Kalappurakkal House

Mother,late Smt.C.M.Anandavally Amma had three sisters and two brothers.Elder brother , Shri.C.G.Gopala Panicker ,resident of Trivandrum district, is an Engineer and world famous businessman and younger brother , Shri K.P.Parameshwara Menon, resident of Ernakulam district,is an
Advocate by profession. Elder sister is Smt.Rajalekshmi Amma and two younger sisters -
Smt.Mohanavally Amma , a famous dancer of yesteryears and Smt.Sharada Devi ,the youngest ,is a doctor by profession. All the members of the family and their children have a share
in the property except the youngest sister Dr. Sharada Devi due to intercaste marriage. Eldest
sister Smt.Rajalekshmi Amma and her husband Shri.Neelakantan Nair have seven children
who are excellent in their careers as doctor,engineers and professor as well as I.A.S.Officer.
Special mention goes to Shri.N.Chandrasekharan Nair who served many years as District Collector ,
Trivandrum (district) , belongs to Kalappurakkal family. Younger sister Smt.Mohanavally
Amma and her husband, Kalamandalam dancer Chandrasekharan Nair had four chidren who were also dancers,
Advocate and businessman by profession.Mr.Santhikumar Chandrasekharan of facebook.com fame is the eldest son. Dr.Sharada Devi and her husband Simon have three
children.Elder brother,Shri .C.G.G.Panicker and late Mrs.Kamala.G.Panicker have three children of which Ms.Padmaja G.Panicker, is a doctor by profession in England. Younger brother, Shri.Parameshwara Menon and Sanskrit Professor Smt.Sarala Devi's son is a Scientist in the Indian Space Research Organisation, Trivandrum.

Kalappurakkal House.

Dr.Ramesh Kumar,elder brother-in-law sponsered her U.S. visit.She got a good job in U.S.

company.Mother was residing at Kalappurakkal House during that period. She requested

leave from the company.Company denied leave and she resigned from the company and

reached home to take mother with her to U.S. She continued her studies in U.S. and took

Ph.D. in Engineering.Mother was against her marriage with Mr.V. Prakash and she filed

a divorce petition.In the U.S. campus she met Dr.Hariharan and he proposed to her.Mother

was happy arrange a remarriage for her in U.S. Life moved smoothly for Mother,Hari and

Sudha .Sudha delivered a baby boy named 'Sriram'. Mother could not imagine a life away

from Sudha. But in love relationship she was confused ,whether to stand by mother or her

husband. Love for mother clashed with love for husband. Sudha wanted to save her marriage

with Dr. Hariharan. She became pregnant for her second daughter 'Sridevi'. She could not

manage the mental turmoil. She started caring her own family more than giving care and

attention to old mother in U.S. Mother started feeling lonely and neglected.One day when

Sudha went out shopping, Dr.Hariharan, by mistake, gave a double dose of medicine instead

of the normal single dose of medicine to mother. Health of mother worsened for the first

time and she got admitted to hospital.

Life on earth is a personal gift of God Almighty.It is innermost

wish of anybody to have a natural death. No one is bestowed with the right to take back the

life, however closely related he or she is.

kalappurakkalhouse

I can't imagine the situation which mother had gone through that time.At home we have

not only lost our beloved mother but also our share in the insurance money.A great loss of

life time! We are not considered as close relatives of Smt.C.M.Anandavally Amma.Years

passed by.Sisters have not disclosed any details to us till date.My father is 86 years old.

According to Dr.Sudha Hariharan the dead body belongs to the person who takes care

during old age.Instead of the dead body, they brought a small box of ashes to Kalappurakkal

house for immersing in the nearby river.Mother went to U.S. in full life and returned as ashes.

I remember my mother closely hugging me and kissing on the forehead before stepping into

the car for her last journey to airport with Dr.Sudha Hariharan for treatment.Living in the

same house where mother had spent last many years recalls all the past memories.She started

staying in Kalappurakkal house when she was pregnant with her second daughter.During that

period she was working as a Lecturer at Sri Sankara College, Kalady nearby.She lost college

job when she took maternity leave.Later she had to serve in High School for the rest of her life.

When I got a posting as Guest Lecturer in Zoology at Maharaja's College, she was the happiest

person.

Diabetes is the traditional disease and law is the traditional profession of the family.My

grand father Shri V.K.Gopala Panicker was also an advocate by profession before stepping

into the Police administration.Even today there are many senior and junior members in the

Kalappurakkal family who have selected law as their main profession.A degree in law can be

considered as a connecting chain of profession started much earlier by members of the family.

Lawyers of the family expose a special talent while dealing with legal matters .

kalappurakkalhouse

In early 2001,her first grand daughter and my first daughter Priya Ravindran's

engagement with Mr. V.C.Muraleedharan,Valamanakota,Koovapady,Perumbavoor district

was conducted at Kalappurakkal house.Mother was abroad that time and she wanted

to attend the ceremony .A number of close relatives were present on the occasion.

She felt worse for her inconvenience to reach Kalappurakkal house and shower

her blessings to her first grand child,Priya.Murali&Priya after marriage went to

meet her in the hospital.She was very glad to meet both of them and she gave Priya

a good hand shake,lying on the hospital bed.Later her health worsened and she was

shifted to artficial respiration.Doctors advised 'mercy killing'in order to relieve

her from further sufferings.On mutual consent,4 sisters gave permission to remove the

respiratory tube from mother's nostril.

As per Hindu custom her own son ,if present,is supposed

to perform the last rites of parents after death.She was very particular that her

only son Sri Kumar should conduct the rituals.She also wished her son to be present

at her bedside during her last hours in the hospital.She waited in vain.It didnot

happen as her son was far away in India.She finally came to the terms that her final

rituals will not be done by her son, after giving birth to six children in her life.

And with a heavy heart she went away. Funeral took place in U.S.in the absence of her

husband,Sri.K.Sreedharan Pillai,son Sri Kumar and myself her second daughter.

Kalappurakkalhouse

Mother's health started deteriorating slowly.Anxiousness slowly started creeping into
the minds of all of us.She was the pillar of strength in the family.She was everything to all
of us.She was the light of our hearts.Today we are nothing without her.Still we are all trying
to follow her footsteps inch by inch.Death is an inevitable event in the life .Mother started
consuming handful of tablets many times a day.She was on a liquid diet due to the absence of
stomach.Hospital expenses mounted up and for support she had to sign insurance papers.
Hope started vanishing.Her wish to visit kalappurakkal house remained a dream.At home,
telephonic conversations started getting delayed by months.She started thinking that
there is not much that she can contribute to this world and that her life is ending.She was
sorry to leave all of us behind.Such was the relationship she maintained with all of us and she
never wished to leave us ever. She was a great friend more than a mother.We missed a great
loving mother for ever.

Kalappurakkal House

On one occassion my mother scolded me and denied lunch as a punishment.She had prepared the sweet'payasam' and put tulsi leaves and flowers over it and kept it near the temple.She called all other children to join the lunch.I became anxious and went to the backside of the house and sat near the river for some time.Then I got up and walked towards the house and reached the temple.I
saw a vessel full sweet payasam in front of the godess.I took the vessel and ran towards the river side,sat there and ate the whole payasam.After lunch mother called all my sisters for sharing the 'payasam' .She searched around and wondered where it had gone.Finally she understood why she missed the 'payasam'from the temple and I had a good 'payasam' meal that day and I am sorry for all who missed it that day.
Mother used to recite 'lalitha sahasranamam' along with many other devotional songs daily evening.We all used to listen to the songs which were sung in her sweet voice.After retirement from service , as a part of treatment of stomach ulcer, her stomach was
operated and removed.She went abroad with her 4th daughter, Sudha Hariharan,for further
treatment. Life was running smoothly with Sudha's family in Houston,U.S.A.Sudha was very close to her and there was a special place for her in mother's mind.Mother went to U.S.A. on a dependent visiting visa.She liked the place and used to praise the clean lifestyle and food habits
in U.S.A.She was thrilled by the variety of fruits and flower beds in U.S. gardens.She considered the place as heaven on earth.

Kalappurakkal House

Shri C.G.G.Panicker and late Smt.Kamala.G.Panicker's timely assistance paved the way for overall development of our family.A word of gratitude goes to all my brother in laws and
son-in-law too.I am very sorry to note that a special person of our life,who spent
sleepless nights for the upliftment of five girl children is my own mother Smt.C.M.
Anandavally Amma , is no more today.We miss her very much.There is no word to express our
gratitude to her,she was exemplary in all her relationships .She died at the age of 76 due to ulcer
in the stomach.She lived a painful life.Her own mother,Smt.Meenakshi Amma died during 7 th delivery when my mother was 7 years old.Her childhood passed in the care of her step-mother
and elder brother Shri.C.G.G.Panicker.Both my parents were highly educated-mother is M.A.B.T and father is M.A.B.L. in those days when College education was a rare feast.My mother
enjoyed gardening.The flowering plants as well as shrubs at Kalappurakkal house today were all planted by my mother with her own hands.She used to collect rare plants of her choice from Cochin Nursary.She used to enjoy the scenary of fruits and flowers during holidays as well as
leisure time.In all her letters to her children she used to write and explain the natural beauty at
Kalappurakkal house.She took the trouble to see all her daughters and son settled in life.She
decided that her only son should should stay with father at Venjaramood and that his guidance
is essential for the proper development of boy child.She also decided that all the four girl children
should settle abroad and that I should stay with my family in Kalappurakkal house and look after the immediate requirements there.My mother was excellent in cooking too.Curries and dishes
which she prepared were very tasty and mouth watering as she knew the exact proportion
of masalas to make it most delicious.We all used to enjoy it in full.She used to prepare all Keralite
curries for lunch and dinner like Avial,Sambar,Pulissery,Erissery,Thoran, Thiyal,Olan,Kalan etc., and a variety of dishes with jackfruits which are available in plenty in Kerala.Pickles with
mango,lime and ginger along with sweet dishes like payasam are prepared.She deserves special
credit for preparing the sweet appams for the pujas and doing the function herself.She was very
pious and fully dedicated to the godess.

Kalappurakkal House.

Eventhough the land is divided and ditributed among the members of the family no one dared to contruct any houses or sell the property to a third party fearing

Sarpa dosham . Unknown male and female voices are heard during dusk

Microsound voice of an young lady singing near the ears happens during night.Mostly the light goes off mostly at 11.30 p.m., only for one second . On the last Janmastami day,the

figure of Sri Guruvayurappan was sighted near the door on the north as well as west side of the house.There is no

doubt about the presence of an unknown power surrounding the house as well as its members.

Kalappurakkal house is well known for its traditional values.Members of the family are distributed world -wide and more than 60% of the members are engaged in education,research and technology in United States of America.Those living in Kerala State had occupied high rank

position in the Central and State government service.Many of its members have shown exelence

in academic and business field.

Kalappurakkal House

Damodara Menon uncle with aunty Leela Damodara Menon used to visit Kalappurakkal

house once in a month in between their busy political schedule to seek the blessings of the
godess and to offer a favourite dish known as "Thanniramrutham" Normally it is conducted
during the evenings of Tuesdays and Fridays when the supernatural power is at its peak
'Devipuja' is another ritual offered to the godess.In' thanniraramrutham' rice flour and
jaggery is mixed with ripe bananas and elachi powder to a semisolid paste and poured in a
moulded vessel containing boiling coconut oil.Half moon shaped sweet appams are prepared
and served with flowers,incent sticks in a banana leaf.Gingelly oil is normally used to light the lamps.After the puja uncle and aunty used to carry the appam prasadam.On her way back she used to divide the appams to very small pieces and distribute among the people and small children who were waiting near their parked car .
'Karunagayakshi' is positioned at the backyard of the house surrounded by forest like atmosphere with uncut trees since years.It is a stone statue of a naked lady.
Milk ,turmeric and kumkum powder are offered once in a year for the blessings of the Karunagayakshi.

Kalappurakkal House

In 1970's myself with four sisters namely Rema Sreedhar,Sudha Sreedhar,Meena Sreedhar
and Indira Sreedhar with only brother S.Sree Kumar , my parents Shri .K. Sreedharan Pillai and Smt.C.M.Anadavally Amma constituted my family
at Chempakassery House,Kaithavana,Alleppey district,Kerala State.I had appeared for the Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination and was
awaitng the result.My uncle Shri.K.A.Damodara Menon was the Chief Editor of the
Malayalam daily "Mathrubhumi",Kaloor,Cochin-17 while passing through Alleppey district
conveyed the result himself and handed over a gift packet of Rs.51/- in a cover and told
that I resemble his sister Smt.Meenakshi Amma very much.
Uncle Shri.K.A.Damodara Menon was incharge of Kalappurakkal House during that
period.He calls his lovely sister Meenakshi Amma 'Opa'.Meenakshi Amma was my grand
mother married to Chembakassery Gopala Panicker who was Assistant Superindent of Police
in Alleppey district. Meenakshi Amma died when my mother was 7 years old. Later my
mother grew up with love and care of her father and brothers. My mother Smt.C.M.
Anandavally Amma was working as a Government High School Assistant Teacher at
Alleppey district got a transfer to North Parur in Ernakulam district. Uncle Shri.K.A.
Damodara Menon handed over the keys of Kalappurakkal House to my mother and we
shifted to Kalappurakkal in 1973.After graduation from St.Xaviers College for Women,Aluva
in 1976, my marriage with Shri.Thirthale Penarveetil Ravindran,
Laxminilayam ,Pazhayannur,Trichur district took place in the presence of Uncle Shri.K.A.
Damodara Menon ,aunty Smt.Leela Damodara Menon and my mother's elder brothers
Shri.C.G.G.Panicker ,K.P.Parameshwara Menon and their families at Kalappurakkal House
on November 18 th 1976.After marriage,I shifted to Nagpur and first baby girl,Priya Ravindran
born on 5 th October,1977. When she was one year old, I continued post-graduation study
in Zoology at Institute of Science ,Nagpur University,Nagpur,Maharshtra State,India.Later
I engaged in research activities at Institute of Science and took Ph.D. degree in 1985 and
continued post- doctoral research in Zoology.After a gap of 8 years my second daughter,Priti
born on 5 th May 1985. For both the deliveries, I came to Kalappurakkal house where my
mother was staying with my sisters.My name before marriage was Radha Sreedhar.My elder sister Rema Sreedhar studied B.E. Archtecture from Engineering College,Trivandrum with the support of my mothers elder brother Shri.C.G.G.Panicker.Later her marriage took place
with Dr.Ramesh Kumar ,Chief Medical Officer at Royal Oman Police Hospital,Muscat. and my
sister became Mrs.Rema Remesh.She had two daughters, Uma Ramesh and Krishna Ramesh.
She is my only elder sister and is very loving and kind to all her youngsters.Now she is in my
mothers place since my mother expired in U.S.A. few years back.At present she is in Canada
with the family.My only brother is unmarried and is staying with my father at Venjaramood,
Trivandrum district,Kerala State. He was excellent in studies and is B.Sc.Mathematics along
with a law degree.He is presently practising as an Advocate in Trivandrum.Younger to him
is Sudha Sreedhar who completed B.E. in Electrical Engineering from Calicut University and engaged as Lecturer in Regional Engineering College, Calicut and reached U.S.A. on deputation.
She further continued her studies in U.S. took M.S as well as Ph.D. She is married to Dr.Hariharan and is Sudha Hariharan .She has two kids and is settled in U.S.A. Younger to Sudha is Meena Sreedhar.She is the fifth child of my parents.She was very cute during childhood and
Mother used to call her 'Meenakili'.She is the only lady advocate of the Kalappurakkal family.She
is married to Mr. Srinivasan.Meena Srinivasan has two sons and is settled in U.S.A.
My last sister is Indira Sreedhar is M.Sc. in Physics from Mahatma Gandhi University.My
mother used to call her 'Devi' and considered her as an incarnation of godess and never used
to scold her anytime. She is married to Mr.Somanathan from Ezhikara, North Parur.
Mr.Somanathan is engaged in Computer Business in U.S.A.Indira Somanathan is also a resident of U.S.A with two kids, elder daughter is Anjali Somanathan and younger son is Ramakrishnan.

Kalappurakkal House

KALAPPURAKKAL HOUSE is an age old traditional building located on banks of one of the branches of river Periyar at Karumallor village of Aluva town in Ernakulam district of Kerala state,India.
This house along with another house known as Konnam Veedu were the only houses present in
whole area of the Karumallor village during early 1900.The Konnam Veedu and Kalappurakal

house conducted pujas and rituals since those days which is continued even today at
Kalappurakkal house. Konnam Veedu was sold out at a later stage . Kalappurakkal house

still exit in all its glory.Kalappurakkal house has a dual function to perform.It is a residence cum temple.The word Kalappurakkal means 'harvest house'.The anscestral family owned huge acres of farm land around the house where paddy crop is cultivated. The crop is harvested when ready and was cleaned and dried in the broad front area of the house by a large number of workers..Daily pujas are conducted at Kalappurakkal house with the help of a poojari.

The two and a half acres of land surrounding the house is presently

in a divided state through court among all the members of the family.The diety,Kalappurakkal

Amma, is the godess who protects all the family members. The diety is a sword. A strong

faith persist in the godess by people all around. The godess is considered as an incarnation of Madatilkkavu Bhagathi. There is also a small stone statue of lady known as' Karunagayakshi' on the southern side of the house facing west.The house is directed towards north and there is a big tamarind
tree on the southern side of the house along with all the green trees give a very cool atmosphere
around the house even in hot summer.