Poothicote Family

 Poothicote Family has its origin  in the rice belt of  Mepral,  near to  Niranam  and Thiruvalla, in the central part of erstwhile Travancore State.  It is founded by Judge Kochitty  Kuruvilla, whose family came  from  Kuravilangad near Ettumanoor.  Kochitty Kuruvilla was  a  man of  impeccable  credibility and  a  man  who could take just decisions. His character and nobility attracted the attention of the then King of Travancore who made him a judge to manage Mavelikkara and later  Quilon   provinces.  Thus,  his  name  became   well   known  along  with  the  name  of  his  family  which  he  called Poothicote.  His   family  was  so   much  respected  that  the  people in   that  area  resolved  their  quarrels  after taking  their  issues to  the Judge. The story is  that there was a  dispute  among  some workers  regarding their dues which had to be settled by paddy measured by “Para”. But both parties knew the Paras available with others were not correct in volume as  cheating  must  have  been rampant  those days.  So,  both  agreed  that  the  Para  to be used  in settling  their  fighting  should  belong  to Poothicote Thambran.  The award-winning Malayalam author, the Late Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai,  in his Novel “Kayar” has mentioned the famous “Poothicote Para” in another context. When the dowry was decided for a working class bride, the natives of the village could not believe that the dowry paid by her father was 50 Paras of paddy measured by Poothicote Thambran’s Para!   

Our family has been conducting annual Kudumbayogams for many years . We have conducted 117 uninterrupted annual Kudumbayogams as of 2018 which was  held  on 19th October 2018.   By  convention ,  the oldest  living   member of  the family  will  be  the president  of   the  Kudumbayogam.  Apart  from  the President, there will be Vice-Presidents, a Secretary,  Jt Secretary and committee members.  Present committee members are: