Hometown Honours Legendary Bandit Kayamkulam Kochunni With Memorial

OVER 150 years after his death, Kayamkulam Kochunni, Kerala's legendary brigand who has often been equated to Robin Hood, is finally receiving a memorial in his hometown.

- BIJU E PAUL @ Alappuzha

OVER 150 years after his death, Kayamkulam Kochunni, Kerala's legendary brigand who has often been equated to Robin Hood, is finally receiving a memorial in his hometown. The lakeside auditorium in Kayamkulam has now been officially named 'Kayamkulam Kochunni Memorial Auditorium', marking the first formal recognition of the man who once roamed these parts as a bandit with a cause.

Known for robbing the rich and aiding the poor, Kochunni has long been a folk hero in Kerala, admired for his acts of defiance against the feudal landlords of the 19th century. Despite his legendary status in popular culture, including ballads and folklore, no monument or public tribute had been established in his memory until now.