Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church-98 Mrs. Mary George Idamattam

Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church-98
Mrs. Mary George Idamattam
Without seeking fame or position, some individuals navigate through life, sometimes meeting challenges head-on. There are those who maintain equilibrium when they gain titles or fame, and when they lose them, they remain unaffected. One such rare woman is Mrs. Mary George Idamattam, who served as the Chairperson of the Vaikom Municipality for a long time before retiring in 2005. She dedicated herself to working for the welfare of others, accepted both victories and defeats with equanimity, never shied away from challenges, quickly corrected her course if she felt lost, relied on God, prioritized her family responsibilities over public duties, and always extended a helping hand to her neighbors. This was the essence of Mrs. Mary George’s lifestyle.
Just as the great poet Vallathol compared Gandhi to the sky, saying that whether a star shines brightly or the moonlight glimmers, both are admirable, it can be said that Mrs. Mary George is one of the few Gandhian figures still alive today.
Inspired by Gandhian ideals, Mrs. Mary George initially ventured into public service with a strong commitment to her ideals. However, she experienced a youthful phase where she felt that Gandhian methods wouldn’t lead to her goals and believed that a stronger revolutionary approach was necessary, which led her to join the Communist Party. She began her journey in public speaking, and her love for activism turned into a marriage that faced opposition, reflecting the natural desire for a better path in life. Soon after, her passion led her back to the Gandhian way. Even her husband, Advocate George Idamattam, turned towards spirituality, ending his life peacefully. Neither the loss of her husband nor the weight of family responsibilities diverted Mrs. Mary George from her path of public service, which is a notable aspect of her character.
According to school records, Mary was born on May 29, 1929. Her father passed away when she was just one year old. He was a government official and the son of Magistrate Mathew Alummoottil, who was the first magistrate between the Syrian Catholic and the Latin communities. Her upbringing took place under the special care of her grandfather in Vaikom. Her grandfather, a Sanskrit scholar from a place known as Pattaparambu, would often recite the mantra “Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu,” which instilled in Mary a worldview where the happiness of the universe is intertwined with her own. As she put it, “Life is about moving forward for the good. Each of us has a responsibility to improve this world, even a little.” This awareness guided her in all her endeavors. She often questioned whether those with a conscience could survive in politics, but without compromising on truth and righteousness, she gracefully stepped down from positions of power, always striving to do good.
A proficient high school teacher, capable headmistress, successful District Educational Officer, consumer dispute resolution judge, and municipal chairperson, she entered retirement after a long career of service. However, she continues to hold positions such as member of the Indian National Congress, Kottayam D.C.C., and president of the Mahila Congress.
To delve a bit more into Mrs. Mary George’s biography, her primary and middle school education took place at Karmaleetham School near Vaikom. She then attended Vaikom Government High School and completed her matriculation. Following that, she enrolled in St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam, where she graduated with high marks. After obtaining her B.Ed., she began her teaching career in government service, working in various schools including Government High School Mulanturutthi, Girls’ High School Mattancheri, Government High School Thalayolaparambu, and Government High School Vaikom. She was promoted to headmistress and served in schools like Tirurangadi Government High School, Kozhikode College Campus High School, and Vaikom Girls’ High School before being appointed as the District Educational Officer in the Pala Education District. After retiring from her job, she actively engaged in Congress politics. In 1989, she won the election as the Congress candidate and became the Chairperson of the Vaikom Municipality, a position that lacked female representation at the time, highlighting her personal qualifications. Mrs. Mary George holds the distinction of being Kerala’s first female municipal chairperson.
However, after a year and a half, due to certain corrupt practices, Mrs. Mary George was removed from her position through a no-confidence motion against Congress members. This added a dark chapter to Congress’s political history. Nevertheless, Mary George found peace; the Congress High Command acted justly by expelling those who voted against her. Moreover, she was appointed as the Congress candidate for the Board of Directors of the Vaikom Taluk Co-operative Bank and has continued in that role for the past sixteen years.
In 1990, when the first Consumer Disputes Redressal Court was formed in Kottayam district, she was nominated by Congress as a woman judge. During her four years of service from 1990 to 1994, she made significant rulings that established consumer rights. During the same period, she also served as the President of the Kottayam District Mahila Congress.
After 1996, turning towards spiritual renewal, Mary George tried to detach from worldly matters through daily prayers and meditations. However, she ended up becoming the municipal chairperson as the position became reserved for women. For five years, she carried out her duties with honesty and dedication, and after stepping down from her competitive life, she returned to a state of spiritual tranquility, a topic covered in newspaper articles about her graceful exit.
Mary George held the belief that a woman’s primary responsibility is her family. After becoming a widow at a young age, she took on the care of her own mother. Now, as the Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University, her only son has received an education steeped in the guru-shishya tradition, reflecting her attentive nurturing. From her marriage in 1950 until her husband’s passing in 1996, she fulfilled her duties as a devoted wife without fail. Early on, she joined the undivided Communist Party and worked to address divisions among Catholics by forming the Catholic League. However, when she realized that the Communist Party fundamentally opposed religion, spirituality, and family ethics, she distanced herself from that ideology, an initiative led by Mary George herself.
Mrs. Mary George has displayed extraordinary oratory skills in both English and Malayalam, along with organizational prowess. Her main hobby remains reading. Currently, she is engaged in spiritual readings and enjoys a peaceful retirement at Jansi Bhavan in Ayyarkulangara with the assistance of a worker. She is actively involved in the morning divine services at the local church associated with the Vincentian Ashram and in charitable organizations.