After ending the reign of terror unleashed by the Mysore Sultans, the British reinstated the rights and privileges enjoyed by erstwhile Kings and local Chieftains subject to certain conditions. The overall control of the area was vested with the British. They had the right to interfere in internal matters of the aristocracy. Accordingly separate Covenants were drawn and as per the terms of these Covenants the Kings took over tenancy rights over areas earlier held by them. The Raja of Kadathanad on 1792 April 25, and on May 27th, took over tenancy rights over Kurumbranadu, and Kolakkatt districts on annual rent of Rs. 140,000. On July 12th, Palakkad area was taken by Itta Pangachan for Rs. 80,000 and the area under Kavalppara Mooppil Nair, for Rs. 15000 by the Mooppil Nair himself. Valluvanad was taken over by Vellattiri for Rs 14000 on July 30th same year. On August 11th, Parappanadu was taken over by Veeravarma Raja. On August 14th, Vettatthunadu was taken on rent by the Minister of Vettathu Ramavarma Valiya Raja for Rs. 34807. In a war that took place in Vettathu Kovilakam on 23-24 May 1793, the Valiya Raja was killed and subsequently the area fell under British administration. The fourth generation King of Kozhikode Kizhakke Kovilakam entered into a Covenant with English Commissioners, on August 18, 1992, the following areas were taken over by the new Zamorin.
Kozhikode Kazba, Ramanad, Northern and eastern sides of Kurumbranadu, Ponnani, Cheranad, Venkedakotta, Chavakkad, Nedunganadu, Karimpuzha, Eranad and Malappuram, and in Palakkad, Kollangode, Koduvayur, and Mankara.
Since the Zamorin had claimed supremacy over Beypore and Parappanadu, it was decided that the tax collection from these areas must be routed by the respective Rajas through Zamorin. It was also decided that Chirakkal King should give Rs. 50000 and Kadathanadu King should give Rs. 30000 and Kottayam King should give Rs. 25000 to the East India Company as rent.
The Commissioners decided to form a common government for the entire Malabar area which had fallen under its control and on 18th March 1793 Kozhikode state came into existence. The government officials took over charge after this. Posts of judges were created and a system of judicial administration was introduced. The judges were given the title of “Daroga”. They were in charge of the lower courts of justice. These courts of Darogas were established in Kannur, Koilandy, Thirurangadi, Ponnani, Palakkad, Chettuva and Thanur.
The main work done by the British was the formation of draft rules for “Jenmi” system of land ownership. A Jenmi was defined as the original owner of a specified place. A predetermined percentage of value of produce raised in these lands was allotted to the Jenmis. The British entered into some additional Covenants also with some of the local rulers.
Some overzealous Muslims had tried to capitalize on opportunities that arose during the conquest and reign of Hyder and Tipu. As a result, lands belonging to those Hindus who had run away from Malabar were appropriated by these Muslims and they had become the Jenmis of those lands. Such Muslim Jenmis existed in Valluvanad and nearby areas also. Though they secured these lands they could not openly enjoy the benefits arising out of it. They continued to live exhibiting criminal tendencies. The Valluvanad Raja was not capable enough to catch hold of these elements and punish them.
William Logan has mentioned about an Elampulassery Unni Moosa who was the leader of the above mentioned gang engaged in committing heinous crimes in Valluvanad area. These people were known as “Kattu Mappilas” (Wild Muslims). Unni Moosa had an armed gang of about 100 criminals under him. The English Company offered him protection if he and his gang were prepared to abandon looting and violence and resorted to a peaceful living. To this Moosa had replied that he will do so if the company allowed him and his group a pension. It is told that Unni Moosa was a scary nightmare even for the British. Though Major Murray tried for a settlement with Unni Moosa On 8th of May, 1794, the latter did not oblige. The company offered to allot ownership of Elampulassery area to him and a yearly pension of Rs. 1000/- . To accept the offer Unni Moosa demanded that he should be given a share of the land revenue also. The government was not prepared to accept this. The camp from which he operated was Panthalayini Hill. An armed force under the command of Captain McDonald demolished his power centers. Unni Moosa had to escape to the forests. In the same way, one Hydros, who used to resort to arson and looting, was caught hold of by the Muslims of Ponnani and handed over to the government officers. Though he was initially sentenced for death it was subsequently reduced to deportation.
During this time the Moplahs and Hindus had developed a mental distance in between. The seed for this was sown by the invasions of Hyder and Tippu and the support given to it by the local Muslims. The Muslims on the other hand saw even personal issues as a war against their religion. Initially the Muslims were all very backward. Apart from religious instructions they did not get any formal education. For the same reason they continued to be rude and rough in behavior. They did not hesitate to kill or get perished in a war for their religion which was believed to be a holy war. In the lands that belonged to the Jenmis there were many Muslims who were tenants and sub tenants. Hindus, though their Jenmis, were treated as Kaffirs. They quarreled with them breaking the rules of landlord-tenant relationship. To attempt such revolts, the existing conventions regarding cultivable lands were also regularly broken by them. The Jenmis to avoid such pinprick irritations started giving tenancy rights over the same lands to others through a crude but legally valid process called “Melcharthu”. This created a ruckus among Moplah tenants. As they viewed everything through fanatic eyes only, this hatred towards Jenmis took the form of a religious issue.
The British Government who ruled Malabar was also considered by them as enemies of the Muslims. Since they were Christians, for a group of people who considered every one ther than a Muslim as Kaffir, the British people were also treated as Kaffirs. The illiterate and wrongly motivated Muslims thought that it was their duty to fight a holy war against these Kaffirs and even if they perished in it, their souls will reach heaven as “Shaheeds” (Blessed ones). This belief later led to a commitment of a series of frightening and disastrous brutalities in Malabar.
