Kayamkulam Kochunni

2021-05-22T10:24:50Z

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{{other uses|Kayamkulam Kochunni (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Short description|Robin Hood of Kayamkulam|bot = }}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kayamkulam Kochunni
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = 1818
| birth_place = Near Kottukulangara, [[Karthikappally]] [[Taluk]], [[Travancore|Kingdom of Travancore]]
| death_date = 1859 (aged 41)<br/>Travancore Prison<br/>or<br/>1895 / 1896 (aged 77)<br/>[[Vallikunnam]]
| death_place =
| resting_place =
| other_names = [[Robin Hood]] of [[Kayamkulam]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Brigand|highwayman}}
| known_for = Stealing from rich people and giving to the poor
| spouse =
| children =
| parents =
}}
Kayamkulam Kochunni (born 1818) was a [[Outlaw|heroic outlaw]] from [[Kayamkulam]], who lived during the early 19th century. He was active in the [[Central Travancore]] area in the present-day [[Kerala]], India. He is said to have stolen from the rich and given to the poor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ml.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%B4%90%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%B9%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B2/%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%82%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%B3%E0%B4%82_%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8A%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A3%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A3%E0%B4%BF |title=Wikibooks Malayalam- Aithihyamala- Kayamkulam Kochunni |publisher=Wikibooks-Malayalam |date=7 June 2011 |accessdate=10 June 2011}}</ref> Legends on his life are part of the [[folklore]] of Kerala.<ref name=deccan>[http://archive.deccanherald.com/Content/Jul272008/editpage2008072681097.asp Where a legendary Robin Hood played his tricks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317151301/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Content/Jul272008/editpage2008072681097.asp |date=17 March 2010 }}, ''Deccan Herald'', 27 July 2008.</ref> His stories are often associated with his friend and fellow outlaw [[Ithikkara Pakki]].<ref name="The Hindu">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/30/stories/2007083054570400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310192058/http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/30/stories/2007083054570400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 March 2008 |location=Chennai, India |work=[[The Hindu]] |title=Now, a shrine for Kayamkulam Kochunni |date=30 August 2007}}</ref> A shrine dedicated to Kochunni exist in near Kozhencherry.<ref>https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/devotees-have-been-flocking-hindu-temple-years-worship-muslim-robin-hood-37291</ref>

==History==
Kayamkulam Kochunni was born in 1818, near Kottukulangara, [[Karthikapally]] [[Taluk]] in [[Travancore]] (present-day [[Kerala]]). He spent 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 lover betrayed him, he escaped and killed her along with her assistant. Following that he went into hiding, during which he stole the [[Shaligram]] belonging to the [[Padmanabhaswamy Temple]]. [[Ayilyam Thirunal|Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma]] was the ruler of Travancore and [[T. Madhava Rao]] was the [[Diwan (title)|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, after which a warrior, [[Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker]], was enlisted with the task, who eventually captured him and submitted to the Diwan. Panicker was honoured by the King. Kochunni was remanded for one year, during which he died in the Travancore jail in 1859. His remains was buried at the [[Pettah, Thiruvananthapuram|Pettah]] [[Juma Masjid]].<ref>{{cite news|title=കായംകുളം കൊച്ചുണ്ണി ഈ ഖബറിസ്ഥാനിലുറങ്ങുന്നു; കൊടുംകവർച്ചക്കാരന് 'ഖബർ' ഒരുക്കിയതിനു പിന്നിലുമുണ്ടൊരു കഥ|url=https://www.vanitha.in/justin/kayamkulam-kochunni-thief-graveyard.html|accessdate=14 October 2018|work=[[Vanitha]]|date=13 October 2018|language=ml}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Once a jail, now a place to store history|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140830/nation-current-affairs/article/once-jail-now-place-store-history|accessdate=10 October 2018|work=Deccan Chronicle|date=30 August 2014}}</ref>

However, Kochunni's death is disputed. Another record cites he was imprisoned at [[Central Prison, Poojappura]] in his 70s.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sidhardhan|first=Sanjith|title=What went behind recreating the legend of Kayamkulam Kochunni|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/what-went-behind-recreating-the-legend-of-kayamkulam-kochunni/articleshow/65081267.cms|accessdate=16 October 2018|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=22 July 2018}}</ref> Some researchers states that it was after the success of [[Kayamkulam Kochunni (1966 film)|the 1966 film]] that the present account of his death (that he died in September 1859, aged 41) was popularized and dominated while the other account diminished, the movie used the former since it was more suitable for the film's commercial success. As per the other record, he escaped and lived another 36 years. He died at the age of 77 from [[Tuberculosis]] at the cow barn of Thoppil ''[[tharavadu]]'' (family of [[Thoppil Bhasi]]) in [[Vallikunnam]]. He was staying there undercover as a steward and farm-hand of the family. A woman from the house took care of him during his final days, who was the only one aware of his true identity.<ref name=history>{{cite news|title=കായംകുളം കൊച്ചുണ്ണി; അറിയപ്പെടാതെപോയ സത്യങ്ങള്‍|url=https://www.janmabhumidaily.com/news504284|accessdate=16 October 2018|work=[[Janmabhumi]]|date=5 November 2016|language=ml}}</ref>

During Kochunni's peak time, the Diwan ordered his capture. The then [[Tahsildar]] of Karthikapally Taluk managed to capture him with the help of one of Kochunni's confidant. But Kochunni escaped and killed his confidant and the policeman who arrested him. Later, Kunju Panicker was appointed as the Tahsildar. He sought the help of Kochunni's acquaintances Kochu Pillai, Kopparaparambil Mammad, Kaduvachery Vava, Kottappurathu Bappukunju, Pakkolathu Noorammadhu, and Valiyakulangara Kunjumarakkar. Kochunni was invited to Kochu Pillai's wife's home in [[Vazhappally]] and sedated him by drugging food. He was arrested, and while transporting him to Thiruvananthapuram through Kayamkulam [[wikt:backwater|backwater]]s, he regained sense and managed to escape by leaping into the water. It is said that Kochunni was in hideout at [[Pathanamthitta]] and [[Punalur]] after that and to have returned to Kayamkulam during his final period, and shortly after moved to a secure hideout at Thoppil family. While another of the same account states he was successfully transported to Thiruvananthapuram, incarcerated and hanged after 91 days (in 1859 at the age of 41) and his remains to have buried at the Pettah Juma Masjid. However, there is no documentation about his sentencing in state's jail records or in the Mathilakam documents.<ref name=history/>

==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 there offer candles, incense sticks, ganja, country-made liquor, betel leaves, pan, areca nut, tobacco, etc. to propitiate the deity.<ref name="The Hindu"/> There is a small museum at Varanappallil, an [[Tharavadu|ancestral house]] in [[Kayamkulam]] for Kochunni.<ref name=deccan/>

== In popular culture ==
* The legends about Kochunni are compiled in a book by [[Kottarathil Sankunni]] in his collection of folklores, ''[[Aithihyamala]]''.
* Stories on him are part of the comic book series ''[[Amar Chitra Katha]]''.
* ''[[Kayamkulam Kochunni (1966 film)|Kayamkulam Kochunni]]'', a 1966 [[Malayalam]] film, was directed by [[P. A. Thomas]]. [[Sathyan (actor)|Sathyan]] portrayed Kochunni.
* ''[[Kaayamkulam Kochunniyude Makan]]'', a 1976 Malayalam film, was directed by [[J. Sasikumar]].
* ''Kayamkulam Kochunni'', a Malayalam TV serial was telecast on [[Surya TV]]. A teenage Kochunni was played by [[Manikuttan]].
* ''[[Kayamkulam Kochunniyude Makan (TV Series)|Kayamkulam Kochunniyude Makan]]'', a Malayalam TV serial was telecast on [[Surya TV]].
* ''[[Kayamkulam Kochunni (2018 film)|Kayamkulam Kochunni]]'', a 2018 Malayalam film, was directed by [[Rosshan Andrrews]]. [[Nivin Pauly]] portrayed Kochunni.

==See also==
* [[Ithikkara Pakki]]
* [[Mulamoottil Adima]]
* [[Vellayani Paramu]]
* [[Jambulingam Nadar]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?articleType=Malayalam+News&contentId=6711735&contentType=EDITORIAL&BV_ID=@@@ Article in ''Malayala Manorama Daily'']

[[Category:Indian highwaymen]]
[[Category:1818 births]]
[[Category:1859 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Alappuzha district]]
[[Category:Kerala folklore]]

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Kayamkulam Kochunni