Lt. Rev. Fr. Paul Puvathingal
Founder
Where a man yearns for salvation, his heavenly soldier’s words always give solace and strength.
Our Founder
The late Rev. Fr. Paul Puvathingal was the founder and director of Poly Garden. This soldier, like Man, was born into a Puvathingal family on the 16th of December 1930. On completion of his priestly formation, he was ordained as a priest on March 13th, 1960 and served the diocese in different fields. His firm decision to care for the uncared for, the unloved, and support the downtrodden gave birth to a new idea in his mind. This soon flowered as the “Poly Garden.”
The Aim of Our Founder
The Rev. Fr. Paul Puvathingal had big plans to build a township for disabled people where they could live independently and move around freely. Poly Garden is the first step toward his dream. The very word “Polygarden” means “variety of flowers”, and he was inspired by the Malayalam poem “Mukuttipoovu” (a kind of small yellow flower) written by Mr.K.T. Ravunny Menon. He considered nature as a garden, and in that garden, every flower was important. Its need for the fulfilment of the word “garden” was crucial irrespective of its colour, size, or fragrance. In the same way, every human being is important despite their colour, caste, creed, or disability. A disabled person also has the right to an equal position in society.
According to him, we have a responsibility to provide opportunities for the disabled to spread their fragrance in society. Undoubtedly, we can say that our founder was well aware of the dignity and rights of the disabled. He always treated the inmates with great love and care and considered them his equals. After rendering a tireless and selfless service, he rested in heavenly peace on the 13th of August 2005. Even as he sleeps in the tomb, his likely presence is felt in the Poly Garden every moment.