K.Kelappan: Why the Moplah riot is not a rebellion or Freedom Struggle

We are all well familiar with the efforts of K Kelappan in rescuing Ponnani Taluk from the Moplah rebellion. While everyone was busy labelling the rebellion as a freedom struggle, K Kelappan wrote an article in Kesari just before his death, condemning this act, as quoted below. 

The decision to celebrate the golden jubilee of the 1921 Moplah rebellion was ridiculous and ignorant. Though the Moplah outrage was retitled as a freedom struggle for not hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims, the unspeakable atrocities imposed on innocent Hindus during the riot and many other riots before should not be neglected and can’t be justified. While researching past incidents, it’s clear that the purpose of the 1921 riot was not much different from almost 50 communal outrages that happened before. Instead, this was the most brutal among them. Parts of Ernad, Valluvanad, Ponnani taluks and eastern parts of Kozhikode were affected the most. The victims who are still alive should be of 65 – 70 years of age to remember the offences they were inflicted upon. They might not be even able to recollect the Khilafat movement and its purpose. 

During the first world war, Britain required and sought India’s full cooperation and support to vanquish the German emperor. As soon as the War started, Turkey joined with Germany against the Britishers as the Turkey emperor was an obliged Khaleefa to protect the Islamic community and their places of worship. Consequently, Indian Muslims thought fighting against Turkey would be considered anti-Islamic. Indian Viceroy, a representative of the British emperor, proclaimed that Turkey’s war was not religious and promised that Islamic places of worship would not be attacked. Even after British Prime Minister Loid George’s assurance, Britain couldn’t keep their promises while celebrating the victory in 1918. Britain obtained Mesopotamia, Islamic countries like Syria and Anatolia were given to France and Italy respectively. Britain also decided to give Smyrna to Greece and conferred Palestine back to jews. Turkey was permitted to stay with Europe but not allowed to form an army. Muslims across the globe were agitated against Britain for breaching their promises. 

Indian Muslims felt guilty for helping Britain in the war to quash Turkey. This reason was particularly enough for them to take revenge on Britain and organise a nationwide Khilafat movement in India. Mahatma Gandhi led this movement from the front. Many Hindu leaders participated in such meetings held on 28th May 1920 in Bombay and the 1st week of June in Allahabad. An ultimatum signed by 90 Muslim leaders was sent to the Indian viceroy in June last week, demanding solutions, else threatened that they would engage in a non-cooperation movement. 

In Kerala

Across the country, August 1st was celebrated as Khilafat Mourning Day. Mahatma Gandhi along with Shaukat Ali participated and spoke in a mass convention held in Kozhikode on August 18th, and travelled pan India. People of Kozhikode donated an amount of Rs. 25000 to Khilafat fund. 

The non-cooperation movement got acceptance in the next congress held in Kolkata. Meanwhile, the Khilafat movement flourished rapidly across Kerala. Leaders like Rajagopalachari, Dr S S Rajan, Muthu Sahib, organized a public meeting at Kozhikode beach. Rajaji, in his speech, encouraged lawyers to associate with the Khilafat movement. Popular lawyers like K Madhavan Nair and V Gopala Menon were active participants in several meetings. After the Nagpur Congress that was held in December, lawyers like T R Krishnaswamy Iyyer and U Gopala Menon boycotted the court. 

 *Heaven is nearby eliminating kafirs* 

The Khilafat movement could easily be evolved as a violent movement. Before the 1921 riot, Malabar had witnessed more than fifty communal outrages, where Ernad Taluk was affected the most. However the reasons behind all these attacks were different, the assailants believed that Hindus were kafirs. These assailants believed killing or converting a kafir or attacking temples would take them to the steps leading to the threshold of heaven. 

Eranad Moplahs were poor and hard-working peasants; on the other hand, most of the landlords were Hindus. Moplahs feared that they would be banished from the land they lived on, by these landlords. This left the tenants in a precarious position. They united and attacked the landlords in the name of jihad. They killed, mobbed, forcefully converted innocent Hindus to Islam and found shelter in captured temples. 

Later police and army suppressed the outrage and killed the aggressors. Most riots happened during their holy month which they believed would help them to reach the heavenly abode. Blind religious beliefs were the major cause for almost all rebellions that happened in Malabar. Sadly, this blind faith killed Ramasimhan and his family. 

The government decided to revoke the Khilafat movement. But the British army faced a crisis in number due to their war with Germany. This encouraged Khilafat leaders and they felt British forces could easily be overruled by violent non-cooperation movements.

 In 1921 February, Janab Yakoob Hussain reached Malabar with the same belief but was restricted to volunteer the operation. Hussain along with K Madhavan Nair, U Gopala Menon, Moitheen Koya was imprisoned. Other Congress leaders were restricted using article 144.” Even I had been imprisoned for violating the law”. At the same time, Ali Musliar and his disciples supported the non-violent methods. 

Hindu – Muslim relation in Kerala

It’s important to specify the communal harmony between Hindus and Muslims in yesteryears. Hindu landlords had never shown any kind of partiality between the two communities; instead, Kozhikode Samoothiri and Chirakkal Samoothiri treated and encouraged them well. Kunjalimarakkar was the naval commander of Kozhikode Samoothiri. Moplahs were included in guarding the Valluvanadu King’s treasures. But everything turned topsy-turvy when Tipu and Haider invaded Kerala which gave impetus to forced conversions and unlawful land encroachments. 

According to Sardar K M Panicker, during their regime, they followed stringent militant measures to suppress the voices of Hindus. They, thus, created a split in Hindu Muslim harmony by forcing innocent Hindus to convert to Islam. Tipu Sultan destroyed the culture and heritage of the whole of Malabar because of his frustration and disappointment towards other religions. He forced conversions and imposed military rule over the nation. His reign in Kerala resulted in huge religious polarization and forced conversions.

Yakoob Hussain and his friends were released from jail on 15th August 1921. They received a warm reception on the 16th and 17th, from the public like never before. The huge procession which circled around Mananchira ground was an eye-opener for Collector Thomas and DSP R H Hitchcock. On 17th and 18th August, Collector Thomas issued an order to arrest M P Narayana Menon, Chembrassery Thangal, Kattilassery Muhammed Musliar along with eight others under the Mappila Act. The Collector himself went to arrest these leaders along with the army, which was an uncommon practise those days. The force reached Thiroorangadi on 20th August and surrounded the mosque. Meanwhile, a rumour was spread among the Moplahs that the military had shot down the famous Mambaram mosque.  

A group of Moplahs from Tanur and other parts of Malabar reached Thiroorangadi which led to a severe encounter between the army and the mob. Two British officials, two constables and many Moplahs died. Almost 40 Moplahs were confined. Collector Thomas and his team reached Kozhikode the next day after enduring many hardships, as they were attacked by Moplahs, throughout the journey. 

Aggressor’s revelry

K Madhavan Nair, after being released from jail, reached Kozhikode on the 17th. He was received and escorted to Manjeri by his brother K Keshavan Nair and friend M Narayana Menon. At the same time, Moplahs were insistent to take revenge on the British for their betrayal in Britain – German war. Madhavan Nair was taken to Manjeri by his friends to pacify the agitated Moplahs. He met the Khilafat leaders. He along with Narayana Menon and Kattilassery Muhammed Musliar made a failed attempt to convince the agitators to explain the consequences. Even the collector Thomas also couldn’t understand the aftermath of the actions. Aggressive Moplahs attacked the Parappanangadi railway station. Telephone cables were cut and rails were dismantled. A special police officer and his orderly got killed. Madhavan Nair and Narayana Menon rushed to these places but failed to tranquilise the Moplahs. 

The agitators came to know about the route of the collector’s return journey. Many rumours about the Thirurangadi encounter spread rapidly. People made stories about how Amu Sahib was butchered by Moplahs. A group of Moplahs from Pookkottur went to attack Nilambur Kovilakam. 20 guards were killed. Another group looted the Manjeri treasury. Moplahs divided into many groups and attacked, killed, looted and forcefully converted innocent people. 

Madhavan Nair had said in his book that the most astounding fact about this riot was that the only ones attacked, killed and looted were innocent people. Comparing the first and second phases of the riot, we would understand that the second one was more brutal. Apart from some economical and religious differences that existed then, there was no particular reason for an outrage towards Hindus. The Moplahs aimed at establishing a kingdom of Islam through the Khilafat movement. Their actions and words justified the most dangerous extremist mindset. Most of them believed it was a holy war and assaulting anti-Muslims was a Godly act. 

 The start of *Islamisation* 

Malabar Moplahs had a strong conviction that the Khilafat movement would help them establish an Islamic state. Pookkottur Moplahs on 26th August 1921, decided to accomplish this by converting Hindus to Islam. Later K Madhavan Nair, himself in his book, claimed that the Moplahs had intended to convert him and his family. When the outbreak happened, Madhavan Nair kept the guards around his home in which some were Moplahs. While asked about the intention of forceful conversion, his guards confirmed the rumour. They further added that they would be incapable to stop the Moplahs as it would be against Islam. 

In Pookkottur, around 75 Hindus were forcefully converted and 30 among them were members of the Ponnunnikkadu Nair family. The Moplahs also tried to convert Pulathottil Koman Menon, retired Salt Assistant Commissioner and his family, but failed. He was a prominent personality, even respected by Muslims and trusted them back. On August 24, a large group of protestors surrounded his house and compelled the family for conversion. He disagreed but ladies in the family were provided burqas and the men were forced to shave their heads. The day after,  the group of protestors returned with the same demand and forced the 76 years old Koman Menon to join Islam by shaving his head and wearing the religious hat they gave. To his luck, they (protestors) heard the Naqqara beating sound and recognized the presence of the army outside. The mob retreated and thus Koman Menon and his family escaped from the assault. 

*Culmination into a fierce War* 

A battalion of 125 army and police officers led by Captain McEnroy travelled to Malappuram to help Austin, Malappuram Divisional Officer. They had to cross Pookkottur to reach Malappuram. Around three thousand Moplahs gathered there loaded with weapons to execute the officers. They converted a canal into a trench and hid there to kill the army men. Moplahs planned to eradicate the entire force from every side if the army crossed the canal and moved forward. When the aggressors launched an attack from every side, the army was not left with any choice and started firing the machine guns. The protestors then ran towards the army and attacked with knives and sabres. Around 400 Moplahs were killed in the encounter which took place for four to five hours. An army officer and two other army men also died. After cremating the bodies of the Moplahs, who were killed, in a ground nearby, McEnroy and his team continued their journey to Malappuram. 

Surrendering of Ali Musaliar

After the Pookkottur riot, Khilafat leaders migrated to different parts of Malabar. They were preparing for mass assault and murder. Khilafat leader Variyankunnath Kunjahammed Haji and his squad went to Anakkayam where retired Police Inspector Khan Bahadur Chekkutti lived. He was popular and well honoured by both the communities. Chekkutti was shot dead and beheaded by Haji. His head was then pierced on a spear and taken to Manjeri in a mass procession led by Variyankunnath Kunjahammed Haji. An ultimatum was issued to Ali Musliar by the Army Chief J W Radcliff and Malappuram Divisional Officer Austin on 28th August at Thiroorangadi. The ultimatum stated that if Ali Musliar didn’t surrender by waving a white flag, both the Mambaram and Thiroorangadi mosques would be set on fire. 

Thus, Ali Musliar and a few Moplahs surrendered and were imprisoned in Coimbatore jail. His disciples Alavikkutty and Kunj Alavi did not surrender and fled to some other part. The riot seemed to have settled for some time. If the government had strategically handled the situation, the riot could have been dissolved. Instead, the government imposed military rule in Kozhikode, Eranad, Valluvanadu, Ponnani and Wayanad taluks. Muslims were neither allowed to leave their place nor provided shelter for each other and should inform the police if someone approached. They must need a travel pass issued by the Magistrate or police for the train journey. These were the orders passed by the District Magistrate under the consent of the Military Commander. Evidence or proof was not required to imprison the Moplahs. Most of them were punished by the Special Magistrate and sent to Coimbatore and Kannur districts. The cruelties imposed on Hindus by Moplahs had no bounds, but many converted back to Hinduism. 

The thick-skinned Jubilee

Congress activities were almost impossible and they couldn’t even reach the interiors of Kerala. The rebellion actually slowed down the Indian freedom struggle. Only Muslim League perceived this communal outrage as a freedom struggle. Framing such shameful offences as a fight for freedom could only be done by a spineless leadership.

The never-ending refugee crisis was the aftermath of Muslim’s ferocious division of our ancient country. Today, we could see that the hatred sown in Bangladesh had reached its extreme. We should wait and see what would happen in Kerala, as the governance had been entrusted to an unworthy leadership. It would be a noble gesture if they stop celebrating a communal riot.