Thalakkal Chanthu

Thalakkal Chanthu, also spelled Thalakkal Chandu, was an archer and commander-in-chief of the Kurichya soldiers of the Pazhassi Raja who fought British forces in the Wayanad jungles during first decade of the 19th century.

Career[]

Chanthu began his career under Edachena Kunkan, who later promoted him to the rank of general.^{[citation needed]} Pazhassi Raja and his other generals and troops saw Chanthu as their ablest war leader.^{[citation needed]}

Panamaram fort massacre[]

The British East India Company fixed a high revenue tax on agricultural produce of Wyanad farmers causing widespread dissent.^{[citation needed]} One of the Company peons was killed by Edachena Kunkan when the peon demanded paddy from a Kuruchiya man.^[1] This prompted the entire Kuruchiya tribe to join hands with Edachana Kunkan who was carrying on a fight against the British on behalf of Pazhassi Raja.^{[citation needed]} The rebellion on 11 October 1802 by a group of tribal soldiers (comprising 175 Kurichya archers), led by Thalakkal Chandu and Edachena Kunkan, captured the British fort at Panamaram which was defended by the I battalion of 4th Bombay infantry.^[1] Commanding officer Capt. Dickinson and Lt. Maxwell were killed in action along with entire detachment of 70 soldiers which was guarding the fort.^[1]

The British forces launched a retaliatory attack and trapped Chanthu on 15 November 1805.^{[citation needed]} He was executed under a Koly tree. Edachana Kunkan was killed by the British army at Panniyil later (now called Pannichal, Kerala).^[2]

Memorial[]

The Kerala State Government installed a memorial to Chanthu on 22 September 2012, near Panamaram Fort on the banks of the Kabini river.^[3] In the form of a museum, the memorial displays weapon models used by Chanthu and his tribesmen, the Kurichiya archers and the tribe's traditional agricultural implements.^[3]

References[]