Thalakkal Chanthu facts for kids

Thalakkal Chanthu, also known as Thalakkal Chandu, was a skilled archer and a strong leader. He was the commander-in-chief of the Kurichya soldiers who fought alongside Pazhassi Raja. They battled against the British forces in the Wayanad jungles during the early 1800s.

A Brave Leader: Thalakkal Chanthu

Chanthu started his journey working under another leader named Edachena Kunkan. Because of his great skills and bravery, Edachena Kunkan soon promoted him to the rank of general. Pazhassi Raja and all his soldiers looked up to Chanthu. They saw him as their most capable and strongest war leader.

The Fight for Freedom: Panamaram Fort

The British East India Company made farmers in Wayanad pay very high taxes on their crops. This made many people very unhappy. One day, a British tax collector demanded rice from a Kurichya man. Edachena Kunkan stepped in and stopped him. This event made the entire Kurichya tribe decide to join Edachena Kunkan in his fight against the British, on behalf of Pazhassi Raja.

On October 11, 1802, Thalakkal Chandu and Edachena Kunkan led a group of 175 Kurichya archers. They launched a surprise attack and successfully captured the British fort at Panamaram. This fort was defended by 70 British soldiers. During the battle, the British commanding officer, Captain Dickinson, and Lieutenant Maxwell were killed.

The British forces quickly planned a counter-attack. They managed to trap Chanthu on November 15, 1805. He was executed under a Koly tree.

Remembering a Hero: Thalakkal Chanthu Memorial

To honor Thalakkal Chanthu, the Kerala State Government built a special memorial for him. It was opened on September 22, 2012. The memorial is located near Panamaram Fort, right by the banks of the Kabini river.

This memorial is like a museum. Inside, you can see models of the weapons that Chanthu and his Kurichya archers used. It also displays traditional farming tools used by the tribe long ago.