Aluva is a town on the banks of river Periyar and is at the present time the Industrial centre of Kerala. It was a quiet beautiful place used as a health resort in the early decades of the last century. The stimulating waters of the Periyar and the clean sands of the river banks were enjoyable. Rivers in India assume an aura of holiness. Periyar which literally means big river is no exception. It originates in the imposing Kannan Devan hills and flows into the Arabian sea. A few miles up the river from Aluva is the village of Kaladi where the Sri Adi Sanakaracharya was born. Still further up the river is Malyatoor on whose hills St.Thomas meditated in the first century A.D. and is now an inter- religious pilgrim centre. At the confluence of the river Periyar with the sea is Kodung- alloor, age-old sea-port of Muziris, where St.Thomas landed in 52 A.D. Aluva is a religious centre, the venue of Mahasivaratri celebrations. the location of Ashrama of Sri Narayana Guru and Christian instiutions like Little Flower Seminary and a Franciscan monastery.

So Aluva is a worthy place where the vision of a Christian saint could take shape. The saint is Professor K.C. Chacko, known popularly as Chakosar. He was a simple layman with no ambitions to be a member of any religious order. He was born in 1884, a younger son of Cherian Mappillai of Kandathil, Niranam, Tiruvalla. The family was well-to-do and he had illustrious elder brothers like K.C.Mammen Mappillai, editor and owner of Malayala Manorama, banker and industrialist. K.C. Chacko virtually detached himself from the family's business interests. He took a Master's degree in philosophy with distinction from the Madras Christian College. His colleagues at college included Dr.John Mathai, first Finance Minister of India and Prof.S. Radhakrishnan, philosopher and President of India who kept their friendship all his life. Chacko decided to take up teaching in his Alma Mater and devoted himself for the service of his students going round Madras city on his bicycle to enquire about the welfare of the student community. His interest in humanitarian service brought into existence the Madras Christian College Brotherhood, an active organisation for many years.

He formed a circle of friends and called it the prayer group which was imbued with a spirit of action as he believed that the Kingdom of God as a power house for service in perfect love. Chacko did not write any books but he expressed his views mainly in the readings he chose for use in small groups and the 'prayer helps' he prepared and revised from to time for distribution among his associates. He had a serious attack of tuberculosis in 1911 and he was admitted to the sanatorium in Madanapalli where he had a long convalescence. He left the sanatorium with an impaired lung and rejoined work in College. He could not resume his energetic flying about on a bicyle to visit needy students but his coimpassion was unrestricted as he prayed alone and in groups for those in need and could not visit him.

His physical weakness did not very much limit his work and the group he gathered was inspired to a vision of church unity in Kerala in the form of a residential college with the co-operation of the Syrian Orthodox Church, the Mar Thoma Syrian Church and the Church of South India, three episcopal churches. The group called it the Union Christian College and chose the hallowed Aluva as the venue. The group had no money but their determination that they are creating a union of the churches in Kerala and their faith in God attracted some friends and limited resources. So on 8th June 1921, the Union Christian College, Aluva, was opened in rented buildings and the group then called themselves Union Christian College Fellowship.

Chacko prayed to God to give him and the Fellowship "the grace to persevere" and placed the implementation of their vision in God's hands as they were building a college with no resources. However year after year the College continued to grow and Chacko's answer to his supporters and friends was "all the infinite resources of God are available to those who only seek to do His will". He was never ashamed to seek financial help for the worthy cause as he made it everybody's concern. Another of his reassuring statements to the Fellowship and friends was "having God on our side is like having any of a number of zeros. A large number of us are like zeros which have no value but when at the head of us God puts a digit like 1 how valuable we become." He further believed that as the College was open to the total will of God, no power on earth can shake it. This faith helped the college to overcome one crisis after another. He used to say "If the college is fulfilling God's plan for it, nothing can destory it. If it is not fulfilling God's purpose, let it go to pieces tomorrow; it is not worthwhile to keep it. Our concern should only be whether we are doing our best to see and do what God wants to be done. His is the burden and we can rest on Him."

Chacko envisaged the Fellowship and the College as instruments to create the unity of the Christian Church. He wanted the Churches to work together and he did not create any theory of undenominationalism. He was deeply loyal to the Syrian Orthodox Church to which he belonged. He encouraged others to be loyal to their own churches so that the message of Jesus Chrisrt can be presented to people as one without conflict among the Churches. In furtherance of this concept he supported the Fellowship to cast the net wider in having the Aluva Settlement and Christava Mahilayam Girl's School which has been doing enormouse service for Girl's education in Kerala.

Even in the early days of the College he had visiting lecturers from England. One of the very famous was Malcolm Muggeride, later editor of Calcutta Statesman and popular BBC broadcaster. Comparing to his life in Calcutta he had said "Give me any day the lovely College and the beloved Periyar river". Such was the attraction of the institution under the guidance of Chacko, who, though well qualified, refused to become the Principal but stayed on the teaching staff for over 20 years and thereafter continued to stay in a house in the campus available for consultation.

Chacko was a celibate and was happy with his single blessedness but he repudiated asceticism and a life as a recluse which he considered as "cutting off" from people. He believed in being in the community, preserve friendship in fullness of joy and purity of love for all. Thus he was able to understand the problems of folks and offer spiritual help and guidance.

He relied on the words in St.John's Gospel "If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will and it shall be done unto you". He insisted that our prayers should be totally free of our inherent self-centredness and then we are sure to receieve the answer for our absolutely unselfish prayers. Again he believed "if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask it shall be done for them of my father which is in heaven and "where two or three are gathered together in my name there I am in the midst of them". He placed his faith in group prayer and action and thus he inspired the Fellowship.

By his life he expressed the need for real humility and self-effacement. Meek and gentle like his Master, Chacko never sought prestige and honour within the Fellowship or outside. His meekness was not sign of weakness but tamed strength. Under his gentility there was a determined will. After consulting with his colleagues he made decisions which were carried out with firmness and competence. "Fullness of life" was the title of a course which he used to take for students in the college. He helped and guided any and every student and he had all the time to meet them and listen to them. Possessiveness and favouritism were absent in his nature. His care for students of other faiths was on an equal basis.

Chacko was in the habit of waking up early, reading thought-provoking messages from a religious book, noting down topics for prayers, share his thoughts if a friend is staying with him, take a long quiet time meditating and listening to the" inner voice" and not to finish the quiet time of prayer until his heart felt completely restful in God and gave thanks for the gifts from God of "sufficient love, light and resources for the day". In the evenings he took another long quiet time reviewing the work of the day in the light of the Holy Spirit. He thus lived "in the shadow of the Most High"

He made a last strenous effort at the unity of the three Churches but his efforts faced a new obstacle, the two warring sections of the Syrian Orthodox Church. He used all his persuasive ability to create a reconciliation. The mental and physical strain affected his health and he suddenly felt unwell. After a brief illness he passed away on 15th September 1947 at the age of 63.

Prof. Aravamuda Ayyangar, professor of English, said of Chacko that young men were drawn to him as to a sage and prophet and drew from him the inspiration to earnest and unselfish living. Chacko with a winning smile was intensely human and lovable, ever tolerant of the frailties and infirmities of others and singularly gracious and affectionate to all who came in contact with him. Sir Raghavendra Rao who was Chacko's colleague in Madras Christian College had observed that though he had come into contact with hosts of men in Europe and Asia, he had not seen a more earnest soul than Mr.Chacko. He was thus truly a Mahatma.