Accolades, Memories, and Reflections by a Classmate

This is to share personal recollections, reflections, and accolades from a classmate on Xavier Chacko’s autobiography release.

The Impact of College Days

The news of my classmate’s autobiography release, and the opportunity to attend the function, has truly overwhelmed me. It stirred a flood of memories—both personal and collective from our college days. To share these with you meaningfully, I shall try to arrange my thoughts in a manner that makes the narration engaging and readable.

Xavier Chacko: The Man Behind ‘Nirapara’

The focus here is on Xavier Chacko, my B. Com classmate from 1972 to 1975 at S.B. College, Changanacherry. In later years, he ventured into business, establishing a flour mill in Changanacherry under the brand name ‘Nirapara’. This earned him the affectionate name ‘Nirapara Pappachen’ in our hometown. Now, in his seventies, he has penned his life story, aptly titled ഓർമ്മകുളുടെ നിറപറ, which may be translated as ‘Abundantly Overflowing Memories’.

A Lasting Association: Fifty Years of Friendship

My association with Xavier Karthikapally, the name given on the cover of the book, stretches over fifty years, enriched by countless shared experiences. Before delving into his book, ഓർമ്മകുളുടെ നിറപറ , allow me to recount my നിറപറ പപ്പാച്ചൻ ഓർമ്മകൾ  that remain especially vivid.

Shared Experiences and Milestones

• In our third year, as we prepared for the all-important final examinations, we received over two months of study leave. At this time, Xavier Chacko, Pappachen’s name in our rolls, approached me, seeking help for a few classmates struggling with the subjects. Our group of five gathered at night in the homes of his sister and others in Vazhapally, often studying until dawn for nearly twenty nights. [As a science student during my PDC, I attended another group study sessions to prepare for my accountancy papers]. Some B. Com classmates were sceptical, and a few of the academically stronger students even remarked that I was ‘wasting my time’. However, when results were announced, all four students passed every subject. To my delightful surprise, I secured the second rank in Kerala University. Only later did I realise the truth behind the adage: teaching is the most effective mode of learning. Unknowingly, I had proven it.
• Two years later, having completed my M. Com, I joined St Berchmans College as a faculty member—a profession I had once disliked as a student. Over time, teaching grew from a mere job into a vocation I now deeply value and advocate. I remain indebted to Pappachen, both for my university rank and for sowing the seeds of my career journey in academia.
• The Changanacherry Club was the brainchild of our Malayalam teacher at S.B. College, Dr Scaria Zacharia, my mentor, whose vision was to enhance the town’s social and cultural life. In 1996–97, during the club’s early days, I joined Scaria Zacharia Sir, Prof K K John, Pappachen, and others in organising Munnarangu, a week-long summer camp for school students—an innovative concept then. In the second year, both Pappachen’s daughter and mine participated. At the camp’s conclusion, I was offered complimentary club membership, which I declined. Thus, our bond remained personal rather than institutional.
• Later, I had the privilege to collaborate with Pappachen in organising three public felicitation meetings for Dr Scaria Zacharia in Changanacherry. On each occasion, it was Pappachen who discreetly and generously provided the seed funding that made these events possible.
• Our friendship endured through several reunions of our B. Com 1975 batch, each meeting rekindling the camaraderie that defined our college years.

Book Release Event: Celebrating a Life Overflowing with Memories

A Walk Down Memory Lane

The book’s release function brought forth a cascade of memories from our college days. It was held in S B College, Antony Cardinal Padiyara Hall—a new, theatre-like venue that served as our main library during our first two years of B. Com, and where Pappachen spent more hours than in any classroom.

Honouring Institutional Roots

Rev Dr Teddy Kanjuparambil, the principal of the college, graciously received the book—symbolic of the institution that Pappachen so fondly describes in his memoir. The welcome address was delivered by Dr James Manimala, former Head of the Malayalam Department, to which Pappachen was closely attached and whose teachers he mentions with special affection.

A Tribute to Enduring Bonds

The meeting was presided over by Mr John Mundakkayam, a seasoned journalist and writer who served as Thiruvananthapuram Bureau Chief for Malayala Manorama for 25 years and now runs the publishing house Talk of Town (ToT). John was our batchmate, studying B.A. Literature, and shared a close friendship with Pappachen. This very bond led John to become the editor and his publishing house the publisher of the autobiography, thus drawing a distinguished persons to the event. The dignitaries were Mr Venu Rajamani, a former Indian diplomat, who eloquently spoke about the book and, at Mr Mundakkayam’s request, touched upon the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Mr Thomas Jacob, former Editorial Director of Manorama, also lent his unique wit and humour, adding a special flavour to the proceedings. The foreword to the book was penned by John Antony, former editor of Sunday Deepika and a college batchmate—though notably, not from the Commerce stream.

Celebrating Batch Bonds and Literary Triumphs

As members of the 1972–75 B.Com batch, ten of us presented a memento to Pappachen, expressing our heartfelt appreciation and encouragement for his remarkable achievement in authoring his autobiography. The event was suffused with the echoes of college memories and a spirit of camaraderie that lingered throughout the hall.

About the book

Origins of a Literary Journey

ഓർമ്മകുളുടെ നിറപറ , Pappachen’s autobiography reveals that the author’s deep inclination toward Malayalam language and writing traces back to his college days. During his five years at S.B. College, he found his inspiration not in classrooms but among Malayalam teachers and in the quiet corners of the college library. As he candidly recounts in the book, he honed his writing skills by composing lengthy weekly letters to Rosamma, who had moved to Switzerland after their marriage. This lasted for only five-months, but Rosamma cherished every letter she received.

This passion endured during his years in Switzerland, where he received Malayala Manorama by post and contributed few writings to Malayalam publications abroad. With time finally permitting, he has transformed this long-nurtured impulse into a compelling book.

Friendship and Publishing Support

Grateful acknowledgment is also due to John Mundakkayam, a close friend from college days, whose association was rekindled when he published in Manorama daily, a controversial series about the business ventures Pappachen was part of.

A Unique Narrative Style

The book is a candid, sincere, and unfiltered narration of a life that refuses to conform to a linear timeline. He takes readers across a vivid landscape of history, geography, philosophy, and moral reflection. His writing style is unmistakably his own, shifting in time, jumping across themes, and offering the reader a rewarding, if sometimes unpredictable, journey. Like a kaleidoscope, the more one turns the narrative in the mind, the more striking patterns emerge.

Kerala, Migration, and Entrepreneurial Realities

He documents Kerala’s agricultural transitions, changing job aspirations, the hardships of migration, and the dilemmas faced by families navigating unfamiliar cultures abroad while longing for home.

Where many migrant families in Western countries chose affluence and prosperity, often at the expense of their moral and ethical values, Pappachen made the uncommon and courageous choice to prioritise integrity over material gain. After spending eight years in the scenic landscapes of Switzerland, he returned to Changanacherry with his family—his wife, who was employed, and their two daughters. This singular decision speaks volumes about his character.

Upon returning to Kerala, Pappachen collaborated with his elderly brother-in-law and his three sons to establish a flour mill, choosing ‘Nirappara‘ as their brand name, thereby associating his identity closely with the brand. Through his candid, heartfelt storytelling, Pappachen strips away the public persona of Nirapara Pappachen to reveal the authentic challenges of entrepreneurship in Kerala—navigating political complexities, managing trade union demands, resolving partnership conflicts, and facing the uncertainties of the marketplace.

Symbolism of Nirapara and Dispelling Myths

The title of the book draws from the brand name of Pappachen’s own product line. The iconic nirapara itself is deeply rooted in Kerala’s agrarian and ritualistic heritage. This wooden-and-metal measuring vessel, filled to the brim with golden paddy, has long symbolised ‘abundance and prosperity.’ Yet the book reveals that the nirapara he carried through life held not only gleaming grains but chaff as well. Through his narration, he strips away the myths surrounding the supposedly comfortable lives of migrant nurses in Europe and the glamour often attributed to Kerala’s business community.

Overflowing Memories and Future Promise

By the final pages, one senses that his memories are still overflowing, like nirapara , hinting at more stories that may find their way into future volumes. For now, I offer dear Pappachen my sincere appreciation for his honesty, courage, and emotional openness in sharing his mind, heart, and soul with his readers.

A Preview of More Stories to Come

This book, around 100 pages can be read in one sitting. This seems to be precursor and many more are in the offing. A close reading gives us the feeling there are more untold thoughts which were shrouded, than those put in plain statements. With able support from John Mudakkayam, and encouraging response on this book, we wish, hope and pray for more books to follow

An Invitation to Reflect and Share

As Pappachen’s journey unfolds with candour and depth, he invites us not only to witness but also to reflect on the lived realities behind every page. His narrative—rich in warmth and wisdom—reminds us that life’s true abundance lies in the sharing of stories, whether told or untold, encompassing both hardships and blessings.

Undoubtedly, this work stands as an inspiration for those who seek meaning in memory and courage in expressing the truth of their lived experience. May Pappachen continue to illuminate the path for many more through his writing, and may his nirapara always brim with stories, lessons, and hope for generations to come.