The Legend of Velayudha Chekavar

                

Velayudha Chekavar

Velayudha Chekavar (1825-1874 Jan, Punartham nakshatram) was known as Kaalisseril Velayudha Chekavar and later people called him Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker. He was born as the third son in a affluent Kuttithara Tharavadu in Eruva a place near Kayamkulam to Kuttithara Govindan Chekavar and his mother was the elder daughter of Valliakadavil Perumal Chekavar or Perumal Chekon whoes family deity was Kaalisseril. His mother passed away when he was 13 days old. Initially he was raised by his grandparents from his fathers side. After his father died a few years later, little Velayudha shifted with his mother's father Perumal Chekavar for formal education as Perumal Chekavar was proficient in various skills. Perumal Chekavar was famous for Tulunadan Kalari techniques (northern Kerala style of kalari) which was not so common in the southern style of kalaripayattu. Perumal Chekavar was well educated and also one of the biggest landlord in the area of Arattupuzha. He was also known as Perumalachan locally.

At the time of Central Travancore, Arattupuzha was towards the western end of Kayamkulam lake and to the north end of a place called Mangala Desam which was in between the Kayamkulam lake and the Arabian Sea, now the place comes under Karthikapally taluk.

Raja Kesava Dasan
Diwan of Travancore 1786

It is evident that Arattupuzha was one of the busiest ports in the 18th century. Perumal Chekavar had good relations with Dutch and Portuguese as a part of trading. At this period many bi business men from the north called "Seith" lived in the Kayamkulam area. It is towards the end of the 18th century, Raja Kesava Dasan, the Diwan of Travancore moved the port to Alappuzha  which is when most of the Seiths shifted from Kayamkulam to Alappuzha. The first ship that entered Alappuzha was recorded on 1786.

The chekavars of the family were fierce warriors. The family was famous for their proficiency in kalaripyattu, ayurveda, astrology and many more. Little Velayudha studied ayurveda, astrology from the family gurukkal(teacher) in addition to snaskrit, tamil and malayalam. He learnt Tulunadan style of  kalaripyattu. He excelled in every subject and was very proficient in his grammar.

Kaalisseril house of Velayudha Chekavar.2012

Marumakkathayam* give him the rights to take over the Kaalisseril Tharavad* at the age of 16 when the head of the Kaalisseril Tharavad was no more. Kaalisseril Tharavad had a legacy of big matrilineal members expert in various fields. The tharavad was famous for its teakwood naalkettu* which were impossible to distinguish from the rich saravana* houses. It is also said that at the time of the construction 7 carpenters were called in who were asked to make a small piece of wooden joints, these wooden joints were then dipped in the near by pond for a week. After a week the pieces were removed from the pond and checked for the water content inside the joints. Hence the best carpenter was given the contract. Even today after years, the remains of the house still exist.  Taking over Kaalisseril Tharavad, he developed business establishing his name all over the place as one of the leading traders. Difficult situations were created due to the impose of restriction from the upper caste, this is the time when a revolutionist was born in him, since then he had a remarkable life which let to many notable changes in the history of civilization.

Kaalisseril House, some blood rooted family members

He had around 300 acres of land with 14000 coconut plantations, 300 acres of paddy fields, a trading yacht  few horses, elephants, palanquins.. He also had a rich collection of gold, silver, brass, copper and iron as a measure of wealth. He was known to people as one of the strongest, biggest and the richest landlord under Kayamkulam, Ambalapuzha, Cherthala, Karunagapally and Kottayam.

At the age of 20, he was 7 feet tall, muscular, very fair skinned and an expert specialized in all kinds of weapons which he got trained by the best gurukkal* of that time and area. He was a great horse rider too. He taught his abilities and skills to some people no matter what caste or religion they hailed from. In 1845 he got married to Velumby of Puthupally Varnapally Tharavad (This is where Sree Narayana Guru lived while his higher education from Kummampali Raman Pillai Asan, which is quite evident that the foundation  laid by Velayudha Chekavar for the revolutions on the fight for social justice which Narayana Guru joined on the later part ).

Sree Narayana Guru

He had 7 sons who were named Kunjachan Panicker, Kunjan Panicker, Kunje Panicker, Kunjipilla Panicker, Kunjekunje Panicker, Kunjekrishnan Panicker and Veluthekunje Panicker. Lower caste had restrictions on adding 'Kunje' to their names which was considered as an epoch of religious misuses according to upper caste Hindu's. Its said that some muslims like Hasanar Kunje and some christians like Achan Kunje were named with Kunje in their names but were untouchable due to Mugal and Portuguese dominance. In spite of the restrictions Velayudha Chekavar named his sons with Kunje, in fact nobody had the courage to raise their voice against the same. (This is the era in the history when lower caste  started using 'Kunje' to their names without any restriction. This was an inspiration which named a person with Thamburan from a caste called pulayanmaar, which led people to call Thamburan like the kings were called at that time)   

Velayudha Chekavar undertook and initiated social justice for the welfare of the people no matter what caste or religion they were. He had friends from all caste, religion and enemies more than his friends most of them were upper caste people. It is said that he never used to support people who have committed a sin or a crime whether they were from his own caste or higher. He was active with his revolutions at Karthikapalli, Mavelikera, Karunagapally, Ambalapuzha, Cherthala and Kottayam.

HOY HOY CONFLICT WITH EDAPALLY RAJA

Edapally Raja were the rulers of the late medieval kingdom of Edapally (Elangallur Swarupam) which also included parts of Kallooppara, Karthikapally, Harripad, Cherthala, Vazhakulam (Muvattupuzha) and Thrikkunnapuzha in the  present state of Kerala. Edapally Rajas had no civil or criminal authorities within the principality. They were entitled to collect all the revenue form their jurisdiction of land and tribute to the Travancore.
In the same era, raja's and upper caste people used to travel in a palanquin with a group of people. The men carrying the palanquin would  say "hoy hoy" if they see any lower caste  on the road. This is a signal for the lower caste to get away from the road and if they do not get out of their way, severe punishment used to be given. In that crucial time, Edapally Raja was travelling from thrikkunnapuzha towards Kayamkulam in a palanquin carried by few men and a group of people, from the opposite direction it was our warrior on a palanquin with four men carrying him. At a long distance they sited the arrival of the raja

Men carrying Chekavar:    "Sir its Edapally Raja on the other side we will have to get out of the way"

          Velayudha Chekavar: "oh no, not this time... When you get closer to the raja, you make the 'hoy hoy' sound and if you get me out of the road I will kill you right here"

Palanquine

As they get closer 'hoy hoy' from both the sides get stronger and the movement stops. Both Raja and Chekavar get down from their palanquin and the argument starts

Raja: "How dare you stand in front of me and block my way, get out of my way "

Chekavar laughed, and called out in reply, "I have as good a right to the road as you. You can get a side till I get across."

This made the Raja very angry. He was so accustomed to being obeyed that he was very much astonished too. Between anger and astonishment he said, "move out or I will throw you in the ditch"

"If you touch me, I will beat you till you are black and blue," replied the Chekavar

Raja with his men moved to take down Chekavar. But Chekavar and his men were better fighters, they started a tremendous form of bang . Chekavar gave the Raja such a blow that his very bone seemed to ring..

Bang! smash! their blows fell fast and thick as if they had been threshing corn. Chekavar then lifted the Raja and threw him into the ditch and walked away.        

(This is a fiction  from the true incident)

Raja complained this incident to the Maharaja of Travancore. A criminal case was filed and Chekavor was sentenced to one year of imprisonment. 
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It is said that he gave 200 rupee (which was a huge amount at that time)  to the Edapally Raja to earn the tittle 'Panickan' to his name. There after he was called as Arattuphuzha Velayudtha Panickan in the areas of Kayamkulam, Karthikapally and Ambalapuzha. Panickan was a rank given to the solders and many others of the upper caste.
Tharananaloor Namboothiri, a temple priest was once transporting Salagramam Vigraham (a Hindu sacred stone) from the north to the Shri Padmanabha Swami temple under the orders from the Maharaja His Highness Ayilyam Thirunal. When the Namboothiri was passing through Kayamkulam lake, a gang of thieves from Keerikkad stole the Salagramam Vigraham and escaped. The Maharaja gave orders to the government and his military officials to find the thieves and bring back the vigraham. Government and the military failed to grab the thieves. The disappointed Maharaja who had heard the brave tales of Velayudha Chekavar in his senate , sent men with his orders to find the thieves and get back the sacred stone. Chekavar was very familiar with the location where the sacred stone was stolen. An investigation was done with the help of Tharananaloor Namboothiri and the locals of the area. Very soon he captured the thieves and brought back the sacred stone to the Shri Padmanabha Temple. His ethical approach and bravery was so impressed that the Maharaja rewarded him with the tittle Panickal permanently in the state of Travancore. The Maharaja's immense happiness rewarded him with Veera Sringala (a gold bracelet of honour) on both his hands (normally only one was awarded) This is how people came to know the brave Panickan of all times. Later people added 'er' to his name with a mark of respect leading to be called 'Panicker'.
      

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