A Century of Learning: Revisiting the Legacy of Chethipurackal Government LP School

Tucked away amidst the tranquil backwaters of Kuttanad in Kerala's Alappuzha district stands a modest little school with a remarkable story. The Chethipurackal Government Lower Primary School (GLPS) at Thalavady may today have just 25 students, but its roots stretch back more than a century, carrying with them a legacy of education, philanthropy and community service.

According to Kerala Government records, the school caters to children from Classes I to IV and continues to serve as the primary educational institution for the local backwater community. Five dedicated teachers guide the young students, while the school cook prepares a wholesome mid-day meal every day—a meal that is often just as eagerly awaited as the lessons themselves.

Looking back a hundred years

The story of the school begins in 1921, during the reign of the Kingdom of Travancore. At the time, it was not uncommon for prosperous agrarian Syrian Christian families in Kuttanad to establish neighbourhood schools. Their aim was simple yet visionary: to ensure that not only their own children but also the children of their farm workers received a basic education.

Among these pioneers was my great-grandfather, Varkey Chacko, who founded the school and nurtured it during its formative years, serving both as its teacher and principal benefactor. However, as financial pressures mounted, it became increasingly difficult for him to sustain the institution on his own.

Determined that the school should continue to educate future generations, the Chethipurackal family took a remarkable decision. They donated a portion of their ancestral property at Anaprambal South, Thalavady—the very land on which the school still stands—to the Government for educational purposes.

Under the education regulations that existed in Travancore and later under the Kerala Education Rules, schools established through such private land grants were permitted to retain either the locality's name or the founding family's name as an honorary prefix even after becoming fully Government institutions. That is how the school proudly continues to bear the name "Chethipurackal"—a lasting tribute to the family's contribution to education in this part of Kuttanad.

An interesting footnote to this transition is that the Government acquired the school for the symbolic sum of one rupee. As part of the agreement, my great-grandfather's daughter-in-law, Mrs. Achyamma Jacob (my grandmother), was appointed as a Government teacher in the school, honouring both the family's contribution and their commitment to education.

A brief note on the Chethipurackal family

The Chethipurackal family belongs to the ancient Saint Thomas Syrian Christian (Nasrani) community, whose history in Kerala dates back nearly two millennia. According to long-held Christian tradition, even call it belief,  St. Thomas the Apostle arrived on the Malabar Coast in AD 52 and established Christianity in Kerala by founding the famed Ezharappallikal—the Seven and a Half Churches—including those at Palayoor, Kodungallur, North Paravur, Kokkamangalam, Niranam, Nilackal, Kollam and Malayattoor (Niranam, I presume could be our ancestor's church).

Over the centuries, the Saint Thomas Christians became deeply woven into Kerala's agricultural, cultural and social fabric. Families such as Chethipurackal played an important role in the development of Upper Kuttanad, contributing not only to farming but also to education and community welfare.

Changing times

Until the mid-1980s, almost every child in the surrounding villages began their educational journey at Chethipurackal GLPS. Like many Government schools across Kerala, it was the natural first choice for local families.

Then came a period of rapid economic transformation. As increasing numbers of Keralites found employment overseas and family incomes improved, aspirations changed. English-medium private schools became the preferred destination for many parents, while Government schools—despite offering quality education—gradually came to be viewed as less desirable.

Ironically, this shift occurred even as Government schools steadily improved their infrastructure, curriculum and teaching standards. Today, Chethipurackal GLPS has a library, a playground, a games room and five committed teachers, yet only around 25 students are enrolled across four classes.

The numbers tell a story that is repeated across many Government schools in Kerala.

A small gesture to honour a great legacy

School Staff and 'Chethipurackal' Family members at the school on the occasion.

Recently, the school's Headmaster, Mr. Satheesh Krishna, approached one of my relatives, Mr. Varkey Jacob (Georgekutty), a well-known social worker in the area, with a simple request: could someone donate school bags for the children?

Georgekutty conveyed the request to my mother, Mrs. Saramma George (Ammukutty). The decision was immediate and unanimous.

As descendants of the family that founded the school over a century ago, we felt it was both a privilege and a responsibility to continue that legacy, however modestly.

On behalf of the Chethipurackal Kudumbam, we were delighted to gift a school bag to each of the 25 students.

It may seem like a small contribution, but standing in the same school that my great-grandfather founded over 100 years ago was a powerful reminder that while buildings may age and generations may pass, the true value of education endures.

Sometimes, honouring our heritage doesn't require grand monuments. Sometimes, it simply means helping a child walk into school carrying a new bag—and carrying with it the promise of a brighter future.