SOCIETY

A couple married for nine decades

     Kottayam (Kerala): Centurion Philipose Thomas and his wife of 87 years Sosamma of Kerala have created a world record by staying married for nearly nine decades. Living together for over 87 years, they have an extremely complex family tree - seven children, 15 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Phillipose Thomas and Sosamma often mix up their children's names, and in the family all agree - what is there in a name. Prodded by their grandchildren, the couple is pitching in to apply to the Guinness record book . They are in the process of getting a marriage certificate from the local church in Kottayam district of Kerala, showing their nuptial date as February 17, 1918. If their marriage is authenticated, Phillipose and Sosamma will break the current record, held by a British couple, by seven years. Centurion Phillipose Thomas has lost no interest for the good things of life. He loves spicy fish, steaming hot tea, daily newspapers and radio , and awaits eagerly eyes his great grandchildren's return from school. He also has arguments with wife Sosamma, but says the mantra for success is -- stick together and keep quarrels to the bare minimum. "We have been able to live together in peace and tried to carry our family life as smoothly as we could," Philipose said.

     He was 13 years old when he got married , and his wife was junior by a year at school . The initial years were anything but easy. They went to school together, played in the evenings, and forcibly stopped from beating each other during a playtime row. They were often scolded and made sit together for religious ceremonies. Sosamma moved to her in-laws house fifteen years after marriage. The chemistry between the couple improved, after the arrival of their first child, a daughter. What followed might not be absolute conjugal bliss but the duo came closer , say their family members. The "Appa" (as the great grand dad is lovingly called) is interestingly more talkative than his wife and is almost never short of marital counselling. "Father tells that you have to have patience to stay with your wife. Don't react immediately, if she says something you do not agree with, but do not ignore her , listen to what she's telling and try to understand her and do what you think is required . Just don't reject the wife's words simply," is his advice says Rajamma Thomas, one of his many daughters-in-law. Statistics show that amongst all the States, Kerala has the largest proportion of elderly population and the growth rate among the aged is increasing at an alarming rate. By 2026, Kerala will have 6.3 million people in the age group of 60-74 and 2 million people aged 75 and above. If Philliopose and Sosamma become role models, Kerala will be a happy place for elders.
-July 10, 2005

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