Pazhassi Raja – Lion King Of Kerala

Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, who belonged to the Kottayam Royal Family in Talacherry in Kannur was a “royal rebel”. His crime: revolting against the British. The Pazhassi Revolt started in 1793. During that time, northern Kerala was ruled by Tipu Sultan and his father Hyder Ali. They collected tax directly from the peasants and farmers. Fearing Tipu Sultan, a lot of Pazhassi’s cousins and family fled to south Kerala, but he stuck on to help his beloved subjects. Once the British took over, they started collecting it from the King and the landlords, increasing the tax in the meantime.

Pazhassi Raja refused to collect tax. After an unsuccessful attempt by the British to assassinate him at his own palace, Pazhassi Raja fled to the Wayanad forests. There, he gathered support from the Kurichiya tribals and Nair landlords in and around the Banasura Hill. He formed a guerrilla army to face the British. At one time, he had helped the British to defeat Tipu, but now, to fight against the British, he used Tipu’s help! After successfully leading many battles, Pazhassi Raja was killed in november 1805.

The Pazhassi Tomb in Mananthavady in Wayanad attracts a lot tourists and history students. An underground museum exhibits articles that belonged to the Raja. The tomb and the underground museum were conceived and designed by Eugene Pandala, the architect and a Board member of Banasura Hill Resort.

A Malayalam movie of the same name has just been released all over India. It will be dubbed in almost all Indian languages and he movie will be screened in theatres abroad, too. It stars Mammooty, Manoj K. Jayan, Padmapriya and Sarath Kumar. This historical film will bring Pazhassi Raja’s life and sacrifice into the limelight; something which has been neglected till now. His contributions to Indian Independence will receive due appreciation once people all over the world watches the movie.