Family Story

They say every story has a beginning.

The story of the Ramapuram family had its beginnings in a modest house in a small town, Pala, in the eastern hill tracts of Kottayam, in Kerala state, India. Over the last hundred years, the family earned its reputation and standing in the society, through highly educated, accomplished and eminent personalities of their time.

Into this family was born, the young and impressionable Emmanuel Ramapuram, in the year 1892. Having lived through the epochal transition from one century to another, he was appointed as the Ranger-in-charge of South Canara and Coorg under the Madras Presidency.

He came, he saw, and he was conquered, by the pristine natural beauty and culture of Coorg. He perhaps didn't know it then, but this was the beginning of a story that would span a hundred years, enthralling entire generations and touching lives across the world.

They say true love transcends all barriers. This was put to the test early when Emmanuel's affair with Coorg was rudely interrupted by a deadly bout of Malaria, then a killer disease. He miraculously pulled through after treatment at Father Muller's hospital in Mangalore, and was promptly recalled to his hometown of Pala and forbidden to return to Coorg.

So Emmanuel then settled down to study Law and practice it in Pala. But a life of legal advocacy paled into insignificance beside the summons of the heart, and, in 1926, at the age of 34, he returned to his beloved Coorg.

In those days, for Emmanuel Ramapuram, the journey from his hometown to his adopted land was an adventure by itself. He used to travel from Pala to Kottayam by bullock cart, Kottayam to Cochin by boat, Cochin to Tellicherry by train and from Tellicherry to his plantation in Mattanur by bus. After spending a few days at his Cashew plantation there, he continued his journey to Coorg in a bus to reach Sidapur and walked the last 4 Kms home to Chickanahalli Estate. Like they say, for a true traveler, the journey is itself the destination.

Once in Coorg, Emmanuel's first act to solemnize his union with the land, was to acquire the Chikkanahalli Estate in Sidapur and Kaimakumbatta Estate in Pollibetta from their British owners. He then went on to acquire more properties in Northern Kerala and Coorg including a cardamom plantation called Somangad Estate. Emmanuel Ramapuram and his partners were the first people from Kerala to acquire property in Coorg.

When Emmanuel Ramapuram succumbed to cancer in 1949, the sprawling plantations in Coorg were not all that he left behind. His happy marriage to Mrs. Accamma Ramapuram, an art teacher, bore fruition in 3 fine sons and 4 daughters who carried forward the proud name of the Ramapuram family, establishing it as a business group that always put ethics above profit.

Emmanuel Ramapuram purchased Chikkanahalli Estate in Sidapur and Kaimakumbatta Estate in Pollibetta from Mr. Percy Tipping, Managing Director, Consolidated Coffee Estates Ltd, incorporated in Great Britain and having its registered office at 71, George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland. He then went on to acquire more properties in Northern Kerala and Coorg including a cardamom plantation called Somangad Estate.

While the father gave up a career in Law to become a planter, the son gave up his studies to further the family vision. Following Emmanuel Ramapuram's untimely demise, Thomas, the eldest son had to discontinue his final year of graduation in Agricultural Sciences and take over the reigns of the family business at the tender age of 19.

At the age of 25 he bought Sampigacolly Estate in Sidapur and became the largest private holder in Coorg, owning around 1500 acres of prime plantations.

He and his brothers went on to expand the holdings till 1961, when the properties totalling about 1800 acres of prime plantations were divided among the three.

Thomas Ramapuram and his 7 sons went on to acquire and develop another 1000 acres land in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka (currently Udupi district) and started agro based Industries in Kerala and Karnataka.

Over the last hundred years, the family earned its reputation and standing in the society through highly educated and accomplished people, which included eminent personalities such as

First Speaker of the Kerala State Assembly
A Director of Medical Health of Southern India
A Chief of Medical Division of the Indian Army
A Vice Chancellor of The Mahatma Gandhi University
One of the earliest lawyers in Southern India
One of the earliest accomplished professional planters of their time

Ramapuram Sons

More than assets, what Thomas Ramapuram left behind for his children was a set of values based on righteousness and dignity of labour.

The legacy of Thomas E. Ramapuram has been taken forward by his seven sons. By making ethical choices based on a strong spiritual foundation, the group has grown steadily to establish itself as a name to reckon with in plantations and has further diversified into the leisure and hospitality sector with Orange County Resorts.

The Ramapuram Group today consists of :

Emmanuel T.Ramapuram
Cherian T. Ramapuram
Abe T. Ramapuram
Dr. John T. Ramapuram
Thomas T. Ramapuram
Jose T. Ramapuram
George T. Ramapuram

Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | | Lifescapes