Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church-87 C.A. John (J.C. Kandoth)

Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church-87
C.A. John (J.C. Kandoth) is known by the pen name J.C. Kandoth, who captivated the hearts of Malayalis by writing the historical narrative “From the Land of Christ to God’s Own Country.” He was born on August 17, 1928, to C.L. Antony and Thandamma in the famous and ancient Chiriyankandath family of Aranattukara. (Thandamma is a family member from Thandamma Tharavadu.) Aranattukara was a very ancient trading center. Goods from places like Arunattukara Kadavu, Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, and Kochi were traded via Kettu Vala in the early 20th century. The first church for Christians in Thrissur was established in 1815, but the Aranattukara Church (the eastern church is no longer there) was built in A.D. 1796. Long before that, Christians had settled in Aranattukara.
John received his primary education at the Tarakan School in Aranattukara, and his high school and college education was done in Thrissur, particularly at St. Thomas College. After passing the tenth grade in 1946, John went to Kozhikode with his father to learn about business. However, after a year, he returned to Thrissur to continue his college studies. John was actively involved in parish and school programs and became well-known as an artist at a young age. He played leading roles in several plays. During his educational years, he published short stories and novels in magazines and periodicals. John excelled in sports, being the badminton champion at St. Thomas College, and captained the football and volleyball teams. He also excelled in shot put and javelin events and was a prominent gymnast.
After obtaining his B.A. degree, he moved to Madras in 1952 to work as a manager at Agarwal Plastics. He returned in 1954 and joined the Catholic Syrian Bank. Starting as a clerk, he gradually rose to the positions of officer, manager, and head office superintendent. He served two terms as vice president of the Thrissur Bankers Club. While working, he passed the C.A.I.I.B. examination. After retiring, he became a director and president of the Thrissur Investors Forum, a share trading organization. In 1990, he published the book “Share Market,” which included many valuable insights for the public. This book was written during a time when the stock market was not as strong as it is today and has become a valuable resource for those investing in the market. It thoroughly explains topics such as shares, debentures, share allotment, share transfer, tax benefits for shareholders, stock exchange operations, and shareholder rights. This book is very beneficial for those wishing to engage with or are already involved in the stock market. The writing of this book was an attempt to share the practical knowledge he gained about the stock market over approximately three decades with others.
After 15 years, John authored another book, distinct from his first. This work, prepared in light of a year of study and effort, is a historical narrative titled “From the Land of Christ to God’s Own Country.” In the preface written by George Menacheri, it is stated: “The children of the eight houses, Thampis, and Channanars are all familiar to ordinary Malayalis because of Maharaja Martanda Varma, not due to royal records or historical texts, but rather because of C.V.’s historical novels. Today, as in the past, learning about, enjoying, and experiencing history happens through heroic tales, grandmother’s stories, folk history dramas, and historical novels. Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and Cleopatra are mentioned in common conversations worldwide, thanks to Shakespeare’s Roman historical plays. The popularity of historical novels like Sir Walter Scott’s “Waverley” and “Ivanhoe” has been well recognized since the early nineteenth century. Examples of successful historical novels include Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” and Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities.” The distinguished Chandragupta Maurya and Chanakya have gained a significant and lasting reputation in the hearts of the readers of Indian history.
John’s work, “From the Land of Christ to God’s Own Country,” is also an excellent attempt to bring Kerala’s history and the ancient Christian heritage to the common people. As in many other narratives, this one intertwines two stories. One is about the small and large migrations from the Middle Persian regions that greatly influenced Kerala’s trade relations, history, culture, and society. The protagonist of this narrative is Kanath Thommen, a Persian immigrant leader and merchant who arrived in Kerala in the fourth century. The hero of the imaginative story shares his name and physical resemblance with the author, John, while the heroine is Hannah, described as beautiful, virtuous, and brave.
As a historical narrative, John’s work deserves significant attention. It includes thrilling scenes and sequences of events that can be read engagingly in one sitting. The technical excellence of this work, the careful handling of historical context, the appropriateness of the content, and the author’s observational skill and capability must be particularly highlighted. This narrative will captivate the reader while also transporting them back to the dark historical pages of early Kerala.
As stated by the author of the preface, “This book contains the elements of a blockbuster bestseller and a thrilling adventure.” John, a person with a historical mindset, prepared this book after reading and studying over 60 texts. He is capable of writing and speaking in English, Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi, and is currently attempting to write a book in English titled “Persecutions of Christians in India.” His co-author is Lucy, a member of the Chettupuzhakkaran family.