
Padathu Mappila family has six branches and many sub-branches. The branches include
1) Kothappally
2) Powath
3) Ittiappodathu
4) Kunnel
5) Padathu
6) Padathu Parambil
All these branches are spread across multiple sub-branches and spread across the world.
I. Kothappallil Branch:
Kothappallil 'shakha' (branch) of Padathu Mappila Kutumbayogam has now more than 350 families living in Kangaha, Vazhoor, Meenadom, Mundakayam, Idukki and Malabar areas. The Kothappallil branch consists of 19 sub-branches including
1) Thekke Eravikulangara Karottu
2) Thekke Eravikulangara Thazhe
3) Kaniyamparampil
4) Vatta Vettaa Kuzhiyil
5) Arayalumkal
6) Vadakke Iravikulangara
7) Vayalungal
8) Idathara
9) Panthanalil
10) Thekkedathu
11) Vandanathu Vayalil
12) Kiliroorparambil
13) Thekke Vandanathuvayalil
14) Vavolikkal
15) Peediyekkal
16) Chettedathu
17) Vayalappallil
18) Panamattathu
19) Kothappallil
II. Powath Branch:
A grandson of Padathu Mappila was requested by the old Brahmin family of 'Narayana Mangalam Illam' of Kothala, to come and settle near them. (Kothala is between Pampady and Vazhoor). The purpose was the same as in the case of Thomman Tharakan, who had already settled at Kangazha. Oil for puja at the Devi Temple at Kothala was to be purified by a Nazrani. Thus this grandson of Padathu Mappila happened to build his house at Powath, Kothala, nearly 400 years ago. Today Powath 'shakha' families live in Kothala, Pampady, Manarcad, Thiruvanchoor, Idukki, Malabar and a few other places in the state. The Powath branch consists of 7 sub-branches including
1) Aalothu
2) Kuttikattu
3) Tharakkunnel
4) Vandanathu
5) Aarukannil
6) Eruthottikkal
7) Vembilamattom
III. Padathu Branch
In most cases, migration of Padathu Mappila families before the annexation of Thekkumkur to Travancore, was to nearby places in Kottayam only. But, after its annexation, several members of the family are said to have escaped to safety in faraway places. One such case was that of Thomman Tharkan, who was the occupant of Padathu Malika, where it was burnt down by the king's soldiers, he along with one of his sons managed to flee his burning home and escaped to Thekkan Paravoor in Kochi in a mercantile boat. Today Padathu branch spread across Ernakulam area and consists of 6 sub-branches including
1) Chathari
2) Kadungamangalam
3) Meenchirapadam
4) Choukkayil
5) Manayida
6) Kandanadu
IV. Kunnel Branch
Padathu Mappila's younger brother Thommen Panikar, had set up a 'kalari' at Kunnel a little away from Padath. When his elder brother left his home at Padath and began living at Manarcad, Thomman Panikar also decided to settle near his brother. He built a small house and a 'kalari' adjacent to it on a 67 cent plot of land purchased from the Paloor Nair family of Thiruvanchoor. Because Thomman Panikar had come from Kunnel, his new house at Manarcad also came to be known as Kunnel. Later, after 'Padathu Malika' had been destroyed, a descendant of Patathu Mappila came from Vennimala and began living at Kunnel house. His name was Mathu Korah Tharakan. It was this ancestor who strove to reopen Manarcad Church. It is in deference to this ancestor that the 'shakha' is called 'Kunnel Shakha.' Kunnel Shakha families live mostly at Manarcadu and nearby places and consists of 6 sub-families including
1) Kunnel
2) Kochu Thundiyil
3) Choondayil Kallakkadambil
4) Kochu Thundiyil Chungathil
5) Eerecheriyil
6) Nedumparambu
V. Ittiyappodathu Branch
Since Thomman Panikar remained a bachelor throughout his life, a son of his elder brother Mathen Tharakan, went to live with him at Kunnel to be of help to him. He continued to be there even after his uncle went to Manarcad to take up residence there. One of his sons Itty Mappila bought a 25 acre agricultural land at Thottakad from the Manackal family of Meenadom. Since Itty Mappila was from Padath, he became known as Padath Itty Mappila, among the local population. And, his dwelling became popular in course of time as 'Ittiyapodath.'The families that descended from the ancestor who lived at Ittiapodath make up the Ittiyapodath 'Shakha' today. The families of this Shakha live in and around Thottakad consists of 5 sub-branches including
1) Akkarakaduppil
2) Ittimaniyil
3) Valiyamannil
4) Cherkodu
5) Padinjarevadayil
VI. Padathu Parambil Branch
When Padathu Mappila left permanently for Manarcad, a few of the family continued to live at Patath, Meenadom. Several decades later, one of his descendants, Cherian by name, played an active role in the construction of the now famous St. Thomas Church at Meenadom. He had only one daughter, Sosamma, who was married into the Maliyil family of Karapuzha. The descendants of this couple now live near Meenadom, and they constitute the small Padathu Parambil Shakha of the Kutumbayogam.
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