There was no denying Kunjipilla’s – later to become known as Shakthan Thampuran – capabilities and potential. He showed keen interest in every aspect of state administration and security, immersing himself deeply in the affairs of the realm. As time passed, his insights came to be regarded as invaluable and were keenly sought. The Raja began to increasingly rely on his nephew’s counsel.
In 1767, when Kunjipilla was just 16, a Nambudiri travelling from Thripunithura to Ernakulam was ambushed by a gang of Mopla robbers. They descended upon him without warning, seized the hapless man and ruthlessly stripped him of all his gold and valuables. The Nambudiri, bereft of his wealth, sank to the roadside in despair, his head buried in his hands, his body trembling with fear and shock.
He was not a wealthy man and was the sole provider for his family. Additionally, he was burdened with the heavy responsibility and expense of marrying off his five daughters. Overwhelmed by the attack and distraught over his dire situation, he found himself in a dilemma as to whether to continue his journey to Ernakulam or return to Thripunithura. Fearing for his safety, he decided to return home, despite the urgent attention his commitments in Ernakulam required.
He retraced his steps but could not get the horrific experience out of his head. All along the way, he relived the horrors of the dastardly attack. When the fog of his confusion, distress and fear gradually lifted, he resolved to seek justice. His determination to see his attackers punished grew with each step he took towards Thripunithura. As he entered the township, the Raja’s palace came into his vision, as though beckoning him in. He entered the palace and sought an audience with the Raja.
When he was granted an audience, the Nambudiri narrated what had transpired in a steady voice, describing every detail of the robbery, including the extent of his loss. The Raja gave him a patient hearing. He castigated the Nambudiri for venturing forth without adequate protection. Seeing the Nambudiri’s despair, the Raja finally said, “Do not worry. I will ask my nephew Kunjipilla to see that amends are made. He will help you.”
The Raja then summoned Kunjipilla and narrated to him what the Nambudiri had told him. Kunjipilla heard the story and then unhesitatingly said, “Do not worry. I will right this wrong. Please permit the Nambudiri to reside in Thripunithura till I return.”
The Nambudiri, slightly disheartened by the scolding he had just received from the Raja, looked at the young prince rather sceptically. He wondered how this young lad, though strong and athletic in build, could deliver the justice he so desperately sought, especially when the Raja had not been able to offer him any succour. The Nambudiri’s eyes lingered on the youth, doubt clouding his mind. Yet there was something about Kunjipilla, his presence and the way he spoke, that lit up a flicker of hope in the Nambudiri’s heart – a hope that this boy, despite his youth, might somehow wield the power to right the wrongs he had suffered.
Never one to procrastinate or delay matters, Kunjipilla, along with his friend Balakrishnan, immediately gathered several hundred soldiers and headed for Ernakulam. Prudently discerning that he needed to assert his royal presence, he headed directly to the palace. Upon arriving there, he wasted no time in issuing a command to all the Moplas to assemble at the palace gates the following morning. They were commanded to bring with them a pot and a length of rope. The gravity of the decree left no room for delay or disobedience.
Though a little perplexed by the decree, a large number of Moplas assembled at the palace the next morning. There was a constant murmur among the crowd as they enquired from each other as to why they had been summoned. Most of them were completely confounded by the instruction, which required them to bring along a pot and a length of rope.
A hush descended as Kunjipilla arrived shortly afterwards at the balcony of the palace. All eyes turned upwards as the prince gazed down at the large crowd assembled below. After a moment of silence, Kunjipilla declared sternly, “I have heard that some among you harass and rob the poor. A few days ago, a Nambudiri was robbed by some of you. I demand that the culprits step forward and confess. If you admit your guilt now, you will be spared severe punishment. But if you choose to remain silent, all of you will face the consequences. None of you will be spared.”
The Moplas looked at each other and decided that this stripling of a boy presented no threat to them. After all, it was not the Raja who had summoned them. They were not about to let a mere prince dictate orders to them. They were certain that he would be unable to do much harm to them. Unwilling to betray their own and confident that this boy would not be able to do anything to any one of them, no one came forward. No confession was made. Unfortunately, they had underestimated Kunjipilla.
Kunjipilla waited patiently for a while, allowing them the opportunity to confess. He listened quietly as they whispered to each other. Finally, when they had all settled down and no response was forthcoming, Kunjipilla ordered his soldiers to herd the assembled Moplas to the backwaters. Now the Moplas’ confidence began to wane. They tried to escape, but they were outnumbered by the armed soldiers and were taken forcibly to the edge of the water. There, the prince had large boats lying in wait for them. The soldiers bound the hands and feet of their prisoners and shoved them onto the boats. The pots they had brought with them were filled with water and tied around their necks with the ropes. Then, mercilessly, all of them were lowered into the backwater and drowned. There were no survivors.
The next morning, Kunjipilla sent notices again asking all those Moplas who had not presented themselves earlier to report to the palace on the next day. The Moplas were gripped with fear. That evening, all the leading Moplas met to find a solution to the situation they were in.
The next day, a delegation of the leading Moplas met Kunjipilla. They swore that they did not know who had committed the crime and believed that the culprits had perished. They averred that they themselves were innocent. In order to make amends for the offence committed by one of their own, they offered gold and money. They fervently promised that such a crime would never happen again, swearing on their lives that if it did they would all accept the fate of being beheaded. With fear in their eyes, they fell to their knees, pleading for mercy, their voices trembling with desperation.
Kunjipilla agreed to spare them but warned that should a similar crime occur, he would hold them to their promise and behead each and every one of them.
Having keenly observed the crowd’s reactions the previous day, Kunjipilla realised that the men had not shown him the respect he deserved. Determined to establish his authority, he resolved to ensure that they understood clearly that he was the Raja in waiting and their future ruler. In a grave and commanding tone, he warned them never to overlook his status and that whenever he summoned them, they had to appear without hesitation.
Relieved, the Mopla delegation bowed before Kunjipilla, thanking him for his benevolence. They assured him that they would never ever disobey any of his orders.
Kunjipilla returned to Thripunithura. Going directly to the palace, he placed all the money and gold that he had received from the Moplas before the Raja. To the Raja’s delight, his nephew had once again proved his mettle. There was pride in his uncle’s eyes when Kunjipilla assured him that there would be no repetition of the dastardly robbery.
The Raja knew that he could rely completely on Kunjipilla’s assurances. Wishing to reward Kunjipilla for his efforts and success, the Raja said, “Take all the money and gold. You truly deserve it. Kunjipilla had never had any interest in accumulating wealth. Every decision he took, and every action of his, was solely aimed at restoring the power and eminence of the crown. Nothing else mattered to him.” He said, “Give it to the Nambudiri. He is the one who lost his money. It was money he could ill afford to lose. Give it to him; he will be grateful.”
Hearing these words, the Raja became even more assured that Kunjipilla would make a powerful, just and wise ruler. The kingdom would be safe and prosperous under his rule.
Accordingly, the Nambudiri was summoned and the money was given to him. He could not hold back his tears as he thanked the Raja and Kunjipilla profusely. With this money and gold, he would be able to get his five daughters married and still have enough to live a comfortable life.
Robbers no longer troubled any traveller in the kingdom.
Kunjipilla’s speedy resolution of the problem was noted and remarked on by all. It was clear that he was a man of action, keen on maintaining law and order in the kingdom. His deeds, such as in this case of the Nambudiri who was robbed, later earned him the epithet Shakthan, or strong man.
Excerpted with permission from The Phoenix Rises: The Resurrection of Cochin, Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat, Bloomsbury India.
