Potheri Kunjambu Vakil

Potheri Kunjambu Vakil (1857-1919) was one of the earliest Malayalam poets and a Novelist, Social worker and lawyer from Kannur district. Potheri Kunjambu is a writer who has written and worked for the upliftment of the downtrodden. He is best known for his novel Saraswati Vijayam. In his writings, he propagated the idea that the upliftment of the downtrodden was possible through education and the eradication of superstitions. He is said to have been the first to give the Pulaya bride the name Panchamar. Potheri Kunjambu was born on June 6, 1857, at Pannenpara, Pallikunnu near Kannur. After studying at Ezhuthupalli run by his father Potheri Kunjakkan, he was educated in Sanskrit and Malayalam. He later studied at the Government English School, Kannur, passed matriculation and dropped out of higher education due to poverty. Kunjambu worked as a court clerk for a short time and later passed the legal examination and proved his prowess as a lawyer in Taliparamba and Kannur. He rose to become a famous lawyer and was the legal advisor of the Chirakkal royal family. The lawyer, who was traveling in a royal chariot, was also the landlord who owned several acres of land. Kunjambu Vakil was a fan of Sree Narayana Guru. Kunjambhu has been married three times. His first wife Chiruthei had three children. Two of these were sons. He married his third wife following the death of his second wife by lightning.