Kochusankara Pillai, was a High Court judge in Travancore. He later becomes the Diwan Peshkar of Travancore. Kochusankara Pillai served as Dewan Peshkar between 1829 and 1846 during the reign of Swathi Thirunal Maharaja. He was a polymath and believed to be the most intelligent person in Maharaja’s court. He has helped Maharaja to come out of many critical situations. In return, Maharaja gifted him with land and wealth. Most of the wealth Koyikkaleth Kudumbam possessed was acquired during Kochusankara Pillai’s tenure as Diwan Peshkar.
Kochu Shankarapillai lived most of his life in Thiruvananthapuram. He reached there when he was a boy. Maharaja, the uncle of Swathi Thrunal on his way from Kochi to Thiruvananthapuram, found this beautiful boy near Nangyarkulangara. He stopped the vehicle and took him along with him.
Realizing that the boy was extraordinary intelligence, the Maharaja gave the boy adequate education and exposure. Thus, Kochu Shankarapillai reached the coveted position of Dewan Peshkar when he was a judge of the High Court. He was the favorite of the Maharaja and displayed extraordinary skills in finding answers to any problem arose in the palace.