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ABRAHAM KOOTHOTTIL: FROM A TEACHER IN PARIS TO A FARMER IN ATTAPPADI

The inner call was from theology to farming.  And the outer journey, from the metropolis of Paris to the underdeveloped Attappadi.

Abraham Koothottil had it prepared for him to be a priest: the long study at the Papal seminary in Pune, post graduation in theology from Austria, 2^nd master’s degree and doctorate from France, he clearly did not lack the theological qualifications for priesthood. 

But when the inner call came, neither he, nor his wife Lilly who was a nurse in Paris, or their 3 children have any difficulty in deciding to come back to Kerala.  With the saving from their Parisian days, they purchased 15 acres of land – fertile yet remote – besides Bhavani river.

That was the beginning of Koothottil Eco Farm, Chavadiyoor, Attappadi.  Without the use of chemical fertilizers, he planted and grew coconuts, arecanuts, rice, groundnuts and even apples in memory of France.  And bananas, his favourite crop.  Supply of sufficient quantity of water from a pond near the Bhavani river ensures that bananas are planted and their yield obtained throughout the year.  Buyers compete to purchase the 20-kg bumper bananas from him.  The coconuts in the farm yield around 200 nuts a year.

The natural mode of cultivation in the field has been transplanted in their daily lives also.  They eat cooked food one time in a day.  And that too with a good proportion of vegetables.  At other times, fruits from the farm appease the hunger and tender coconuts quench the thirst.  If 7 years ago his children moved in and out of hospitals, now the farm is their hospital.  His eldest son Davu, who used to suffer from acute asthma, is now completely cured of the disease.  Even if the attack comes, a day of fasting would cure it.

Therein lies the symbiosis of land and man.

Courtesy:  M.George (text), S.Sadath (photo), Karshakashree, August 1997

Contributed by: Administrator

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