The route may be tortuous
September 24, 2026
St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara introduced the “Pallikoodam” movement, providing free education for all at schools attached to every parish church in Kerala. The legacy continues with over 1200 educational institutions imparting knowledge to over 4 Lakh students the world over. In this regard, CMI institutions stand tall in the field of education.
Children from backward sections of the community are encouraged to study along with children from upper-class families. The study of theology receives due prominence in the curriculum. The institution also promotes in-depth study of Sanskrit, Sacred Texts and Religious Traditions. The education received, especially for the underprivileged, has improved the employability of women through Vocational and Technical training. Vocational training is also provided for persons with physical and mental disabilities.
Kerala not only has the highest literacy rate in India - almost 100% - but also scores high on the Human Development Index. The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistical composite index of life expectancy, education (mean years of schooling completed and expected years of schooling upon entering the education system), and per capita income indicators, which is used to rank countries into four tiers of human development. A territory scores a higher level of HDI when the lifespan is higher, the education level is higher, and the gross national income GNI (PPP) per capita is higher.
According to Global Data Labs, in 2023, Kerala ranked second to Goa at 0.804, followed by Chandigarh and Puducherry, and, surprisingly, New Delhi at 0.779. The comparable country for Goa is Mauritius, and for Kerala is Bosnia and Herzegovina (where Medjugorje, a popular shrine of Mother Mary, like Velankanni in Tamil Nadu and Lourdes in France, is located).
A close relative of ours, in fact, quite a few, have studied in the “Pallikoodam” and later joined seminaries. Some dropped out midway and have gone on to pursue secular careers, taking with them the discipline learnt in the Seminary, including time for prayer and meditation, and have risen to high ranks in their field of study, employment, and business. Some had the call and became priests and religious and lived a sacramental life ever after.
Who decided for them? In the case of the priests and religious, God, through counselling, direction, and selection by the Rector of the Seminary, after nearly 14 years of study. Years of education that tally with acquiring a doctorate in the secular world after secondary education. The priests are equipped with deep knowledge of philosophy, theology, and the human condition. “He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach, / and to have authority to drive out demons.” (Mk 3:14-15)
Some ordained priests and religious are trained as doctors, nurses, educators, lawyers, and social welfare professionals.
One of my relatives’ careers was shepherded by role models. No, he did not go to a seminary.
His father was a District Medical Officer in Madras (now Chennai), highly respected in the community. As the youngest of siblings, my relative wanted to be one. Did he become one? No. What happened? He did not get into the Medical College his father was teaching at for domicile reasons. He was from Kerala.
He could not join Trivandrum Medical College in Kerala because his admission letter surfaced three months after the admission date had passed, bundled with unopened direct mailers that his father received in abundance from pharmaceutical companies.
And why did he not follow up? Because his heart was set on joining Calicut Medical College. He only checked that list (not Trivandrum Medical College) and did not find his name there, so he gave up on pursuing medical education.
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Mt 6:21) Beware the treasure you are seeking, for that may not be where your future lies.
With medical education mothballed, this relative of 22 years was taken up by the salutes a dapper young man received as an IPS Officer from other men in uniform. My relative was invited to the commissioner’s office for lunch. The commissioner was a family friend of the DMO dad. The commissioner advised him to pursue Economics Honours and Political Science, to write the Civil Services exam and join the public commission services as an IAS or IPS Officer.
That’s what he did with a class of 19, 14 of whom cracked the Civil Services exam and went on to become top officials in the government, including one who became the Chief Secretary of Karnataka and another Revenue Secretary.
My relative did not appear for the exam. He was lured by another treasure: foreign currency offered by the Reserve Bank of India for overseas studies. Off he went to the US, the University of Detroit, and completed his MBA, all set to join one of the Big Three Car companies there, including General Motors.
He could not work in the US. His father, the DMO, summoned him back to India. His father was alarmed and appalled by the morality of the US in the 60s and feared losing his son’s soul to such decadence. “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mk 8:36)
This is the same son who asked his father to keep the shares of a dividend-paying company for his retirement expenses, covered in an earlier post titled, ‘Teaching Prudence to Children Eyeing an Inheritance’. Money was never this young man’s priority. Obedience to the father was. His daughter today lives out his dream. She is an accomplished doctor, married to a doctor, and her two children are doctors. One man’s lost dream quadrupled through obedience to the father.
- Mathew Anthony
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