Thalakkal Chanthu
Thalakkal Chanthu, also spelled Thalakkal Chandu, was an archer and commander-in-chief of 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
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 committed suicide when he was surrounded 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
- ^ ISBN 9788120604469.
- ^ "Demand for memorial to tribal warriors". The Hindu. 15 November 2008. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Monument to honour Chandu". The Hindu. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.