Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church-114 Miss. Rosamma Chacko

Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church-114
Miss. Rosamma Chacko

Miss. Rosamma Chacko, the former General Secretary of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), Vice President, and Member of the Legislative Assembly, was born on July 17, 1930, in the village of Thottakkadu in Kottayam district. She was the youngest daughter of Chackochen and Mariamma, from the ancient and highly respected Kottothikkal family in Thottakkadu. Rosamma received her early education at Edathva and Thottakkadu Government School. After completing her studies at Malayalam High School, she passed the “Sahithya Visharad” examination in Malayalam and Hindi.

Rosamma’s father, Chackochen, was an active participant in the Indian independence movement, and he often took Rosamma with him to attend meetings and demonstrations. She was known for presenting garlands to leaders during such events. During the time when the C.P.I. (M) ruled in Thiruvitamkur, they were highly hostile to the State Congress and its activists, banning Congress meetings. Despite the ban, a meeting was held at Puthuppally Kavala, where the police opened fire, and the people scattered. Even in such challenging circumstances, Rosamma moved forward fearlessly to contribute to the cause of independence. It was through such experiences that Rosamma developed her independent thinking and love for self-rule, shaping her future political ideology.

In 1954, Rosamma stepped into active politics. She first made a political speech during the election campaign for candidates C.P. Matthan and K.M. Kora. Despite the prevailing social norms, where women were not actively involved in politics, Rosamma stood firm and rejected many marriage proposals, stating that she had no intention of marrying. Her father, Chackochen, supported her decision, saying, “She is free to decide.”

After becoming politically active in 1954, Rosamma quickly gained recognition for her public speaking skills and was invited to give speeches across the region. Her father often accompanied her, providing valuable feedback that further encouraged her. In 1954, she was nominated to the KPCC, and two years later, she contested elections for the KPCC and emerged victorious in almost every scenario, except one.

In 1957, Rosamma played an active leadership role in the freedom struggle against the Communist government’s misrule. In 1960, she was unanimously elected as the Vice President of the KPCC, with C.K. Govindan Nair as President. During the formation of the Kerala Congress in 1964, many members left the Congress. At that time, Rosamma took on the responsibility of leading the Puthuppally constituency committee, where she conducted door-to-door campaigns and recruited several young members to join the Congress. From 1961 onwards, Rosamma became actively involved in leadership roles in the KPCC.

In the 1987 elections, Rosamma contested from the Idukki constituency, a region where Congress was highly unpopular due to police violence and shootings. Despite predictions of defeat, Rosamma secured a surprising victory with a majority of 1500 votes. In subsequent elections, she focused on the development of the hill farmers’ community and was successful in winning the hearts of the people. In 1991, although Congress leadership initially assigned her to contest in Chalakudy, a region previously won by the Left Democratic Front (LDF), she defied expectations and won by a significant majority of 7,000 votes. Afterward, Rosamma worked tirelessly for the development of Chalakudy. Later, she was fielded in Manalur and won again against all odds.

In 2001, Rosamma chose to retire from active contesting and focused on nurturing new leadership, particularly among the youth. She is still active in politics today and serves as a member of the State Executive Committee.

In September 2002, the government appointed Rosamma as the Chairperson of the State Social Welfare Board. She had begun her social welfare work in 1958 by organizing women from the Kottayam-Idukki areas into various developmental activities. She played a key role in establishing women’s groups, organizing sports and arts competitions, and supporting the formation of women’s unions. Under her leadership, these unions expanded and flourished, and she became a driving force behind women’s empowerment in Kerala.

Rosamma was also actively involved in religious and social activities, including the activities of the Mission League. She worked alongside leaders like Mallyuparambilachan, P.C. Abraham Pallattukunnan, and N.M. Skariah Eenthumplakkal to lead organizing efforts in key dioceses like Changanassery, Kothamangalam, Kottayam, and Pala. As Vice President of the Mission League, she played an instrumental role in expanding its activities, leading to a significant increase in the number of vocations.

Rosamma Chacko has held various significant roles, including KPCC Vice President, General Secretary, State Women’s Congress President, and Secretary. She has contributed to various legislative committees, such as the Public Undertakings Committee, the Estimate Committee, and the Library Committee, and has been a member of the Committee for the Welfare of Women and Children.

She also served as an Executive Member of the Kottayam District Committee of the Indian Red Cross Society and as Vice President of the District Red Cross Committee for several years. Additionally, Rosamma served as the President of the Thottakkadu Service Cooperative Society for four years.

Even today, Rosamma continues to be actively involved in various social and political initiatives, contributing significantly to the betterment of her community.