Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church – 7: Fr. Abraham Kaippanplakkal
Fr. Abraham Kaippanplakkal dedicated his life to the protection and care of the destitute, the suffering, and the marginalized. Born on April 16, 1914, in the Kaippanplakkal family in Kozhuvanal, Idappally, he pursued priestly education after completing high school. He joined the Minor Seminary in Aluva and completed his seminary studies at St. Joseph’s Apostolic Seminary in Aluva, being ordained a priest in 1939. His first assignment was as an assistant priest at the Athirampuzha Church.
Fr. Abraham Kaippanplakkal’s aspiration was to become a missionary. He, along with his brother Fr. Philip O.C.D., was drawn to the Benedictine Order based in Belgium. They joined the order and established a mission in Silvagiri, near Selam, in 1945. This marked the beginning of his mission work. Today, the Indianization of the Church is a major topic of discussion and acceptance. However, it was Fr. Abraham and Fr. Philip who first introduced and worked towards this concept.
Wearing traditional Indian attire, they spent seven years in India before returning. Fr. Abraham then began his service in the Palai diocese, with his initial appointment being as the parish priest of the Pizhak Church (Urumbukavu). He renovated the church, built a chapel on a mountain, and involved the entire parish community in the church’s construction.
After Pizhak, Fr. Abraham served at Mallikassery Church and then at the old church in Palai Lalham. In both places, he renovated the churches and significantly increased public participation in communal activities. At Palai Lalham Church, he initiated the daily Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. During his tenure, he introduced revolutionary changes in social service. As the diocesan spiritual advisor of the Vincent de Paul Society, he contributed valuable service in that field.
His service extended beyond these roles. He founded two institutions in Karur for orphaned children: Boys Town and Girls Town, where he provided shelter, education, and training for hundreds of orphans and other helpless individuals, including the disabled and the elderly. After twenty years of parish service, he focused entirely on caring for the destitute. The institutions he established include:
Boys Town (Palai, 1959)
Girls Town (Kozhuvanal, 1963)
Dayabhavan (Palai, 1969)
Snehalayam (Karur, 1969)
Karunalayam (Palai, 1969)
Sneha Giri Congregation (Palai, 1969)
Shanti Nilayam (Enthayar, 1970)
Rakshabhavan (Maniyamkulam, 1971)
Nirmalabhavan (Poovathilappu, 1972)
Ashasadan (Mundankunnu, 1973)
Aashabhavan (Nenmeni, 1975)
Osyanam Bhavan (Palai, 1977)
Daivadasan Center (Kollayad, 1982)
Jubilee Aashabhavan (Malayarrur, 1994)
Cherupushpam Bhavan (Malayarrur, 1996)
Daivadasan Congregation (Malayattur, 1998)
Mariyabhavan (Malayarrur, 1999)
Daivadasan Center (Vadakkancheri, 2000)
Bethania Bhavan (Kollayad, 2001)
Fr. Kaippanplakkal has been the soul and driving force behind all these institutions. Recently, he also established a new institution in the Idukki diocese. He continues to visit these institutions across the country, traveling by bus and train to provide guidance and support.
Renowned personalities, such as Yesudas, have visited these institutions and held free musical events. In recognition of his remarkable service, Fr. Abraham has received numerous awards, including:
Rotary International Award
Kerala Tamil Nadu Lions Club International Award (1993)
Municipal Council Award, Palai (1994)
Social Service Award for Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram
Lourdes Forona (1994)
Humanitarian of the Year Award for India (1994)
Care Share Award, USA (1994)
Best Social Worker of India Award, Indian Merchant Chamber Bombay (1995)
Palai Town Junior Chamber Award (1998)
Amala Award from the Malayalam Association based in Florida, Miami (2004)
Merivijayam Dr. John Chirayath Award (2004)
Fr. Emmanuel Charitable Trust Award (2004)
