Health and longevity, the Estephanos way: Much to learn from this 111-year-old Ernakulam native

KOCHI: Estephanos is all set to celebrate his 111th birthday on Saturday. Born on the 20th of Midhunam of Kolla Varsham 1091 into a farming family in Vettampara, AA Estephanos, of Vettampara, Kothamangalam, has one wish left— to enter the fields and do agricultural work again, and clean the surroundings. The hard labour gives him happiness, also the secret to his health and longevity.

He slipped and fell inside the house two years ago and has endured some difficulty walking since. Unlike the people of today, Estephanos remains a stranger to diabetes, cholesterol, or blood pressure. In his life, Estephanos has never tasted a medicine.

Estephanos has 10 children, 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He now lives with his youngest son, Thankachan, in Mekkadambu in Muvattupuzha. Thankachan is into pineapple farming. Estephanos would supervise the work even today. Until the day before his fall inside the house, it was Estephanos who used to clean the 3,300-square-foot courtyard.

Until recently, breakfast was dry tapioca and black tea. The current menu includes two boiled bananas. Lunch and dinner are regular meals.

Estephanos studied up to the fourth grade. From a young age, he did all kinds of work, including harnessing bullocks for paddy cultivation and tapping rubber. He married twice and is the father of 10 children. After the death of his first wife, Elamma, he married Mariamma. Mariamma also passed away in 2013. The eldest of the surviving children, Abraham, is 82 years old. The youngest son, Thankachan, is 58.

During his halcyon days, Estephanos worked in the fields from four in the morning until late at night. He engaged in arduous physical labour, including breaking stones with a hammer. Family members credit his hard physical labour and connection with nature for protecting him from lifestyle diseases.