Thonniyamala is a tiny village about 4 km away from Pathanamthitta town. Thankappan (Thankappan / Koshykunju- were his pet names- and in School records his name was V.T. Koshy – Valiyaparampil Thomas Koshy) was born on 25 Nov, 1932, as the eighth child of Valiyaparampil Scaria Thomas and Achamma. (Achamma was a member of the Thasiyil Pulimoottil family of Karthikappally). Valiyaparampil is a branch of the famous Thazhayil family of Elanthur. They were members of the St. Thomas Mar Thoma Parish (Est. in 1899) in Thonniyamala. During the 1930s, there were only 40 -50 families in that parish. All its members were farmers. There was a Primary School (MTLP School –Est. in 1922) in which regular Sunday School classes were held every Sunday morning before the Church service. Members of the parish