Early Life
Thonniyamala is a tiny village about 4 km away from Pathanamthitta town. Thankappan (Thankappan / Koshykunju- were his pet names- and in School records his name was V.T. Koshy – Valiyaparampil Thomas Koshy) was born on 25 Nov, 1932, as the eighth child of Valiyaparampil Scaria Thomas and Achamma. (Achamma was a member of the Thasiyil Pulimoottil family of Karthikappally). Valiyaparampil is a branch of the famous Thazhayil family of Elanthur. They were members of the St. Thomas Mar Thoma Parish (Est. in 1899) in Thonniyamala. During the 1930s, there were only 40 -50 families in that parish. All its members were farmers. There was a Primary School (MTLP School –Est. in 1922) in which regular Sunday School classes were held every Sunday morning before the Church service. Members of the parish were very god fearing and they used to spend a lot of time in family prayer and learning hymns. Many families used a harmonium (a musical instrument common in those days) for their evening family prayers. Thankappan who was brought up in such an atmosphere was good at music. He liked the Hymns of Vidhuwan Kutty Achen (Rev. Justus Joseph).
Read more about this topic: Easow Mar Timotheos Episcopa
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