Chempil Arayan
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Chempil Anantha Padmanabhan Valiya Arayan Kankumaran, known as Chempil Arayan [The Arayan of Chempu], was the Admiral of the fleet in the service of Avittam Thirunal Balarama Varma, King of Travancore.
Chempil Arayan started one of the earliest uprisings against British Colonialism in India during the days of the British East India Company in 1809; among other things he led an attack on Bolghatty Palace, the residence of the then Company Resident, Colin Macaulay. The Resident escaped narrowly with his life, eluding the attackers through an underground tunnel and fleeing in a small boat. The Arayan was later captured, and freed after the payment of a ransom; he died in battle against the forces of the Company.
Chempil Arayan was well known for his naval exploits using the traditional Kerala boat known as the "Odi Vallam". A member of the Arayan caste, he was born at Chempu, near Vaikom, in Kottayam, Kerala; his descendants continue to live there and in the neighbouring villages of Vaikom Taluk.
