A series of riots were orchestrated by Mappila or Muslim community residing in Kerala in the 19th century and early 20th century. This was a conflict against British and Hindu Landlords in the Malabar district of North Kerala. It was an armed revolt led by Variyankunnath Kunjahammed Haji.
Muslims arrived in Kerala in the 7th Century as traders. They were allowed to trade by the rulers and eventually they married local women so their descendants were called Moplah ( son-in-law).
Before Tipu Sultan's attack on Malabar the Jenmi ( upper caste Hindu Landlords) acquired most of the land and this was lent for farming. The stratified level of ownership gave cultivators also a share of the produce. Here Moplahs were the cultivators.
During the 18th century Hyder Ali invaded Malabar and many Hindu Landlords fled from Malabar to avoid harassment and forceful conversion. This time Moplahs were given full ownership.
After the death of Tipu Sultan in 1799 Malabar came under the British Authority. They gave the ownership back to Jenmis which created an outrage as earlier there were stratified levels of ownership. Now peasants had to face high rent and no security of tenure.
This instigated riots by the Moplahs and from 1836-1896 many British officers and Hindus were killed.
In 1919 The Khilafat Movement started by Mohammed Ali and Shaukat Ali had Mahatma Gandhi 's support. Gandhi ji wanted Hindus and Muslims to unite and retaliate against the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
The Khilafat meetings in Malabar created communal feelings among Moplahs and they went totally against British and Hindu Landlords. This was a large-scale violent act and a lot of British officers and Hindu Landlords were killed. Many temples and homes were also destroyed.
This massacre was led by Ali Musaliyar and Variyankunnath Kunjahammed Haji.
From August 1921 till the end of year Moplahs occupied a major portion of Malabar.
In November 1921 the British crushed this Rebellion by their special battalion force named The Malabar Special Force.
Wagon Tragedy
While carrying 67 Moplah prisoners in a closed wagon from Tirur to Central prison (Podanur) they died due to suffocation.
WRITER— SHRUTI
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