Talk:Alummoottil

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Renovation of Alummoottil Tharavad, Cheppad Taluk, Kerala, India

Alummoottil was always a prosperous Ezava tharavad for at least the previous couple of centuries. Marumakkathayam {Matrilineal, where men's connections to their wives and children were strictly biological, not by their wealth} was the order of the day, and every Karanavar (clan chief) worked to improve the quantity and quality of the Tharavad and its wealth for its female members and their offspring. This is indisputable.

During the reign of the great Karanavar Kuthakakkaran Shekaran Channar (1827-1891), Alummoottil became one of the wealthiest families of Travancore. He was the quintessential businessman who could rival any of the smartest MBA's of modern times. When he died, he left Alummoottil, a family empire of landed properties that rivaled the wealth of the Maharaja.

After several other leaders came and went, Karanavar Kochu Kunju Channar (1857-1920) was drafted to take the reign. He did his best to promote the wealth through a combination of extravaganza, favoritism and appeasement. The MahaRaja came to depend on Channar for help with the state's finances to remain in power under the British. The prize was Channar's unfettered access to him. Channar built the current mansion of Alummoottil. He has the distinction as the second person to buy a car outside of the MahaRaja. He also led a luxurious lifestyle which infuriated the men of the younger generation, and ended up with his assassination in 1920.

The ancient Marumakkathaya family did not survive that horror. In 1925, Marumakkathayam was abolished by British order, and in 1935 during the dissolution of the Marumakkathaya system, the vast family wealth was awarded in equal shares to the 18 recognized heads of the family (men and women). The Tharavad namesake - Alummoottil building complex, fell into the share awarded to Alummoottil Oommini Narayani Channaty (my grandmother).

As usual in every complicated family history, Alummoottil always slogged through civil court cases on claims and counter claims for wealth by disgruntled members. The last was the one where the Will and Last Testament of the last Matriarch of the family, Alummoottil Padmanabhan Chellamma Channaty (my mother) was contested by the two sides, her five sons and her only daughter. The case languished in the court system for nearly fifty years, past the life time of our sister, and into the generation of her three children. Meanwhile, the grand mansion and other ancient structures went into disrepair and decay, due to litigious obstructions. Finally, in 2020 AD, the court issued the verdict for the rules of division between us five brothers, and our sister (her heirs) at 5:1 ratio based on the residual value. Through a combination of bargaining and outright purchases, we acquired most of the Alummoottil Tharavad Estate, and put them under a Trust, the Non Revocable Alummoottil Tharavad Trust.

It fell on my shoulders the decision as what to do with the Alummoottil estate, and my decision was an unequivocal yes to Restore/Rebuild. I had to put up the vast majority of the cost, as abandoning the namesake of the ancient Tharavad was not an option. Construction started in 2021 AD, and will be completed in 2025 AD. The result is a complete re-birth of Alummoottil, and I can stand proudly in front of my ancestors and say, I return the favor of being their son.

As usual, even before the last brick was in place, vile characters with their enablers, started emerging from within, claiming the whole prize to themselves, and I am sure future confrontations and litigations will not be far behind. But, for the moment, the buildings and their surroundings are as grand as ever. I write about all of these accounts on my facebook page, and its companion page for Alummoottil Tharavad. All the pictures – old vs new are on display there.

Alummoottil Sivadasan Channar April, 2025 Sivadasanchannar (talk) 15:38, 29 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]