Pazhayamviden Chandu was a general of Pazhassi Raja who betrayed his Raja to the British. Originally from a poor family, due to starvation he joined the retinue of Pazhassi Raja as a boy. Pazhassi Raja loved him as his own son and was impressed by the ability and courage of Chandu. So he gave the best training to Chandu in war and administration and appointed him as a Karyakar or minister.[1] Raja also made Chandu, a commoner by birth, into a noble. Raja asked a Nambiar noble clan of Pazhayveedu to adopt him. Thus Chandu became Pazhayaveettil Chandu Nambiar and hence came his nickname Pazhyamviden.[2]
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Raja also arranged his marriage with a lady named Unniamma, who was sister of famous Kaitheri Ambu. Ambu, who probably detected the true self of Chandu, was reportedly not very pleased with this alliance. He consented only because he could not say no to Raja.[3]
Chandu fought bravely in Pazhassi Raja's warfare with Mysore troops. He was reputedly one of the ablest fighters in whole of Kerala of his time and he was very arrogant about it.[4]
But after 1792, in a show of shameful ingratitude, he joined forces with Vira Varma Raja of Kurumbranad, rival of Pazhassi Raja. With support of Vira Varma and English army detachments, he raised a corp of mercenaries to collect tax for the English and let loose a reign of terror on the innocent people of Kottayam. He even tried to ill treat Pazhassi Raja. He indulged in abuse of office to enrich himself via corrupt methods.[5]
During the first Anglo-Pazhassi War (1793 to 1797), Pazhayamviden gave no active help to the English. But right from beginning of this war, Pazhayamviden supplied all the secrets of Pazhassi Raja's army that he knew to Arthur Wellesley - he was, after all, once a top commandant of the Pazhassi force. His hope was to obtain good sums of money as a reward. This betrayal was the beginning of the end for Pazhassi Raja. [6][7]
Pazhassi Raja's men took revenge in 1803 when he was assassinated by Kaitheri Ambu and his men during siege of Pazhassi.[8]