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| P.C.Mathew Pulikkoottil, Thrissur |
It was in his seventies that advocate P.C.Mathew Pulikkoottil pursued his passion for research. Without further waste of time, he cleared the entrance exam to be a full-time Ph.D scholar with fellowship in Sanskrit University, Kaladi. Such full time scholars his age are rare indeed – at least in Kerala.
Being interested in the history of the Church in Kerala, Mathew chose to study the ‘padiyolas’. The collective decisions of the Church were earlier recorded in palm leaf manuscripts and copper engravings. These were called ‘padiyolas’.
Mathew’s subject expert was noted historian, M.G.S.Narayanan and his guide, Dr.Scaria Zacharia.
Although he proposed to complete his study by going through 5 ‘padiyolas’, he ended up with 13 of them. Even in Christian Seminaries, such elaborate knowledge of ‘padiyolas’ is doubtful.
Mathew’s enthusiasm may have been slowed down a bit by the fact that the ‘padiyolas’ were written in ancient ‘vattezhuthu’ and ‘kolezhuthu’. Not to be cowed down, he spend considerable time mastering these ancient dialects to do justice to his scholastic pursuit. This sharpening of the tool resulted in the study stretching to 6 years instead of the anticipated 3.
Mathew has to his credit 20 books dealing with history, biography, short story etc. His academic credentials include B.A, B.L, M.S.W, D.S.S and Ph.D.
Has the 76-year-old reached the end of his academic pursuits? The embers of knowledge shine forth in his declaration: “I am joining D.Litt. God willing, I hope to complete it in 3 years”.
Courtesy:
Malayala Manorama, September 16, 2011
Contributed by: Administrator
