Malabar Resistance (1921)

Context

• A new book revisits the Malabar Revolt (1921), highlighting it as more than just a peasant uprising.
• It explores the revolt’s social, economic, and political aspects, its connection with the Khilafat movement, and its Hindu-Muslim unity in anti-colonial resistance.

Background

• Date/Region: August 1921, Malabar district of Kerala.
• Causes of Revolt:
  • Absence of security of tenure for peasants.
  • High rents, renewal fees, and harsh conditions imposed by landlords.
  • Resolutions for peasant relief began with the Malabar District Congress Conference, 1920 (Manjeri).
• Peasant discontent was soon linked with broader anti-colonial struggles.

Nature of the Revolt

• Labeled in colonial accounts as “Moplah Rebellion” or “Malabar Revolt.”
• Characterised as agrarian uprising against oppressive landlords & British imperial rule.
• The revolt also drew inspiration from the Khilafat movement, combining faith and anti-colonial politics.
• The mosque of Tirurangadi became a hub of memory, resistance, and mobilisation.

Historians’ Interpretations

1. Communal Viewpoint (Colonial/Communalist Historiography):
   • Branded as a communal riot due to violence against certain Hindu landlords.
   • Used by British to divide Hindus and Muslims.
2. Nationalist & Marxist Viewpoint:
   • Seen as a peasant struggle against colonial economic exploitation.
   • Historians like E.M.S. Namboodiripad described it as an agrarian struggle with anti-feudal, anti-imperial roots.
3. Integrative View (Recent Scholarship – Abbas Panakkal, C.H. Chekku, R.N. Hitchcock):
   • Emphasises Hindu-Muslim unity in resisting colonial rule.
   • Highlighted cooperation across communities in boycotts, protests, and everyday struggles.

Key Leaders

• Ali Musaliar – Luminary of 1921 struggle, seen as a spiritual and community leader.
• Satyagrahis & Peasant Leaders – Many Hindus and Muslims collectively resisted British authority and landlords.

Significance

• Example of grassroots resistance transcending communal boundaries.
• Part of a broader pan-Islamist Khilafat Movement, yet deeply rooted in local agrarian grievances.
• Showcased communal harmony in anti-colonial mobilisation.
• British repression was harsh – thousands killed, displaced, or imprisoned.

Khilafat Angle

• Provided an ideological backdrop, connecting local struggles with global Muslim concerns (Ottoman Caliphate).
• Irony: Though linked to religious symbolism, it fostered Hindu-Muslim solidarity in anti-imperial struggle.