Late Sri. P C. George (respectfully referred as George Sir) who founded the Mandirams, was very much concerned about the well-being of the people around. He used to visit the neighbouring places of Manganam at regular intervals for leading Bible study groups and collecting donations for the running of the Mandirams. He had visited hundreds of houses in and around Manganam time and again. So, he had a very clear idea of houses where family members were upset and longing for peace and harmony at their homes. He observed that the root cause for all such incidents was nothing but the addiction of male members of such families to toddy. He was aware of the suffering of many youths due to the constant consumption of toddy. George Sir realized that, in and around Manganam, this bad habit was spreading like cancer metastasize within the body. As a result of this social evil, many families had turned out to be a real hell. This gave much pain to George Sir who started thinking how such addicts can be taught about the ill effects of toddy and thus save the families in distress. “Temperance Movement” was the result of his thoughts and prayers in this direction for about 2 years.
Few painful incidents in the locality prompted him to initiate such a movement. Christmas and Easter used to be occasions for major celebrations in those days. Many used to celebrate such occasions by consuming toddy till they got intoxicated. This led to unrest and disturbances in their families as well as to the public. George Sir was disturbed witnessing such incidents; which were on the rise. He met many people who wasted their hard earnings of a full day’s hard work at toddy shops. Such people practically had no money left with them to take care of their families. Ladies and kids in such families had to literally starve most days. To make it worse, these addicts used foul words and even physically harassed the innocent and helpless family members. Many had the habit of destroying what little utensils and vessels such families had once they got intoxicated. All these prompted George Sir to initiate the Temperance Movement.
George Sir started preparing grounds for this initiative. He arranged posters depicting the ill effects of drinking and prepared charts showing relevant statistics. He organised small exhibitions of these posters and charts in connection with festivals at the local churches like Puthuppally, Kollad, Manarkad etc. He trained youths of the respective localities to be volunteers of the Movement. He taught them the ill effects of drinking and wanted to use them for the Movement in their respective localities. He shared books on the subjects and equipped them to be active participants of this Movement.
George Sir convened a meeting of such volunteers from different denominations and areas in April 1951; to discuss the necessity to initiate and strengthen the Temperance Movement. About 60 youths attended the first meeting of its kind. There were serious discussions on future course of action. George Sir made a speech which deeply influenced all those who attended. Sri. P.C. George and Sri. C. I. Mathen were selected as the secretaries of the Movement and entrusted with the responsibility to strengthen the Movement at Puthuppally, Meenadam, Manarcadu etc. where the number of addicts were constantly on the rise and consequent increase in disturbances and conflicts gave rise to uncontrollable law and order situations. It was decided that a public meeting should be arranged in connection with the festival of Puthuppally Church, where the addicts used to make serious issues every year.
Accordingly, a massive rally and a public meeting of the Movement was organised on 6th May 1951. The public meeting was inaugurated by His Grace Mathews Mar Ivanios Metropolitan. Rev. Fr. Kuriakose Parackal led the rally. An exhibition of the posters and charts on the subject too was arranged. All these turned out to be a grand success and many youths decided and pledged to stop drinking toddy for good. This marked the formal launch of the “Temperance Movement”. The Puthuppally Church festival went peacefully that year without any un-toward incidents which was observed as the positive result of the efforts made by the leaders and volunteers of the Temperance Movement.
The Temperance Movement could save many lives from addiction. The Movement is active in some parts of the state even now. The establishment of de-addiction centres like “TRADA” and “Mochana” at Manganam may have been due to the influence the Temperance Movement had on the society and religious denominations. However, functioning of the Movement under the auspices of Mandirams lost its momentum in due course. The Governing Board of the Mandirams Society decided that the Temperance Movement initiated by P. C. George Sir – the founder of Mandirams – should be re-activated. Accordingly, a Temperance Movement Committee was constituted in 2017 with members of the Society and those who are interested in the activities as members of the committee. Meeting of the members of ‘AA’ is regularly held at Mandirams on all Saturdays. A full day meeting of the AA members and their families is organised on Christmas day since 2017. Financial aid is given for treatment of needy persons who are addicted to toddy/drugs. Prof. C. Mamachen, who is deeply committed to the mission of saving people from addiction is the main source of strength of the Temperance Movement, ably supported by his family as a whole. Mandirams Society and the office bearers of the Society fully supports the activities of the Temperance.
Abraham Cherian
Convener,
Temperance Movement
Author is the nephew of Mandirams’ founders P. C. George Sir and Leyamma and Secretary of Advisory Committee, Mundakapadam Mandirams Society.
AA Meeting 
AA Meeting