Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (Malayalam: കേരള വര്മ്മ പഴശ്ശി രാജ, Kerul Varma Pyche Rajah, Cotiote Rajah) (January 3, 1753 – November 30, 1805), popularly known as Kerala Simham or Lion of Kerala, was a Hindu Nair King ( the Suryavansha Kshatriyas ) of Kottayam (Cotiote), which was based in modern Kannur District, North Malabar zone of Kerala State in India, and was the supreme leader of Kottayam's rebels during Coiote War or Pychy Rebellion (also known as Wynaad Insurrection) which was fought between the English East India Company and the princely state of Kottayam. Pazhassi Raja was a member of the western branch of the Kottayam royal clan and his lineage can be traced back to the Parappanad dynasty in southern Malabar. Pazhassi Raja belonged to Nambiar clan of the Nairs.
When a Muslim Sultan of the Kingdom of Mysore, Hyder Ali, occupied Malabar for a second time between 1773 and 1790, the Raja of Kottayam found political asylum in Travancore. The kingdom then found its leader in Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, who was the fourth prince in line for succession to the throne. He rose to leadership as he surpassed the rest of the remaining royals in energy, ability and courage. He fought a successful resistance against Mysore's army from 1773 to to 1793. From 1793 till 1805, he fought to resist British expansionism and died in action after 12 years of war. His subjects stood firmly behind their beloved prince who had not abandoned them in their hour of misfortune and who also acquired fame for his efficient and just rule and his military prowess.[1] His troops were drawn from ranks of the warriors Nairs,the peasants Tiyarsand also the tribal clans like Kurichias and Mullukurumbas.[2]
In 1792, after the Third Anglo-Mysore War, Kottayam fell under the rule of British authorities who broke their earlier promise to recognize the independence of Kottayam and instead forcibly made Kottayam a vassal of British empire.Vira Varma, Pazhassi Raja's uncle, was appointed by the British as the Raja of Kottayam. In order to meet Britain's demand for revenue from the state, Vira Varma called for extreme taxes from the peasant classes and this move was met by a mass resistance led by Pazhassi Raja. In 1796, British made an attempt to arrest Pazhassi Raja, but he evaded capture and instead fought back using guerrilla warfare. In 1797, after a string of serious setbacks, the British sued for peace in 1797. The war was renewed in 1800 because of a dispute over Wayanad and after a guerrilla war that lasted for five years, Pazhassi Raja was mortally wounded during a gun-fight and died on November 30th of 1805 at Mavila Tod.
Contents |
Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja was born into the Padinjare Kovilakam of Purannattu Swarupam- the royal clan of the kingdom of Kottayam. This Padinjare Kovilakam (Western Branch) of the royal dynasty was located at Pazhassi. Thus, the origin of the name Pazhassi Raja which was pronounced as Pychy Rajah by the early British. The name Cotiote Raja comes from the British anglicizing the name Kottayam to Cotiote. The kingdom of Kottayam covers what is today the Thalassery taluk (1000 km2) of the Kannur District and Wayanad district along with Gudalur and Panthalur taluks of the Nilgiris District.
As a royal clan, Purannattu Swarupam had three branches, a western branch or Padinjare Kovilakam at Pazhassi, an eastern branch or Kizhakke Kovilakam at Manatana and asouthern branch or Tekke Kovilakam at Kottayampoil.[3]
Originally the headquarters of this kingdom was based at Muzhakunnu near Peravoor, as they followed a system where the eldest male of the clan became the Raja of the kingdom and chief of whole royal clan. The headquarters was later moved to Kottayampoil or Kottayam, a small town, located 7 k.m. east of Thalassery and Koothuparamba. Thus the name Kottayam came to be identified with this kingdom and her royal clan.[4]
The Last Rajas of Parappanad and Kurumbranad were members of Purannattu Swarupam who were adopted to the thrones of those kingdoms due to a lack of their own heirs.[4]
In 1773, Hyder Ali invaded Malabar for the second time, for non payment of tributes from the Rajas (kings) of Malabar as agreed after war in 1768. All Rajas of Malabar, along with many Naduvazhis or vassals fled to seek political asylum in Travancore. Princes and younger noblemen who refused to flee the invasion organised resistances all over the Malabar. As a result of the bigotry, plunder and atrocities perpetuated by Mysorean troops, this resistance grew into a full blown guerrilla war where Malabari partisans made excellent use of the wooded hills that covered most of Malabar.[4]
The most renowned of these rebel leaders was Pazhassi Raja. In 1774, at age of 21, he took over the throne to replace his uncle who had fled to Tranvancore. As king of a kingdom under attack, he condemned the cowardice of other Rajas who fled and left their kingdoms without leadership. He vowed to resist Hyder Ali's troops, and stayed on in Kottayam where he gathered a force and began a guerrilla war against the troops from Mysore as he had neither guns or troops enough to face them in an open battle. He set up a large number of bases in the nearly impenetrable forested mountains of Puralimala (a mountain range that extends from Muzhakkunnu to Mattannur which is not part of the Western Ghats)[4] and Wynad and repeatedly inflicted severe losses to the Mysorean army in Kottayam as well as in Wynad.[5]
During his long war with Hyder Ali, Tippu Sultan and then the British, Pazhassi Raja increased his sphere of influence significantly eastwards as far as the outskirts of Mysore. His men regularly looted enemy treasuries and sandalwood from Southern Karnataka and his enemies could do little to check these raids. This enabled him to lay claim on a great chunk of the Mysore district - as far as Nanjangod in east.[6] Also Pazhassi Raja and his men frequently raided the domains of neighboring Rajahs in Northern Malabar and Coorg to harass the enemy regiments posted there and he was often supported by local population of those territories. Along with this he had close ties with Ravi Varma and Krishna Varma, who were princes of Calicut and popular rebel leaders of Southern Malabar.
In 1778, Hyder’s vassal, the Raja of Chirakkal, besieged Thalassery and enforced an economic blockade-under orders from Hyder himself. The British factors at Talassery armed Pazhassi Raja’s men to enable them to recover Kottayam from the Mysorean occupation army. This move by the British ensured that the Chirakkal army was now at risk of being struck in the rear by Pazhassi’s force. The Chirakkal troops began to retreat. But Pazhassi chased and devastated the Chirakkal army, and then marched to Kottayam where he obliterated the Mysorean occupation and over-ran all of Western Kottayam. But at this critical moment when the Mysorean army in Malabar could have been destroyed by a joint action on the part of British and the Rajas, the British factors at Talassery were instructed by the Governor not to upset the nominal peace with Hyder.[4]
Thus the British decision not to exploit the victory at Thalassery was exploited by Mysore. The Chirakkal army reinforced by a Mysorean contingent under Balwant Rao marched into Kottayam. Pazhassi’s men, though secretly supplied with arms and ammunition by the British, could not hold or defeat this huge host and soon the Kottayam army was forced to disperse after a fight. Then the Mysore-Chirakkal army captured Kadathanad and installed a puppet Raja who joined hand with Mysore. In 1779, a huge Mysore-Chirakkal-Kadathanad army besieged Thalassery. Pazhassi Raja sent a force of 1300 Nairs to aid British defence of Thalassery-and this enabled factors to hold on successfully.[4]
By end of 1779, Sardar Khan, the Mysorean general was sent to Talassery to bring the siege speedily to a successful conclusion. Sardar Khan knew that it was Pazhassi’s help that enabled the British to resist him and so he opened negotiations with Pazhassi - his offer was the restoration of Mysore occupied territories of Kottayam if Pazhassi would ally himself with Mysore and pay an immediate tribute of 5 lac rupees. It was well beyond the capacity of Kottayam to raise so huge a sum in so short a time. But Pazhassi did his best to pay Sardar Khan [probably in hope that latter would make concessions] and 60,000 rupees was paid to the latter. But Khan was not satisfied and rejected Pazhassi’s request that his possessions in Malabar be restored. This greedy and tactless approach of Sardar Khan's made sure that there was little chance for Mysore to capture Talassery.[4]
In 1780, Pazhassi Raja proposed a plan to the British to break the Mysorean siege of Thalassery: he and his men would strike the enemy in the rear from the east as the British came out of the fort and struck the Mysorean line in front. Both armies would effect a junction that would split the enemy into two. The Mysorean and allied troops could then be routed easily. But it was only in 1781 that the British understood the value of this plan and their Bombay authorities agreed to it. An operation was carried out as per Pazhassi's plan; it ended with the destruction of the Mysorean forces. Sardar Khan himself was killed. What followed was a rebellion in Kottayam by the Nair militia led by Pazhassi Raja. Soon, the Mysoreans were ousted.[4]
By 1782, Kottayam was once more a free land. But by the Treaty of Mangalore [1784] after the Second Anglo-Mysore War, the British recognized Tipu Sultan's sphere of authority in Malabar. Thus with its only valuable ally lost, Kottayam was ready to become a vassal state of Mysore. Once more, as Sardar Khan did in 1779, Mysore exacted an exorbitant rate of tribute. Although Ravi Varma, the elder brother of Pazhassi Raja agreed to pay 65,000 rupees per year, Mysore demanded 81,000 rupees. The hiked rate of tribute meant greater hardship for the peasantry [largely Tiyar/Izhava] who had suffered from years of foreign occupation. So Pazhassi Raja took up this issue and decided to launch a mass resistance struggle once more.[7]
What angered Pazhassi Raja even more was that his brother Ravi Varma who paid visit to Tipu Sultan in 1786 for peace talks was forced to sign a treaty which ceded Wayanad to Tipu Sultan. Pazhassi Raja decided not to let Tipu enjoy Wayanad in peace and kept up a guerrilla warfare that constantly harassed Mysore troops in Wayanad and neighborhood. War in Wayanad lasted for seven years - till 1793 - when the last of Mysore garrisons were expelled from soil of Wayanad.[3][4]
By the end of 1788, Pazhassi Raja’s hatred of Tipu had shot up on account of the latter’s policy of forcible conversion. So he strengthened his ties with British on one hand and with fellow rebel chiefs and princes in Malabar on other hand. Not surprisingly, Tipu sent an army under a French general named Lally with a genocidal mission—the extermination of the Nair caste from Kottayam to Palakkad - as Tipu was determined to end the menance of Nair rebels in Malabar who had foiled all attempts of him and his late father Hyder Ali to subjugate and exploit Malabar. But in 1790, Tipu abandoned the war in Malabar as the war in Deccan drew his attention. Pazhassi Raja joined the British with a force of 1500 Nairs to capture the Mysorean stronghold in Katirur (near Talassery). After Katirur, Pazhassi Raja and his troops moved south-east and captured the Kuttiyadi fort from Tipu’s men. Thus once more the whole of Kottayam was in the control of Pazhassi Raja. In 1790, the British recognized Pazhassi Raja as the head of Kottayam instead of the original Raja who was in refuge at Travancore. Raja agreed to pay 25,000 rupees as tribute to the British.But his struggle with Mysore troops continued in Wayanad till 1793 when he freed that land also.[4]
But by the Treaty of Seringapatam (1792) signed between the British and Tipu after the latter failed in Third Anglo-Mysore War, Malabar was ceded to the British. The British then began to work for establishment of their supremacy in Malabar.[4] This was where the British and Pazhassi Raja had opposite opinions - Pazhassi Raja helped the British not because he was ready to accept British sovereignty but because he wanted his country Kottayam to be a free land.[8]
Pazhassi Raja was disturbed when he heard about the terms which British put forward to Rajas of Malabar in 1792 because British had signed a cowl with him in 1790 which promised to respect independence of Kottayam. The summary of the British terms in 1792 were as follows:
These terms converted monarchs to mere agents of the British. Rajas were now stripped of their right to rule as they willed; they also lost control over their economies.
Kottayam was represented by Vira Varma, uncle of Pazhassi Raja during talks with British in 1792. Vira Varma concluded treaty with British by which he accepted all terms and conditions put forward by British.[9]
Pazhassi Raja resisted British imperialism from 1793 onwards till his death in 1805. He fought two wars to resist British intervention in the domestic affairs of his kingdom. From 1793-1797 he fought over the question of the management of Kottayam and from 1800-1805 over the issue of who was to be master of Wynad. British called their wars with Pazhassi Rajah as Cotiote War. The British offered rewards for information about the whereabouts of Pazhassi Raja (3000 pagodas), Vira Varma Raja (1000 pagodas), and Ravi Varma Raja (1000 pagodas).[10]
Pazhassi Raja was not on good terms with his uncle Vira Varma, Raja of Kurumbranad. In 1793, foxy Vira Varma who had surrendered Kottayam to British back in 1792, convinced British Commissioners to let him collect tax in Kottayam. He calculated that a good collection might please the British and that that would let him seize all of Kottayam. Needless to say, Pazhassi Raja was angry at this British move. He felt betrayed. After all he was the only Raja in Northern Malabar to have helped the British consistently in the war with Mysore.[11]
Vira Varma Raja was a real crook - on the one hand he undertook to collect tax in Kottayam directly and on the other hand he instigated Pazhassi Raja to oppose the British. Moreover, the British assessment was harsh and beyond the peasants' capacity to pay. They resisted its forcible collection by the agents of the British, and Pazhassi Raja took up their cause. As seen before, Raja was deadly opposed to extortion of the peasantry.[12]
In 1793, Pazhassi Raja made sure that no tax was collected in Kottayam by the British - as a mark of his protest. He also threatened that if British officials did not give up their enumeration of pepper vines, he would have the vines destroyed. Local British authorities, however, debated with Raja and soon both discovered Vira Varma’s dirty games. So the British put forward a solution acceptable to the Raja by which 20 percent of gross revenue would go to Raja and another 20 percent would go for the temples’ expense. No tax would be imposed on temple property in the immediate future.[4]
In 1793, Tipu’s Vakils protested to the British that Pazhassi Raja, who was a British tributary, had overrun most of Wayanad, still under Mysore. Soon the Raja was supreme in the Wayanad Plateau.[4]
But the Governor General unwisely revoked the agreement in 1794 and gave Kottayam to Kurumbranad Raja on a five year lease. The Raja was truly angry at this decision and decided to retaliate by ruling his country as per customary law. The year before the lease was concluded the Raja had provided asylum to a Nayar noble, Narangoli Nambiar of Iruvazinad, who had been declared an outlaw by British for the murder of three men who had killed his kinsman. The Raja’s kind treatment of Nambiar irritated the British. The British also became angry that the Raja impaled two robbers as per customary law. British planned to arrest Raja for ‘murder’, but gave up the idea as the Raja had a bodyguard of 500 well armed Wayanad Nayars.[4]
In 1795, even after a year Vira Varma Raja got Kottayam on lease, he was not able to collect tax in Kottayam-thanks to his nephew Raja’s determination. So British troops arrived in Kottayam to help Vira Varma’s tax collectors, but Pazhassi Raja’s men resisted them with success.[4]
In 1796, orders were issued from Bombay to collect tax arrears for 2 years in Kottayam. For British no more pretexts were needed to arrest Raja. 300 men under Lieutenant James Gordon marched from Talassery and seized Raja’s fortified house at Pazhassi-but Raja fled four days earlier to Manattana [near Kottiyur]. Gordon plundered the palace where traditional treasure of Raja was kept. Raja was angry at this loot and sent a letter to Supervisor at Talassery.[4]
Raja was also angry that one of his former general named Pazhayamviden Chandu had become an agent of Kurumbranad Raja and what angered him even more than that was that this turn-coat had the audacity to boss him with Vira Varma’s and British blessings.[4] Chandu was later killed by a follower of Kaitheri Ambu when latter was about to be killed by Pazayamviden.[13] Raja shifted his HQ to Purali Range and then into Wayanad. Raja then blocked all British communications between Wayanad and Low Malabar through Kuttiyadi Pass. The British retaliated by cutting all communications between Raja and Low Malabar. But as they did not have enough troops to chase him they waited for reinforcements.[4]
The British commandant was Colonel Dow, whom Raja knew well during Siege of Thalassery. So Raja thought that this old friend might help him mediate with the British government. Raja offered to give up the struggle provided he was pardoned and his treasure and house restored. The Colonel and Raja being old soldiers hated needless bloodshed and so he forwarded Raja’s request to Commissioners, who though they were bitterly opposed to Raja’s independent style, agreed to the Colonel’s suggestion as there was a risk that Raja might ally with Tipu.[4]
So Northern Superintendent ordered the restoration of the Raja's house [but not treasure], and the Raja's pardon was confirmed by the Bombay and Supreme Governments. But the orders of government were communicated to the Raja via Vira Varma - which meant that uncle Raja took care not to report to his nephew that the British had agreed to his requests. Uncle Raja had a vested interest in war between the Company and his nephew Pazhassi Raja.[4]
Vira Varma also removed Kaitheri Ambu, a favourite noble and general of Raja, from home administration of Kottayam. Ambu along with followers went to Kannavam [also spelled Kannavath and Kannoth], where he planned and executed a mass resistance with people’s support, which made sure that Vira Varma could make no tax collection in Kottayam. But Ambu acted clearly on guidance of Raja, who felt expulsion of Ambu was another of his uncle’s conspiracies to undermine him.[4]
Raja feared that British planned to seize him [not knowing that their truce terms were kept blocked from him by his uncle] and retreated into depths of Wayanad. British troop build up in Wayanad also accelerated his doubts. However Raja was still eager to avoid a war and came to meet Northern Superintendent with a bodyguard of 1500 armed men. Vira Varma Raja was also ordered to be present. Pazhassi Raja’s main demand was that Kottayam must be under his rule-a demand his uncle was not ready to accede.[4] British Commissioners’ attitude also was arrogant-they were already prejudiced towards Raja and so were blind towards Raja’s logical argument that Vira Varma had no business in Kottayam. As talks broke down, Commissioners’ issued a threat proclamation in Kottayam that if those Kottayam men in service of Raja does not desert him and come home, they would be declare enemies and their properties would be confiscated. But this proclamation had little effect in Kottayam where resistance to British-Kurumbranad rule became stronger.[4]
British, to their horror, found out that a large number of Vira Varma’s troops had deserted to join ranks of resisters and Vira Varma himself was not much interested to help British-after all his aim was to create a flare up between his nephew and British for sake of pure self-interest.[4]
Raja then visited to Mysorean commandant at Karkankotta in 1796 and in 1797 held an audience with old enemy Tipu in Mysore who posted 6000 men at Karkankotta to aid Raja in case of war and also to supply ammunition to rebels. He also began to collect troops and armament. War was imminent. 1200 troops and artillery under Major General was sent by Bombay Government to deal with Pazhassi. British also began to set up outposts in Kottayam and sent more troops to Wayanad.[4]
In early 1797, Nayar militia rose all over Kottayam and British outposts were trapped in a true state of siege. Partisan bands became active all over Kottayam and harassed reinforcements and supply convoys. Same was the case in Wayanad where British troops that moved out of safety of block-houses risked being way-laid by Kurichia bowmen. British suffered good loss in terms of men, ammunitions and stores in these ambuscades.[4]
This event was the most important in the whole war. In 1797, Colonel Dow & force marches into Wayanad. His plan was to block Periya Pass and then crush a large rebel force in Kannoth once their retreat is blocked.[4]
Reinforcements under Lieutenant Mealy were to reach Dow at Periya, but on way they were severely harassed by a force of Nayars and Kurichias and suffered a casualty of 105 men. So instead of Periya they retreated to their original base.[4]
Dow’s troops suffered chronic shortage of supplies and so Dow applied for reinforcements and re-supplies to be sent under Major Anderson of Bowles’ regiment. But as Mappila guides of Anderson deserted at last moment. That caused a delay in journey of Anderson-a delay that had fatal consequence for British.[4]
Dow then received news that Tipu had sent sepoys to aid Raja as Tipu considered British entry into Wayanad a violation of Seringapatam Pact. Dow decided that he will go to Talassery to consult authorities there and to plan a greater operation to deal with troops of Raja and Tipu simultaneously in Wayanad. He left with a small band of men but was ambushed on way by Raja’s men aided by Mysorean sepoys but Dow escaped unhurt.[4]
Day after he left, British force of 1100 under Major Cameroon in Periya decided to descend into Kottayam via Periya Pass as their supplies have exhausted.[4]
But what they did not know was that Raja who learnt of true state of British army laid a trap for them-he ordered troops lay concealed in camouflaged stockades built on both sides of pass. Once the whole British force entered the narrow pass, hidden troops were to pounce on their enemy who must be caught unawares.[4]
Plan worked well and what followed was great slaughter of British. Had it not been for arrival of Major Anderson’s force the following day, hardly any would have survived due to lack of medical care. Most of enemy were killed and all their guns, ammunition, baggage and cattle were plundered along with Union colours. Senior British officers like Major Cameroon, Lieutenant Nugent, Lieutenant Madge and Lieutenant Rudderman were killed in action.[4]
Around this time, Commissioners took a decision on advice of Swaminatha Pattar, a Tamil Brahmin who was minister of Zamorin that sowed the eventual downfall of Pazhassi Raja. They decided to raise an irregular force of local traitors to harass Pazhassi Raja. This force was a fore-runner of the infamous Kolkar, who became infamous for their sycophancy to British and cruelty to resisters and people.[4]
A brief introduction to Swaminatha Pattar-He is an arch rogue who helped to consolidate British rule in Calicut. Though he was Zamorin's representative to British, he betrayed his master and worked secretly to deliver kingdom of Calicut to British. Ravi Varma who led resistance to Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan became so furious at this betrayal that he along with his nephews tried to assassinate him in 1793. But the attempt failed and British arrested Ravi Varma who had fled to Wayanad to join hands with Pazhassi Raja. Ravi Varma and his nephews were imprisoned and died in mysterious circumstances - believed to be poisoned by authorities. [4][14] What impact would death of Ravi Varma of Calicut made of Pazhassi Raja is anyone's guess, but it is likely that his fear and suspicion of British only shot up after these events in Calicut in 1793.
But for time being, Raja was in a strong position. On account of British disasters, Bombay Government sent a Committee of Government composed of men of highest ranks-Commander-In-Chief Lieutenant General Stuart and Governor Jonathan Duncan. They decided to make peace as they were anxious that guerrilla warfare in a mountainous and forested terrain could last long and that Raja might join forces with Tipu or French. They also decided that Kurumbranad Raja Vira Varma should be ousted form administration of Kottayam. Rajas of Chirakkal and Parappanad acted as mediators in negotiation between Raja and British and a peace pact was signed between Pazhassi and British in 1797.[4]
The Treaty of 1797 agreed on following points:[4]
A pardon and restoration of property was also extended to Narangoli Nambiar of Iruvazinad.[4]
Thus Raja’s efforts of four years ended in a political victory. Peace dawned after four years of antagonism and war.
Tipu Sultan in his letter to French government notes with glee that British had lost 1,000 European soldiers and 3,000 native sepoys in four years of war between British troops and Kottayam army.[15]
After fall of Tipu, Wayanad fell to British. They sent a Mysore Commission to seize Wayanad and planned to annex it to either Canara or Coimbatore. But as Wayanad was a traditional possession of Kottayam Raja and that Pazhassi is in control of this region since 1793, Pazhassi correctly saw move was an encroachment on his country’s ancient provinces. Raja retaliated by collecting a large force of Nayars which was now supplemented by Mappilas and Pathans, latter being ex-soldiers of Tipu who became unemployed after Tipu’s death.[4]
British Government at Madras appointed Major General Arthur Wellesley as British army commandant of Mysore, Canara & Malabar- He planned a double pronged move from Malabar Coast and Mysore into Wayanad and began preparations for that end. Raja observed Major General-latter had brought reinforcements and building roads in Wayanad and outposts across rebel country. In response, Raja also recruited numerous men which so alarmed Wellesley that latter even wanted to kidnap kith and kin of rebels so as to check Raja’s recruitment.[5]
Raja learnt that Wellesley had left to Deccan on a military mission-Raja who understood that Major General’s absence is a great chance swiftly made his move. He marched across Kuttiyadi Pass and below he made a junction with Unni Mootha Mooppan, a Walluvanad Mappila leader & his men and soon several great nobles like Kampuratt Nambiar of Iruvazhinad, Peruvayal Nambiar and Kannavath Sankaran Nambiar also joined Raja with their men.[4]
By monsoon of 1800, rebels who controlled all of country-side of Kottayam threatened to overwhelm British outposts in Kottayam. Wellesley sent a large force under Colonel Sartorius to recapture rebel held Kottayam. But the plan could not be carried out as there were not enough troops in Malabar. Wellesley advised Commissioners to stop all communications with Wayanad so as to starve Raja of supplies. But shortage of troops also meant this plan too remained on paper. By the time, Wellesley decided to smash Raja by a double drive from Malabar Coast and Mysore into Wayanad, Manjeri Athan Gurikkal an Ernad Mappila leader along with his followers agreed to support of Raja.[4]
By 1801, a large British force of over 10,000 men swarmed all over Kottayam and Wayanad and they blocked all passes that linked Wayanad with Malabar. Before so large numbers, rebels thought wise to go under-ground for time being. Raja also found that he could no longer contact his supporters in Southern Wayanad and Southern Malabar. Raja became a wanderer in forests but even then, to surprise of British, he ruled out compromise [4]-it seems he understood that there was no alternative to full freedom.
Raja had six close aides and 25 musketeers in his wanderings. First he went north via Payyavur along montane forests of eastern Chirakkal to rally support. But British were on his trail but failed to catch him. Raja then visited his secret bases in Kottayam and then moved into Kadathanad and into jungles of Kurumbranad. British were angered that where ever he went, nobles supported him in secret and decided to punish them for their help to rebel Raja.[4]
As a part of terrorization, Peruvayal Nambiar who was arrested was hanged. British also threatened brutal penalty and confiscation of property for all those rebels who failed to surrender in six weeks time. But a pardon was also issued for surrendered rebels. But none of these threats and temptations worked and Raja was still at large. But some of his chief supporters were arrested of whom Kannavath Sankaran Nambiar was most famous. Kannavath Sankaran Nambiar and his son were hanged too and their property was confiscated.[4]
The tree on which Nambiar and his son was hanged was preserved until recent past. But then the tree fell away.It stood at Chittaripparamba junction near Koothuparamba.
Following murder of Kannavath Nambiar, a deceptive calm descended on North Malabar-calm before storm. Collector Major MacLeod believed that war was over and went ahead with exploitation program. He immediately declared a total disarmament of Malabar and threatened those who kept arms with death penalty. He also doubled the rate of tax and ordered a reassessment of tax of whole Malabar in a mere forty days.[4]
All these ‘reforms’ paid back in 1803 when Malabar was on verge of revolt as people were pushed to wall. MacLeod tried to calm this with corrective measure-He cancelled all his ‘reforms’ and old system was reinstated. But it was too late for Wayanad where Raja’s men were prepared for a rebellion.[4]
The first major event was the capture of Panamaram Fort. Edachena Kungan Nair planned the operation and was helped by 150 Kurichia bowmen under Talakkal Chandu. Fort had 70 men under Captain Dickenson and there was a large force of 360 men under Major Drummond only a few miles away in Pulinjali. So if Major came to help Captain in time Kurichia force would be overwhelmed by gun-fire and numbers. But Kungan and Chandu decided to take risk.[4]
Whole garrison was slaughtered in the surprise attack led by the two generals and they lost only 5 dead and 10 wounded. Dickenson himself was killed. Rebels got 112 muskets, six boxes of ammunitions and 6000 rupees. They also destroyed the whole fort.(The remains of the fort can be seen now near Panamaram High School)[4]
Wellesley was enraged at this rebel audacity and dispatched 500 men to retaliate. But by then rebel victory had roused all of Wayanad and Kottayam. Edachena Kungan, hero of Panamaram success, went to Pulpally shrine and issued a proclamation to people to join Raja’s war. 3000 men volunteered. They were posted at Valliyurkav at Mananthavadi, Motimjarra [?], and Edappally and 100 of them under brother of Kungan posted themselves at Periya Pass and 25 men were posted at Kottiyur Pass. Rebel outposts were set up en route from Dindimal to Valliyurkav. The rebel army was mostly composed of archers and sword men, but some had muskets.[4]
Edachena Kungan Nambiar led an attack on a British detachment headed from Mysore to Mananthavadi. Harassment began once this force entered Wayanad till it reached a stream between Manathavadi and Bhavully [?] river. There they were blocked by a rebel force entrenched on opposite side of stream. But to ill luck of rebels a reinforcement which had caught up with blocked British army outflanked the rebel entrenchment and took a large number of prisoners. All these prisoners were disarmed and marched to a road where they were murdered. [Logan]
Besides, British reinforcements arrived in Wayanad from all directions. But British could find rebels nowhere.[4]
The rebels now concentrated in Kottayam. In 1802, they raided a supplies convoy near Kottiyur. British were frustrated by Kottayam people’s total lack of cooperation. To add to their trouble, in 1803, a rebel force took to field in Kurumbranad* & Payyormala* and people were sympathetic to rebels. Kungan marched towards Pazhassi to wipe out the British outpost there but had to retreat, though British suffered serious losses. Soon rebellion spread into Chirakkal where armed bands of partisans launched operations and often fought British openly. Raja’s army by end of 1803 was ranging as far as Kannur and Talassery.[4]
[*Both in northern and eastern parts of modern Calicut District]
In March 1803, a rebel force marched as far as Calicut and captured Sub-Jail where they killed all guards and seized their firearms and ammunition. They also released prisoners, many of whom joined ranks of rebel army. This was too much for MacLeod and he resigned immediately after this event.[16]
In 1803, Wellesley left for Europe, after three years of inconclusive war with Pazhassi Raja, later destined to become Duke of Wellington, vanquisher of Napoleon at Waterloo.[5]
In 1804, a large British army arrived and 1200 Kolkar were also ready for action. Most importantly Thomas Hervey Baber, a cunning man was appointed as Sub-Collector.[4] It was he who crushed Pazhassi's Revolt forever. It is indeed ironic that what a military genius like Wellesley could not attain, was achieved by Baber - said to be just a 'civil servant.' Baber had both a personal motive - to avenge the death of his friend Major Cameron, the first husband of his wife Helen Somerville Fearon at the hand of Pazhassi Raja on 9 January 1797 at Periya Pass. Baber became a civil servant to protect the interests of a small but influential group of merchants that included his in-laws - the Inglis and Money families of Bombay. It is noteworthy that Baber's son Henry Fearon Baber married the Granddaughter of George Harris, 1st Baron Srirangapattam and the nemesis of Tipu Sultan.
In 1804, a huge rising led by Kalyat Nambiar [a powerful Chirakkal noble but Raja’s sympathiser] and Raja’s men in largely forested eastern Chirakkal was crushed by British. If there was large and long revolt warfare in Chirakkal, it would have immensely profited Raja. Though there was a lot of supporters of Raja in Chirakkal, as revolt collapsed fast as rebels opted for open confrontation instead of time honoured guerrilla warfare. Another cause for failure of revolt was treacherous Kolkar also served their White pay-masters well.[4]
So once more rebel force had retreat to Wayanad. They were hotly chased by British who had 2000 Sepoys and 1000 Kolkar. A reward of 3000 pagodas was offered for Raja along with 1000 Pagodas for Edachena Kungan and bounties were put on heads of 10 other associates of Raja.[4]
But rebels, mostly Kurumbas, struck at Churikunji [?] in Wayanad. Though they had to withdraw, they had devastated their enemy. That year, a party of Kolkar nearly caught Raja but he escaped thanks to timely warning of a Kurumba guard.[4]
But monsoon and brutal climate of Wayanad soon aided Raja. Of 1300 Kolkar only 170 were not sick by October. Raja and Edachena Kungan organized a large force of Kurichias and Kurumbas at Pulpally shrine and positioned them to as far as Kurichiyat. Also effort of Kungan to rally Nayar nobles of Wayanad to support Raja’s war-effort had also succeeded.[4]
British for past couple of years did not have to suffer loss on a scale of Periya in 1797, but matters were not easy for British at all. Even in Kottayam which had become quiet might explode once more and a large rebel force with Raja as head was still at large.[4] But one must remember that the whole revolt is a one man show as Wellesley himself remarked once-“We are not fighting 1000 men [Raja’s army]...but one man...Kerala Varma.” [13] Raja’s end would mean end of revolt.
T.H Baber went to Mysore to direct operations himself and began a large search for informants and traitors. True, British themselves admit that they did not get lot of informants as locals were devoted to Raja, but some of those few informants proved devastating to revolt-one of them a Chetti, found out where Raja had camped and informed Baber who took to field with 100 Kolkar and 50 Sepoys.[4]
[But it must be added in this context that had Pazhayamviden Chandu not given British a full and clear picture about inner workings of Pazhassi military force, British could not have destroyed Pazhassi Raja. Pazhassi war machine was an enigma for British before 1800. But since recruitment of turncoat Pazhayamviden to British imperial service in 1800, British fully understood their elusive enemy - and consequences were fatal for Pazhassi Raja and his cause. But to his credit and to credit of his followers and subjects, he gave a bloody five year fight to British across Northern Malabar.[13]]
On 1805, November 30, Raja and retainers were camped near close to Karnataka on shore of a stream named Mavila or Mavila Tod [not far from Pulpally]. Raja and party were caught by surprise and an intense but short fight followed. Six rebels were killed. One of the earliest rebels to be killed was Pazhassi Raja.[4]
Evidently, wounded Raja did live long enough for a few more minutes to raise his loaded gun and then tell Canara Menon, an East India Company minor official, not to come too close to his dying body and pollute it. Raja's contempt and sarcasm for a man who chose to serve unclean foreigner is evident. But it also showed his uncompromising stand towards collaborators and foreign invaders.
Aralat Kutty Nambiar, another outlawed noble, who accompanied Raja fought a desperate duel with enemy and met a hero's death. Four other followers of Raja also were killed in action and his sickly wife and her maids were taken prisoner. Sick wife of Raja along with her maids too were arrested but T.H. Baber took care to ensure treatment for the sickly widow of Raja.[4]
To the credit of T. H. Baber, he treated Raja’s body with due respect and arranged for cremation with full traditional honours. Baber justified his respectful treatment in following words:[4]
“I was induced to this conduct from the consideration that, although a rebel, he was one of the natural chieftains of the country, and might be considered on that account rather as a fallen enemy.” [4]
Baber also added:
“Thus terminated the career of a man who has been enabled persevere in hostilities against the Company for near nine years, during which many thousand valuable lives have been sacrificed and sums of all money beyond all calculation expended.” [4]
T. H. Baber wrote in 1805:
"...but in all classes, I observed a decided interest for the Pyche [Pazhassi] Raja, towards whom the inhabitants entertained a regard and respect bordering on veneration, which not even his death can efface".[4]
"...[Pazhassi Raja]for a series of years had kept this province in a state of confusion, and agitated it with the most intricate and perplexing warfare in which best of officers and of troops have at various times been engaged to the melancholy loss of many valuable lives and the expenditure of as many lakhs of rupees".[4]
Pazhassi Raja was only a junior prince of his dynasty and it was due to fate that he rose to leadership. As foretold, people of all castes, tribes and classes of Kottayam & Wynad adored him as their beloved Raja.[17] They came to love this man so much that he became a hero of folk songs in Northern Malabar[4]
In the film Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (2009) as is in popular legend, Raja is depicted as a tall man. But eye witness account of Jonathan Duncan, Bombay Governor in 1797, who held peace talks with Raja describes him as a man with pleasant smile, short in height, long hair and had mustache as well as a beard and frequently wore a red cap.[18] That makes picture of artistic depiction of Raja at beginning of this article somewhat inaccurate.
In addition to his usual title Kerala Simham or Lion of Kerala, Pazhassi Rajah is known as Shaktan Rajah ["Strong Monarch"] - in Wayanad.[3] Another epithet of his is Chandrakula Vira ["Hero of Lunar Clan"].
Raja had two wives-first named Avinyat Kunjani who was much nearer to him in age, was niece of Payyormala Nayar, a nearly independent chief in modern northern Calicut.[5] It was this wife who accompanied Raja to forests [5] and was captured as a sick woman by British in 1805. His second wife was named Kaitheri Makom, who was sister of Kaitheri Ambu, Raja's close aide. Makom was much younger to Raja in age and this alliance was handiwork of Pazayamviden Chandu in those days when he was loyal to Raja.[5]
Following are some reasons why he can be viewed as a great man:
He knew well how to use his limited armed ability to resist far superior enemies. Most of the time, Raja's men were mostly armed with sabers and bows as gunpowder was short in supply and his enemies were superior in terms of numbers and fully armed with firearms. Yet, he defied Mysoreans for nearly 20 years and British for 10 years[19]-Perhaps one of best examples of the fact that good leadership can compensate other handicaps.
British could conquer great powers like the Nawabs, Marathas and Sikhs with far more ease once they opened war with them. But it took well over a decade to crush this turbulent prince who had no more than 3000-5000 men armed with primitive weapons. By 1805, the British had deployed a force of 15,000 men to face Raja's small army[4]! More important is the fact that Raja was not defeated and killed by military methods-it was pure treachery that led to his downfall in winter of 1805. We can say that he was "undefeated in the field, but stabbed in the back".
The greatest tribute to Pazhassi Raja's military genius is the fact that even Arthur Wellesley Duke of Wellington could not subdue him even after 3 years of severe struggle. Wellesley's experience in war with Pazhassi enabled him to use Raja's tactics in Spain to defeat Napoleon's army.[5]
Some historians like Woodcock have denounced Pazhassi Raja as a casteist and feudal obscurantist who has no feeling for low caste majority.[20] However, Raja's attitude towards low caste majority was generous and kindly compared to his contemporaries. In contrast to some of those British sponsored Rajahs and nobles who returned to Malabar in 1792 only to extort money from people in name of tax collection and that too in a country impoverished and ravaged by two decades of war,[4][5] Pazhassi Raja borrowed a large sum from rich merchants and encouraged his farmer-folk with cattle, seeds and saplings to resume agriculture.[21]
Also as mentioned before, Raja was opposed to exorbitant taxation of peasantry, who were majority of his subjects and mostly low caste, and it was this issue that led him to war in 1784 and 1793.[22]
The most important of them are in bold letters.[4]
Edachena Kungan, who was perhaps most important of Raja's followers, outlived his master only to commit suicide in 1806 to prevent capture by British.[4]
Thalakkal Chandu was arrested and hanged in 1805 shortly before Raja's death.[4]
Kannavath Sankaran Nambiar was hanged along with his son in 1801.[4]
Kaitheri Ambu was killed in action in 1805 shortly before Raja's death.[4]
Pallur Eman who once was close to Wellesley and leaked all his plans to Pazhassi Raja from 1800 to 1802 and in 1802 escaped to the forests to join Raja when his spying was discovered by British. It was Pallur Eman Nair who mobilized Kurumbas [with whom he had nice relations] to join Raja's army. Eman was arrested in 1806 and deported to Prince of Wales Isle, Australia.[4]
Raja's nephews, Vira Varma and Ravi Varma, however, were pardoned in 1806.[4]
The precise nature of Raja's death is controversial. Folklore insists that he committed suicide by swallowing a diamond ring to avoid capture after he was wounded.[23]
T. H. Baber's version was that it was a clerk named Canara Menon who killed Raja.[24] Raja is said to have shouted to Menon who approached his body as he lay dying, "Don't defile me, traitor!"[4]
W. J. Wilson, who wrote on the history of the Madras Regiment, credits Captain Clafam and his six sepoys for killing of Raja.[24] This third version of Raja's end is more likely as Baber was not on good terms with military authority throughout the Pazhassi War. He is alleged to have credited Menon so as to deny credit to Clafam and his superior Colonel Hill.[24]
In his decades long war to oust invaders, Rajah developed a elaborate system of cantonments and forts in jungly and mountainous part of his country.
Four of them are most important - granite fort on Purali range [modern Muzhakunnu] which was built by his ancestor Harischandra Perumal over a thousand years ago. He had another granite fort at Manatana. In Wynad, he had a great fort in Mananthavady which was reported to have ability to house his whole army of 6000 men. He also had a stronghold in Todikulam near Kannavam which belonged to his supporter Kannavath Sankaran.[4][25]
Of all his strong-holds, none survive today. Only ruins of Purali fort survive today. It is today a heap of granite boulders. Only a tank still survive today. A nearby black-stone cave where Raja once lived can still be found.[26]
A 1964 Malayalam film titled Pazhassi Raja was based on his life. It was directed by Kunchako and starred Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair as Pazhassi Raja. Prem Nazir, Sathyan etc. played other major roles. The film was a failure in the box office. The movie is memorable for the many beautiful songs composed by the late R. K. Shekhar, father of A R Rahman.[27]
In 2009, Hariharan directed a Malayalam film, Pazhassi Raja, in which Mammootty appears in the title role and Sarath Kumar, Manoj K. Jayan etc. plays the other major roles. The film was released on October 16, 2009 and became the biggest grosser ever produced in the history of Malayalam Cinema. The film has collected around Rs.49 Crores from the releasing centres across the world.[28]