Thalakkal Chanthu (Thalakkal Chandu)

Syllabus: Indian History (UPSC Prelims)

Overview

• Thalakkal Chanthu was an archer and commander-in-chief of the Kurichya soldiers under Pazhassi Raja, the “Lion of Kerala,” who led resistance against the British East India Company in Wayanad, Kerala¹, during the early 19th century.
• He played a vital role in one of the earliest tribal uprisings against British colonial rule.

Career

• Chanthu began his military service under Edachena Kunkan, a trusted lieutenant of Pazhassi Raja.
• Due to his bravery and leadership, he was promoted to the rank of general.
• Together with Kunkan, he led the Kurichya tribal warriors in guerrilla warfare against the British in support of Pazhassi Raja’s resistance movement.

Panamaram Fort Revolt (1802)

• Under Pazhassi Raja’s leadership, local farmers and tribes opposed British-imposed high taxes on agricultural produce in Wayanad.
• The spark for revolt came when Edachena Kunkan killed a British peon who tried to seize paddy from a Kurichya farmer.
• On 11 October 1802, Thalakkal Chanthu and Edachena Kunkan, acting on behalf of Pazhassi Raja, led 175 Kurichya archers in an attack on the British fort at Panamaram.
• The rebels captured the fort, killing Captain Dickinson, Lieutenant Maxwell, and 70 British soldiers of the 4th Bombay Infantry.
• This victory significantly boosted Pazhassi Raja’s anti-British struggle in the Malabar region.

Downfall and Death

• Following the Panamaram victory, the British launched a major counteroffensive against Pazhassi Raja’s forces.
• Despite fierce resistance through guerrilla tactics, the Kurichya fighters were eventually outnumbered and outgunned.
• Thalakkal Chanthu was captured and executed on 15 November 1805 under a Koly tree.
• Edachena Kunkan, another close aide of Pazhassi Raja, committed suicide at Panniyil (now Pannichal, Kerala) to avoid capture.

Legacy

• Thalakkal Chanthu is remembered as a hero of tribal resistance and a key figure in Pazhassi Raja’s freedom movement.
• On 22 September 2012, the Kerala State Government inaugurated a memorial and museum near Panamaram Fort on the banks of the Kabini River.
• The museum exhibits replicas of weapons, traditional tools, and Kurichya cultural artifacts, commemorating Chanthu’s bravery and his role under Pazhassi Raja.

UPSC Quick Facts

1. Question Reference
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