In the history of Thriuvithangore, there was high regard for the local chieftains called Ettuveetil Pillamar. They were eight Noble Brahmin families in Venad who were honoured with the Noble title of “Pillai”. They were one of the eight such powerful clans called ettu-veettil pillamar, who played decisive roles in the administrative and economic matters of Travancore region, till the period of Maharaja Marthanda Varma. These feudal lords were also called madambis.

Besides Kulathoor Pillais, the others who belonged to the `the powerful eight' were Chempazhanthy, Venganoor, Kazhakoottam Pillais, as well as Pallichal, Kudamon, Marthandam and Ramanamadom Pillais. What made the Ettuveetil pillamar so politically influential was that they owned immense areas of land over which the Government had no authority and hence grew to become a very wealthy and powerful group.

They were loyal to the Thiruvithangore Samasthanam Kerala Marthanda varma King. Later these governors of the samasthanam planned to revolt against their rulers the King Marthanda varma secretly .Meanwhile the King knew about the revolt being planned & planning a counter attack. Knowing this Ettu veetu pillais ran away from Trivandrum – (Thiruvithangore saamsthanam) to Srivaikundam and Tirunelveli.

Our roots:-

Those Pillais who escaped from Thiruvithangore, got disseminated and took refuge in different areas of Tamilnadu.  To escape from dangerous animals, these people built an elevated house on the branches of trees in the woods. Since these houses stood on the legs of trees, they were called by the name “Marakkalssery”, which means a house with legs of trees.  They multiplied and spread adapting the local culture around there.  Some of their descendants became good scholars and artists.  With trade & other business activities, they earned a lot of wealth,   large areas of land.  Due to these large areas of land possessed by them, they were also referred to as “Veliyil”.  Later “Marakkalssery” was changed to the form of “Manakkalssery tharavadu”.  Our ancestors in hierarchical order were, Chandy, M.C. Varghese, M.V. Pappy and M. P. Varghese. Mr. M.P.Varghese who was our grand father had seven children & Mr.  M.V. Xavier (our father) was the second youngest son who took over the Manakkalssery tharavadu. He married Rosamma, our mother and she hails from Vayalinkal family of Changanassery.  Rosamma is the second daughter of Mr. Kurian and Mariamma who had eight children as 6 daughters and 2 sons. She was an angel to our father throughout in his life. Mr. M.V. Xavier was blessed with 10 children- 5 daughters and 5 sons. The youngest son Mr. Martin Xavier is bestowed the responsibility of the family home -Manakkalssery tharavadu by his father.