P Zachariah on Appachen

P Zachariah, March 4th 2018.

Appachen passed away this day 60 years ago aged 68. His final days were very difficult with the ravages of advancing uremia, resulting from many decades of diabetes. I was the one best equipped to be of help, but I was away in Oxford in the middle of my Ph D programme, at a time when travel between India and Britain was still mostly by sea. Chackochayan was in Trivandrum and visited home almost every weekend. The nearest dear one was Maggiekochamma in Pallom, who held Ammachy’s hand through the ordeal. Appachen and Ammachy had a difficult life but were never wanting in generous hospitality and assistance especially to the extended family. Beginning with their own youngest brothers, a series of nephews and nieces on both sides of the family, at least 12, stayed with us for years together. After he became a widower, Mavelikara Valiappachen was also part of the family till he passed away. Nicholson School was the focus of Appachen’s career as indeed CMC was to become mine. Appachen tried hard to mediate in the inevitable family feuds often to no avail. He never tried to avoid manual labor and taught us to do whatever needed to be done in a do-it- yourself way. He walked gently and quietly through life, leaving few ripples, but adding to the depth of life for many.

By the way, I met KAnnamma for the first time this day, 56 years ago, also on a Sunday after the morning service in St. Mark’s, Bangalore. PZ