Kayamkulam Kochunni Biography 
Kayamkulam Kochunni was a famed highwayman from Kerala who lived in the 19th century. He belonged to Kayamkulam of present-day Alappuzha district of Kerala. Kayamkulam Kochunni is always compared to the famous Robin Hood of English folklore who used to snatch wealth from rich and give it to poor. Ithikkarappakki from Ithikkara village was his close friend and associative. He was active in Central Travancore during the rule of kings. This famous thief was later arrested and died in jail in 1859.
Though he became infamous as a thief, he was equally popular among poor people. Now a shrine - Kochunni Nada is dedicated to him, attached to Edappara Maladevar Nada Temple near Kozhencherry; perhaps the only one of its kind in any nation! Devotees offer candles, incense sticks, ganja, country-made liquor, betel leaves, pan, arecanut, tobacco, etc. to propitiate the deity. There is a small museum at Varanappallil in his ancestral home at Kayamkulam. Kayamkulam Kochunni is now a part of Kerala culture and folktales as well.
He was born in Malayalam year 993 in Karkidakom Month in Travancore in a very poor Muslim family. His father too was a thief. For the same reason Kochunni couldn’t get education. At the age of 10, due to poverty he reached Evoor. With the help of a Brahmin, he was able to get a job in a shop, enough to earn a living. Very soon he was able to attain the belief of the shop owner and thus earned a small amount to support his family.
Once he happened to know that a guru Ithingal Thangal trains students in Kalari. Though Kochunni requested Guru to take him as disciple, he was not willing to do so. Guru believed that as his father was a thief, Kochunni too will misuse his talents. But Kochunnu learnt martial arts from a hidden place during night time. Later when Guru came to know about this, he tested Kochunni and found that he was best among all his disciples. Guru appreciated him and asked him to come to Kalari thereafter.
Kochunni used his knowledge for good causes. Though he turned a thief, he gave all those money to poor people. Very soon he became the infamous thief of Travancore kingdom, who looted only rich people. He was arrested with the help of Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker and he died in Thiruvananthapuram Poojapura prison.
Published: N/A
Updated: June 28, 2014
