Alunkal Family Fellowship (AFF)
December 30, 1995 was unique in the history of Alunkal Family. It was on this day that the idea of the Fellowship was seeded by a small group of family members, headed by late Shri A.M.Thomas. A General Body consisting of all the adult members of the family met on February 1996 and elected an Executive Committee under the president ship of Shri Thomas. The meeting was co-chaired by Smt Saramma Kurian and Shri A.V.Thomas. The General Body adopted a special resolution to include married daughters and their families in the Fellowship. The General Body also decided to extend membership to the progeny of the married daughters, who had to come back to the family in difficult circumstances.
Smt Saramma Kurian was elected as the Vice-president and Prof. A.V.Paul as the Secretary with Shri Elias Abraham as Joint Secretary. Dr. A.C.Paul, Shri Avirah Varghese, Shri Roy Varghese, Smt Lovely Paul, Smt. Lilly Varghese, Smt Sanuba Kurian and Shri A.V.Raju were elected as members of the Executive Committee.
Family History
The first task of the Executive Committee was to prepare family history with available information. A Committee headed by Smt Saramma Kurian undertook the work. Other members of this Committee were- Dr. A.C.Paul, Shri Avirah Varghese, Smt Lovely Paul, Smt Lilly Varghese, Shri Elias Abraham and Smt Sanuba Kurian (Convener). The Committee relied heavily on the documented information of Smt Saramma Kurian. It is to her and to the Committee the credits rest for completing the family history in record time and publish the same in 1999. The cover page of the book and the family emblem were designed by Shri Sabu Colonia- a film art maestro.
Family Directory
Smt Lovely Paul and Smt Sanuba Kurian undertook the arduous task of compiling data of all family members. It is due to their enthusiasm and hard work that a Family Directory could be published in 2001.
A tribute to the Founders
AFF pays homage to its departed founding leaders. This space is dedicated to those noble souls who, by virtue of their foresight, commitment and hard work helped to mould AFF into a vibrant and reputed family forum.
a) Shri A.M.Thomas
Shri A.M.Thomas is the eldest son of late Shri Mathai Thomman. He was Union Minister, diplomat and Khadi Commission Chairman. It was his foresight and vision that catalyzed the formation of AFF. He set out the noble ideals, based on humanism, kinship and spirituality, as the hall-marks of the Fellowship. He led AFF as its founder President from the time of its inception till his departure in 2004, a span of 10 rewarding years. AFF pledges itself to his noble ideals and specially commemorate him in the Annual Meetings by organizing “A.M.Thomas Memorial Lecture”, rendered by distinguished guests (see more on Personal Profile).
b) Smt. Saramma Kurian
She is daughter of late Shri Thomman and wife of late Shri Kurian (Kanneth).The personal diaries, meticulously written and preserved by her, were the mainstay of the Family History of AFF. She was personification of love, sacrifice and nobility, which became the hall-marks of the organization. She co-chaired all the meetings and provided guidelines to the Fellowship on all its activities. She was vice-President of AFF since inception till her departure in 2004.
(See more on Personal Profile)
c) Shri A.C.Kunjukunju
He is son of late Shri Cherian. A former employee of Malayala Manorama Shri Kunjukunju passionately voiced and supported AFF in all its objectives and programmes. He was the opinion-maker and a staunch enthusiast who, by virtue of his lively presence and interaction, motivated every one to the noble causes that the Fellowship stood for. This effervescent leader departed in 2003.
(See more on personal profile)
d) Smt. Lovely Paul
She is daughter of Shri K.M.Varghese (Kunnathuparambil) and wife of Dr. A.C.Paul. She was the energetic fountain-head of AFF. She took the lead role in the preparation of Family History and the Family Directory. Her computer literacy was a major boon to the organization in systematic chronicling and up-gradation of family links. Her premature departure in 2001 is a big loss to the organization.
(See more on personal profile)
About our Patron
H.B.Dr. Mathews Mor Evanious
Thirumeni is the son of late Shri A.M.Abraham. He is the first Bishop consecrated in Jacobite Syrian Church from our family. The Fellowship was formed when Thirumeni was a Priest. He took the lead role, along with founders, to translate the dream of our Fellowship into a reality and blessed the organization. His spiritual leadership is the guiding force, which marks AFF with a unique spiritual distinction.
Patron Member
Rev.Dn.Abraham A Alunkal (USA)
He is grandson of the illustrious late Rev. Fr. A.V.Abraham (Alunkal Achan) and son of late Shri Avira. He is the first registered Patron Member of AFF and started the educational endowment of the organization, instituted in the memory of his grand father. Rev. Deacon illuminates the Fellowship members through his spiritual columns in AFF Newsletter. He deeply cares for the Fellowship and serves as a beacon of its traditional faith.