PAYAPPILLY-PALAKKAPPILLY JOHNY Sep. 19, 2026

JOHNICHETTAN

From managing the pachamarunnu store—where demand for items like chooral and iratti madhuram, and Thirunilathu George Vaidyar’s kurippadi always found a ready response—to expanding it with household goods of all sorts, initiating Snow White, and starting a single taxi service that grew into a vast fleet over two decades...Greenland Travels.

He established one of the city's well-recognized travel agencies and brought a hotel, Green Dreams, to the Thevara–Perumanur area for the very first time. Along the way, he acquired valuable land assets—some of which may have originally belonged to the Palakkappilly family—all while going about his work without making much noise.

That was Johnichettan! 

(Was there a common "green" thread through all of these ventures? I am not entirely sure. But it was indeed good business. When I was in Kalamassery, we had discussions about green tourism about which I was and still passionate, though we couldn't take those plans any further after that.)

To my mind, for us Payappilly–Palakkappillies—who trace our forefathers to those who came from Paravur as coconut traders, and who even today have a few members engaged in business—he is the doyen.  The great contribution is that the business has provided livelihoods to many!

As youngsters, we witnessed Rosichechi walking into the family, and later, her passing.  I thought they jelled wonderfully as a couple. Compared to Lonankutty Vallyappan—who, despite his apparent asthmatic troubles, rode his bicycle well past his 80s and lived to nearly 95—Johnichettan’s passing at 74, and Rosichechi’s even earlier, feels far too premature.

In his initial days of rise in the business field, the image that comes to my mind is that of Johnichettan being in front of the store, watching and observing people who pass by. So everyone who passes by the Chakola junction is registered with him. 

As a young priest, I remember him looking concerned when I came riding in on a bicycle and swerved sharply onto our Chakalackal Road, nearly taking a fall. Later, when we met, he gently admonished me to be more careful on my bike. I am sorry that I cannot find the picture I had taken with him on my last visit, when I heard that he was not keeping all that well. 

Heartfelt condolences to Bejoy, Jithu, and Suja Mariam, who came to support him in the final phase of his life. Condolences also to Mercy chechi, Lilly chechi, Joji chettan, Tresa chechi, and Daisy.

May Johnichettan rest in peace, and may his memory live on through the good deeds of his family and future generations.