Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker

Arattupuzha Velayudha Chekavar, also known as Kallisseril Velayudha Chekavar (7 January 1825 – 3 January 1874) was a 19th-century social reformer and warrior, known for his fight against many social evils prevalent in the state of Kerala. He was born into an affluent Thiyar family known as Kallisseril, in the small independent province called Mangalam, near Haripad in Alappuzha district.

Early life

Arattupuzha Velayudha Chekavar was born into the Kallisseril Tharavad (also known as the Valiya Kadavil family), in a small independent province called 'Mangalam', in Arattupuzha, Haripad, Karthikapally Taluk of Alappuzha district. Kallisseril was a wealthy and influential Hindu Thiyar family of the region, with a martial arts lineage. His maternal grandfather was Valiya Kadavil Perumal Chekavar, also known as Perumalachan. Velayudha Panicker's mother was Perumalachan's eldest daughter. His father was Kuttithara Govinda Chekavar who hailed from Eruva, in Kayamkulam.

Velayudha Panicker's forefathers were successful merchants, who had trade relations with Arab, Kutch and Sinhalese traders. The Kallisseril family owned their own cargo ships for foreign trade and, was the owners of acres of coconut plantations, paddy fields and farm lands around the region.

Velayudha Chekavar was home tutored and imparted a good education by his grandfather, Perumalachan. Velayudha chekavar became proficient in the languages Sanskrit, Malayalam and Tamil. In his adolescence, large wrestling matches and Kalari practices were organized by his grandfather in Arattupuzha. Velayudha Chekavar grew up to be an expert in wrestling and became an exponent in the Kerala martial arts, Kalaripayattu. He excelled in swimming and was also an expert horseback rider.

After the death of his grandfather, Velayudha Chekavar inherited the family properties and took over the family rule.

He married Velumbi, a member of the Varanappally Thiyar family of Kayamkulam. Velumbi and Velayudha Panicker had seven children.

Legacy

Arattupuzha Velayudha Chekavar is considered to be the first notable person to challenge the Savarnas of Kerala, and it led to many legendary struggles on behalf of both women and men, against the upper caste domination.

Arattupuzha Velayudha Chekavar built a temple called the Mangalam Shiva temple (also known as Edakkad Jnaneswara Temple) in Arattupuzha. Built in 1852, the temple opened its door to people of all castes and religions.

He built another Shiva temple at Cheruvaranam, Thanneermukkom in Cherthala, in 1854.

In 1858, Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker spearheaded the Achipudava Samaram (strike for the right to wear lengthy lower garment, extending below the knees, by the women of backward Elava communities) at Kayamkulam. He further organized the Karshaka Thozhilali Samaram, the first ever strike by agricultural labourers in Kerala, and succeeded.

Ethappu Samaram of 1859 (strike for the right to wear upper cloth by the women of backward Elava communities) led by Velayudha Chekavvar was a continuation of the Achipudava Samaram.

Velayudha Chekavar headed the Mukkuthi Samaram of 1860 (strike for the right to wear nose studs and other gold ornaments by lower caste women) in Pandalam.

The successful outcomes of these 19th century struggles, organized and led by Velayudha Chekavar ,played pivotal role in elevating the dignity of lower caste Elava women in the society.

Velayudha Chekavar established the first Kathakali (the classical dance form of Kerala) Yogam for Thyars in 1861. Kathakali performed by Thiyars and members of other Hindu communities, was staged for the first time.

In 1869, on his way to Padmanabhaswamy temple for the Murajapam (the chanting of prayers and recitation of three Vedas performed for a period of 56 days), Brahmin priest Tharananellur Nambudiri, was robbed of his Salagramam (sacred stone) in the backwaters of Kayamkulam. For capturing the robbers and recovering the Salagramam back to Tharananellur Nambudiri, Velayudha Chekavar was given the title “Panicker” by the king of Travancore.

In 1874, a few upper castes plotted against Velayudha Chekavar and some Elavas along with an Elavan named kittan murdered him in his sleep during a boat journey in the darkness of night. He was 48 years old at the time of his death.

Arattupuzha Velayudha Chekavar was the first martyr of Kerala Renaissance.

A research centre now exists called ''The'' ''Arattupuzha Velayudha Chekavar Research Foundation and Cultural Centre''.

In popular culture

Indian filmmaker Vinayan has directed and released Pathonpatham Noottandu, a Malayalam-language biopic based on Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker's life, with Siju Wilson in the role of Velayudha Panicker.

Sajil Sreedhar wrote an epic novel titled 'Avarnnan' based on the life of Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker, which was published by Poorna books, Calicut. Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, released a documentary titled ‘Munpe Nadannavan’ based on the life of Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker, directed by Mr U K Sreejith Bhaskar, on 25 August 2022.{{Cite web , last=truevisionnews.com , title=ഡോക്യുമെന്ററി 'മുൻപേ നടന്നവൻ' മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി പ്രകാശനം ചെയ്തു {{! Breaking News from Kerala Districts India and World. News Sports News Cricket News Updates , url=https://moviemax.in/news/63983/the-chief-minister-released-a-documentary-titled-munpe-nadannavan , access-date=2022-09-07 , website=ഡോക്യുമെന്ററി 'മുൻപേ നടന്നവൻ' മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി പ്രകാശനം ചെയ്തു , language=ml

Dr Rajan P, Ex-RBI Officer released a Novel 'The Left Over' built around the life of Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker and was Published in 2016 by Notion Press. Ex-Minister, G. Sudhakaran presided the release of this publication in Press Club, Thiruvananthapuram in 2016. It is claimed to be first english Novel based on Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker's life.

See also

* Kuroolli Chekon
*Channar revolt
* Breast tax

References

Narayana Guru
Social history of Kerala
19th-century Indian people
Indian social reformers
Indian history in popular culture
Indian history articles by quality and importance