Kundara Proclamation (1809)

Kundara Proclamation (1809)

Kundara Proclamation is the call for an armed fight made by Velu Thampi, the Dewan of Travancore, against the British East India Company due to their growing interference in the internal affair of the Travancore state on 11th January 1809.

He was supported by the Dewan of Kochi, Paliath Achan. Their armies jointly attacked the official residence of British Resident Macaulay, but they could not withstand the modern artillery of the British army.

Also, the Rajas of Travancore and Cochin did not supported them openly. They were made to issue their arrest orders and appoint new Dewans by the Company.

Realizing his defeat, Velu Thampi committed suicide at the Mannadi temple (in modern day Kadampanad grama panchayat at Adoor Taluk, Pathanamthitta District). However, hysterical British army hanged his body at Kannamula, Thiruvananthapuram.

They also deported Paliath Achan to Madras, where he was kept prisoner at Fort St. George for next 12 years. He was then taken to Bombay and remained a prisoner there for another 13 years, finally passing away at Benares 1832.

Velu Thampi and Paliath Achan are now seen as the voice of rebellion among the Keralites against any sort of discrimination.