ILLIKKALAM Family, Kumarakom, Kerala
Illikkalam Lakeside Cottages, owned by Salim Das and Susan Salim of the famous Illikkalam family and Susan Salim is the Managing Partner.
Salim Das is a Commerce graduate from Kerala University and a Law graduate from Bombay University is practising in the District Courts of Kottayam, who have won many trophies and certificates in the school, college and State Athletic Meets, had local leadership in Indian National Congress Party, actively involved in the church activities, member of Kerala Travel Mart and also a prominent member of the Chamber of Vembanad Hotels and Resorts, Kumarakom.
He had started the tourism Industry in 1995 by constructing a single lake facing cottage in his inherited land of 1.50 acres. Salim Das inherited the lake side property of Illikkalam Lake Resort from his father John Das who had his Schooling in Pune shivaji Memorial Military School and from the Deradoon Military Accadamey, Gentlemen Cadet Course was completed .He was the founder of Sree Narayana Sports Club of Kumarakom and also was the president.
FAMILY HISTORY
During 1715 Kunjuthommy (Thomas) settled in Kumarakom and married Annamma from Kodiyattu family at Turuvilla, their second son was Ummacheril Chandy Tharakan and his wife Elachy was from the Murickan family,at Manjoor Kara. Chandy Tharakan’s second son, Oruvattithara Abraham’s wife Annamma was from Muttar,Pulikkalam. Abraham’s son, Kunjachan’s wife Accamma was from Nedumburath Vengayil. Kunjachan’s eldest son Abraham’s wife Achamma was the daughter of Puthenkavil Alumoottil George Munsiff. Abraham’s son Abraham John’s wife Kochachiyamma was the daughter of Mannar Vallakkalil Chackochan. Abraham John’s fifth son John Das’s wife Leelamma was from Kaniyamparampil at Kumarakom. John Das’s second son Salim Das’s wife Susan is the daughter of Very Rev. Zachariah Cor-Episcopa, Karuvelil.
Fr.Kunjandy Abraham,Ummacheril was one of the vicars of Attamangalam Jacobite Syrian Church,Kumarakom. Very Rev.Abraham Cor-Episcopa,Oruvatthira is the President of the Family Association.
ILLIKKALAM HERITAGE THARAVADU
Salim Das’s grand father Abraham John, constructed the famous ILLIKKALAM THARAVADU, which is very old, very spacious and very attractive. The famous clock invented by Abraham John was kept there, but later his second son John Abraham taken away the Clock and Kept in his residence at the Lake Side near the Chapel. ILLIKKALAM FAMILY was also having a Motor Boat, for to manage the many acres of land (Paddy & Coconut) in Kottayam and Alappuzha districts. The engine of the Motor Boat was imported from Engaland.Abraham John was also having many acres of Rubber Plantations and investments in shares of different companies even before 1910.Salim Das’s mothers mother is from Padinjarekkara family and P.C Cherian Ex.M.L.A. was the cousin of his mother and his mother’s grand mother was from Oppoottil family.P.C Cherian’s brother P.C Abraham was the Trusty of the Syrian Orthodox Church for many years. Salim Das’s brother Suresh Das and his family is staying in ILLIKKALAM THARAVADU.
Salim Das’s grand father Abraham John was the 2nd rank holder of the Magistrates Exam conducted by the Travancore Govt. In 1902., His mother was the daughter of George, Alummoottil house at Puthenkavil,who was a Munsiff. Abraham John shot dead a very big Tiger in 1923, when it had come down to Kumarakom, during the flood and terrifying the villagers. He got an award from the Govt. for his brave deed. His Son Jacob also shot dead one Crocodile when it was a terror for the people of Kumarakom.
Illikkalam family had a Summer holiday home, during the period 1900 onwards, on the Vembanad lake side, near the Chapel, Abraham John and his family used to stay there during the summer from february to may. There He reclaimed from the Vembanad Lake around 50 acres of land out of his total 350 acres of land. When Sree Narayana Guru came to Kumarakom for the Consecration of the Sree Kumara Mangalam Temple in 1903, He visited the lake side and met Abraham John at his Summer holiday home and Sree Narayana Guru proposed him to name Krishna Vilasam Thoppu for the above 50 acre land. Thus even today it is known as KrishnaVilasam Thoppu.
Abraham John invented the big Tower Clock in 1930,all parts of the tower clock was made by himself and he had presented the same to Shri Chithira Tirunnal Maha Raja ,and for that he got Gold Medal and Certificate.He made few more Tower Clocks and one was kept in ILLIKKALAM THARAVADU. Mahatma Ghandi had send a letter appreciating the ability of Abraham John.
John Abraham who was a B.Sc. graduate from Calcutta University, the second son of Abraham John, was a well known agriculturist and made studies and writings about environmental and ecological issues of Kuttanadu Region. He was a famous writer and his book named Kuttanad was published by Shasthra Sahithya Parishath.He was one of the 3 persons along with Catholicos Mor Baselios Paulose 2nd and Dr.Babu Paul, appointed by Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka 1,Patriarch of Antioch And All The East, Supreme Head Of The Universal Syrian Orthodox Church, for newly drafting the Constitution for the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Christian.
Abraham John’s second daughter Sara Kurrien passed her B.A. degree from the Madrass Women’s Christian College. M.J.Alexander was the 4th son of Abraham John and he was the gold medallist for his B.A. exam, and later he did his Article ship in A.F ferguson & Co. At Bombay and passed R.A.(Presently C.A.) and Retired from ESSO as their Chief Internal Auditor.
Former Chief Minister Shri Oommen Chandy’s mother is from the same family and he is born and brought up in Kumarakom, and also Shri Oommen Chandy’s grand father’s sister was the wife of Abraham John.
Abraham John’s Uncle Oruvattithara Kochu Mathew was the trusty of St.Johns Attamangalam Jacobite Syrian Church for the period of 50 years, who was the grand father of Oommen Chandy. Abraham John’s cousin O.M.Thomas M.A. LL.B. was, M.L.C. won unopposed to the Sreemoolam Assembley during 1932.He started his Practice from the Allahabad High Court,He was a great writer and got a Gold Medal from the POPE for his book, Bishop Severin.(O.M Thomas is the Uncle of Ommenchandy’s Mother)
Abraham John’s nephew, Prof. O.M.Mathew was the Vice President of B.J.P. of Kerala State,and he was the National Executive Committee Member of The B.J.P. for two terms, He was also contested Lokha Sabha Election from Kottayam as the candidate of Jana Sangh.
Abraham John’s one of the brother in laws, V.J Ommen Vallakkalil, was, M.L.C. and he defeated K.C Mammen Mappila in that election. (V.J Oommen is the grand father of Oommen Chandy).
Illikkalam family members constructed the tall beautiful Chapel in 1964, in the Lake, on the west of Kumarakom Govt. Boat Jetty, as per the will of their father Abraham John, and donated to St.Johns Attamangalam Jacobite Syrian Church in 1964,and the Holy Consecration of the Chapel was by the Holy Apostolic visit of His Highness IGNATIOUS YAKOOB 3rd,Patriarch of Antioch And All The East, Supreme Head Of The Universal Syrian Orthodox Church.