Thamarassery Diocese Marks Malabar Migration Centenary
George Kommattam - November 2025
As part of the Ruby Jubilee celebration of the Thamarassery Diocese, they organized the Centenary of Migration to Malabar in a function held at the Kozhikode Town Hall on 22 November 2025, bringing together church leaders, scholars, political leaders and community representatives to reflect on the historic contributions of Malabar’s migrant Christian community.
In the morning symposium, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian praised the migrant Christian settlers for showing Kerala how land could be used productively for agriculture and for transforming the natural resources of Malabar into assets for the region and the nation.
Kurian said the migrants introduced Malabar to diverse agricultural practices, including intercropping, which later evolved into sustainable farming systems. He added that the development of infrastructure, health care and education in Malabar was significantly shaped by the perseverance and vision of the migrant community.
He further observed that the migrant population is today widely recognized as a peace-loving and hardworking group, and he commended local communities in Malabar for the generosity and openness with which they welcomed them decades ago.
Presiding over the session, Bishop Mar Remigiose Inchananiyil said the migrant community rewrote the history of Malabar through their faith, resilience and hard work. He announced that the diocese would observe a Migration Remembrance Day every year and plans to establish a Migration Museum within the next decade to preserve the memory of early settlers.
Scholars Dr. P. J. Vincent and Dr. Joy Varghese presented papers on the historical and socio-economic dimensions of migration, followed by a group discussion led by Dr. Joshi Mathew, Dr. C. J. George and Dr. Chacko Kalamparambil.
Ruby Jubilee convenor Fr. John Oravunkara and Fr. Benny Mundanattu also addressed the gathering.
In the afternoon’s public meeting, Kozhikode MP M. K. Raghavan highlighted the foundational role played by the Christian Church in Kerala’s social, educational and cultural development.
He said the progress seen in Kerala today owes much to the sacrifices of the early migrant families who settled in Malabar, often under extremely challenging conditions. Raghavan urged Church institutions, which historically led Kerala’s education movement, to introduce new-generation academic programs that meet contemporary needs.
Archbishop Varghese Chakkalakal of Kozhikode, who presided over the session, said societies advance when they take their history seriously, and warned that forgetting one’s past leads to stagnation.
Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil, in his benedictory message, said the migration story of Malabar is one guided by faith and perseverance, and that preserving this heritage is essential for future generations.
MLA Thottathil Ravindran reminded the gathering that current achievements are the fruits of the hard work of migrant ancestors, and stressed the need to educate younger generations about that legacy.
Vicar General Msgr. Abraham Vayalil, Prof. Jayaprakash Raghavayya and Rev. Dr. Binu Kulathingal also spoke at the meeting. Three community members-Fr. Thomas Panthaplakal CMI, Varghese Thottakkad, and Jose Njallimakkal-were felicitated for their contributions.
Both sessions were coordinated by Fr. John Oravunkara, convenor of the Ruby Jubilee, and Rev. Dr. Binu Kulathingal, convenor of the Migration Centenary celebrations.
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