Editing Pazhassi Raja (section)

===Second revolt and death (1800–1805)===

After the fall of Tipu, Wayanad fell to the East India Company. They sent a Mysore Commission to seize Wayanad and planned to annex it to either Canara or Coimbatore.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=78}} But as Wayanad was a traditional possession of Kottayam Raja and Pazhassi had been in control of this region since 1793, Pazhassi interpreted the move as an encroachment on his country's ancient provinces. Raja retaliated by collecting a large force of Nayars which was now supplemented by Mappilas and Pathans,{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=83}} latter being ex-soldiers of Tipu who became unemployed after Tipu's death.{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=315}}

The Company administration at Madras appointed Major General [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Arthur Wellesley]] as the Presidency army commandant of Mysore, Canara & Malabar.

He planned a double-pronged move from Malabar Coast and Mysore into Wayanad and began preparations for that end.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=83}} Raja observed Major General-latter had brought reinforcements and building roads in Wayanad and outposts across rebel country. In response, Raja also recruited numerous men which so alarmed Wellesley that latter even wanted to kidnap kith and kin of rebels so as to check Raja's recruitment.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}

Raja learned that Wellesley had left to Deccan on a military mission-Raja who understood that Major General's absence is a great chance swiftly made his move. He marched across Kuttiyadi Pass and below he made a junction with Unni Mootha Mooppan, a Walluvanad Mappila leader & his men and soon several great nobles like Kampuratt Nambiar of Iruvazhinad, Peruvayal Nambiar and [[Kannavath Sankaran Nambiar]] also joined Raja with their men.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=84}}{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=175}}{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=66}}

By monsoon of 1800, rebels who controlled all of country-side of Kottayam threatened to overwhelm Company outposts in Kottayam.{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=315}}{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=85}} Wellesley sent a large force under Colonel Sartorius to recapture rebel-held Kottayam.{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=175}}{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=85}} But the plan could not be carried out as there were not enough troops in Malabar. Wellesley advised Commissioners to stop all communications with Wayanad so as to starve Raja of supplies.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=89}} But the shortage of troops also meant this plan too remained on paper. By the time, Wellesley decided to smash Raja by a double drive from Malabar Coast and Mysore into Wayanad, Manjeri Athan Gurikkal an Ernad Mappila leader along with his followers agreed to support of Raja.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}

By 1801, a large East India Company force of over 10,000 men swarmed all over Kottayam and Wayanad and they blocked all passes that linked Wayanad{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=68}} with Malabar. Before so large numbers, rebels thought wise to go under-ground for time being. Raja also found that he could no longer contact his supporters in Southern Wayanad and Southern Malabar.{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=180}}{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=90}}{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=316}} Raja became a wanderer in forests but even then, to surprise of the East India Company, he ruled out compromise it seems he understood that there was no alternative to full freedom.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}

Raja had six close aides and 25 musketeers in his wanderings.{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=316}} First, he went north via Payyavur along montane forests of eastern Chirakkal to rally support.{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=187}} But the EIC were on his trail but failed to catch him. Raja then visited his secret bases in Kottayam{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=187}} and then moved into Kadathanad and into jungles of Kurumbranad.{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=68}} The East India Company were angered that where ever he went, nobles supported him in secret and decided to punish them for their help to rebel Raja.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=93}}

As a part of their policies to quell the rebellion, Peruvayal Nambiar who was arrested was hanged. The East India Company also threatened to issue a penalty and confiscation of property for all those rebels who failed to surrender in six weeks time. But a pardon was also issued for surrendered rebels. But none of these threats and temptations worked and Raja was still at large. But some of his chief supporters were arrested of whom Kannavath Sankaran Nambiar was most famous. Kannavath Sankaran Nambiar and his son were hanged too and their property was confiscated.{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=316}}{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=192}}{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=34}}

Following execution of Kannavath Nambiar, a deceptive calm descended on North Malabar-calm before the storm. Collector Major MacLeod believed that war was over and went ahead with his charged duties. He immediately declared total disarmament of Malabar{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=101}} and threatened those who kept arms with the death penalty. He also doubled the rate of tax and ordered a reassessment of tax of whole Malabar in a mere forty days.{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=316}}{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=103}}{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=282}}

All these 'reforms' paid back in 1803 when Malabar was on verge of revolt as people quickly became incensed.{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=316}}{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=103}} MacLeod tried to calm this with corrective measure-He cancelled all his 'reforms' and old system was reinstated. But it was too late for Wayanad where Raja's men were prepared for a rebellion.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}

====Capture of Panamaram Fort====
[[Image:Moat around Panamaram fort site.JPG|thumb|250px|Remains of the Moat surrounded the Panamaram [[Fortification|fort]]. Now it is almost covered with creepers and bushes, Panamaram, [[Wayanad district|Wayanad]], Kerala.]]
[[Image:Koli tree near Panamaram fort site.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Koli tree near the Panamaram [[Fortification|fort]]. Talakkal Chandu was executed somewhere near this tree., Panamaram, [[Wayanad district|Wayanad]], Kerala.]]
The first major event was the capture of [[Panamaram]] Fort. [[Edachena Kunkan|Edachena Kungan]] who planned the operation and was helped by 150 Kurichia bowmen under Talakkal Chandu. Fort had 70 men under Captain Dickenson and there was a large force of 360 men under Major Drummond only a few miles away in Pulinjali.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=103}} So if Major came to help Captain in time Kurichia force would be overwhelmed by gun-fire and numbers. But Kungan and Chandu decided to take risk.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}

The whole garrison was slaughtered in the surprise attack led by the two generals and they lost only 5 dead and 10 wounded. Dickenson himself was killed.{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=69}}{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=21}} Rebels got 112 muskets, six boxes of ammunition and 6000 rupees. They also destroyed the whole fort.(The remains of the fort can be seen now near Panamaram High School).{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=283}}

Wellesley was enraged at this rebel audacity and dispatched 500 men to retaliate. But by then rebel victory had roused all of Wayanad and Kottayam.{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=316}} Edachena Kungan, the hero of Panamaram success, went to Pulpally shrine and issued a proclamation to people to join Raja's war.{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=282}} 3000 men volunteered.{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=69}}  They were posted at Valliyurkav at Mananthavadi, Motimjarra [?], and Edappally and 100 of them under the brother of Kungan posted themselves at Periya Pass and 25 men were posted at Kottiyur Pass. Rebel outposts were set up en route from Dindimal to Valliyurkav. The rebel army was mostly composed of archers and swordsmen, but some had muskets.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=104}}

Edachena Kungan led an attack on a Company detachment headed from Mysore to Mananthavadi. The harassment began once this force entered Wayanad till it reached a stream between Manathavadi and Bhavully river. There they were blocked by a rebel force entrenched on the opposite side of the stream. But to ill luck of rebels, a reinforcement which had caught up with blocked Company army outflanked the rebel entrenchment and took a large number of [[Prisoner of war|prisoners of war]].{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}

Besides, East India Company reinforcements arrived in Wayanad from all directions. But they could find rebels nowhere.{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=316}}

The rebels now concentrated in Kottayam. In 1802, they raided a supplies convoy near Kottiyur.{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=69}} The Company administration were frustrated by Kottayam people's total lack of co-operation. To add to their trouble, in 1803, a rebel force took to field in Kurumbranad* & Payyormala*{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=283}} and people were sympathetic to rebels.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=106}} Kungan marched towards Pazhassi to wipe out the Company outpost there but had to retreat, though they suffered serious losses. Soon rebellion spread into Chirakkal where armed bands of partisans launched operations and often fought against the Presidency troops openly. Raja's army by end of 1803 was ranging as far as Kannur and Thalasseri.{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=316}}{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=21}}{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=283}}{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=111}}{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=70}} An estimated 3350 partisans of Pazhassi Raja took part in this operation that extended south as far as Ernad.{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=69}}

In March 1803, a rebel force marched as far as Calicut and captured Sub-Jail where they killed all guards and seized their firearms and ammunition.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=106}} They also released prisoners, many of whom joined ranks of the rebel army.{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=21}} This was too much for MacLeod and he resigned immediately after this event.{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=283}}{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=107}}

In 1803, Wellesley left for Europe, after three years of inconclusive war with Pazhassi Raja, later destined to become Duke of Wellington, vanquisher of Napoleon at Waterloo.<ref name="Panikker">Historical preface of Kerala Simham, Sardar KM Panikker, [1941], DC Books, 2008 Edition, Kottayam 686,001</ref>

In 1803, the East India Company had 8,147 soldiers to fight Pazhassi Raja. But as the situation was slipping out of control, the EIC military command in Malabar requested for another 5,000 men. This reinforcement arrived in early 1804 and thus increasing their total force to 13,000 men.{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=70}}

In 1804, a large Presidency army arrived and 1200 Kolkar were also ready for action.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=111}} Most importantly Thomas Hervey Baber, a civil servant was appointed as Sub-Collector.{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=35}}{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=112}} It was he who crushed Pazhassi's Revolt forever. It is indeed ironic that what a military genius like Wellesley could not attain, was achieved by Baber&nbsp;– said to be just a 'civil servant.' Baber had both a personal motive&nbsp;– to avenge the death of his friend Major Cameron, the first husband of his wife Helen Somerville Fearon at the hand of Pazhassi Raja on 9 January 1797 at Periya Pass. Baber became a civil servant to protect the interests of a small but influential group of merchants that included his in-laws&nbsp;– the Inglis and Money families of Bombay. It is noteworthy that Baber's son Henry Fearon Baber married the Granddaughter of George Harris, 1st Baron Srirangapattam and the nemesis of Tipu Sultan.

In 1804, a huge rising led by Kalyat Nambiar [a powerful Chirakkal noble but Raja's sympathiser] and Raja's men in largely forested eastern Chirakkal was defeated by the company.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=111}}{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=317}}{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=286}} If there was large and long revolt warfare in Chirakkal, it would have immensely profited Raja. Though there was a lot of supporters of Raja in Chirakkal, as revolt collapsed fast as rebels opted for open confrontation instead of time-honoured guerrilla warfare. Another cause for the failure of revolt was treacherous Kolkar also served their White pay-masters well.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}

So once more rebel force had retreated to Wayanad. They were hotly chased by East India Company who had 2000 Sepoys and 1000 allied Kolkars. A reward of 3000 pagodas was offered for Raja along with 1000 Pagodas for Edachena Kungan and bounties were put on heads of 10 other associates of Raja.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}

But rebels, mostly Kurumbas, struck at Churikunji [?] in Wayanad.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=119}} Though they had to withdraw, they had devastated their enemy. That year, a party of Kolkar nearly caught Raja but he escaped thanks to timely warning of a Kurumba guard.{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=36}}

But monsoon and brutal climate of Wayanad soon aided Raja. Of 1300 Kolkar only 170 were not sick by October.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=120}} Raja and Edachena Kungan organised a large force of Kurichias and Kurumbas at Pulpally shrine and positioned them to as far as Kurichiyat.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=119}} Also, the effort of Kungan to rally Nayar nobles of Wayanad to support Raja's war-effort had also succeeded.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}

The EIC for past couple of years did not have to suffer the loss on a scale of Periya in 1797, but matters were not easy for the Company at all. Even in Kottayam which had become quiet might explode once more and a large rebel force with Raja as the head was still at large. But one must remember that the whole revolt is a one-man show as Wellesley himself remarked once-“''We are not fighting 1000 men [Raja's army]&nbsp;... but one man&nbsp;... Kerala Varma''.”-Raja's end would mean end of revolt.<ref name="Panikker" />

====Betrayal and death====
T.H. Baber went to Mysore to direct operations himself and began a large search for informants and traitors. The East India Company themselves admitted that they did not get a lot of informants as locals were devoted to Raja, but some of those few informants proved devastating to revolt-one of them a Chetti, found out where Raja had camped and informed Baber who took to field with 100 Kolkar and 50 Sepoys.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=121}}

There is one school of thought that blames Pazhayamviden Chandu as solely responsible for fall of Raja and end of his revolt.{{sfnp|Ramachandran|2008|p=95}} Pazhayamviden worked with the East India Company administration as an "adviser" like Pallore Eman, but in reality, spied for Raja. But in autumn of 1805 Pazhayamviden decided to betray all military secrets of his master for a large sum of money.

In light of the above points, it will not be far-fetched to believe that Chetti who guided Company troops to Raja's hideout mentioned by Baber in his letter could be a servant or agent of Pazhayamviden Chandu.

On 30 November 1805, Raja and retainers were camped close to Karnataka on the shore of a stream named Mavila or Mavila Tod [not far from Pulpally]. Raja and party were caught by surprise and an intense but short fight followed. Six rebels were killed. One of the earliest rebels to be killed was Pazhassi Raja.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}

But evidently, wounded Raja did live long enough for a few more minutes to raise his loaded gun and then tell Canara Menon, an East India Company minor official, not to come too close to his dying body and pollute it.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=123}} Raja's contempt and sarcasm for a man who chose to serve unclean foreigner are evident. But it also showed his uncompromising stand towards collaborators and foreign invaders.

The precise nature of Raja's death is controversial. Folklore insists that he committed suicide by swallowing a diamond ring to avoid capture after he was wounded{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=15}} but Baber says he was killed by a clerk named Canara Menon.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} W. J. Wilson, who wrote on the history of the Madras Regiment, credits Captain Clafam and his six sepoys for killing. This third version is more likely as Baber was not on good terms with military authority throughout the war. He is alleged to have credited Menon so as to deny credit to Clafam and his superior Colonel Hill.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=126}}

Kunjani, the wife of Raja who was taken the prisoner, committed suicide in captivity at Kappanaveedu, near Thalassery. As reprisal on his family, property was confiscated and the palace at Pazhassi was demolished and replaced with a highway.{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=27}}{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=52}}{{sfnp|Ramachandran|2008|p=95}} The sorry state of his family aroused sympathy in local Thiyyas, who were loyal followers and built a new house for his family.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Elayavoor|first1=Vanidas|title=Vadakkan Aitihyamala|date=2002|publisher=Current Books|location=Kottayam|isbn=8124003963|page=108|edition=4th}}</ref>