A Family That Refused to Be Forgotten
- domarcus2
- Apr 14
- 2 min read
What would it look like for a family to remember its story for over 600 years?
I often hear family history stories and meet people who care deeply about their ancestors. At RootsTech, I met a member of the extended Karippaparambil family from Kerala, India.
The earliest ancestor they have found is Valiaveetil Thommi. He settled in the Kanjirappally area in the 14th century. Since then, the family has kept a strong sense of identity. They have carefully tracked their descendants and built an organized family group.
An example of their family tree.
They also maintain a website and a very active family organization. Today, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Devasia Thomman live across Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and other major cities in India. Many family members also live abroad, including in the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe, and the Gulf countries.
The family includes people from many walks of life—rich and poor, farmers and professionals, doctors, engineers, lawyers, professors, priests, nuns, and politicians from different parties. In fact, nine members of the family have served as MLAs in India..
Each year, the family gathers for a reunion. These meetings bring together both young and old and help strengthen the bonds between family members.
Karippaparambil House in Kerala
If you would like to know more check out their website.
I especially love this when I remember that most of us will not be remembered—or have anything we touched last—after 100 years. But in this family, it is different. Their ancestors are still remembered, spoken about, and honored. Their lives continue to matter, even centuries later.
Most of us may not have large family organizations like this, but we can still begin remembering today. Take time to think about your parents and grandparents, and write down your own story—your life, your culture, your traditions, and your faith. Then place it somewhere it will last. One of the major genealogy websites is a safe and reliable option. If you are worried about privacy, they offer settings to keep living people private, and some even allow you to make your entire family tree private. What you record today can be remembered for generations to come.
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