Authors of the bestselling The Case That Shook the Empire, Raghu and Pushpa Palat return with the untold saga of Rama Varma IX, better known as the legendary Shakthan Thampuran. The kingdom of Cochin was at its nadir, teetering on the brink of collapse and annexation, when eighteen-year-old Kunjipilla was entrusted with its governance. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the fragile state transformed into a rich and prosperous kingdom under Kunjipilla’s able leadership. He entered into alliances, built towns, advanced trade relations and consolidated power, breaking forever the nexus between priests and the Nair nobility. Drawing on meticulous archival research and employing gripping narrative flair, the Palats breathe life into a forgotten giant of Indian history. This is more than a novelised biography – it is the resurrection of a reign that shaped the soul of Kerala.