Edachena Kunkan Nair (popularly known as Edachena Kungan), was a Wayanad Nayar noble near Tirunelli who joined the war effort of Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja in the 1770s and soon rose to become commander of his armies in Wayanad.[1][2] His younger brothers Edachena Komappan Nair, Edachena Othenan Nair and Edachena Ammu helped him in war as junior generals.[3] He was a popular man in Wayanad and it was due to his work that Wayanadians of all classes supported Pazhassi Raja's war-effort.[4]
Kunkan proved to be an excellent commander and under his leadership, Pazhassi troops even raided and plundered in retaliation territories of Hyder and Tippu in Karnataka as far as outskirts of Mysore - often with active help of tribes of Karnataka forests. This enlarged sphere of influence of Pazhassi Raja who now laid claim to territories as far as Nanjangud. [5]
During Hyder's siege of Thalasseri with help of Chirakkal and Kadathanad [1779-1782],Pazhassi contingent of 1000 men sent by Raja to help the British garrison to hold out was commanded by Kunkan who successfully repelled all assaults by the vast Mysore army till siege was broken by joint British-Pazhassi attack in 1782.
Kunkan became famous with his capture of Panamaram fort on October 11 of 1802.What followed this exploit was a great revolt all over Wayanad against British rule. Shortly afterwards, Kunkan went to Pulpally pagoda from where he made an appeal to all Wayandians to join rebel ranks-Response was overwhelming-3000 men volunteered and from then onwards till early 1804, Pazhassi rebels launched constant attacks over British positions throughout Northern Malabar, reaching as far as coastal towns of Kannur, Talassery and Calicut.[6]
Kunkan made two attempts in open confrontation with British-in 1802 at Wayanad where he tried to block a British army en route to Mananthavadi and in 1803 tried to besiege an outpost at Pazhassi. Both ended in failures but he learnt from them and the onwards he concentrated on guerrilla warfare only and score large successes. But by November 1805, rebels were on run and after Raja's death,[7] Kunkan was killed by the British army at Panniyil (now Pannichal in Edavaka panchayat) in 1805.[8]
"That determined and incorrigible rebel"-that is how British authorities termed him.[9]
In the 2009 Hariharan directed film Pazhassi Raja, Mammootty played the title role. Edachena Kungan was portrayed by Sarath Kumar