KOCHI: Time casts a spell of change over everything. Dig beneath the spell and you find that some things remain the same. Like true devotion and enthusiasm. For 86-year-old Joseph Kaaticaren, much of the world as he remembers from the time he was a 10-year-old, has changed. What was a forested area with barely two to three families living in their ancestral homes, metamorphosed into Kochi metropolis- a fast moving, real-estate hub.
Through it all, Joseph Kaaticaren managed to keep pace by holding firmly onto his beliefs. Every Christmas, the strength of this truth shines on, from the Kaaticaren house, in the form of a constant presence in the family’s life.In 1941, people were not into recreating the nativity scene at their homes during Christmas. They would see and relive the images at churches. However, 10-year-old Joseph had the urge to bring the scene to his own home. He would arrange the scene with great creativity and using cutouts of pictures. It was only five years later, in 1946, that he bought figurines of the Baby Jesus, Mother Mary and Joseph - at Rs 5.25 - the figures that would remain constant over the years and be present at all the nativity scenes at the Kaaticaren home since then.
This is the 70th year that the same figures will make an appearance at their home, without fail.
The 15-year-old is now a grandfather, and all the members of his family help him with decorating the scene. Just like in Joseph’s life, the scene too has welcomed more members in their family. The figurines of the three that make up the original scene, however, are unchangeable. From their eyes, as through the eyes of the gentle patriarch, Joseph Kaaticaren, everything looks different. What earlier used to be set out in the gardens of a sprawling traditional Syrian Catholic traditional home, now gets set inside an apartment in a 13-storied residential complex that has come up in its place. Having worked as a lecturer at St Albert’s College, as an employee with the Bank of Cochin which later amalgamated with the State Bank of India, and spent 18 years of service with Kuries and Trades Ltd, Joseph Kaaticaren, now spends his time at home, with his wife. Most of his family lives in the flat too, so through thick and thin, the family has managed to remain unchanged too as far as values close to their heart go.
The elaborate nature of decorating the nativity scene, however, has come down. These are times when you can buy a theme-based crib on the eve of Christmas, and put it up without moving a finger to set up the scene. But Joseph Kaaticaren insists on doing all he can. It is true that the days are gone when the children or himself would collect grass, branches and other knick-knacks needed for the scene, days in advance.
For a few years now, the family has kept it toned down. However, all is done by hand and hearts in good faith - something that shows us, that the more things become complicated, the simple becomes more valuable.