d a touring court to hear the grievances of the public and pronounce immediate judgments.
Velu Thampi was the first ruler after Pazhassi Raja to use defence tactics against the British. Though the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 has been referred to as the first freedom struggle, it was Velu Thampi who first raised the voice against the British in 1809.
Velu Thampi led the most courageous rebellion against the British which started as a direct fall out of the British Resident Macauly's interference in the internal affairs of Travancore. Initially, he was helped in his cause by Paliath Achan, the Diwan of the Kochi kingdom, but in the later stages, he fought a lonely campaign against the British. While his predecessors enjoyed the privilege of drawing money from the Treasury, Velu Thampi fixed the officials a monthly salary and also cut the allowance of the soldiers. This has led to an immediate revolt in the army. Though a good administrator, his stern and tough stand alienated him from some of the nobles as well.
In protest against the British, Velu Thampi addressed a large gathering at a place called Kundara on January 11, 1809 which later on came to be known as the Kundara Proclamation. It was an open call to arms which demanded the ouster of the British from the Indian soil. He proclaimed: "Don't allow staying English forces that hurt us even for a second. Wash them out". The proclamation had its effect and the whole kingdom rose like one man against the British. He was no match for the military might of the British Army. It was a tragedy that Velu Thampi failed militarily although he commanded a well trained army armed with muskets and artillery organized on European lines with 3,000 men and 18 guns! After his defeat at the hands of the British, Velu Thampi had to flee from his kingdom.
Meanwhile, the East India Company entered into a Treaty of Subordinate Isolation with the Maharaja of Travancore, offering its troops to ward off internal and external threats. Though this meant that the Nair Army who had fought bravely for the crown during the Third Mysore war would be disbanded, the Maharaja was supportive as it helped him maintain his throne while taking away a threat to his rule from future local rebellions. With the Treaty, Maharaja could call up the East India Company's army to put down civil uprisings, not to mention anything about saving money. This Treaty was used by the East India Company in other princely kingdoms of India.
Velu Thampi had spent his last days at Mannadi and reportedly ended his life to avoid being humiliated by the British at the Bhagavathi Temple on May 6, 1809. The Velu Thampi Dalawa Memorial being made at Mannadi near Adoor will be a fitting tribute to this great son of India who fought against the British 200 years back!(The author is a social activist and Director, Indo-Gulf Consulting. He can be contacted on firstname.lastname@example.org)