Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar
Encyclopedia
Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar (1736-1799) is the author of Varthamanapusthakam (1790), the first ever travelogue
in an Indian language . He was Administrator (Governador) of the Archdiocese of Cranganore from 1786 till his death.
He is also considered to be the father of modern Malayalam prose. He was also a polyglot, an efficient administrator and a Roman Catholic priest of Kerala
who tried to bring about unity in the Church and also to maintain its unique heritage.
Paremmakkal Thoma was born as the fourth child of Paremmakkal Itty Chandy and Anna of Kadanad
in Kottayam
district on 10 September 1736. Initially he studied Sanskrit
and Syriac from teachers nearby. Then he joined Alengad
Seminary
to learn Latin
and Portuguese
and for priesthood. In 1761, he was ordained as a Kathanar (priest). He served as vicar in different churches up to 1778.
Thomma Kathanar made tireless efforts to bring about unity in the Church in Kerala which had split following the Coonan Cross Oath
. He also strived to get bishops from among the members of the Catholic Church in Kerala, and also to retain the rich heritage of the Malabar Church. In order to achieve those goals he undertook a hard and perilous journey to Rome
in 1778 along with Mar Joseph Kariattil
.
The breath-taking description of this journey is recorded in his famous book Varthamanapusthakam, considered to be the first travelogue among all Indian languages. The historic journey to Rome to represent the grievances of Kerala's Syrian Catholics started from the boat jetty in Athirampuzha
in 1785. From Athirampuzha
they first proceeded to Kayamkulam
by a country-boat. The journey then took them to Chinnapattanam, as Chennai
was then known. From there they went to Kandy
in Ceylon (Sri Lanka
of today). From Ceylon they sailed to Cape of Good Hope
at the tip of Africa
. They were to sail to Portugal
from there but adverse winds drifted their ship in the Atlantic Ocean
taking it to the coast of Latin America
. A further journey from the Latin American coast took them to their destination.
The journey to the destination took more than a year. While they were in Europe
, Mar Joseph Kariattil
was ordained in Portugal
as the Bishop
of Kodungalloor Archdiocese. The two representatives of the Kerala Catholic Church succeeded in convincing the church authorities in Rome
and Lisbon
about the problems in Kerala
Church. On their way back home they stayed in Goa
where Mar Kariattil died. When realizing that his end was near, Mar Kariattil appointed Thoma Kathanar as the Governador (governor) of Cranganore
Archdiocese after him , and handed over the cross, chain and ring, the tokens of his power, which had been presented to him by the Portuguese queen.
The new Governador administered the affairs of the church establishing his headquarters at Angamaly
. In 1792, the headquarters of the Archdiocese had to be shifted to Vadayar
because of the attacks of Tippu Sultan. In the last four years of his life, Thoma Kathanar managed church administration from his own parish, Ramapuram
.
Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar remained the Governador for thirteen years. He died on 20 March 1799.
Vathamanapusthakam was first published in the 18th century but was first printed in Malayalam in 1936. The manuscript of the book is kept at the St Thomas Christian Museum in Kochi .
Travelogue
Travelogue is the second full-length studio album released by the British synthpop band The Human League, released in May 1980 before the band achieved any degree of commercial success....
in an Indian language . He was Administrator (Governador) of the Archdiocese of Cranganore from 1786 till his death.
He is also considered to be the father of modern Malayalam prose. He was also a polyglot, an efficient administrator and a Roman Catholic priest of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
who tried to bring about unity in the Church and also to maintain its unique heritage.
Paremmakkal Thoma was born as the fourth child of Paremmakkal Itty Chandy and Anna of Kadanad
Kadanad
-Demographics: India census, Kadanad had a population of 14787 with 7417 males and 7370 females.Kadanad is a small town situated to the north of Pala in Kottayam District. The name Kadanad is a combination of two Malayalam words - 'Kadu' and 'Nadu' .The place is blessed with mist-covered...
in Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
district on 10 September 1736. Initially he studied Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
and Syriac from teachers nearby. Then he joined Alengad
Alengad
Alangad is a census town and panchayat in Paravur Taluk of Ernakulam District, Kerala, India.-Location:Alangadu is located just 7 km away from North Paravur and 8 km away from Aluva. The State Highway connecting North Paravur with Aluva passess through this village. It contains...
Seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
to learn Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
and for priesthood. In 1761, he was ordained as a Kathanar (priest). He served as vicar in different churches up to 1778.
Thomma Kathanar made tireless efforts to bring about unity in the Church in Kerala which had split following the Coonan Cross Oath
Coonan Cross Oath
The Coonan Cross Oath , taken on January 3, 1653, was a public avowal by members of the Saint Thomas Christian community of Kerala, India that they would not submit to Portuguese dominance in ecclesiastical and secular life...
. He also strived to get bishops from among the members of the Catholic Church in Kerala, and also to retain the rich heritage of the Malabar Church. In order to achieve those goals he undertook a hard and perilous journey to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1778 along with Mar Joseph Kariattil
Mar Joseph Kariattil
Mar Joseph Kariattil [Mar Ouseph Kariattil ] was the first native Indian to be appointed as Archbishop of the Syrian Catholics in the territory now comprising Kerala, India....
.
The breath-taking description of this journey is recorded in his famous book Varthamanapusthakam, considered to be the first travelogue among all Indian languages. The historic journey to Rome to represent the grievances of Kerala's Syrian Catholics started from the boat jetty in Athirampuzha
Athirampuzha
Athirampuzha is the name of a Panchayat and a small town in Kottayam district of Kerala state, South India. Athirampuzha is situated 10 km north of Kottayam town....
in 1785. From Athirampuzha
Athirampuzha
Athirampuzha is the name of a Panchayat and a small town in Kottayam district of Kerala state, South India. Athirampuzha is situated 10 km north of Kottayam town....
they first proceeded to Kayamkulam
Kayamkulam
Kayamkulam is a town and a municipality in Alappuzha district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is an ancient maritime trading centre. One of the largest power plants in Kerala, run by the NTPC, is located in Kayamkulam. Krishnapuram Palace is located nearby and an old cashew factory.Kayamkulam is...
by a country-boat. The journey then took them to Chinnapattanam, as Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
was then known. From there they went to Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
in Ceylon (Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
of today). From Ceylon they sailed to Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
at the tip of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. They were to sail to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
from there but adverse winds drifted their ship in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
taking it to the coast of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. A further journey from the Latin American coast took them to their destination.
The journey to the destination took more than a year. While they were in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Mar Joseph Kariattil
Mar Joseph Kariattil
Mar Joseph Kariattil [Mar Ouseph Kariattil ] was the first native Indian to be appointed as Archbishop of the Syrian Catholics in the territory now comprising Kerala, India....
was ordained in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
as the Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Kodungalloor Archdiocese. The two representatives of the Kerala Catholic Church succeeded in convincing the church authorities in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
about the problems in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
Church. On their way back home they stayed in Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
where Mar Kariattil died. When realizing that his end was near, Mar Kariattil appointed Thoma Kathanar as the Governador (governor) of Cranganore
Kodungallur
Kodungallur is a municipality in Thrissur District, in the state of Kerala, India on the Malabar Coast. Kodungallur is located about 29 km northwest of Kochi city and 38 km Southwest of Thrissur, on National Highway 17 . Muziris the ancient seaport at the mouth of the Periyar River was...
Archdiocese after him , and handed over the cross, chain and ring, the tokens of his power, which had been presented to him by the Portuguese queen.
The new Governador administered the affairs of the church establishing his headquarters at Angamaly
Angamaly
Angamaly is a satellite town of the city of Kochi, situated north of the city center and a municipality in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. It is one of the entry points or gateways to Ernakulam district from northern Kerala...
. In 1792, the headquarters of the Archdiocese had to be shifted to Vadayar
Vadayar
-Demographics: India census, Vadayar had a population of 22145 with 10884 males and 11261 females....
because of the attacks of Tippu Sultan. In the last four years of his life, Thoma Kathanar managed church administration from his own parish, Ramapuram
Ramapuram
Ramapuram is a suburb of Chennai, India. It is situated on the Mount-Poonamallee Road at a distance of 3 kilometres from Guindy. Ramapuram forms a part of Kanchipuram district....
.
Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar remained the Governador for thirteen years. He died on 20 March 1799.
Vathamanapusthakam was first published in the 18th century but was first printed in Malayalam in 1936. The manuscript of the book is kept at the St Thomas Christian Museum in Kochi .