"The night of 29 November 1805 was surprisingly hot and humid in the jungles beyond Wayanad. A small army of rebels from Malabar had crossed over to the Mysore side and was holed up there, hidden from the British. None of them could sleep properly and there was a sense of unease."
"The following morning, their leader, Kerala Varma, was up early. It was an important day for him, his mother's death anniversary. He bathed in the Mavila Thodu, and finished his prayers. He discussed strategy with his men for a while, and then they formed a protective circle around him as he sat on the bank and the ceremonies began. Suddenly, in the middle of the rituals, they found themselves surrounded by the English army under Sub-Collector Thomas Harvey Baber."
"Bullets were fired and the men scattered. His men pleaded with Kerala Varma to escape, but he refused. In the ensuing confusion, a bullet caught him in the chest. With a prayer to Sriporkali, his clan deity, he collapsed on the bank. His men stood helpless, watching the end of their only hope of freedom."
("Royal Rebel", Sreekumar Varma, 2006)
"Mr Baber admired the great qualities of the Raja and remarked that the inhabitants entertained towards Raja "a regard and respect bordering on veneration which not even his death can efface." These words were prophetic; more than a century has passed and his name is still cherished by the people as Shaktan Raja."("Wynad, Its People and Traditions", Gopalan Nair, 1911)
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