There are a lot of landed properties belonging to Nilambur Kovilakam (Palace) at Pookkottur. Almost all these lands were in the hands of tenants. In order to collect the rent and other charges due to Kovilakam, a member of the joint family stayed there. Kalathingal Mammad was a “karyasthan” (A manager cum assistant cum supervisor) of the Kovilakam. He was also the Secretary of the Khilafat Committee of Pookkottur. This position was in no way a hurdle for him to carry out his jobs at the Kovilakam. While the Moplahs were preparing for a large scale armed uprising in Eranad and Valluvanad areas, a gun went missing from the Kovilakam. Because of an indication that Mammad had stolen the gun, Chinnanunni Thirumulpad who was the sixth in the Nilambur royal hierarchy lodged a police complaint on 26th July 1921. Mr. Govinda Menon was the Sub Inspector at Manjeri during the material time. Though a search was conducted in the house of Mammad, there was no trace of the gun there. There were rumors that the complaint about the stolen gun was false. It could not be traced because the same was removed from the house of Mammad before the search. There were also reports that Mammad was dismissed from his job even before the missing of the gun. The Moplahs who were enraged about complaining to the police about their Khilafat Secretary decided to attack Mr. Thirumulpad. He saw about 200 Moplahs under the leadership of Mammad coming to the Kovilakam and was frightened. He called some influential Moplah leaders and tried for buying peace. Mammad demanded that he be paid Rs. 350 due to him by the Thirumulpad. Later there was a gossip about a plan hatched by Mammad to attack the Kovilakam. He is said to have believed that Thirumulpad will refuse to pay an undue and unreasonable amount and it can be used as a ploy to attack and loot the Kovilakakm.
The Muslim gang was standing ready and fully prepared for a cruel assault. Thirumulpad was too scary thinking of the consequences of refusing to pay the amount and under mediation from the influential Muslim friends, paid the amount and averted a major catastrophe. But the next day Thirumulpad submitted a written complaint to Mr. Mangat Narayana Menon, Circle Inspector of Police at Manjeri. The complaint was that a group of Muslims came to his house and threatened to kill him. The circle Inspector reached Pookkottur immediately. Though the Inspector searched for Mammad at his house, he was not found there. After instructing his householders that Mammad should reach the Kovilakakm immediately, Narayana Menon went back to Kovilakam and waited.
Word spread around that Mammad who was the secretary of Khilafat committee is being arrested by Circle Inspector Police. “Nagaras” (A big drum) were sounded in the mosques. Moplahs came running from everywhere shouting “thaqbir” (Allahu Akbar) Their decision was to go with Mammad to Pukkottur Kovilakam and kill both Narayana Menon and Thirumulpad. A number of Moplahs carryings swords and spears reached the Kovilakakm and surrounded the police. By this time leaders like M. P Narayana Menon etc. reached there and pacified them. The Circle Inspector did not dare to take any action against the enraged Moplahs. He was convinced that the gang will massacre the entire police force if he arrested Mammad Koya. The Moplahs left the place only after forcing an apology from Mangat Narayana Menon.
When the Moplahs realized that they could succeed before the Police in Pookkottur, they started believing that they could challenge any authority or law and there was no force superior to them anywhere. On 2nd August, Circle Inspector Mr. Narayana Menon sent a report to the District Collector, Mr. Thomas detailing the insult he had to put up with before the well-armed Khilafat volunteers. The District Collector in view of the earlier reports about a plan being hatched by the volunteers to make the Khilafat an armed conflict and based on Mr. Narayana Menon’s present report decided to take strict follow up steps. He sent a report to Governor at Madras on 7th of August 1921 stating that the conditions in Malabar were very serious and anything can happen at any time, enclosing a copy of the report from the Circle Inspector also. He also demanded that two companies of British Army along with one full battalion of Indian Army be sent immediately to handle the situation. The Mail Daily reported that though the British Army was already present in Kozhikode, the Collector had asked for more reinforcement. The Governor wrote to the commanding officer on 11thAugust 1921, incorporating all these reports. He sent a telegram also asking to keep ready a force at Malappuram in view of the serious situation emerging in Malabar. “The conditions in Malabar are beyond control. To conduct search and force surrender of arms from each and every house, a battalion of Indian Army and to help them in this, a double company of British force armed with Lewis guns should be dispatched”
The Commanding Officer replied that the Indian Pioneer Battalion is ready for dispatch from Bangalore to Malabar and will start immediately. He also informed that Mr. Evans will be shortly meeting Mr. Thomas, the District Collector. Subsequently the Governor dropped the idea of search and surrender of arms from individual houses. On August 14th, Hon. Nape reached Kozhikode and met the District Collector and collected detailed information about the state of affairs in Eranad. Hon. Nape was a very patient officer. Collector Thomas was of the view that Khilafat should be banned in Malabar. “Khilafat is an all India agitation. The armed conflict planned in Malabar by Moplahs was only a local issue. There was no need to link this conflict with the All India agitation in the name of Khilafat. Action need be taken against the culprits only.” This was the response from Mr. Nape.
It was at this time that at Thanalur, Moplahs started attacking Thiyyas (a backward cast engaged in toddy tapping). It was declared that in Malabar, Islamic rule is being introduced and nothing un-Islamic will be tolerated in this region. Shouting this slogan, the armed Muslims started attacking the houses of Thiyyas. Alcohol consumption is against tenets of Islam. Their demand was that Thiyyas being toddy tappers should not hereafter engage in it. Women and children scared by the armed threats of Moplahs fled away from their homes for fear of life. Their men were subjected to cruel torture by the Muslims. The police who reached the scene hearing about it were also chased away by the Muslim crowd. This incident was brought to the notice of Hon. Nape. Now he was convinced that in the name of Khilafat the Muslims will start an armed rebellion against the government and attack Hindus. He confirmed that the revolt being engineered in Eranad, Valluvanad and Tirur, were all part of a major Moplah rebellion in the offing.
A.R Nape gave instructions to arrest the nine ring leaders who were at the helm of the organization engaged in these dangerous activities. These were Elikkunnath Ali Musalyar, Lavakkutty, Karadan Moideenkutty and six others. He also specified that the arrests should be only for examining the dagger knives in their possession as per Moplah Outrages Act only and should not enter the mosque at Thirurangadi for conducting the search. Nape’s instructions were thoroughly discussed in the cabinet meeting. The cabinet meeting insisted that actions should be taken against the culprits only under Section 7 of Moplah Outrages Act or similar other laws only, to avoid any complaint that these were against the Khilafat movement. While these actions were being taken by the British government, on 15th August 1921, leaders including K.Madhavan Nair were released from jail.
Collector Thomas signed a warrant on 16th August 1921 to arrest 29 people including Ali Muslyar, Modu Mowlavi, Kattilassery Muhammad Musalyar, Karat Moideenkutty Haji, Chennimathil Lavakkutty, Thayyil Muhammadkutty Musalyar, Pookkotur Abdu Haji etc. The arrest was for reasons pointed out as under.
- Illegally assembled and prayed at Thirurangadi Kacheriparamba Makhbara violating government orders.
- The Nilambur Kovilakam sixth Thampuran (Lord) at Pookkottur was threatened with death and attempted to kill the police officer who went to enquire the case.
- The toddy tappers of Thanaloor were attacked and wounded by Moplahs and the police force that went to enquire the case was chased away.
Preparations were going on at Kozhikode beach to hold a welcome meeting for leaders like Madhavan Nair who were released from jail. In the meeting, imported clothes were put to bonfire by way of protest.
On 19th August 1921 by 9 PM, a contingent of 100 British soldiers and 150 Reserve Police Force travelled from Kozhikode towards the south by train. Captain Evans, Collector Thomas, DSP Hitchcock and Amu from MSP were there in the group. McEnroe was the Captain of the army team. This news was secretly conveyed to Sri.K.P.Kesava Menon by Janab Abdurehman. It was not clear whether the army was going to Thirurangadi or Pookkottur. They were not aware of another force which moved to Malappuram by road. Abdurehman told Kesava Menon that they might be heading towards Thirurangadi to make arrests there. He also asked Kesava Menon to proceed to Thirurangadi and request the Muslims there to maintain peace. Both of them were upset over the unexpected military action. As a result they could not reach a decision or proceed to Thirurangadi in time.
Abdurehman informed Ali Musalyar through a person the news that the army has moved to Tirurangadi. As soon as he received the information, Ali Musalyar and his supporters went into hiding.
The army contingent reached Thirurangadi on the morning of 20th August. They reached the Eastern Mosque and stood guard allowing people to go in to offer Namaz but not to come out. The M.S.P Supdt. Amu called Secretary of Khilafat movement, T.V.Muhammad who was inside the mosque then. He was requested to reply to Collector Thomas, if enquired, that Amu had entered the mosque. Then after the usual religious ablutions both entered the mosque and asked whether anyone had swords with them. The Moulavi answered in the negative but the police did not believe it and they searched every person thoroughly. Then they came out without being able to locate Ali Musalyar. Since the information was leaked beforehand, the police could not locate any arms or leaders of the rebellion. Still those Khilafat volunteers who were engaged in the preparation for the violent conflict, like Pottayil Mohammad haji, Ossan Mammad, and his son Moideen Kutty were all arrested and taken away. The Moplahs at Pookkottur came to know of this. The rumor was that the army was going to blast the Mosque at Thirurangadi. To protect the Muslims there, a group of 200 armed Moplahs started from Pukkottur. But they were pacified and held back by leaders like K. Madhavan Nair, M.P. Narayana Menon, and Janab Abdurehman etc. Since they could be convinced that the British army had not entered the mosque or injured their religious feelings, the Moplahs withdrew.
While two army trucks were returning from Thirurangadi to Malappuram some Muslims set fire to the vehicles. The car of the District Magistrate was pushed into the river. Another rumor that the Mamparam mosque has been shot at by the army spread everywhere. Finding no signs of a mutiny, Mr.Evans decided to go back to Kozhikode by a motor cycle. It was then that Nagara was sounded at Thanur mosque.Muslims reached the mosque shouting “takbir”. The Khilafat leader of Thanur, Ummaithanakath Puthanveettil Kunjikkadar informed them that the army targetted the Mamparam mosque. There were more than 2000 Moplahs in Thanur mosque at that time. These Muslims under the leadership of Kunjikkadar marched towards Thirurangadi. Same time, a market was open and functioning at Kottakkal. Those who were in the market heard that army entered Mamparam mosque and took away Khilafat workers. Those who heard it in the market also rushed towards Thirurangadi, though not in any groups. They viewed the arrests of Khilafat workers as a disgrace to their religion. The arrested were being detained in the Magistrate court at Thirurangadi.
Captain Evans was not aware of all this. He was riding a motor cycle to reach Kozhikode via Parappanangadi. It was then he saw thousands of Muslims rushing towards him like sea waves shouting war cries. As soon as he realized that these people were the mutineers, he returned to Thirurangadi and informed Collector Thomas that a large group of Muslims were heading towards Tirurangadi. Immediately a group of soldiers moved towards west through Parappanangadi road. The army stopped the mutineers before reaching Thirurangadi. The mutineers were under the leadership of Kunjikkadar from Tirur. The moment army opened fire, the Muslim rebels scattered away. The army entered the nearby houses also. The leader of the gang, Kunjikkadar took to heels and sought refuge in a nearby mosque. Nine Muslims were killed in the firing by army. 20 Muslims were injured in bayonet charges.
Dy. Inspector General E. V. Qumein Waring, Dy. Supdt. Khan Bahadur Amu Sahib etc. were there when the incident took place. Mr. Hitchcock and Amu Sahib asked Kunjikkadar to come out of the mosque. Kunjikkadar was known to Amu Sahib. With that familiarity, when Kunjikkadar came out he was arrested by the army. Along with him 20 other Muslims were also arrested and taken to Thirurangadi. The Muslims who were assembled in Thirurangadi came to know of the arrests of their brethren from Thanur. Ali Musalyar and his close aides, Lavakkutty and Kunjalavi were there in Thirurangadi at that time. Ali Musalyar came to know of the Thanur incidents. He blocked an attempt by the Muslims to march towards the place where firing had taken place. This was because he was not aware of the extent of damage done by the firing. If a large number of people go there there will be a chance for one more firing. Hence only two or three people need go there to assess the situation. Accordingly, Ali Musalyar, Lavakkutty and Kunjalavi moved towards the west.
The prisoners including Kunjikkadar were kept in the custody of Thiruruangadi court. Muslims from all parts of Eranad were moving incessantly towards Thirurangadi hearing the news about Thanur, Thirurangadi events. Ali Musalyar could neither control nor stop them. Ali Musalyar and the other two walked ahead of the procession of Muslims holding Khilafat flag and shouting war cries. They were moving very fast. The army asked the front line people to sit on the ground. As they began to obey the command of the army those who were in the rear lunged forward and fell on the army line. Thinking that this was an attempt to attack the army they started firing. Consequently a fierce battle followed between the army and the mutineers. During this encounter, DYSP Rowly, Lt. Jhonson, and Head Constable Moideen were hacked to death by Lavakkutty and Kunjalavi using swords. More than 20 Muslims were also shot dead. The army scared by the fierce resistance being offered by the mutineers, withdrew. Collector Thomas went back to Kozhikode under security cover provided by the army.
Moplahs when informed about the fight between their group and army at Thirurangadi, rushed to Parappanangadi and attacked the railway station there. They damaged the tracks and bridges. Their intention behind the attack was to set free the people arrested from Thirurangadi including Kunjikkadar. The train carrying the arrested people could not move forward. So the army tried to move them by foot. Finding a large number of belligerent Muslims following them, army again opened fire. About 70 Muslims dropped dead on the rail tracks in the fight. Ali Musalyar was very much sad about these developments. It is said that Ali Musalyar who had planned initially for an armed conflict in the name of Khilafat had second thoughts about it and was preparing to change the strategy into a nonviolent struggle as suggested by Gandhiji. But the Muslim psyche did not yield to Ali Musalyar’s advices and openly refuted his requests.
Sarvashri. K.P.Kesava Menon, Janab Muhammad Abdurehman Sahib, Janab K.M. Moulavi Sahib,K Goplala Menon,Kombarbeyn, Manikkath Gopala Menon,Ponmadath Moideeen Koya, Kodungallur Sekhhara Menon,Kunjahammad, K.Madhava Menon, T V Chathu Nair, A P Moideen Koya, and Madhuravanam Govinda Kurup went and met Ali Musalyar. They informed him that Khilafat was not a violent struggle and if armed violence was resorted to again there will be very serious consequences. They also advised that it was better to surrender for those who were involved in cases.
Alikkutty Muslayar replied. ” What you said is true. We will decide what could be done after consulting others also. Meanwhile it will help if you could meet Lavakkutty and Kunjalavi and convince them of this.”
It could be read between the lines that Ali Musalyar was conceding that things had gone out of his control and the Muslims will not heed to his advices. The Congress leaders also were by now convinced that the nonviolent resistance based Khilafat, planned by the Congress had transformed itself into armed conflicts and went beyond control of even Ali Musalyar. Though the Congress had a clear aim of “Swaraj” or independence for India, they were neither prepared to support the armed revolt of Muslims or use violence in their fight against the British. Majority of Congressmen were Hindus. If the Moplahs were asked to stop violence they might as well give it a religious color. There was also a possibility of Hindus among the Congressmen having to face the wrath of Muslim mutineers. Considering these things the Congress safely withdrew from Khilafat movement in Malabar.
With this, Khilafat movement changed hands into a group of illiterate and ill-informed Muslims. Since Collector Thomas and army returned to Kozhikode, the mutineers thought that they have already won the war and an Islamic reign already established. The British Raj is over and Khilafat Raj commenced. They decided that hereafter only things approved under Islamic laws need be permitted here. This was more evident in the criminal elements of Muslim community living in Eranad and Valluvanad taluks. In other areas, Muslims had not resorted to armed struggles or committed atrocities. Even in these taluks there were several Muslims opposed to this agitation. It is also worth noting that till then there were no attacks against Hindus in the name of Khilafat.
On 21st August the Muslim mutineers assembled at Tirur. Their aim was to collect weapons for the struggle. The rails were removed and a group of Muslims surrounded the Tirur courts. A few cut the pillars of the courts building. (The scars on the pillars are even now visible in the court building at Tirur). The police station was functioning on the lower floor. The mutineers looted the treasury and set fire to records. The police men stood watching all this without being able to react in any way. Thinking that there will be no resistance they took away all the guns and about 4000 cartridges from the police station. The attack was under the leadership of one Panchiliyakath Muhammad Haji.
Finding that the army had totally withdrawn from the scene, on 22nd August 1921, Ali Muslyar took over as Khalifa at Tirurangadi Mosque and imposed an Islamic rule in that area. Ali Musalyar strictly followed the tenets of Islam mentioned in Koran, in his rule. Lavakkutty and Kunjalavi were his ministers. One Variyamkunnan Kunjahammad haji took over as Khalifa and started ruling regions of Nilambur, Pandalur, Pandikkad and Thuvvur. Certain areas came under control of one Kumarambath Seethikoya. Same way, people like Chembrasseri Thangal also usurped powers of Khalifa in their areas. They formed their own armies and introduced Islamic rule. The Congressmen who sowed the seeds of this Khilafat agitation had to hide themselves.
Khilafat struggle in Malabar was totally against the principles of nonviolence in which it was planned and executed in other parts of India. The Malabar Muslims even forgot the fact that the agitation was for restoring the lost Khalifadom to Turkey. The fact that they established Khilafats in various parts of Malabar after scaring away the British Army was hot news for even the international media. Representatives of leading dailies like The Hindu, Madras Mail and Kerala Patrika were posted in Malabar to report about the reign of Moplahs.
With the commencement of rule of Khalifas and Moplah kings in Thirurangadi and Eranad, every non-Muslim was viewed as a Kaffir who should be eliminated. Those Muslims who opposed the atrocities of mutineers were branded as enemies. The British were Christians. They were also to be killed. This will be viewed by others as a struggle against British. Hyder and Tippu had shown how to organize a Muslim reign. Convert Hindus. Those who do not agree, dispatch them to hell. To collect money for organizing the rebellion, loot Hindu homes and scare them by unmatched cruelty. The Hindus are not organized like Muslims. There will be no one to oppose even if the worst is meted out to them. On the other hand there will be people like M.P. Narayana Menon to speak for the Muslims. Then who should we afraid of? The Moplahs decided to wipe off everything that was un-Islamic. In areas affected by mutiny armed Muslims in groups of two and three hundreds roamed around to complete the process of islamization. The unfortunate and atrocious incidents that followed this are detailed in the coming paragraphs.
A group of armed insurgents entered Nilambur Kovilakam. The description of the incidents that happened there had been narrated by Smt. Manorama Thamburatty and Sri. T.N. Bharathan in a write up published by Mathrubhumi weekly of 29th March 1998. Relevant part of a photo feature by Bina Govind titled “ Nilambur Palace in Malabar’s forgotten history” is worth reproducing here.
“The antiquity of Nilambur Palace cannot be ascertained with accuracy. After Vasco da Gama’s arrival in Kozhikode in 1498, an agreement was signed between him and the Zamorin in which Trichera Thirumulpad had signed as the main witness. Valiant lords bearing surnames of Eradis of Thacharakkal from Nediyiruppu, Thampan, Raja, and Thirumulpad were the prominent local rulers before the advent of Zamorin. The Perumal was the supreme lord before the establishment of Zamorin’s kingdom. When the last Perumal abdicated the throne, he provided the Zamorin with substantial lands and a royal sword with the advice to establish himself as a King by killing and getting killed. The Thacharakkavil royals on the other side of Vadapura Bridge were given independent ruler status with control over forest lands extending from Parappanagadi coast to Mysore border. The coronation of Zamorin will be approved only after Thacharakkavil Thirumulpad nods his head in agreement. The Tacharakkavil swaroopam had three thavazhis (matriarchal denominations). They were Koodamanna, Edavanna, and Kavil. Of these denominations the eldest becomes the Thirtumulpad. In due course Koodamanna became extinct. Edavanna family abdicated their rights. The Thachara kovilakam became present Nilambur Koviolakam. Nilambur Kovilakam became the owners of eastern Eranad falling between three rivers of Chaliyar, Kuthirappuzha and Karimpuzha.
The history of Kovilakam is virtually the history of ancient northern Malabar.” Manaorama Thamburatty continues her narrative. “It will appear that Hyder and Tippu came through the Wayand pass solely for crushing the heart of Nilambur. Thacharakkavil swaroopam remained a tragic memory of the outcome of Moplah rebellion. While most of the men escaped to the forests, those who had the means migrated to Travancore.
Scared of forced conversion and rape, many women jumped into wells and committed suicide. Since all the women were dead, three girls from an Eradi family near Cherpulassery were adopted and the present generation in the family has its origin from these girls.”
T.N Bharathan an eminent RSS leader from Malabar had much more to add. Hyder declared from Manjeri Palayaparamba. “Hereafter, it is going to be man hunting.- Five rupees for every Nair soldier’s head. For elderly men it will be four – Three rupees for women and children. – Total genocide”. To overcome resistance, the first thing they did was to capture Nilambur Thirumulpad and Parappanad King as slaves and send them to Srirangapattinam. That is one document that can determine the age of Nilambur Kovilakakm”. Bharathan spoke thus to this author.
The Moplahs of that period had no politics or national spirit. They had only religion. They had absolutely no qualms about performing any atrocities in the name of religion. It was on 21st August, 1921 that the mutineers entered Nilambur Kovilakakm. The Moplahs were from Pookkottur. There was a gun in the guard room. One Narayanan belonging to weaver’s cast used to come to the Kovilakam often. Though he was not a servant there, he used to visit the palace for no particular reason. He was a devotee of Kodungallur Bhagavathy (Goddess Kali) and used to go on regular pilgrimages there. When the mutineers came Narayanan was there. When they rushed into the guard room with all force, he jumped on them as if possessed by some divine force. Wearing a yellow cloth and armed with a machete, he pounced on them and killed eight Muslims. But the mutineers in no time knocked him off into several pieces. Then they killed 17 servants of the Kovilakam including two women. None of them were members of the royal family. After this they pointed the spear against the neck of Manavedan Thirumulpad and threatened to cut him into pieces. By this time those Muslims who were against the mutineers also came running to Kovilakam. They formed a protective ring around Thirumulpad and challenged. ” Kill us first if you can. Those who dare kill our lord, come to us first.” The mutineers returned jumping over the dead bodies of slain servants. All those who had saved the life of the Thirumulpad were presented with regular monthly monetary gifts for a long time.
The reigns of Variyamkunnath Kunjahamad Haji and Ali Musalyar were progressing well. On 24th October 1921, the reporter of Kerala Patrika wrote like this about the reign of Variyankunnath Kunjahammad Haji.
“Kunjahamad Haji and his group are running his government in villages around Chathangotpuram with much elan. Those who engaged in looting and raping of women are ruthlessly punished. In a case where one Appu Nair was unnecessarily attacked by the mutineers, it is known that he appealed before the Haji and after conducting a fair trial; the offenders were punished with caning. Those who touched women wrongly, were punished with cutting off their fingers. It is also known that Kunjahammad Haji had visited the Brahmin houses of Manappad and Edakkad and assured that no harm will be done as long as they provided money and rice whenever demanded. They did so till they were no more in a position to oblige any further and had to escape from the village, unseen.”
From August 1921 onwards, forcible conversion into Islam was commenced in areas near Manjeri and Malappuram. The mutineers will encompass the houses of Hindus and capture all women and children to be presented before the Muslim King. They will be asked to choose one of the two alternatives.-To opt for conversion and believe in Din or go to England. In order to escape from merciless death by swords, some will opt for conversion. Some will mistake the question for a genuine voyage to England and will say yes to that. Those who agreed to convert will be circumcised then and there. Women will be asked to wear Muslim dress of Kutchi cloth and veils. Those unfortunate men who opted to go to Engalnd will be mercilessly executed.
Variyankunnath Kunjahammad Haji and his men had reached the house of Pulatthottatthil Koman Menon living within the area of his control to convert him and his family. It was then Nagara was sounded from the nearby mosque. Immediately Kunjahammad and his men ran to the mosque. Thus Koman Menon was luckily saved from death.
(Nagara is a percussion instrument sounded in mosques. When beaten, the giant sound waves will reach the next mosque. The sound is suggestive of a warning for all Moplahs to come and assemble there. During the days of mutiny this was extensively used to assemble them)
The Nagara was sounded to warn Muslims about the arrival of army in Pukkottur. The army was moving towards Pukkottur under the command of McEnroe. They were advancing after repairing and restoring the bridges and rails destroyed by the rioters. It was an army unit to assist Mr. Austin, Malappuram Division Officer. Pookkottur falls in between the road route from Kozhikode to Malappuram. The army had no intention to attack Pukkottur. Same time if they reached Malappuram without obstacles there was also a chance for an action in Pookkotur. It was on the basis of a rumor about army coming to Pookkottur that the Nagaras were sounded. In the midst of a strong jubilation out of the mistaken notion that army has receded from Malabar after defeat, and Muslim rule firmly established in Eranad and Valluvanad, the presence of army in Pookkottur irritated them. They believed that the Moplah Raj will not last unless the army is again sent back in defeat. Everyone who heard about this rushed to Pookkottur wielding swords, spears and guns. The Moplahs started firing at the army from the 26th Milestone point on the road from Kozhikode to Malappuram using a ditch as a mote. The unexpected onslaught by Muslims, hiding in bunkers and firing, as if in a real war situation, initially gave a shock to the army men. Then they retorted with full force. About 500 Moplahs and a few from the government side including Lencaster, a police officer died. Finally, unable to withstand the army firing the Moplahs started running away.
It was under the leadership of Vadakkeveettil Muhammad, Karat Moideenkutty Haji, Abdulla Haji and Chemprassery Thangal that the Muslims fought against the army. By the time Kunjahammad Haji and his troupe reached Pookkottur everything was over. Infuriated by what was seen there, he marched towards Anakkayam with his army. His aim was the house of Khan Bahadur Chekkutty who did not approve of the mutiny. Those who stood against Khilafat were against Islam. Such people were destined to be killed. The intention of Kunjahammad Haji also was to implement it.
Chekkutty was a retired Inspector. He was an elderly man much respected by everyone there and an enemy for the mutineers only. Kujahamd Haji and his group entered Chekkutti’s house and cruelly murdered him. The explanation given was that Chekkutty was killed for being a British agent. Then they pierced the severed head with a spear and marched with it openly to Manjeri. Their next aim was to sever the head of the Circle Inspector of police at Manjeri, Mr. Narayanan Menon. He knew of this advance and escaped to Malappuram.
Variyankunnath Kunjahammad Haji undertook a similar march towards Kondotty also. It was on a Friday, 25th of March 1921. The Kondotty Thangal was against the mutiny. In Kondotty the first thing they did was to torch the Registration office. Then they moved to Kondotty Thakkiyav Hasankutty Molla an old man, knowing that the rioters have come to attack the Thangal sounded the Nagara. Infuriated mutineers put him to sword. By this time, Kondotty Thangal and his assistants hid themselves in the up stair rooms of a big house called Puthanmaliyekkal and fired at the assailants using double barrel guns. One assailant called Velichennakkaran Kammad (coconut oil dealer) fell dead. The mutineers entered the “Khuba” and broke glass chandeliers and other objects there. Hearing the increasing gunshot sounds, Kunjahammad haji thought that the army had come and advised his men to run away and escape. Subsequent to this a number of furious attacks took place in Eranad and Valluvanad. Since details of these are given separately as experiences of individual people in a separate chapter, the same is being left out from here.
The pathetic screams of Hindus echoed from everywhere in the areas affected by the rebellion. Many women were subjected cruel rapes. Men were beheaded. The very sounding of “Thakbir“ or war cries by rioters created a panic and fear of death among Hindus. The Hindus did not have the courage or strength to even oppose the outrages of Muslims. There were none to save them from the killer swords of Muslims. Even Hindus belonging to the Congress party did not come out due to fear of life. The Muslims had only one enemy- Hindus. Whether they were Congressmen or not was immaterial to them. Knowing well that M. P. Narayana Menon was their well-wisher, they did not hurt anyone from his family. Same time, even the members of EMS Namboodiripad’s family had to run away from their village to escape from the atrocities of Muslim rioters.
Many Hindus had to seek refuge in southern districts to escape from the cold blooded murders and forced conversions unleashed by the Moplahs. Quite a few sought refuge in army camps. This further enraged the Moplahs. The inhabitants of Thuvvur village have not yet overcome the shock of the insurgency. When Hindus started approaching army camps for saving their lives, Muslims declared that Hindus and British Christians both were enemies of Islam and started intensifying their torture of Hindus.
The large horde of Muslims who came shouting “Allahu Akbar” surrounded the Hindu homes of Thuvvur. They captured all the Hindus whom they could lay their hands on and torched all the houses. The captured Hindus were taken to a rocky hill in between Thuvvur and Kalikavu on the main road side and tried. Some say that this was done by Chembrassery Thangal. Others opine that it was Kunjahammad Haji himself.
The judge had only two questions to ask to the prisoners. “Do you want to believe in “Din” or go to England?” Those who agreed to convert will be circumcised then and there. Those who opted to go to England were taken to a place near a well and beheaded there. The corpses were then dumped into the well. About 43 Hindus were killed like this while 7 were let out. The gory descriptions about blood drenched dead bodies shaking in the well were reported in news dailies including the Kerala Patrika.
The land where the well was situated belonged to Kooriyadi family. The executioner of the Muslim Court was one Imbichikoya Thangal of Thuvur village. The victims included two Muslims also who were opposing the mutiny. While collecting information for this book, I had visited the site of the well. It is now in a rubber estate by the road side. The well has since been almost filled up by dumping debris from the nearby places. When I inspected the site, the well with a protective fence was just a meter deep only. The locals said that this was a calculated attempt to destroy all evidence of the massacre taken place in Thuvvur. Presently this well too is not visible. The rubber estate is in the hands of one Anappattam Kunjappa. Scared by this big massacre the Hindus had fled to Pandikkad to seek help of army.
The Poozhikkal family members of Nannambra near Thanur suffered great losses during the mutiny. They were a Jenmi family whose house was guarded by some Muslims. It is said that this guard was arranged by Ali Musalyar himself. Still the insurgents attacked the house. It is believed that the guards too helped the attackers. An elderly Narayanan Nair was staying in the house with his five children. The Moplah insurgents entered the house and slaughtered all the sons in law and the eldest son. Only Narayanan Nair and his youngest son, Gopalan escaped their fury. Eighteen year old Oolikkutty was taken away by the Muslims and brought to Thirurangadi. She was converted to Islam and kept in the custody of Kodinjy Pookoya Thangal. Later she was taken to an unknown destination. She was seen in a Muslim attire in Tirurangadi. Later, she returned to Hinduism after the rebellion was crushed.
Attumpuram Illam near Areakode was attacked by the rioters and the Embrandiri residing there was mercilessly slaughtered. Then they attacked Thrikkallur temple and destroyed the idol. Subsequently they took possession of Kareepath illam (Brahmin house) from where extensive forced conversions and murders were organized. The atrocities at Kareepath illam were executed under the leadership of Variyankunnan Kunjahammad Haji and Karadan Moideenkutty Haji. A Christian was also cruelly put to death at Kodakkal in Thirunavaya.
When the fanatic Muslims were roaming freely with raised weapons in areas affected by the mutiny, the army was in a desprate condition, unable to do anything. All the atrocities were committed by the Moplahs moving through the remote narrow village paths which were not accessible to military. A large number of Muslims in Malabar had not approved the actions of the rioters ridiculing it as un-Islamic. But such peace loving Muslims also had no safety for their lives and property in the Moplah reign. Many of them too had to run away and take refuge elsewhere along with Hindus to save their lives. Finally the British government could not wait any further watching the extermination of Hindus and establishment of Moplah Land in Malabar. They decided to act tough against the mutiny.
More army reached Malabar from Bangalore before declaring martial law in the insurgency affected areas of Malabar. Additionally two canon force units also reached Malappuram. One contingent of Queen’s Race and another one from Field Artillery arrived at Malappuram on 28th of August. Two more companies of army reached Tirur too. Then martial law was proclaimed in five places in Malabar like Eranad, Valluvanadu, Ponnani, Kozhikode and Wayanad. Their first aim was to arrest Ali Muslyar from Thirurangadi. They found out that the main brain behind the entire insurgency was Ali Musalyar who had himself declared as Khalifa and started Islamic reign over some areas.
The army’s proclamation was as under.
“It is being informed to all that the British army is going to enter Thirurangadi. No one should try to obstruct this and should extend all help to them. Unless those in mosques oppose or fire from inside, we will not be firing at the mosques or damaging them. Unless Erukunnan alias Palathumoolayil Ali Musalyar surrenders before the British army by coming to any place between Thirurangadi and Vengara by the riverside waving a white flag, before 9 “O clock on 30th August, 1921, Thirurangadi town will be blasted with cannons. Not more than 10 people should accompany Ali Musalyar. All the rest of people should confine to their homes and surrender arms if any held with them as and when demanded.”
Copies of the proclamation were distributed everywhere in Malabar. The rioters who never thought that the army will come back to their Moplah Land were terribly scared. They were highly apprehensive of the actions that might be taken by the army. On August 30th the army units in Malappuram and Tirur marched towards Thirurangadi through two separate routes. They suddenly cordoned off the mosque and several times asked those inside to come out. Some Muslims inside the mosque wanted to fire at the army while others objected to it. Then the army warned that they will fire at the mosque if those inside did not surrender. Hearing this Moplahs inside the mosque fired first at the army. The army retaliated with full force and many inside the mosque dropped dead in the cross firing. Ali Muslayar was afraid that the army will blast the mosque unless they came out and probably will stop firing once they came out. He asked the doors of the mosque to be opened. The two people who opened the door immediately fell before the army’s bullets. While Ali Musalyar came forward to surrender, Lavakkutty and Kunjalavi jumped out and escaped. In this fight army lost 20 people including private Williams and 22 Moplahs shed their lives including Ali Musalyar’s relatives and three students learning Koran. Ali Musalyar and 37 followers waved while flags and surrendered. The others had escaped. Those surrendered were handcuffed behind and taken to Tirur. Kunjalavi was killed in an encounter with army at Valiyora. Lavakkutty committed suicide. The military court tried Ali Muslayar and his 37 supporters and punished them. He was shot dead at Coimbatore on Jamadul Akhar- 20th of 1340. The others were hanged to death at Coimabtore Central Jail. Ali Musalyar’s grave is situated at a distance of 10 feet away from the western wall of Shukranpet graveyard.
In 1958 a memorial for Ali Musalyar was constructed in Coimabtore city. A judgment of the military court punishing him and his followers is appended in this book.
After the arrest of Ali Musalyar, things returned to normalcy in Malabar. Trains started running and Post offices and government offices started functioning. Still the military law was not withdrawn in Malabar. In order to avoid further threats to government and the Hindus, army started more arrests of culprits.
