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George Thomas Kottukapally

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File:George Thomas Kottukapally.jpeg
George Thomas Kottukapally - Indian independence activist in the Non Co-operation Movement 1921, Municipal Chairman of Palai, Kottayam, Kerala, India 1948-53, Indian Member of Parliament 1953-1962, Delegate to the United Nations 1958, Single largest Christian landowner in the Indian sub-continent with over 15,000 acres, Director of the erst-while Palai Central Bank, Managing Director and director of several business, planting and banking companies including Teekoy and Periyar Rubber Plantations, Philanthropist, Educationalist and Benefactor of three University-level colleges: St. Thomas College, Palai (founded in 1950), Alphonsa College, Palai (1964) and St. Thomas Teacher Training College, Palai (1957)
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George Thomas Kottukapally with his friend, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India
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The township of Palai's most iconic structure known as "Palai Kurishpalli" is a gothic-styled clock tower with a statue of Jesus Christ at top and with a chapel at the lowest end in the name of Mother Mary. The structure is positioned right in front of the Kottukapally Tharavad was a vision of George Thomas Kottukapally to which he financially contributed
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George Thomas Kottukapally's tombstone states, "George Thomas Kottukapally, Palai, He served the country and the people for half a century, guiding the destiny of Palai and adorning the public life of the nation. Municipal Chairman 1948-53, Member of Parliament 1953-1962, Delegate to the United Nations 1958, May His Soul Rest in Peace"

George Thomas Kottukapally (October 29, 1901 - October 11, 1970), was an Indian independence activist and a member of the Indian National Congress having taken part in the Indian Independence Movement through the Non co-operation movement in 1921[1]. Post India's Independence in 1947, Kottukapally was elected as an Indian Member of Parliament representing the Indian National Congress party in the 1st Lok Sabha and the 2nd Lok Sabha from 1953 till 1962[2]. Further, he was elected as a Member of Parliament from the erst-while constituency of Muvattupuzha (Lok Sabha constituency) which consisted of the whole of Idukki, parts of Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Chalakudy. He was also India's representative to the United Nations in Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's Delegation in 1958.

George Thomas Kottukapally by lineage, is a son of an ancient and prominent Palai-based Syro-Malabar Saint Thomas Christian aristocratic Kottukapally family.[3] [4][5] According to the local church's traditions and family manuscripts, the Kottukapally family's origin lies in the traditionally held belief according to which their lineage is traced to a Brahmin family "Kottakkavu" in 52 AD, the family being of the Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church, North Paravur, one among the seven Churches traditionally acknowledged as to be founded Thomas the Apostle, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ.[6] Hence, the family name "Kottukapally" is traced as a derivative from the Brahmin family name "Kottakkavu". Members from the Kottakkavu Illam converted to Christianity from the evangelical activity undertaken by Thomas the Apostle.[7] In lieu of Kottukapally's lineage and devotion to Jesus Christ, he supported the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church wherein he in his personal capacity financially supported as well as provided the land for the establishment of the Bishop's House, Palai, later leading to the formal establishment of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Palai. He also provided his personal land as well as the financing for the establishment of a set of Kerala's well-known university-level colleges which include St. Thomas College, Palai founded in 1950, Alphonsa College, Palai founded in 1964 and St. Thomas Teacher's Training College, Palai founded in 1957.[8] George Thomas Kottukapally's contributions as a philanthropist and as an educationalist was highlighted by the former President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam as he quoted Kottukapally in his speech while inaugurating the 62th foundation day celebrations of St. Thomas College, Pala as well as to mark the 111th birth anniversary of George Thomas Kottukappally in 2012, "People of Kottayam are grateful to the gesture of 'Father' (being the founder) George Thomas Kottukapally in providing 50 acres of land for the creation of this college in 1950s. We need such great givers for developing the society. I congratulate the pioneers both present and past who have laid a robust foundation for quality education in St Thomas College".[9][10]

Kottukapally family's ties with Palai started in the 17th century, with the family having moved to Palai to start the trading market in pepper under the invitation of the Kartha, a local chieftain equivalent to that of a Duke, of Poonjar.[11] As historical evidence, the family still has a part of their 400-year old famed ancestral home or known as the Kottukapally Tharavad currently under the custodianship of George Thomas Kottukapally's youngest son John Thomas Kottukapally located in the heartland of Palai.[12] Thereby, in founding a pepper trading market, the Kottukapally family is considered as the founding families of modern Palai, of what is known as 'angadi' Palai.[13] With this lineage, George Thomas Kottukapally and Palai's past, present and future were both inextricably linked such that his political, social and economic vision for Palai such that he was elected as the Chairman, a position equivalent to that of a Mayor, for the Municipality of Palai which he held between 1948 to 1953.[14] According to K. P. S. Menon (senior), India's first foreign secretary under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, in a public foreword about Kottukapally's contributions, he acknowledged that Kottukapally as the Municipal Chairman was a 'key architect' and was one of the 'founding fathers' of the post-Independent Indian township of Palai stating that, "Not only Palai but all Kerala is indebted to Mr. Kottukapally for his services in the agricultural, industrial and banking fields. It was largely due to him and his tirelessly advocacy and his intercession with men at the top that the magnificent hydro-electric project in Idukki materialised".[15]. Currently, economically, the township of Palai is ranked as one of the richest and most prosperous Syro-Malabar Saint Thomas Christian township belt in the State of Kerala.

In the field of banking, George Thomas Kottukapally was one of the key promoters and a director of Palai Central Bank founded in 1927, then the 17th largest among the 94 scheduled banks in India at its peak in 1960. He held the position of being the President of the important and powerful lobby group Travancore-Cochin Bankers Association.[16] Palai Central Bank was also Kerala's largest and most important private enterprise after the State Government of Kerala[17]. But, in 1960, the Kerala High Court ordered the liquidation of Palai Central Bank on a petition from the Reserve Bank of India.[18] That having said, in Volume II of the History of RBI covering the years 1951–1967, a 27-page appendix viz. "Appendix C: The Palai Central Bank" extensively covers the history of the Bank. The following is an extract: "While defending the Reserve Bank as 'one of the best central banks in the world' maintaining a 'high level of efficiency', the Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was reported to have acknowledged that it may have made a 'mistake' in closing down the Palai Central Bank."[19] In the field of commerce, industry and trade, George Thomas Kottukapally was one of South India's leading agriculture plantation owner-cum-investor-cum-industrialist having been the Managing Director and director of several cross-holding businesses, planting and banking companies such as Periya and Teekoy Plantations[20]

Historically, the Kottukapally family under George Thomas Kottukapally's acumen for acquisition is recorded as one of the largest land-holding families in the State of Kerala[21] while, currently, George Thomas Kottukapally though deceased, still continues to be ranked historically as the single largest Christian landowner in the Indian sub-continent with 15,000 acres which at current market value would be over USD $1 billion and thereby having ranked George Thomas Kottukapally as one of the richest Indians.[22] Post his demise, the State Government of Kerala, India had appropriated a large part of his estates and land bank on the basis of surplus land of which included 5,000 acres in the Cheemeni Village in the district of Kasargod, Kerala, India.[23]

The Kottukapally family of Palai held a strong-hold in the political landscape of Palai wherein George Thomas Kottukapally's elder brother George Joseph Kottukapally was a Member of the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly, the equivalent of being a Member of Parliament in the erst-while Kingdom of Travancore under the Maharaja of Travancore[24]. Post George Thomas Kottukapally's demise, the next generation continued with his eldest son Joseph Thomas Kottukapally having stepped into providing leadership to the township of Palai by being the Municipal Chairman of Palai, an elected position which he held onto for 16-years[25].

References

  1. ^ Bio-Data of George Thomas Kottukapally
  2. ^ Bio-Data of George Thomas Kottukapally
  3. ^ Kottukapally Tharavad as covered by the Conde Nast Traveller Magazine
  4. ^ Bio-Data of George Thomas Kottukapally
  5. ^ Feature on George Thomas Kottukapally on his demise, Malayalam Manorama Newspaper, 1970
  6. ^ Feature on George Thomas Kottukapally on his demise, Malayalam Manorama Newspaper, 1970
  7. ^ Feature on George Thomas Kottukapally on his demise, Malayalam Manorama Newspaper, 1970
  8. ^ President of India Abdul Kalam's reflection on the contribution of George Thomas Kottukapally
  9. ^ President of India Abdul Kalam's reflection on the contribution of George Thomas Kottukapally
  10. ^ President APJ Kalam to inaugurate St. Thomas College, Palai's foundation day celebrations, The Hindu
  11. ^ Feature on George Thomas Kottukapally on his demise, Malayalam Manorama Newspaper, 1970
  12. ^ Kottukapally Tharavad as covered by the Conde Nast Traveller Magazine
  13. ^ Kottukapally Tharavad as covered by the Conde Nast Traveller Magazine
  14. ^ Bio-Data of George Thomas Kottukapally
  15. ^ Bio-Data of George Thomas Kottukapally
  16. ^ Bio-Data of George Thomas Kottukapally
  17. ^ Bio-Data of George Thomas Kottukapally
  18. ^ History of the Reseve Bank of India - Volumes I & II - Oxford University Press
  19. ^ [1] The Palai Central Bank Appendix C
  20. ^ Bio-Data of George Thomas Kottukapally
  21. ^ State Government Kerala Record on George Thomas Kottukpally's holding in the village of Cheemeni Village, Kasargod, Kerala, India
  22. ^ State Government Kerala Record on George Thomas Kottukpally's holding in the village of Cheemeni Village, Kasargod, Kerala, India
  23. ^ State Government Kerala Record on George Thomas Kottukpally's holding in the village of Cheemeni Village, Kasargod, Kerala, India
  24. ^ Feature on George Thomas Kottukapally on his demise, Malayalam Manorama Newspaper, 1970
  25. ^ Feature on George Thomas Kottukapally in his Memory, Malayalam Manorama Newspaper, 2012
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