Puthenthope means virgin land. For many centuries a very patriotic, educated, and civilized community lives there. Here, the Dutch who wanted to fight the British, built two man-made hills to watch the British stationed at nearby Anjengo. Records proved that our ancestors belong to Ettu Veettil Pillmar who rebelled against the Travancore (Tiruvitāṁkūr) king, Marthanda Varma. After the fight, many of them ran away from Kayamkulam and hid at Kazhakottom. The king traced them out, murdered all the men, burned down the temple, and tortured women and children. Finally, he ordered the surviving women to live in 'Puthuvel' near the coast and were compelled to marry local men. They became isolated and still follow the matriarchal tradition of their ancestors.

A few centuries ago, they converted to Christianity. Later, they migrated to Malay. Their next destinations were Australia, Canada, the Middle East, the UK, and the U.S. [Send us your videos and share].

Dr. Leo Rajan Pereira (New York)