Unniyarcha

Unniyarcha is a legendary warrior and heroine from the 16th century, mentioned in the Vadakkan Pattukal, a set of historical ballads from northern Kerala, a state in southwestern India. She was a member of a Thiyyar Community family of Puthooram Veed in Kadathanad. Her father's name was Kannappa Chekavar. She is believed to have lived in the northern part of Kerala during the 16th century. She is a popular character in Kerala's folklore, and is remembered for her valour and skills in Kerala's native martial art, Kalaripayattu. According to legend, Unniyarcha was most known for her deadly skill with the whip-like Urumi, a unique type of sword that is native to Kerala. Like most traditional Kalaripayattu practitioners, she began training at the kalari at the age of seven. There are so many such instances in Vatakkan Pattukal, the narrative poems about warrior heroes and heroines prevalent in Kerala, who won or lost in some of the famous duels of Kalarippayattu. Among these songs, the fight of Unniyarcha, the female warrior, who fought against several men with a winding sword called Urumi, specially used for Kalarippayattu, to safeguard herself and her husband from a planned attack of some thieves, is very popular. Biography Unniyarcha was from the famous Puthooram Veedu of Kadathanad (Vadakara), a region in northern present-dayKerala. Kunjiraman had a kalari known as Puthussery Kalari, which remains in the Kannur district of Kerala to this day. History has it that Unniyarcha won 64 kalari ankam in her youth. She was the sister of Aromal Chekavar and Unnikannan. Unniyarcha rejected the romantic advances of Chandu Chekavar (also known as Chanthu Chekavar), which led to the murder of her brother Aromal. Aromalunni, the son of Unniyarcha, later took revenge against Chanthu to avenge his uncle. Nadapuram fight According to historian A Sreedhara Menon, Unniarcha mastered the technique of warfare in childhood by undergoing a rigorous course of training in the Kalari. She married Attummanammel Kunhiraman. One day after her marriage Unniarcha set out from home to see the Kuthu in Allimalarkavu, the Vilakku in Ayyappankavu and the Velapuram in Anjanakavu (the version in the ballads). As the Mappilas (Jonakas) in the bazar on the way were a much dreaded lot, her husband and relatives did not approve of her journey. In spite of this, she was determined to go for these festivals. Her husband Kunhiraman had no other alternative but to accompany her.