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ETTUVEETIL PILLAIMAR
 An Ettuveedan |
Tomb
of Ettuveetil Pillamar |
Venganoor Pillai, Pallichal Pillai, Kazhakoottathu Pillai, Kudaman
Pillai, Ramanamadathil Pillai, Marthandamadathil Pillai, Chembazhanthi
Pillai and Kulathur Pillai were known as Ettuveetil Pillamar
(Pillai of eight houses). Ettuveetil Pillamar were the leaders
of the land and ‘tharakootams’ known as ‘Arunootavar’ established
for maintaining law and justice in Venad. They were the Governors
of provinces of the country. They had the power to exercise
control over the king also. They were also the managers of ‘Ettarayogam’,
which governed the activities of Sree Padmanabha Temple of Thiruvananthapuram.
As the kind had no control over the ‘Ettarayogam’, he could
not exercise control over the Ettuveetil Pillamar also. Thus
gradually they became landlords also. Ettuveetil Pillamar
were known not by their house name but by their locality names.
Their families were older than the royal family of Venad. They
fought with pride for establishing democratic pattern of rule
in the country subject to overall control of the King. They
gave a strong foundation to the structure of democracy by organizing
‘nattukootams’ or ‘tharakoottams’. Marthanda Varma who came
to power in 1729 maintained good relationship with the English.
The activities of English during the period, especially in political
issues, invited wrath of the people of Travancore. Ettuvettil
Pillamar, who were the leaders of people, also firmly believed
that the foreigners are looting the wealth of the nation and
denying freedom to the people. They criticised the king
who was responsible for creating such a situation in the country.
Ettuveetil Pillamar, thus, became the enemies of the King Marthanda
Varma. They tried to do away with the royal families who ruled
over the country in an autocratic style. Raged over the
act of Ettuveetil Pillamar, Raja Marthandavarma and his followers
branded them as traitors and enemies of the country and killed
them brutally, confiscated their property and sold women and
children of their family to the fishermen community. In truth,
they were patriots and servants of the people and they represented
the wishes of the people.
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