Today on Facebook, I came across some beautiful photographs of the Kottayam Cheriapally (St. Mary's Orthodox Church), along with pictures featuring author Manu S Pillai and historian Pallikonam Rajeev. That instantly took me back to 'SAGA — A Journey into Kerala’s History, Heritage, Culture, and Arts.' 🌴📚 'Episode 7, Syrian Christians of Kerala', felt deeply personal to me. It beautifully captures the story of the Nasrani community — their roles as merchants and warriors — while gently weaving in the local history of places that are not just locations, but parts of my life. My home village Kuravilangad, and places like Kaduthuruthy, Uzhavoor, Kottayam, Aruvithura, etc… each of them carries memories, emotions, and a deep sense of belonging. 🌿 For me, these are not just names on a map — they are pieces of my identity, my childhood, and my nostalgic journey. 💭✨ The conversation between Manu S. Pillai and Pallikonam Rajeev offers a thoughtful and engaging perspective on Kottayam as a historic Christian centre, and more importantly, as a beautiful reflection of Kerala’s unique syncretic traditions. 🤝🕊️ For anyone who loves exploring Kerala’s diverse communities, history, arts, and culture, the SAGA series by 'The Archival and Research Project (ARPO)' is truly special. It’s not just something you watch — it’s something you feel. 🎬❤️ 🎥 Watch Episode 7 here: https://youtu.be/XuhftsGmUNw?si=XC-0MTrcUSKEcpCh ✒️ George Palackalody #KeralaHistory #Kerala #Kottayam #Kuravilangad #KeralaCulture #Nostalgia #Nasrani #Roots #NasraniDiaspora #MyKerala #Heritage #Memories #Keralam

A piece of our Tharavadu (ancestral home) still lives on. Recently, while reading about the ancient St. Thomas Christian Crosses of India, I came across the 4th-century Alangad Cross in Kerala. According to Parsi scholar B. T. Anklesaria, who specialised in Pahlavi epigraphy, the Alangad St. Thomas Cross contains an archaic Pahlavi inscription and may date back many centuries. I also revisited images of the similar cross preserved in the Pilar Church Museum in Goa. As I explored these symbols and their history, my thoughts unexpectedly drifted back to something much closer to home — the old Aravaathil അറവാതിൽ of our ancestral house at Palackalody, Kuravilangad. Our centuries-old Tharavadu no longer stands. Although the house itself has disappeared, one of its most treasured pieces survives: the original wooden chamber door - Aravaathil and its remarkable brass lock. When the house was demolished, I made sure the door was preserved. It remains in Kerala today, resting on my home. The door is enormous and incredibly heavy, requiring several people to move it. The brass lock has always fascinated me. Its handle resembles a bird — perhaps a swan or peacock — while beneath it appears a floral motif crowned by a cross. Whether the design was chosen for faith, decoration, craftsmanship, or simply the artistic tastes of another era, I cannot say with certainty. Yet it reminds me of the rich blend of culture, tradition, and belief that shaped generations of Nasrani families in Kerala. The lock itself is probably from the 1800s rather than an ancient relic. Still, while reading about the historic St. Thomas Crosses, I found myself drawn back to this door. Not because of its age, but because of what it represents. I was born and raised in that house. Until moving to Melbourne in 2006, I spent countless days there with my grandmother and with chinnamma a beloved member of our household who cared for our family for over fifty years. Many of the happiest memories of my childhood were created within those walls. The old house may be gone, but part of its soul remains. Sometimes history is not only found in museums, churches, or archaeological discoveries. Sometimes it survives quietly in a forgotten doorway, an old brass lock, and the memories carried by those who once called that place home.🤎 🏠 Palackalody 📍 Kuravilangad, Kerala, India ✒️ George PALACKALODY #Kerala #Nasrani #NasraniDiaspora #KnowYourRoots #StThomasChristians #KeralaHeritage #Tharavadu #HeritageConservation #FamilyHistory #CultureAndIdentity #Storytelling #Palackalody #Georgey #GeorgePALACKALODY