambu and Ouseph in Neelathukadu parambu. Thus grew the `A’ branch of the Edathuruthi Thadikkaran family.
Edathuruthy “B” Section The first known karanavar of the ‘B’ section of Edathuruthy Thadikkaran tharavad is one Kunjuvareed. He had three sons - Kunjuvareed (211), Mathu (Mathew) (212) and Ittikkuru (213).
Valapad The first known karanavar of Valapad Thadikkaran branch was Esthappanose (03), who is believed to have come from Elamkunnapuzha near Chennamangalam. Esthappanose married the sister of Ouseph of Arakkal Nellissery family of Valapad and settled down at Valapad. Ouseph Nellissery had only four daughters. Hence, he brought his sister and brother-in-law to Valapad, constructed a new house for them and helped them to settle down in Valapad. The descendents of Esthappanose are the members of the Valapad Thadikkaran branch. Esthappanose had three children - Poulose (31), Lonappan (32) and Mariam (33).
Pudukad The first karanavar of the Pudukad branch of the Thadikkaran family is an Ouseph, who is said to have come from the Edathuruthy Thadikkaran family. Though Pudukad is the cradle of this branch, today there is no Thadikkaran family here. The Thadikkaran families living here earlier have scattered to different parts of Trichur and Ernakulam districts like Palissery, Venginissery, Ollukara, Vathuruthy, Thevara, Vyttila, etc. The story about the origin of this branch, as told by the aged extant members of this branch, is like this: “Ouseph, a young man of the Edathuruthy Thadikkaran family, came to the ayurveda medical factory owned by the Kalliath family in Ollur, to get training in the preparation of ayurvedic medicines. After a few years of training, and liking the place, he married from here and settled down here for good”. There is no record available about the life of Ouseph (04). But there is evidence about his son, Lonappan. Lonappan‘s daughter , Kunjelia (417) is alive and is the source of the above information.
Muzhikulam The first karanavar of the Moozhikulam branch of the Thadikkarans about whom some evidence is available is Cherianeo (Cherianeso). Cherianeo (05) married Mathiri, daughter of Joseph Kunjuvareed of Panikulam family, North Parur. They had four children - Cheriath (51), Vareed (52), Lona (53) and Ouseph (54). Ouseph (54), the youngest son of Cherianeo, though married, was childless.
Kuthiathode The history of the Thadikkaran family of Kuthiathode branch begins in 1789 when Ittianam, the grand daughter of Mathew Tharakan (Sr.) (second daughter of Mathew Tharakan‘s eldest son, Thariath) of the Thachil family of Kuthiathode was married to Ittikuria, of the Thadikkaran family of North Parur. After the marriage, Mathew Tharakan brought Ittianam and Ittikuria from Parur to Kuthiathode and settled them in his Chavady house. Thus started the Kuthiathode branch of the Thadikkaran family. Ittikuria-Ittianam couple had two sons -Thariath and Kunjuvareed. Thariath was adopted by his uncle, Thachil Mathew Tharakan (Jr.) - son of Thariath, the eldest son of Thachil Mathew Tharakan (Sr.). When Thariath attained adulthood he was persuaded to marry Annam in 1817. Annam was the only daughter of Elachar who was the only daughter of Ouseph, the second son of Thachil Mathew Tharakan (Sr.). Unfortunately they did not have any children. Pappu (Appapu) (06) is considered to be the oldest known karanavar of the present generation of Kuthiathode Thadikkaran branch. He had four sons - Kunjilona (61), Kunjuvareed (62), Kunjicheria (63) and Kunchacko (64). Of these four sons, details of the eldest son Kunjilona (61) and the third son Kunjicheria (63) are not available. However, the information recently received about the Thadikkarans of Fiji point to the fact that they are the descendants of Kunjicheria (63), the third son of Pappu. (For details please see the Thadikkaran branch, Fiji). The fourth son, Kunchacko (64), was the father of Devassy (642), the karanavar of the Ollur Thadikkaran branch and Ouseph (643), the karanavar of the Mannuthy branch. (For their details please see the relevant branches.)
Ollur The Thadikkarans of Ollur originated from the Kuthiathode branch.The first karanavar of Ollur branch was Devassy (642). Devassy is the son of Kunchacko (64), the fourth son of Pappu (Appappu) (06) who is the first known karanavar of the Kuthiathode branch. Kunchacko married twice. By his first marriage he had only a daughter, Mathiri (641). By his second marriage he had two sons - Devassy (642), the karanavar of the Ollur branch and Ouseph (643), the karanavar of the Mannuthy branch and a daughter Kathreena (644). Devassy (642) had five children - Porinchu (6421), Poulose (6422), Achayi (6423), Mathiri (6424) and Kochurotha (Rosa) (6425).
Mannuthy The Mannuthy branch of the Thadikkaran family belongs to the Kuthiathode branch. The first karanavar of the Mannuthy branch was Ouseph(643), son of Kunchacko (64), the youngest son of Pappu (Appappu) (06) who was the first known karanavar of the Kurthiathode branch of the Thadikkaran tharavad.
Ezhikkara The karanavars of this Thaivazhi are believed to be the descendants of a karnavar who came from Edathuruthy. In the Ezhikara branch, there are three different thaivazhies. They are - Kunjuvareed alias Kunjuvarkey (71), Vareed(72) and Kunjithomman (73). The relationship between these three karanavars could not be traced. It is assumed that their grandfathers were brothers. Kunjuvareed (Kochuvarkey) (71) is believed to have come from Edathuruthy. He married a girl from the Maliyekal family of Parur and settled down in Parur. The Maliyekal family had vast land holdings extending up to Ezhikara. Hence, some of Kochuvarkey‘s sons might have shifted their residence to the Ezhikara area, the reason attributed by the elders of the Ezhikara Thadikkaran families for their settlement there . Today there are about forty Thadikkaran families around the parish of the St. Mary‘s Assumption Church, Nettayikudam, Ezhikara. They were originally attached to the Kottekavu Church, North Paravur.
Anchery The Thadikkaran families of Anchery, a suburb of Trichur, were earlier known as ‘Valikodath Thadikkaran’. But they have now dropped the name Valikodath and are simply known as ‘Thadikkaran’. A number of families with the name ‘Valikodath’ are found in different parts of Ernakulam and Trichur districts. Both Valikodath and Thadikkaran families have, by and large, been Catholics. Kunjippalu Lonappan (82) of the second generation of this branch had his marriage solemnised in the Martha Mariam church, Trichur. This church which is now a Chaldean church was originally a Catholic Church. It became a Chaldean Church following a court verdict after a split among the Catholics of the Trichur diocese in the not too distant past. Valikodath Thadikkaran families are believed to have come to Anchery from Chelakkara, according to the elders of this branch of the Thadikkaran families. However, there are no records to corroborate this. The first known karanavar of this branch, Kunjippalu (08), married Kunjamma, daughter of Chirayath Pattath Poulose. They had two sons and two daughters - Kunjuvareed (81), Lonappan (82), Kunjila (83) and Rothu (84).
Pirarur and Mattoor The Thadikkaran families living in Pirarur and Mattoor near Kalady were originally known as ‘Chakkalamattath Thadikkaran’. But now they only use Thadikkaran’ as their family name. Their ancestors were from Pirarur near Nayathode, a few kilometers from Mattoor. In search of suitable places for agriculture and business, some of them left Pirarur and settled down in various places. A few of them settled in Mattoor. Some of them went to Kothamangalam-Vadattupara. Some went to Wynad in Malabar. Chakkalamattath Thadikkarans belong to the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christian Church. In 1653, after the famous Koonan Kurissu Satyam at Mattanchery, a section of the St. Thomas Christians joined the Jacobite Church. Consequently, several families including Thadikkarans were split and separated. The Thadikkarans of Pirarur and Mattoor who belong to Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christian Church are the descendants of those who thus separated in 1653. The first known karanavar of the Chakkalamattath Thadikkarans was Ouseph (9). Ouseph married twice. And he had two sons. Kunjavara (91) was the son by his first marriage and Varkey (92) by his second marriage. Both of them were mainly engaged in agriculture and business.
Thirumudikunnu The first known karanavar of the Thirumudikunnu branch was Devassy (A1) who is believed to have come from Moozhikulam in 1805. He settled at Mudapuzha, south of Thirumudikunnu. His descendants live in Thirumudikunnu, Panthakal, and Kidangoor. We know that Devassy had a son by the name Vareed (A11) born in 1830. We do not know whether he had any other children.
Fiji Fiji is an island nation comprising more than three hundred small islands in the Pacific Ocean near Australia and New Zealand. The capital of Fiji is Suva. The first person from the Thadikkaran family to settle in Fiji Islands was Ouseph Anthony (6311) of the North Kuthiathode branch. It is believed that Anthony‘s grandfather was Kunjicheria (63), the third son of Pappu (Appappu), the oldest known ancestor of the Kuthiathode Thadikkaran family. (For details please see the Kuthiathode branch). Anthony left his home at the age of eighteen and went to Madras in search of a job. That was a time when emigration agents for Fiji were recruiting workers to work in the sugarcane fields there. Young Anthony got a chance and he went to Fiji presumably around 27th January, 1913, by the steam ship named ‘Ganges’. In Fiji he worked in the Vuniasi Plantation. Anthony married Margaret Mary, a Fijian lady. They had two sons and seven daughters - Catherine (63111), Teresa (Kochu) (63112), Bernadotte (63113), Joseph (63114), Virginia (63115), Shirlyn (63116), Silviya (63117), Evelyn (63118) and Alfred (63119). Anthony died in 1980. Anthony‘s son Joseph (63114), born on 8-10-1933, was a popular Trade Union leader and was known all over Fiji and abroad. He was the General Secretary of the Fiji Council of Trade Unions. On 13-12-1978 at the prime age of forty five he suddenly passed away. Joseph married Margaret (Margie) (date of birth 30-5-1941) on 25-4-1959 . Margie is the daughter of Chetty and Philomena. Philomena was the daughter of George Kanakassery, who was another ethnic Indian, originally from Ernakulam. Seven children were born to Joseph-Margie couple - Felix (631141) , Shirlyn (631142), Lawrence (631143), Oliver (631144), Martin (631145), Margaret (631146) and Joseph (631147). Felix (631141), the eldest son of Joseph Anthony, like his father too, took interest in the trade union movement. He is now the National General Secretary of Fiji Trade Union Congress and was a Senator of Parliament of Fiji Islands. He is also member / Chairperson of several boards. He was accorded a receiption on September, 2007 by the Thadikkarans of Kerala when he visited Kerala. Later, on 30-7-2015 he came to Kerala to attend the conference of International Trade Union Confederation, Asia-Pacific Region where he was elected as the President of that organization. Representatives of the Edathuruthy Thadikkaran Family Association met him at that time. He is also a member of the governing body of International Labour Organisation(ILO).