Kayamkulam Kochunni

Kayamkulam Kochunni
Born 1818
Near Kottukulangara, Karthikappally Taluk, Kingdom of Travancore, British India
Died 1859 (aged 40–41)
Travancore Prison
Resting place Pettah Juma Masjid, Thiruvananthapuram
Monuments Shrine at Edappara Maladevar Nada Temple, Kozhencherry
Other names Robin Hood of Kerala
Occupation
  • Brigand
  • highwayman
Known for Stealing from rich people and giving to poor
Home town Evoor, Travancore

Kayamkulam Kochunni (1818 – 1859) was a famed Muslim brigand from Kayamkulam, who lived during the early 19th century. He was active in the Central Travancore area in British India. He is said to have stolen from the rich and given to the poor (like Robin Hood).[1] Kayamkulam Kochunni died in jail in 1859. Stories on him are often associated with his friend and highwayman Ithikkara Pakki from Ithikkara village on the shore of Ithikkara River.[2] Legends on his life are part of the folklore of Kerala.[3]

Apart from Kochunni and Pakki, other legendary bandits of Kerala are Mulamoottil Adima, Vellayani Paramu and Jambulingam Nadar.

History

Kayamkulam Kochunni was born in 1818, near Kottukulangara, Karthikapally Taluk in Travancore (present-day Kerala), British India. He spend his childhood and younger ages in Evoor. After his father's death, the family fell to poverty and Kochunni was employed in a grocery store. Later he began stealing and became an outlaw. He was known for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Kochunni was once caught by the officials after his girlfriend betrayed him, he escaped and killed her along with her assistant. He was in hideout after that, during which he stole the Shaligram belonging to the Padmanabhaswamy Temple. Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma was the ruler of Travancore and T. Madhava Rao was the Diwan of Travancore at the time. Kochunni was accused of several thefts and two homicides. Both the Palace and police officials failed to find Kochunni, afterwhich a warrior, Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker, was enlisted with the task, who eventually caught him and submitted to the Diwan. Panicker was honoured and rewarded by the King. Kochunni was remanded for one year, during which he died in the Travancore jail in 1859. His body was buried at the Pettah Juma Masjid.[4] The common belief is he was imprisoned at Central Prison, Poojappura, but its construction began only in 1862. According to historians, the Central Archives building in present-day Thiruvananthapuram was formerly a prison in the 19th century and is believed to be the first Travancore prison, which is likely where Kochunni was incarcerated.[5]

Legacy

A shrine dedicated to Kochunni is attached to Edappara Maladevar Nada Temple near Kozhencherry that dates back more than one-and-a-half centuries.People here offer candles, incense sticks, ganja, country-made liquor, betel leaves, pan, areca nut, tobacco, etc. to propitiate the deity.[6] There is a small museum at Varanappallil, an ancestral house in Kayamkulam for Kochunni.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Wikibooks Malayalam- Aithihyamala- Kayamkulam Kochunni". Wikibooks-Malayalam. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  2. ↑ "Now, a shrine for Kayamkulam Kochunni". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 30 August 2007.
  3. 1 2 Where a legendary Robin Hood played his tricks, Deccan Herald, 27 July 2008.
  4. ↑ "കായംകുളം കൊച്ചുണ്ണി ഈ ഖബറിസ്ഥാനിലുറങ്ങുന്നു; കൊടുംകവർച്ചക്കാരന് 'ഖബർ' ഒരുക്കിയതിനു പിന്നിലുമുണ്ടൊരു കഥ". Vanitha (in Malayalam). 13 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "Once a jail, now a place to store history". Deccan Chronicle. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  6. ↑ "Now, a shrine for Kayamkulam Kochunni". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 30 August 2007.
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