Malappuram: A 72-year-old Malaysian woman is preparing a ‘surprise’ for her 78-year-old husband. She is secretly trying to trace his family roots and find relatives living in Kerala.
Kalyani, who lives at Selangor City near Kuala Lumpur, decided to surprise her husband K Raman. Both of them were born and raised in Malaysia by Keralite parents. Kalyani is still in touch with her relatives living in Kannur. However, her husband who retired from government service has no knowledge about his family lineage. Kalyani also said that Raman often shared his sorrow of not having any relatives of his own. That is what prompted her to trace his family. However, Kalyani knew that this was not going to be an easy task.
Raman’s father Kunhikannan reached Malaysia 120 years back. There is a story behind this journey. Kunhikannan fell in love with a woman belonging to an upper class family. His mother handed over him some money and asked him to flee over the fear that the woman’s family might try to harm him. That is how, Kunhikannan left the country in 1903, when he was just 18 years of age. Later, he married a woman of Keralite origin. Raman was their only son.
Kalyani remembers that Shornur region was mentioned in one of the letters that was sent to Kunhikannan from Kerala. As per records, he was born in 1888. However, his place of birth is not known. Kalyani ssaid that he learned Ayurveda treatment from Kottakkal and astrology. Even in Malaysia, he served as a physician. He came to Kerala when his father passed away. However, that was the last time he came to Kerala. He told Kalyani that he has a sister by the name Dr. Savithri living in Madras. Kunhikannan passed away in 1973 when he was 85.
The unexpected turn of events happened after Kalyani joined Dr. Pramod Irumbuzhi’s sign language class on WhatsApp. She started tracing Raman's lineage after consulting her 5 children and without the knowledge of her husband. Dr. Pramod Irubuzhi has promised Kalyani that he will arrange for the get together of the family members if they are identified. Those with information regarding this can contact at the number 9846308995.
