History of Puthenthope
New settlement
Puthen Thope means a new plantation. As the name suggests in the regional language, it was ‘new place’ where a group of people settled only about 263 years back. It was a barren land with burning golden sand during the daytime with no trees except desert plants such as prickly pear cactus, tumbleweed, and curve leaf yucca.
About two centuries back, they planted cashew trees (Anacardium occidental), a native of Brazil that was introduced into India by the Portuguese. The cashew apples were the only fruit available in this area. These fruits are still known as ‘paranki maga’; ‘paranki’ for the Portuguese or the European in general and ‘manga’ for mango. Coconut trees were planted here only two centuries back. In that dryland with a salty sea nearby, nothing grows well. “Once they considered having just one coconut tree in their plot to be very rich!” The harsh environment did not stop people from dreaming big.
From the Portuguese to EttuVeettil Pillmar
The lineage of Puthenthope has four connections. To understand it, you have to study the early colonial history of India.
- Portuguese exploration (1498) and Portuguese missionaries’ work (1540).
- Pepper Trade Contract of the British with the Travancore King (1695). Irrespective of the disapproval of Kazhakuttom Pillamar, Marthanda Verma allowed the British to build Angengo Fort which is hardly eight km north of Puthenthope. Not only did the British get the monopoly of trade but obtained permission to mint coins. This provoked the Pillamar and the Dutch and formed an allegiance.
- Dutch made two man-made hills in Puthenthope to reconnaissance their enemy, the British who were stationed at Anjengo Fort. Most probably those two hills were made in the early 1700s, about three-quarters of a century before the United States of America was formed!
- The Dutch East India Company not only embargoed the Malabar coat but supported the Kollam and Kayamkulam in to fight against the Travancore who assisted the British. When they killed the Venad King, Travancore King sent his army for revenge. The scattered families took refuge at Kazhakuttom Pillamar’s residences which is about five km from Puthenthope.
- Travancore King’s army traced them out. They slaughtered all men and many women and children. They destroyed their residences, temple, and Temple pond at Kazhakuttom. They turned everything into piles of rubble. That is how a Malayalam phrase came into existence, “Kulam thonduka,” means total destruction.
- They did not spare many women and children, tortured and murdered. Then, they compelled the remaining women and children who survived to live on the outskirts of the temple property called, “Puthevel” in this new land in the coat called, “Puthen Thope.” That’s the reason, all the places in Puthenthope were called, “Puthuvel Puraidam.” They still follow the matrilineal tradition. That name was changed when the official land deeds were acquired for all the residents of Puthenthope in the 1930s by Leyon Lopez of Puthenthope.
Conversion to Christianity
When Francis Xavier operated from Goa as the missionary supervisor and travelled through this land in the 1550s, there we no people in this land, and Ignatius Loyola was not dead at that time. Francis died in 1552 and Ignatius died in 1556. It is believed that when his missionaries were at Puthenthope, they got the death news of their mentor, Ignatius of Loyola. As a mark of respect, those missionaries laid the foundation stone for Ignatius of Loyola Church at Puthenthope. Then it took three more centuries of waiting to build the church in an Iberian architectural model as prominent as those churches in Goa. That infers the people of Puthenthope were converted to Christianity only about three centuries ago.
In the 1990s, Leyon Lopez studied Tamilonly to understand the Bible (prior to printing it in Malayalam) and converted many families. he brought them from the forest region to settle in Puthuvel. he wanted at least one of sons to be a priest and that wish did not become a reality. But his youngest daughter became the first Mother Superior from this place. Later, many of them became priests and nuns from this place. Msgr. Mark Netto had his tenure at the Bishop’s House with no significant effect. Presently, Msgr. Eugine Pereira is taking some role.
People of Puthenthope are not content with small things. In the early 1980s when a small bell reached from Belgium, they modified the front portion of the church in a grandiose way similar to St. Joseph’s cathedral at Palayam. Its foundation stone was blessed by the Pope.
Whatever happens in Puthenthope is around this Catholic Church. However, there are many nice Evangelical or Charismatic people in addition to “unbelievers” living there. In a broad view, that is not any different than Christianity in a Hindu nation. Earlier they were all Hindus.
Official Property Deeds
In the late 1930s, Leyon Lopez and his manager Pereira at Palathil House, enabled to get the property deeds for the community from Travancore Kingdom. Until then, all the property names were “Puthuvel,” which means land outside the Hindu temple’s property and owned by the king. After securing the property deeds Leyon Lopez initiated and was instrumental in building a road, a bridge, and the government hospital at Puthenthope for the welfare of the community.
The Tribute
We honor our ancestors. For a simple living, they fought every day against the rough wind and high waves in the sea, and the irrational institutions based on caste and religion on the land. It was a long history, denied opportunities, and the harsh reality that was buried in the golden sand.
