Pazhassi Raja - Raja's Death

Raja's Death

The precise nature of Raja's death is controversial. Folklore insists that he committed suicide by swallowing a diamond ring to avoid capture after he was wounded.

T. H. Baber's version was that it was a clerk named Canara Menon who killed Raja. Raja is said to have shouted to Menon who approached his body as he lay dying, "Don't defile me, traitor!"

W. J. Wilson, who wrote on the history of the Madras Regiment, credits Captain Clafam and his six sepoys for killing of Raja. This third version of Raja's end is more likely as Baber was not on good terms with military authority throughout the Pazhassi War. He is alleged to have credited Menon so as to deny credit to Clafam and his superior Colonel Hill.