Kannur: In recognition of a lifetime of extraordinary commitment to the Church, the community, and the struggles of migrant farmers, the Mar Sebastian Valloppilly Award has been conferred on John Kachiramattam a veteran Catholic leader, social activist, and prolific historian. The award, instituted by the Mar Sebastian Valloppilly Foundation, stands as a tribute to those who embody the spirit of sacrificial service exemplified by the late Bishop of Thalassery, Mar Sebastian Valloppilly.
The award will be officially presented on July 10 at 3:00 PM, in a grand public function at Kachiramattom Bhavan, Pizhikal. Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplani of Thalassery will hand over the honor, while Pala Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt will preside over the ceremony. The event is expected to witness a distinguished gathering including Rev. Dr. George Kudilil, Chief Editor of Deepika; former Vice-Chancellor Dr. Cyriac Thomas; Rajeev Kochuparambil, Global President of the Catholic Congress; Foundation Chairman Mathew M. Kandathil; and other noted figures like Sunny Ashariparambil and D.P. Jose, who will address the gathering.
John Kachiramattam, now in his late eighties, has spent over seven decade since the age of 13 in tireless service to the Church and to the wider society. A towering figure among the Catholic laity in Kerala, he has held leadership roles in the Catholic Congress, Catholic Federation, and the All India Catholic Union. He is also a renowned historian and the author of 78 books, chronicling the lives, struggles, and contributions of Christian communities across the state.
His activism is deeply rooted in the soil of Malabar, where he stood as a fierce advocate for migrant farmers often the voiceless and displaced especially during the critical decades of post-independence migration from Travancore. As a relative of a farming family, Kachiramattam’s leadership wasn’t confined to conference halls; he took to the streets, led hunger strikes, and stood at the forefront of movements against land evictions, violence, and the marginalization of settlers in northern Kerala.
The Mar Sebastian Valloppilly Foundation, in announcing the award, noted that Kachiramattam’s life mirrors the pioneering mission of Mar Sebastian Valloppilly, the first Bishop of Thalassery, who along with priests and lay leaders from Pala Diocese and Travancore, served the spiritual and social needs of migrant Catholics in the untamed terrains of Malabar.
“The award is not just in recognition of one man’s contributions, but in remembrance of an entire generation who labored for faith, justice, and community-building in Malabar,” the Foundation said in a statement.
As Kerala’s ecclesiastical and social leaders gather in Pizhikal to honour John Kachiramattam, the moment becomes more than a felicitation it becomes a celebration of memory, mission, and the enduring power of faith-led service.