On April 18, 2023, we commemorated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Rubber Board through the India Rubber Act. The board’s primary role involves promoting the growth and advancement of rubber and its related products, conducting research, and providing advisory services to the government on rubber-related matters.

What is the history behind the arrival of rubber plantations in Kerala?

Rubber trees naturally grew in the conducive South American Amazonian forests. As the use of rubber for various purpose were discovered and the demand grew more than its supply, the British discovered that the weather in Kerala was also suitable, and they began to cultivate rubber in the state. One individual who played a pivotal role in establishing the Indian rubber plantation industry was John Joseph Murphy, an Irishman. In 1902, he established in Yendayar, the first commercial rubber plantation near Mundakayam. Murphy is thus considered to be the father of Indian rubber plantation. Murphy was not just a successful planter, but also a philanthropist and social reformer. He was recognized for his charitable contributions to seminaries, convents, orphanages, and schools, and was conferred with the Papal honour ‘Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice’ by Pope Pius XI. Locally, he was known as “Murphy Sayipp.” Murphy spent the rest of his life in the area and was buried in the St. Joseph’s Church cemetery in Yendayar upon his death in 1957, alongside the plantation workers. The JJ Murphy Research Centre in Airapuram and the John Joseph Murphy Memorial Higher Secondary School in Yendayar serve as lasting memorials to his legacy.

J.J. Murphy’s philanthropy extended to S.B. College, as recounted by K.V. Thomas, Pottamkulam, a first batch student and author of ‘Reminiscences’ in the Golden Jubilee souvenir of the college. According to Thomas, the first principal of S.B. College, Rev Father Mathew Purackal, asked him to accompany him to visit Murphy, who Thomas describes as a “Princely Planter” in one of his articles. Father Purackal was hoping for a donation of at most Rs. 1000 from Murphy. However, Murphy expressed his skepticism towards college education, likely stemming from his own unfinished college education in Dublin before moving to Ceylon and eventually India. He believed that vocational training was more important. This response left Fr Purackal flustered, and he defensively mentioned that the diocese also ran a weaving school. Despite this, Murphy surprised them both by writing a cheque for a princely sum of Rs. 5,000 (equivalent to Rs. 1.9 crore in current gold price parity). Murphy went beyond this gesture and made inquiries about the weaving school that Fr Purackal had mentioned. He then sent a cheque for Rs. 7,500 to modernize it, demonstrating his generosity and concern for vocational education.

K.V. Thomas of Pottamkulam, a local planter from Kanjirappally, continued to recount in his “Reminiscences” how Fr Purackal persuaded him to donate money to purchase the land adjacent to the college for a playing field. College records indicate that Thomas donated Rs. 3000 for this purpose. The playing field, which is located parallel to M.C. Road and in front of the Mar Charles Lavinge Indoor court, was named the Thomas Pottankulam Grounds in recognition of Thomas’s generous contribution. A signpost was also erected to commemorate this.

Fr Mathew Purackal, the first Principal and fund mobiliser

In 1921, the Bishop of Changanacherry, Mar Thomas Kurialacherry, requested the newly ordained Reverend Father Mathew Purackal, the first post-graduate in the diocese, to take steps to establish a college and appointed him as the principal. The Bishop of Kollam, Dr. Benziger, supported the initiative by providing a seed money of Rs 12,000, stating that his diocese lacked qualified priests.

The college was sanctioned by the Madras University, and it was decided to house it in the petty seminary building under construction at Parel. However, the diocese had no funds, and Fr. Purackal had to mobilize resources. He borrowed Rs 3,000 from Sree Gheevarghese Devasia, a prominent businessman in Changanacherry, to complete the building and purchase furniture. The college records indicate that Rs 3,000 out of the first-year fees of Rs 12,000 collected from the students was returned to Sri Devasia, Paikad.

Government grants and student fees were insufficient to construct new buildings in the current location. Fr. Purackal had a remarkable ability to raise funds, as demonstrated in the two instances narrated above. Hailing from Pulinkunnu, he took efforts to obtain donations from his people in Kuttanad. They generously, set aside the proceeds from specific coconut trees for the college.

Despite Fr. Purackal’s best efforts, the construction of the Tower building could not be completed on time, and he was forced to reduce staff salaries. This resulted in complaints reaching the Madras University, and a commission was established to investigate. The commission held the principal solely responsible for the college’s sorry state of affairs, jeopardizing its affiliation. As a result, Fr. Mathew Purackal resigned from his position as principal.

As we celebrate the college’s centenary, we honour and recognize all those who have contributed to its growth and development, whether acknowledged or not, celebrated or unsung. Without their tireless efforts, the college would not have achieved such heights. We humbly acknowledge the hard work, sacrifices, and generosity of all those associated with the college, both directly and indirectly.

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