Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church-58
O.M. Varghese Olickal
O.M. Varghese Olickal, a prominent educator and historian, was born on June 23, 1926, as the younger son of Joseph Mathew and Mary in the renowned and ancient Olickal family of Vazakkulam. After passing the E.S.L.C. exam from Vazakkulam Infant Jesus High School, he pursued his higher education at Devaras Sacred Heart College, Thrissur, and St. Thomas College. He earned his university degree from these institutions. He also received teacher training from institutions such as Changanassery N.S.S. College, Thrissur Basic Training College, Madura Gandhi Gram, and Bangalore English Training Institute.
After retiring from Vazakkulam Basic Training School, he authored a book titled “Vazakkulam: A Historical Overview.” This book evaluates the historical growth of the Vazakkulam area in relation to our kings and the Christian church in a thoroughly scientific manner and deals with it in a modern way. O.M. Varghese has succeeded in presenting past events with an impartial perspective, summarizing history in a manner accessible even to the general public. This book also touches upon numerous political, social, and religious events from the past.
In this historical work, Varghese has connected the events of the last two centuries in Travancore and the Christian community with the history of Vazakkulam. Spanning over 650 pages, this historical book covers not only the history of Vazakkulam village but also the history of individuals associated with Vazakkulam and the history of the families in Vazakkulam.
Bishop Mar George Punnakkottil of Kothamangalam has written the following commendation for this book: “History is generally political history, the history of a nation or country. Mr. Varghese endeavors to describe the history of his native village. By accepting the political, cultural, economic, educational, and religious history of the land and community as a background, he presents the history of his own village against this backdrop. History is dynamic, it is growth. The history of the growth of Vazakkulam can be seen in this book.”
Mr. Varghese examines the significance of Vazakkulam’s contribution to the history of both the church and the country along with its growth. In this review, there is no clear way to see matters from more than two centuries ago. The latter half of the 19th century was of particular importance concerning Vazakkulam. The author attempts to evaluate the history of that period with critical insight. Vazakkulam’s convent and seminary are significant landmarks in the history of the Kerala church. Canonical and Valiyaveetilachans are among the eminent leaders of the Kerala church, having had an immense influence on its history. Mr. Varghese argues that Vazakkulam has played a crucial role in the establishment of the Ernakulam Mission. The history of the families of Vazakkulam, who transformed neighboring distant areas into settled lands through migration, is particularly distinctive. The festivals, growth, and connections of each family in the Vazakkulam area will be highly informative for both the Vazakkulam residents and those who have migrated from there.
Through this single book, Varghese has made a valuable contribution to historical literature. He is also involved in several other literary works. In 1999, the All Kerala Catholic Congress honored him with an award for his services in the field of cultural history. Varghese is also the first president of the Olickal Family Association and has authored the complete history of the Olickal family, with the committee he chaired as chief editor. Varghese’s spouse is Mary, daughter of Kallarakkal Thomas and Eliya.
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