Edachena Kunkan

Edachena Kunkan (also known as Edachena Kunkan Nair) was a Wayanad Nair noble from Tirunelli, Wayanad, Kerala, India who joined the war effort of Pazhassi Raja during the 1770s and became commander of the Raja's army. His younger brothers (Edachena Komappan Nair, Edachena Othenan Nair and Edachena Ammu) joined him as generals. Kunkan was a popular leader in Wayanad, gathering support from people of many classes for Raja's war against the East India Company.^{[citation needed]}

Commander

Under Kunkan's leadership, Pazhassi's troops fought against Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan as far as the outskirts of Mysore. This enlarged the Raja's sphere of influence, and he claimed territories as far as Nanjangud.^{[citation needed]}

During Hyder's siege of Thalasseri, with help from Chirakkal and Kadathanad [1779–1782], Raja sent 1,000 troops commanded by Kunkan (who repulsed all assaults by the Mysore army). The siege was later broken by a joint British-Pazhassi attack in 1782.^{[citation needed]}

Capture of Panamaram Fort

The British increased taxes on farmers and demanded half the rice crop, to the dissatisfaction of the Wyanad people. When a member of the British Raj demanded a paddy field, Kunkan killed him and 150 Kurichiyans under Thalakkal Chandu then joined him. With these troops and his brothers' support, Kunkan attacked the fort at Panamaram. It was guarded by 70 soldiers from the 1st Battalion of the 4th Bombay Infantry under Captain Dickenson and Lieutenant Maxwell; both commanders and 25 soldiers were killed on 11 October 1802.^[1] After massacring the detachment, Kunkan acquired 112 muskets and six boxes of ammunition, with a value of ₹6,000. The buildings were razed, igniting a widespread revolt in Wayanad against British rule.^{[citation needed]}

Guerilla warfare

Shortly afterwards, Kunkan went to the

Edavaka.^[1]

Memorial

The people of Kerala have asked the government to build a memorial at Panamaram to Kunkan and Thalakkal Chanthu, since the Pazhassi rebellion is considered one of the most important uprisings against the British in South India.^[1]

In popular culture

In the 2009

Sarath Kumar.^{[citation needed}

]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c E.M., Manoj (15 November 2008). "Demand for memorial to tribal warriors". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2012.

[memorial-1] E.M., Manoj (15 November 2008). "Demand for memorial to tribal warriors". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2012.

[1]