Puthenthope
Puthen Thope means a new plantation.
New Settlement
Puthen Thope means a new plantation. here a group of people settled only about 263 years back. It was a barren land with burning golden sand during the day time. There were no trees except few desert plants such as prickly pear cactus, tumble weed, and curve leaf yucca, just about 100 years back. A spud country was not even growing potatoes.years later, they planted cashew trees (anacardium occidental), the native to brazil, introduced by the Portuguese. The cashew apples were the only fruit available in this area. These fruits are still known as, "paranki manga," parangi refers to the Portuguese (or European in general). Coconut trees were planted only in the last century. In this dry land, once they considered, "having just one coconut tree in their plot is very rich!" The harsh environment did not stop people from dreaming big.People find education is the only alternative to have a better life. For the last two centuries, a very patriotic, educated, and a civilized community lives there.
Background
In this land, the Dutch who wanted to fight with the British, built two man-made hills to reconnaissance the British navigators who stationed at nearby Anjengo. The oral lore prove that our ancestors belong to Ettu Veettil Pillamar who rebelled against the Travancore Kingdom.
Those women from ettu Veetil pillamar did not come directly to this ininhibited land to settle. Before that, sequences of events took place that were documentd.
After unfortunate events and grand family break-ups, a group of them came from the north and took refuge at Kazhakkuttom Pillamar about three kms from this place. They were accomplices who rebelled against the king. Finally, the kings army traced them out, butchered all men, and burned down their temple and residences. Even their temple pond was destroed. His infuriated army tortured and killed many women and children.
Those women who survived were sent out to live in 'Puthuvel' near the cost where they were compelled to marry local fishermen. They were isolated for centuries and burried history, but alive in the oral lure. This people still follow the matriarchial tradition of their ancestors, that is very unique.
Marthanda Verma became a king through 'Hiranyagrabham" after murdering all the Kazhakuttom Pillamar and their compatriots who came from Ambalapuzha who were living under their protection. What do you thing, where did the women of Kazhakkuttom Pillmar go, to Arabia or Persia?
History
There is a unique history associated with Puthenthope that includes Portuguese, Dutch, Ettu Veettil Pillamar, Travancore king, Marthanda Verma's revenge, and the Jesuit missionaries. The harsh experiences of our ancestors who suffered so much did not make any difference in present day life. But many expatriates' and their offsprings' pursuit of happiness and dreams did.
The lineage of Puthenthope diverts to three drirections. Do some research on:
1. Portuguese exploration (1498 and Portuguese missionary work in the Malabar Coast (1540)
2. Pepper Trade Contract (1695) of the British with the Travancore king and Angengo Fort
3. Dutch's two man-made hills in Puthenthope to reconnaissance the British navigators stationed nearby at Angengo. (South hill is still there but the north hill is flattened by selling sand). Most probably these two hills were made in the early 1700's well before the US became a nation.
Dutch's desparate attempts after Ambalapuzha/Kayamkulam battle.
Travancore king defeated EttuVeettil Pillmar in 1730 and their flight after Venad king's murder in 1758. Marthanda Verma's revenge on Kazhakkuttom Pillamar (1760).
Our matriarch is 'Madatheenal." These topics were subject of talk from generation to genaration in our houses. The newly migrated 'pandis' of Puthenthope do not know anything about the history of this land. We cannot blame them because they are relatively new to this land..
This is about history and ancestry, not about royalty as the immature or ignorant people thing. What's the honor in 'hiranyagarbham'? Many of them are so ignorant enough to call themselves "kosavans." Hey, what did those kosavans do in a barren desert-like place, a few centuries back? By that claim, those 'pandis' who came recently from the south (Thumba, Pallithura, Thuthukkudi) reveals their ignorance. They might believe in some jokes made by few nairs in 1975 (as they say, nair eats nair). They can't be trusted. Yes, I was there sitting at our Bridget grandma's big house next to the South hill when those nairs from the archiological department made that joke.
The reality is that after the fight, one group of people from the north took refuge at Kazhakkuttom. The Travancore king's army found them out and slaughtered all men. They destroyed their temple, pond, and residences at Kazhakuttom. They viciously murdered all men and torutres women. Then, they compelled the survived women to live in the outskirts of the temple called, "Puthuvel." That's the reason, all the place in Puthenthope were called "Puthuvel" before Leyon Lopez officially acquired the land deeds for the entire commiunity in the 1930.
Official Property Deeds
In the late 1930s, Leyon Lopez and Pereira of Palathil House enabled to get the official property deeds for the community from Travancore Kingdom. Until then, all the property names were "Puthuvel." That term means a land outside the Hindu temple area owned by the king. After securing the deeds, Leyon Lopez initiated and instrumental to build roads, bridges, and the government hospital at Puthenthope and unselfishly focus on the welfare of the community.
Conversion to Christianity
When Francis Xavier operated from Goa as the missionary supervisor, travelled through this land in 1550s and he died in 1552 in Shangchuan China. There were barely any people in this land and Ignatius Loyola was not dead at that time. It is believed that when his missionaries were at Puthenthope in 1556, they got the death news of their mentor, Ignatius of Loyola. As a mark of respect. those missionaries laid the foundation stone for St. Ignatius Loyola Church at Puthenthope. The, it took two more centuries of waiting to build the church in the Iberian Architectural model as prominent of those churches in Goa. That infers the people of Puthenthope were converted to Christianity only about 260 years ago.
In the 1900s, Leyon Lopez studied Tamil language only to sunderstand the Bible (prior to printing in Malayalam). he travelled to different regions and converted many families. After conversion, he brought them from forest region to settle in Puthevel. He was so religious minded and wanted at least one of his sons to be a priest and that wish did not come reality. But, his youngest daughter became the first Mother Superior from this blessed land. Latet his land produced many priests and nuns. Msgr. (Mr.) Mark Netto had his tenure at the Bishop's House with no significant effect. Presently Msgr. (Mr.) Eugine Pereira is taking some influential role.
People of Puthenthope are not content with small things. In the early 1980s, when a small bell reached from Belgium, they rebuilt the fromnt portion of the church in a grandiose way similar to St. Joseph's Cathedral at Palayam. Its foundation stone was blessed by the then pope.
Whatever happens in Puthenthope is around this Catholic church. However, there are many Evangelical or Charismatic people, in addition to 'unbelievers" live there. In a country with 2% Christians, they have any significant role in the politics or bureacracy.
