Why did the British gave up its colonies?

The popular answer is that Britain became weak after WW2 and hence maintaining colonies became expensive.

Remember that the might of the British empire increased after first world war. They were able to control the Indian unrest by enacting the draconian Rowlatt Act, which essentially extended the wartime repressive measures. The Jallianwala Bagh incident and the secret Inquisition in Punjab and Cellular jails demonstrated the superiority of colonial rulers in India.

But India obtained its freedom not because of WW2 or the passive struggle of Gandhi. The heroic battles fought by INA soldiers in the NE jungles had awakened people. Netaji was sure that if INA succeeds in hoisting its flag in India, then that will awaken the dormant freedom spirit of Indians. Even though the Japanese and INA soldiers were defeated in the battle of Imphal/Kohima, their sacrifices did not go in vain. The trial of INA leaders and the 1946 navy mutiny forced the British to quit.

When the former PM Lord Clement Atlee visited India after independence, he had a friendly chat with the former Chief Justice of Kolkata HC, P.B. Chakrabarty. His direct question to Atlee was that since Gandhi’s Quit India movement had tapered off quite some time ago and in 1947 no such new compelling situation had arisen that would necessitate a hasty British departure, why did they have to leave? Moreover, the victorious allies had plundered Germany, Japan and Netaji's INA. The havoc of atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki had brought Japan to its heels. The world was ideologically and politically divided into Communist and Capitalist blocks. 

In his reply Atlee cited several reasons, the principal among them being the erosion of loyalty to the British Crown among the Indian army and navy personnel as a result of the military activities of Netaji. Toward the end of our discussion he asked Atlee what was the extent of Gandhi’s influence upon the British decision to quit India. Hearing this question, Atlee's lips became twisted in a sarcastic smile as he slowly chewed out the word, mi-ni-mal.

After the Indian independence, Britain could no longer hold on to colonies in Africa and Asia. The reason is that services of Indian soldiers and the resources from India were not available. The grains from India were exported to feed the troops and laborers in colonies. It was the Indian soldiers who fought most of the war as cannon fodders while the coward white men hid in trenches or comfort buildings. Millions of indentured labores worked as coolie slaves in many colonies. Also a non violent leader like Gandhi was not there in any other British colony in the world.

Soon after India gaining freedom, a violent guerrilla campaign started in Malaya peninsula. Thousands were killed, but an effective political and military response prevented a Communist take-over. Malaysia became independent in 1957. In the Middle East, Britain hurriedly abandoned Palestine in 1948. Ghana became Britain's first African colony to reach independence in 1957. By 1967 more than 20 British territories were independent. The Chinese took back Hong Kong in 1997.

June 6th 2019 marks the start of the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy, the largest amphibious assault in history with almost 7,000 ships and aircrafts. The British queen and 16 other heads of state have gathered in the British city of Portsmouth to commemorate the event. 

But the battle of Imphal/Kohima that happened in India are totally ignored by our history text books. Britain's struggle to repel a combined force of Netaji and Japan around Imphal and Kohima in 1944 has been adjudged as the greatest ever battle involving British forces, in a contest run by the National Army Museum

The 1757 transition of the world

The course of events that happened after Clive's victory in the battle at Palashi (Plassey) on June 23 1757 points to the prosperity of Bengal at that time. This was the first battle of the British against a princely state on the Indian Subcontinent, leading India towards 190 years long slavery. It was a sham battle. The battle was lost by soldiers who did not fight. Not even a single bullet was fired. The story of torrential rain drenching the nawab's ammunition and the British protecting their own with tarpaulin brought from Madras is a plain lie. Nawab's men are more aware of the weather pattern in Bengal than the British and they knew how to protect themselves and their paraphernalia from an impending rain.

After the battle, Clive immediately plundered Siraj’s treasury, leaving new Nawab Mir Jafar with nothing. Moreover, the new puppet Nawab was asked to pay a heavy amount as compensation to company officials and traders of the city for the attack on Calcutta by previous ruler and also for the black hole tragedy. Clive took a jagir, an endowment of tax revenue for life and became one of the richest men in England. The Mughal emperor, Shah Alam II, recognized British power and gave the Company official authority to collect taxes, making the Company the virtual rulers of Bengal. 

England soon became a sink of Indian wealth filled by the junior and senior servants of the East India Company.

Money played a major role in wars all over the world

The vast majority of payments were made in specie (coins minted from gold and silver). Paper money was not yet widely accepted. The gold and silver coins looted by Clive was used in the expansion of empire in India. The specie collected from across the world were lent to the British government by the BEIC during the Napoleonic Wars that were highly expensive. 

After 1757, the BEIC were having plenty of unaccounted money or black money. This money was used to create highly destructive wars throughout the world. The Indian economy continued to be haunted by the problem of black money until the Demonetization in November 2016. 

The very first beneficiary of Nawab's treasury, looted by Clive, was Hyder Ali of Mysore who was a petty officer in the Mysore army. The Mysorean treasury was virtually bankrupt at the time of Plassey battle. Hyder Ali scored points from this financial breakdown. In 1757 Hyder Ali was called to Seringapatam to join the fight against Nizam and the Marathas. Upon his arrival he found the Mysorean army in disarray and near mutiny over pay. It was Hyder Ali who arranged for the army to be paid. In 1758 Hyder Ali led successful campaigns against Marathas and Calicut. By 1759 Hyder Ali was in command of the entire Mysorean army. The young raja Krishnaraja rewarded Hyder Ali's performance by granting him the title Nawab of Mysore. He became the de facto ruler of Mysore as Sarvadhikari (Chief Minister) by 1761.

The question is how did Hyder Ali arranged the money?

The specie coins looted by BEIC was loaned to Hyder Ali through his French associates. After 1757, the British in India became predominantly powerful and the French had no option except to accept the British hegemony. After the third Carnatic war, the French agreed to support British client governments. It should be remembered that the French and British traders in India were not enemies after 1757. They mutually communicated and helped each other. The Second Opium War (1856-1860) against China was jointly fought by the British and French forces.

Why did the British help Hyder who was opposed to the British expansion?

The British and French traders were eying the vast treasures of gold in the temples of Kerala. They used the Mysore Sultans as proxy conquerors. Both Hyder Ali and Tipu were guided and closely monitored by the French generals. There were two French commanders known as Lally and Pimoran advising Haider and Tipu at the Battle of Pollilur in 1780. Tipu's forces were also joined by his French allies in some of the key events of the conflict, including the siege of Mangalore in 1783. When the French government at home signed the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the French soldiers in India officially became the friends of British, leaving Tipu's Mysore in an uncomfortable position. His French allies, by observing strict neutrality, had deserted him at all crucial moment in the war with the British. In the hope of attracting further French support, Tipu established a Jacobin club at Mysore in 1797, adopted a liberty red cap and styled himself as Citizen Tippoo.

A King who was a Jacobian - https://samharshbangalore.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-king-who-was-jacobian.html

But for Tipu's campaigns in Kodagu and Kerala against native kingdoms, his French allies extended their military, financial, political, diplomatic support and equipped him with modern weapons like highly armed cannonade contingent. This can be proved by the endless iron cannon balls that can be found in the Nalnad region of Kodagu even today.

Coorg was strategically, a buffer zone which linked Mangalore and Malabar. Kodavas were the master of the guerrilla warfare hence they succeeded every time in ambushing the enemy. Tipu first invaded Kodagu with his well-equipped 15000 army men carrying French Cannon with an intention of conquering Kodagu overnight. The troop of 5000 Kodavas retaliated, defeated Tipu’s army and chased them out of Kodagu. Likewise Tipu was defeated by Kodavas 31 times. 

Tipu decided to conquer Coorg by hook or by crook. So he hatched a cowardly plan with the the French. Tipu with the help of General M. Lally requested Kodavas to make peace stating his real enemies are the British and Marathas and not the Kodavas. He invited all Kodavas unarmed for a friendly feast. On 13th December 1785, more than 125 thousand Kodavas gathered at Devattparamb on the banks of Cauvery river. When the sun set behind the mountains of Kodagu, the French forces and Tipu’s soldiers hiding behind forest shrubs attacked the unarmed Kodavas and slaughtered them in cold blood like how Colonel dyer killed people at Jallianwallah bagh.

This pillage turned entire Coorg into a graveyard. Over 60,000 Kodavas were massacred in Devattparamb and around 65,000 Kodava survivors including women and children were captured. Among them the women were raped and children were forcefully converted. The scale of the massacre was so huge that the water in the Cauvery river turned red for 12 consecutive days

Tipu's cavalcade in North Malabar was led by the French Commander Monsieur Lally. In December 1789, Tipu Sultan attacked the Travancore lines (a defence fortification by the side or Periyar river) from the north, signalling the commencement of the Battle of Nedumkotta. Even though the Travancore state had a protection treaty with the British, the company troops stationed near Nedumkotta became passive spectators. While Tipu regrouped, Madras Governor Holland engaged in negotiations with Tipu rather than mobilizing the military. The secret pact hatched by Tipu and Holland clearly shows that Tipu never had any enemity with the British.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nedumkotta

Tipu's attack was successfully repulsed by the Travancore soldiers alone. The Mysore army suffered major casualities in this battle and Tipu himself became permanently lame. Tipu's waterloo started here.

Again in 1790 Tipu planned the attack on Travancore using special troops called from Srirangapatam and Bangalore. The Travancore army was no match for the huge Mysore army. So the Diwan Raja Kesavadas thought out a different game plan. A temporary bund, like a small dam, was constructed upstream in Periyar River blocking large quantity of water. The victorious march of the Mysorean army reached Aluva and camped on the banks of Periyar River. However by this time, during night, a small group went upstream and managed to break the walls of the dam at Bhoothathankettu causing heavy flash floods downstream of the river. All the ammunition and gunpowder of Tipu's army got wet and became inactive. At the same time the British army was planning an attack on Srirangapatnam. Hence Tipu was forced to leave Malabar never to return.

Even though Travancore soldiers played a major part in decimating Tipu's might, the Raja of Travancore was not involved in the peace treaty concluded after the third Anglo Mysore war. The Marathas and Nizam were allowed to partake the spoils of war. When the Diwan of Travancore complained this, the response from the British was that since the war was initiated for the  protection of Travancore, the state must pay for the entire war expenses. 

The British were more scared about the fighting spirit of the Nair soldiers of Kerala and Sikhs of Punjab. The Travancore state single handedly beating Tipu's army was not fully liked by the British. The strategy used by the British to bring Travancore to its heels was to squeeze the treasury of the state. The state had to pay heavy amount to the British and this continued until independence.

The gold looted from temples during the Malabar campaign was stored in the Treasury at Srirangapatanam. After defeating the Mysore army in 1799, the British lifted the entire gold and carted away in clipper ships to Europe. It is preserved in the underground vaults of Bank of England.

Waterloo of Tipu - https://submergedhistory.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-waterloof-of-tipu-sultan-at.html

The plot for a bloody revolution in Paris (French Revolution) was also hatched in London. The gold looted from Kerala and Kodagu by Tipu's French allies were used for funding the Jacobins Club of Paris. The Reign of Terror (1793 – 94) by Jacobins resulted in the death of tens of thousands of innocent people in France. Tipu Sultan himself was a member Jacobins club.

The British Origins of the French Jacobins - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0265691414546456

When the Jacobins Club lost its acceptance among people of Europe, especially after its reign of terror, the club was dissolved. Napoleon was promoted instead. Napoleon was expected to do a deadly campaign of loot and plunder in Europe just like how Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan conducted their military campaign in Kerala. Instead Napoleon turned against the practice of usury or money lending and soon became an enemy of the British. The British war against Napoleon was enormously expensive. Troops had to be paid, and weapons, rations had to be purchased. The vast majority of this payment had to be done in specie - coins minted from gold and silver. Paper money was not yet widely accepted, and a steady flow of hard cash was essential for the British war effort. The BEIC came forward to lent money to the British government and gold and silver coins from across the world poured into England.

Money that paid for all wars is GOLD - https://ageofrevolution.org/200-object/coins-that-paid-for-the-battle-of-waterloo

The other impacts of Plassey battle are

The British decided to give up its tax income from American colonies because the revenue from Bengal was comparatively much higher. America was not an industrialized nation then. Agriculture was the predominant occupation. The American colonies seperated from Britain in 1776.

The industrial revolution in Europe started soon after the Plassey victory. The wealth from the subcontinet and precious vedic knowledge were stolen and used for pure commercial advancement. The museums in London and Germany are keeping many of the stolen relics and artefacts from India.

Despite an incomplete conquest, the Company ruled most of India by the early 1800s by replicating the Bengal model elsewhere, creating compliant puppet rulers so that it could rule territory efficiently, inexpensively and irresponsibly. But the British failed to subdue the Sikhs in the Punjab, the last holdout, until 1848. 

How did Clive win the battle?

The local bankers like Jagat Seth, Omichand and Armenian money lenders helped Clive. Armenians are believed to have arrived on the bank of Hooghly before the East India Company's Job Charnock decided to establish a British trading post in Calcutta. In the 18th and 19th centuries they ran trading companies, shipping lines, coal mines, real estate and hotels.

There were several notorious pedlars and kingmakers in Clive’s Bengal — quite a few of them Armenians. 

It was also an Armenian, Khojah Israel Sarhad, in the court of Mughal emperor Farrukh Sayar who helped the East India Company get their Grand Firman in 1715, that first granted them duty-free trading rights in Bengal. Earlier in 1688,  the English company accessed the Mogul court with the help of an Armenian in the Mughal court.

Without Armenians, the victory at Plassey would have been a mirage for Clive and the Company, especially after the chaotic situation of 1756. After the Black Hole tragedy of Calcutta - 

In the dark days succeeding the sack or Calcutta and the tragedy of the Black Hole, an Armenian merchant secretly supplied the British fugitives who had taken refuge in their ships down the river at Fulta, with boat loads of provisions for six months. If not for the humane Armenians, the British fugitives might have been starved to surrender. And in the momentous days before the famous battle of Plassey, the same Armenian was employed by Clive to negotiate with Mir Jaffar.

It was during Akbar’s reign that the Armenian’s wealth and influence grew. Akbar is not only believed to have had an Armenian queen, he also had an Armenian doctor and chief justice.

Also read the book, Armenians in India From the earliest times to the present day By Mesrovb Jacob Seth, 1937 - https://www.rarebooksocietyofindia.org/book_archive/196174216674_10152469741581675.pdf

Rule of Red Flags from Plassey until Brexit

Red Flag was the emblem of the revolutionary minded radicals of Eastern Europe during 17th and early 18th centuries. Most regiments of the British Army from the 17th to the 20th centuries wore Red coats. The British Army's infantry has been nicknamed as redcoats or devils by the colonists during the American war of independence (1765 - 1783). The Jacobin Club that ruled France during the Reign of Terror (1793–1794) made the red flag the national emblem. Another little known fact is that Tipu was one of the founder member of the Jacobian Club of Srirangapatna. A Tree of Liberty was planted in his palace on May 15, 1797. The Red flag was ceremonially raised and Sultan wearing the liberty Red cap was described as Citizen Tippoo.  The pirate ships of Ching Shih were called also the Red Flag fleets. Later the terms like Red flag, Red army, Red terror became synonymous with communism.

The true significance of the Red Shield (Roth Schild in German) was recognized and adopted by an itinerant money lender goldsmith in Germany by name Mayer Amschel Bauer. He opened a shop or counting house on Judenstrasse (or Jew Street) during 1950s. Over the door leading into the shop he placed a large Red Shield and changed his name to Rothschild.

The redcoats took over India after the battle of Palashi (Plassey) in 1757. A battle never took place there, exists only on paper. The commander of Bengali forces under Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah, Mir Jafar was lured with the promise of throne. After the Battle, Clive looted Nawab's treasury leaving nothing for the new Nawab and in effect fully disbanding his military power. Mir Jaffar was made a stooge Nawab. The gold and diamonds of Siraj Ud Daula was given as a personal gift to Clive.

There were several notorious pedlars and kingmakers in Clive’s Bengal — quite a few of them Armenians and local Hindu bankers. 

The Armenians are believed to have arrived on the bank of Hooghly before the East India Company's Job Charnock decided to establish a British trading post in Calcutta. In the 18th and 19th centuries they ran trading companies, shipping lines, coal mines, real estate and hotels. It was also an Armenian, Khojah Israel Sarhad, in the court of Mughal emperor Farrukh Sayar who helped the BEIC get their Grand Firman in 1715, that first granted them duty-free trading rights in Bengal. Earlier in 1688, the company accessed the Mogul court with the help of an Armenian in the court.

Without Armenians, the victory at Plassey would have been a mirage for Clive and Company, especially after the chaotic situation of 1756. In the dark days succeeding the sack of Calcutta and the tragedy of the Black Hole, an Armenian merchant secretly supplied the British fugitives who had taken refuge in their ships down the river at Fulta, with boat loads of provisions for six months. If not for the humane Armenians, the British fugitives might have been starved to surrender. And in the momentous days before the famous battle of Plassey, the same Armenian was employed by Clive to negotiate with Mir Jaffar.

Company's greed increased several fold after the Plassey victory. The traitors also could never enjoy the fruits of victory. Jagat Seth (banker to the world) was killed by the troops of Mir Qasim in 1763. Mir Qasim was initially supported by the company as he was in friendly terms, but later he had attempted to curb their power and throw them out of Eastern India. Omichund was arrested by the English on suspicion of treachery. The Trial and Hanging of Raja Nand Kumar the first judicial murder in British India. He was the Governor of Hugli under Nawab Siraj-Ud-Daulah in 1756. He was nicknamed Black Colonel due to his loyalty to the Company in 1757. 

England before 1757 was a  gaming, robbing nation, without principles, genius, character or allies. After 1757, England turned into a sink of Indian wealth. English people became gentle men, intellectuals, carrying the self induced burden of civilizing the whole world (White man's burden), moralizing the world preaching modern justice etc. France and America became their friendly allies. 

The French in India had no option except to accept the British hegemony. After the third Carnatic war (1961), the French agreed to support all British client rulers in India. The French and British traders in India never fought after this.

The British used Hyder Ali as a Trojan Horse to plunder the vast amount of treasures accumulated in the temples of western coast. The Mysorean treasury was virtually bankrupt in 1757. Hyder Ali, a petty officer of its army then, and his son became emperors and was soon eliminated, all within a span of 42 years.

The master plan for the rise and fall of Tipu was crafted by the British. Clive, who started his career in India at Madras and Cuddalore, was well familiar with the Nawabs and Maharajas of South India. Robert Clive had spent most of the years before the battle in the South (Tamil Nadu) and not in Bengal. He landed at Madras in May 1744. He had served in Madras and Cuddalore and fought in the Trichinopoly district and Arcot. 

The traders of Britain and France often intervened in local power struggle in order to install friendly leaders by nominating and supporting different individuals for succession. The British were supporting Mohammed Ali who was based in Trichinopoly and the French were on the side of Chanda Sahib of Arcot. Clive’s real fame came from his victory at Arcot in the battle of Kaveripauk (1752). Mohammed Ali was officially recognized as the new ruler. The British PM Pitt the Elder terming Robert Clive as the heaven-born general said - "We had lost our glory, honour, and reputation everywhere but India : there the country had a heaven-born general". He took up his position as the Governor of Fort St David in June 1756 and was soon ordered to lead the expedition to Bengal — and Plassey.

The unaccounted black money looted from Bengal was used (through French) to groom Hyder Ali Khan as the ruler of Mysore. In 1758 Hyder Ali led successful campaigns against Marathas and Calicut and by 1759 he was in command of the entire Mysorean army. He became the de facto ruler of Mysore as Sarvadhikari (Chief Minister) by 1761.

The dirty undignified job of temple vault breaking, temple foundation digging, ornament snatching were done by Tipu Sultan with the aid of his local Moplah spies and the booty was accumulated at a convenient spot like bees gathering honey from flowers far away. The French generals closely monitored Tipu, all his activiites and passed the information to the British.

The French allies of Tipu remained neutral in all his conflict with the British. But for Tipu's campaigns in Kodagu and Kerala against native kingdoms, his French allies had extended their military, financial, political, diplomatic support and equipped him with modern weapons like highly armed cannonade contingent.

The famine that wiped out one third of the population of Bengal in 1770 was a direct impact of the British policy like high taxes, hoarding and export of food grains etc. By the time of the famine, monopolies in grain trading had been established by the Company and its agents. Clive was back in England by the time of the famine, enjoying his wealth at home. When asked about the suffering of millions, Clive simply answered that his priorities had been to protect the interests of shareholders, not those of the local population; his responsibility was to the EIC — not to poor Indians and Bengalis whom he described as either servile, mean, submissive and humble, that he deserved no criticism for doing his job. 

These answers met with howls of derision. His attitude had a much more dramatic impact on the other side of the world. Reports about how the British had behaved circulated extensively in America. Leaflets and pamphlets were widely distributed in Pennsylvania that described the EIC as an institution well versed in Tyranny, Plunder, Oppression, and Bloodshed. If the British were prepared to let those in India die from hunger, why not in the colonies in America too? 

For the British, the tax income from American colonies were not significant as compared to the riches obtained from Bengal. America was not an industrialized nation then. The industrial revolution started a little later. Agriculture was the predominant occupation. Also the British army was weakened by need to fight in the Caribbean and India. Distinguished generals like William Medows, Sir Eyre Coote, Archibald Campbell, Charles Cornwallis etc started their career in America and then headed for in India. The colonies seperated from Britain in 1776.

The industrial revolution in Europe started soon after the Plassey victory. The wealth from the subcontinet and precious vedic knowledge were stolen and used  for their commercial advancement. The museums in London and Germany are keeping many of the stolen relics and artefacts from India.

The plot for French Revolution was also hatched in London. The gold looted from Kerala and Kodagu by Tipu's French allies were used for funding the Jacobins Club of Paris. The Reign of Terror (1793 – 94) by Jacobins resulted in the death of tens of thousands of innocent people. When the Jacobins Club lost its acceptance among people of Europe, especially after its reign of terror, the club was dissolved. Napoleon was promoted instead. Napoleon was expected to do a deadly campaign of loot and plunder in Europe just like how Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan conducted their military campaign in Kerala. Instead Napoleon turned against the practice of usury or money lending and soon became an enemy of the British. The British war against Napoleon was enormously expensive. Troops had to be paid, and weapons, rations, and ships had to be purchased. The vast majority of this payment had to be done in specie - coins minted from gold and silver. Paper money was not yet widely accepted, and a steady flow of hard cash was essential for the British war effort. The BEIC came forward to lent money to the British government and gold and silver coins from across the world poured into England.

Not many are aware about the Red Flag Fleet, the pirates that ruled the South China Seas during 17th century and early 18th century. China was a hostile nation then for the British traders. But the British converted China into a nation of opium addicts. How? 

They first created a mafia under the Chinese female Kaifeng Pirate by name Ching Shih (or Zheng Shi). She commanded over 80,000 outlaws and the 1,800 pirate ships under her command was called the Red Flag Fleet. They were invincible with the expanding reserves of loot and the long range guns they used. In Pirates of the Caribbean part 3 ( 2007 ) she has a mention. Opium distribution was done by a Chinese mafia controlled by Kaifeng pirates. Chinese middle and upper class were forced at gunpoint to smoke opium. These called as "command performances", persisted until addiction took over. 

After years of notoriety on the South China Seas Ching Shih finally retired by accepting an offer of amnesty from the Chinese government, but not without first negotiating to maintain the riches and power she earned as a pirate lord.

Exactly 259 years after the Plassey victory, the Brexit referendum took place on June 23 2016 in UK and Gibraltar to ask the electorate if the country should remain a member of, or leave the European Union (EU). The battle of Plassey also took place on the same date in June. 

The color red symbolizes danger, so also the red flags.

The picture in the post shows the luxurious life of British in India and selling opium to Chinese by force. Only the licensed agents of BEIC was allowed to sell opium. All other drug traffickers were caught and decapitated.

References

Also read the book, Armenians in India From the earliest times to the present day By Mesrovb Jacob Seth, 1937 - https://www.rarebooksocietyofindia.org/book_archive/196174216674_10152469741581675.pdf

From Battle of Plassey to Brexit: June 23 is a memorable date in history of Britain - https://www.oneindia.com/feature/from-battle-plassey-brexit-june-23-memorable-date-in-british-history-2134807.html

How Robert Clive and Donald Trump are joined by history - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/all-that-matters/how-robert-clive-and-donald-trump-are-joined-by-history/articleshow/56539384.cms

A King who was a Jacobian - https://samharshbangalore.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-king-who-was-jacobian.html

Coins that paid for the battle of Waterloo - https://ageofrevolution.org/200-object/coins-that-paid-for-the-battle-of-waterloo

The British Origins of the French Jacobins - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0265691414546456

The Rise and fall of traditional water harvesting systems in India

The traditional water harvesting practices in India had developed gradually through thousands of years of farming experience. They were time tested, highly customised and suitable for each geographical region. Its diversity varies from the systems found at hot desert of Rajasthan to the cold desert of trans-Himalayan Ladakh, from the sub-temperate Himalayan mountains to the high tropical interspersed mountain ranges in South plateaus, the flood-prone Indo-Gangetic plains etc. They are called kuhals in Jammu, kuls in Himachal Pradesh and guls in Uttarakhand, zings in Ladakh, eris in TN. Tankas, kundis, bawdis, jhalaras and a host of others are found in the hot desert of Rajasthan.

The Water harvesting and agro-ecological systems are more fragile. They have to be continuously monitored, maintained and repaired. If any break happens then the system may collapse irreversibly. The aim of GM seed MNCs is to obtain monopoly in agriculture by breaking the traditional ones. Many Desi cattle breeds are extinct now due to the introduction of hybrid European breeds through Artificial Insemination. The A2 milk that enriched children until 60 years back is not there now.

The decline of century old traditional farming practices started its decline with the advent of British colonialism and bad government policies after independence. The natural resources like grains and timber were most needed for the British war efforts all over the world. The wealth of the land came from its internal resource mobilisation of village republics that were self contained. The surplus generated in the villages also supported people outside. In addition the British tried to destroy the traditional agriculture and industries in order to create an easy market for their goods. The muslin production in Bengal was destroyed by various means. William Bolts, a merchant in his book "Considerations on India Affairs", recorded instances of extreme brutality against silk weavers including cutting off their fingers.

The British had made an an extensive survey of agriculture system in TN during 1740s. In the Arcot District, they found that 54 Quintals of rice was harvested from one acre of land using simple manure and pesticides like cow urine and cow dung. Robert Clive who spearheaded the comapny's loot campaign in Bengal estimated that the number of cows in Bengal outnumbered the number of men. Similar was the situation in the rest of India. As a part of the Master plan to destabilize the India, cow slaughter was initiated. The first slaughterhouse in India was started in 1760, with a capacity to kill thirty thousand per day and at least one crore cows were eliminated in an years time. With the decline in cattle population, industrial manure like urea and phosphate made way to India.

Arthur Cotton, a pioneer of modern irrigation in India, noted in 1874 about local water harvesting systems as : "There are a multitude of old native works in various parts of India... These are noble works, and show both boldness and engineering talent. They have stood for hundreds of years. When I first arrived in India, the contempt with which the natives justly spoke of us on account of this neglect of material improvements was very striking; they used to say we were a kind of civilised savages, wonderfully expert about fighting but so inferior to their great men that we would not even keep in repair the works they had constructed, much less even imitate them in extending the system."

The colonial rulers neglected anything they could not own or earn money from. The declining grain production in Bengal was a great worry for the empire. So they invited an irrigation expert by name William Willcocks for advise. In a series of lectures delivered in Calcutta in the 1920s, Willcocks stunned everyone by arguing that the absolute best that the government could do was to revive the ancient flood irrigation system of the region.

With the progress of British rule, there was also a gradual shift in emphasis from minor irrigation works like tanks, wells, bandharas (dams) and small river channels to large dams and canals commanding extensive areas. The region, which never revived the wisdom of its ancestors, remains the poorest in the world.

The education system stressed the need for moving away from traditional practices. The educated Anglicized elites no longer appreciated or understood ancient wisdom. They were so successful that when India became independent, the leaders of modern India also turned their backs on the traditional systems and invested almost exclusively in mega-irrigation projects.

Puranas recommend protection of nature

The importance of protecting natural resources can be found in ancient texts, inscriptions and archaeological remains. Sayings related to trees are found in Puranas like Vrikshayurveda as -

दशकूपसमा वापी दशवापीसमो ह्रदः ।

दशह्रदसमः पुत्रो दशपुत्रसमो द्रुमः ॥

dasha-kupa-sama vapi, dasha-vapi-samo hrada

dasha-hrada-sama? putro, dasha-putra-samo druma

One vapi (tank) is as good as ten wells, one lake is as good as ten tanks, one son is as good as ten lakes and one tree is as good as ten sons.

The prosperity of the famous Vijayanagar kings (1336-1564) derived from its natural resources and agriculture. Great religious merit was also attached for taking care these practices. An inscription dating to 1413 states: "A ruined family, a breached tank or pond, a fallen kingdom, whomsoever restores, or repairs a damaged temple, acquires merit four-fold of that which accrued from them at first".

The region had turned into a dry land after its conquest by Deccan Sultans and rule of Nizams during Colonial Raj.

The Veeranam Lake in TN, built in the tenth century by Chola Kings, is still storing water and supplying it to Chennai city and rural farmers. The controversial Veeranam project was meant for supplying water to Chennai city. The project, conceived in 1967, was stalled due to corruption allegations.

Success Stories

The traditional rainwater harvesting alone converted a drought-prone village in Maharashtra, Ralegan Siddhi, into a rich agricultural village. It was a was poverty stricken village in 1975. Krishna Bhaurao Hazare, a retired driver from the Indian army, began constructing storage ponds, reservoirs and gully plugs. Due to the steady percolation of water, the groundwater table began to rise. Simultaneously, government social forestry schemes were used to plant 300,000-400,000 trees in and around the village.

The Arvari river flows through a drought stricken region in Rajastan. According to historical records of the region, the river Arvari used to provide groundwater recharge to wells in the area. The river was brought back to life by the villagers themselves through over 200 water harvesting structures built in the 70 villages in the catchment of Arvari. It has become a perennial river ever since.

Decline Of Water Harvesting Systems after independence

The main reasons for the disappearance of water harvesting systems after independence are

(1) With the construction of large dams and canals, the reliance on local water harvesting structures also vanished. So people converted the ponds, wells and tanks into more profitable commercial properties. The appreciation land value due to the profusion real estate black money is also a factor.

(2) The increased dependence on ground water due farm modernization and power subsidies.

(3) Conversion of farms lands into commercial properties.

(4) Cutting down of trees.

Zero Budget Natural Farming

The Economic Survey 2019, on agriculture sector, has suggested adoption of Natural Farming along with application of appropriate technologies to make agriculture sustainable for the 12.5 crore small and marginal farmers, which together account of 85% of the total farmers in the country. The finance minister, while presenting her maiden Union Budget on Friday, stressed on the need to go back to the basics on Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), saying this model needs to be replicated throughout the country.

It is not a new thing. Such methods were existing throughout India until 18th century. The extinction of Desi cattle, extensive use of fertilizers & pesticides after the Green Revolution and disappearance of traditional water harvesting systems have changed the farming ecosystem. After the liberalization of Indian economy, the farmers are in a perpetual debt trap. Agriculturist Subhash Palekar started experimenting with zero budget farming with the aim of pulling the farmers out of this debt trap.

The myriad of beneficial microbes and substances found with the Desi cow dung and urine is cultured and fermented to create a miracle preparation called Jivamrutha or The Nectar of Life. The dung and urine of desi cattle contain high concentration of micro-organisms that helps to draw up worms from the lower layers of soil to the top. This cheap, simple, and effective ferment has an even stronger capacity to attract beneficial organisms. This makes the soil more permeable helping rain water to penetrate deep into the earth. After preparation, Jivamrutha, with its billions of beneficial microorganisms, is then applied to fields, where the ferment generously attracts and feeds even more microorganisms, earthworms, and bacteria, which in turn break up micronutrients like nitrogen, making them available to plants.

From just one single cow it is possible to produce all that a farmer needs to farm up to 30 acres! With zero external inputs, this completely changes the costs for a farmer. The European hybrid cows are not useful at all for a ZBNF farmer.

Access to free water resources is essential for ZBNF. Rain fall happens at Zero Budget and its storage via soil recharge also comes with zero budget. The natural cycle is that each and every drop of rain water that fall on land has to reach ocean. The purpose of RWH systems is to delay the cycle time. When there is free surface runoff, the rain water reaches ocean within 48 hours to one week time. With soil recharge this cycle time can be increased to 6 months or even a year.

Among all the suggestions for bettering the agricultural economy, the first choice should be for improving the water harvesting practices. This alone can leap India forward. Any neglect of this sector will be a disaster like the present water crisis experienced by Chennai people.

The Economic survey 2019 also said that around 89% of groundwater extracted is used for irrigation and crops such as paddy and sugarcane consume more than 60% of irrigation water.

What happened to Desi cattle

Kerala is one of the first state to introduce European hybrid cows through Artificial Insemination. For the implementation of Indo-Swiss Project during 1960s, Kerala launched a dual campaign of crossbreeding cattle and exterminating unproductive indigenous cattle. The government implemented the infamous Kerala Livestock Improvement Act of 1961. The act required farmers to castrate productive bulls within one month under threat of penalization. The act ultimately resulted in the mass culling of native breeds. Most bulls were sold for slaughter in the years after 1961.

Here are a set of tests to accurately identify native cows

(1) A hump on the shoulder

(2) oily skin, a straight back, beautiful eyes, has a friendly character and has its beauty

(3) a pronounced dewlap (a fold of loose skin hanging under the throat of a cattle)

(4) ability to dispel insects by shaking their skin

(5) Native cow dung has a pleasant fragrance, is semisolid, and falls like a ring rather than the flat cowpats of the hybrids.

(6) insect holes at the place where dung falls is a clear sign of the microbial attractiveness of native cow dung

(7) modest requirements for food and water

എന്താണ് യഥാർത്ഥ നവോത്ഥാനം

നവോത്ഥാനത്തെ ശരിയായ രീതിയിൽ മനസ്സിലാക്കുവാൻ നമ്മുടെ ശരിയായ ചരിത്രം വായിക്കണം. ബ്രിട്ടീഷുകാർ എഴുതിയ തെറ്റായ ചരിത്രമാണ് നമ്മൾ ചരിത്ര പുസ്തകങ്ങളിൽ വായിക്കുന്നത്. അതെ കുറിച്ച് അറിയണമെങ്കിൽ, 1947-ന് മുൻപ് നമ്മുടെ നാട് എങ്ങനെ ആയിരുന്നു എന്ന് അറിയണം.

സ്വാതന്ത്രത്തിനു ശേഷം ചരിത്ര പുസ്തകങ്ങൾ വരെ, ചിലരുടെ താൽപര്യങ്ങൾ അനുസരിച്ചു, തിരുത്തി എഴുതപ്പെട്ടു. യഥാർത്ഥ കേരളചരിത്രം പോലും മലയാളികളായ വിദ്യാർത്ഥികൾക്ക് അറിയില്ല, കാരണം ഒരു പാഠപുസ്തകത്തിലും അതില്ല.

ആചാരങ്ങളും അനുഷ്‌ഠാനങ്ങളും വേദ ശാസ്‌ത്രങ്ങളും ശരിയായ വിധം പഠിച്ചു മനസ്സിലാക്കിയവർ ആണ് കേരളത്തിലെ നവോത്ഥാനത്തിന് നേതൃത്വം നൽകിയത്. ആചാരങ്ങളെ അധിക്ഷേപിക്കുന്നവർക്കു അന്നത്തെ സമൂഹത്തിൽ യാതൊരു സ്ഥാനവും ഇല്ലായിരുന്നു.

വാസ്കോ ഡി ഗാമ വരുന്നതിനു മുൻപുള്ള കേരളം

പതിനഞ്ചാം നൂറ്റാണ്ടിൽ ചൈനീസ് നാവികനായ ചെങ് ഹേയുടെ (Zheng He) വൻ കപ്പൽവ്യൂഹം ലോക സഞ്ചാരം നടത്തുമ്പോൾ കോഴിക്കോട് ലോക പ്രസിദ്ധമായ തുറമുഖ പട്ടണമായിരുന്നു.

According to medieval Chinese sources, Zheng He commanded seven expeditions. These seven ocean expeditions were unmatched in world history until WW1. the Calicut locals could NOT even see the horizon and naturally people ... the first sighting of the Ming fleet is a massive shadow on the horizon.

During that time, China and India together accounted for more than half of the world's gross national product. As recently as 1820, China accounted for 29 percent of the global economy and India another 16 percent.

Ming China had cordial relations with Calicut. The fleet was tasked to carry out the formal investure of Mana Vikraan as the King of Calicut. The first three voyages reached up to Calicut on India's Malabar Coast, while the fourth voyage went as far as Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. Afterwards, the fleet made voyages farther away to the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa.

The armada consisted of 317 ships carrying about 28,000 men. About 60 of these ships were enormous treasure ships. These huge vessels were over 400 hundred feet long, 160 feet wide, with several stories, nine masts, twelve sails, four decks and luxurious staterooms with balconies. The likes of these ships had never before been seen in the world, and it would not be until World War I that such an armada would be assembled again. They were accompanied by hundreds of smaller ships filled with food supplies, troops, ammunition, horses and impressive gifts of silks, brocades, porcelains, tea, ironworks etc., for leaders of countries to be visited. They grew sprouts in tubs to ward off vitamin deficiency.

കൂടുതൽ വിവരങ്ങൾക്ക് താഴെ കൊടുത്തിരിക്കുന്ന ചൈനീസ് വെബ്സൈറ്റ് കാണുക.
SHIPPING NEWS: ZHENG HE'S SEXCENTENARY - the six-hundredth anniversary of a significant event

യൂറോപ്പുകാർ വന്നതിനു ശേഷം

ഭാരതത്തിലേക്ക് വരാനുള്ള കടൽ മാർഗ്ഗം (Sea Route) യൂറോപ്പുകാർക്കു കിട്ടിയതു ചൈനക്കാർ വഴിയാണ്. അങ്ങനെ വാസ്കോ ഡി ഗാമ 1498-ൽ കോഴിക്കോട്ടെത്തി. അതിനു ശേഷം ഡച്ചുകാരും, ഫ്രഞ്ചുകാരും, ബ്രിട്ടീഷുകാരും കുരുമുളക്, തേയില, ഏലം, സിൽക്ക് എന്നിവ വാങ്ങുന്നതിനു ഭാരതം, ചൈന എന്നീ രാജ്യങ്ങൾ ലക്ഷ്യമാക്കി പുറപ്പെട്ടു. 1797-ൽ പ്ലാസി യുദ്ധം ജയിച്ചതിനു ശേഷം ചൈനയിലെ കറുപ്പ് വ്യാപാരവും (Sino Indian Opium Trade) കൂടി വന്നു. പതിനെട്ടാം നൂറ്റാണ്ടിൽ ലോകത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ കറുപ്പ് വ്യാപാരികൾ (Drug traffickers) ആയിരുന്നു ബ്രിട്ടീഷ് രാജ്യം. ഭാരതത്തിലെ നവോത്ഥാനത്തിന്റെ പിതാവായി കരുതപ്പെടുന്ന രാജാ റാം മോഹൻ റോയ്, രബീന്ദ്ര നാഥാ ടാഗോറിന്റെ മുത്തച്ഛൻ ദ്വാരകാ നാഥ് ടാഗോർ എന്നിവർ അറിയപ്പെടുന്ന മയക്കു മരുന്ന് കച്ചവടക്കാർ (Drug Runners) ആയിരുന്നു. ബ്രിട്ടീഷ് ഈസ്റ്റ് ഇന്ത്യ കമ്പനിയുടെ ഓഫിസർമാർക്കു വേണ്ടി ടാഗോർ കുടുംബം സ്ഥാപിച്ച Comfort Home ആയ സോനാഗച്ചി ഇന്ന് ഏഷ്യയിലെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ ചുവന്ന തെരുവ് ആണ്.

The British first arrived in China in 1637 and in 1715 were allowed to open a trading station at Canton. The victory of a chartered company against the Nawab of Bengal (Plassey, 1757) is seen as the beginning of two centuries of British rule in India.

The company then secured main opium producing areas of Bengal and Bihar (United Province). In 1773, the Company claimed monopoly rights on the opium trade in order to fund the rising military expenditures associated with conquering the rest of the subcontinent. The drug was illegally retailed by Chinese traders.

During the 19th century, the British Queen was the largest narcotics drug trafficker of the world and India became the largest opium producer.

The victory of Robert Clive in the battle of Plassey in 1757 was eased by the Opium merchants of Calcutta like the Parsis, Marwaris and Armenians. During the Mughal era, a large number of Armenians had fled Persia and settled in Bengal. The earliest existence of Armenians in India dates back to the late 8th Century to a man called Thomas Cana, who had arrived along the Malabar Coast. The descendants of the Thomas of Knai is nowadays referred as Knanaya community.

Reference

• OPIUM DRUG RUNNING TAGORE FAMILY?
• Monuments and streets associated with Armenian trading community
• Armenians, Clive and the Battle of Plassey

മൈസൂർ ആക്രമണം കേരളത്തിൽ

സാമ്പത്തികമായും, സൈനികമായും, വിജ്ഞാനത്തിന്റെ കാര്യത്തിലും ലോകത്തിലെ തന്നെ മുൻപന്തിയിൽ നിന്നിരുന്ന രാജ്യങ്ങൾ ആയിരുന്നു പതിനെട്ടാം നൂറ്റാണ്ടിൽ കോഴിക്കോടും തിരുവിതാംകൂറും. ടിപ്പുവിന്റെ ആക്രമണത്തോടെ ഉത്തര കേരളം തകിടം മറിഞ്ഞു. ഫ്രഞ്ച് ജനറൽ Monsieur Lallyയുടെ നേതൃത്വത്തിൽ ഉത്തര മലബാറിലും കുടഗിലും നടന്ന വംശീയ നരഹത്യകൾ ആയിരുന്നു ലോകത്തിലെ തന്നെ ആദ്യത്തെ കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റ് വിപ്ലവം. അന്ന് അവർ അറിയപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നത് Jacobins Club എന്ന പേരിൽ ആയിരുന്നു. ടിപ്പുവും രാജാറാംമോഹൻ റോയും ഈ ക്ലബ്ബിലെ അംഗങ്ങൾ ആയിരുന്നു. Jacobins 1794-ൽ പിരിച്ചു വിട്ടെങ്കിലും ടിപ്പു മൈസൂരിൽ അതിന്റെ ഒരു ശാഖ തുറന്നു.

ടിപ്പുവുമായുള്ള യുദ്ധത്തിനും ചാലക്കുടിയിൽ വൻമതിൽ പോലെയുള്ള കോട്ട (നെടുങ്കോട്ട) പണിയുന്നതിനും വലിയ ചെലവ് ഉണ്ടായി. കൂനിൻമേൽ കുരു എന്നപോലെ ബ്രിട്ടീഷുകാർക്ക് കപ്പം കൊടുക്കേണ്ടിയും വന്നു. ടിപ്പുവുമായുള്ള യുദ്ധം ജയിച്ചു എങ്കിലും തിരുവിതാംകൂറിനെ ബ്രിട്ടീഷ് പാളയത്തിൽ തളയ്ക്കുകയാണ് ദിവാൻ രാജാകേശവദാസ് ചെയ്‌തത്. അതിൽ പല എതിർപ്പുകളും അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് നേരിടേണ്ടി വന്നു.

ടിപ്പു നെടുംകോട്ട ആക്രമിച്ചപ്പോൾ എതിർക്കാൻവേണ്ടി തിരുവിതാംകൂറിന്റെ ചെലവിൽ താമസിച്ചിരുന്ന ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് സൈന്യം കാഴ്ച്ചക്കാരായി നോക്കി നിന്നപ്പോൾ അതിനു കാരണക്കാരനായ മദ്രാസ് ഗവർണ്ണർ ഹാളണ്ടിനെയും സഹോദരനെയും ഗവർണ്ണർ ജനറലിനെക്കൊണ്ട് സ്ഥാനഭ്രഷ്ടരാക്കി. മൈസൂർ യുദ്ധത്തിൽ ഇംഗ്ലീഷുകാർ പലയിടങ്ങളിൽ വെച്ച് നടത്തിയ യുദ്ധങ്ങളിൽ കേശവദാസനും തിരുവിതാംകൂർ സൈന്യവും സഹായിക്കുകയുണ്ടായി. മൈസൂർ രാജ്യത്തിന്റെ നേർപകുതി ഇംഗ്ലീഷുകാർക്ക് നൽകിക്കൊണ്ടുള്ള ടിപ്പുവിന്റെ ശ്രീരംഗപട്ടണസന്ധിക്കുശേഷം കമ്പനി തിരുവിതാംകൂറിന്റെ അധീനതയിലുള്ള പ്രദേശങ്ങൾ അന്യായമായി അധീനപ്പെടുത്താൻ ശ്രമിക്കുകയും തങ്ങളുടെ യുദ്ധച്ചെലവ് നൽകാൻ ആവശ്യപ്പെടുകയുമുണ്ടായി.

തിരുവിതാകൂറിലെ ബ്രിട്ടീഷ് ദുർ ഭരണം

ധർമ്മരാജാവിന്റെ കാലശേഷം തിരുവിതാംകൂറിന്റെ ഭരണാധികാരിയായിരുന്ന അവിട്ടം തിരുനാൾ ബാലരാമവർമ്മയുടെ (1782–1810) ഭരണകാലം മുഴുവനും വളരെയധികം പ്രശ്നങ്ങൾ നിറഞ്ഞതായിരുന്നു. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ കാലത്താണ്‌ വേലുത്തമ്പി ദളവ തന്റെ വിപ്ലവങ്ങൾ നടത്തിയതും.

തിരുവിതാംകൂർ സാമ്പത്തികമായി തകർന്നു. ജനങ്ങളിൽ നിന്നുള്ള കരം പിരിവു മാത്രമായിരുന്നു ഏക വഴി.

ബ്രിട്ടീഷുകാർ, പ്രാകൃതമായ നിരവധി നികുതികള്‍, രാജാവ് മുഖേന നടപ്പിലാക്കിയിരുന്നു. തൊഴില്‍ ഉപകരണങ്ങളായ ചക്ക്‌, തറി, വള്ളം, വല എന്നിവയ്ക്കും വളര്‍ത്തുമൃഗങ്ങള്‍ക്കും നികുതി കൊടുക്കണം. തെങ്ങ്‌, പന ഇവകള്‍ ചെത്തുന്നതിന്‌ ഏണിക്കരവും സ്ത്രീ തൊഴിലാളികള്‍ക്ക്‌ മുലക്കരവും സ്വര്‍ണാഭരണങ്ങള്‍ അണിയുന്നതിന്‌ മേനിപ്പൊന്ന്‌ എന്ന കരവും അടിമകളുടെ ഉടമസ്ഥര്‍ അടിമപ്പണവും മുക്കുവര്‍ വലപ്പണവും കുശവന്മാര്‍ ചെക്കിറ എന്ന കരവും തട്ടാന്മാര്‍ തട്ടാര്‍ പണവും അലക്കുകാര്‍ക്ക്‌ വണ്ണീരപാറ എന്ന കരവും കൊടുക്കണമായിരുന്നു. സാധാരണക്കാരായ ആളുകൾ വിവാഹം കഴിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ താലിക്കരവും കൊടുക്കണം. അത് കൊണ്ട് തന്നെ പാവപ്പെട്ടവരും അധഃകൃതരുമായ ജനങ്ങളുടെ ജീവിതം വളരെ ദുസ്സഹമായിരുന്നു. അന്യായമായ പണപ്പിരിവിനെ എതിർത്ത വേലു തമ്പി ദളവ, വൈക്കം പത്മനാഭ പിള്ള എന്നിവരെ ബ്രിട്ടീഷുകാർ മൃഗീയമായി വധിച്ചു

Reference

ടിപ്പു തിരുവിതാംകൂർ ആക്രമണം - വടക്കൻ തിരുവിതാംകൂറിൽ പ്രചരിച്ചിരുന്ന രണ്ട്‌ കഥകൾ

Citizen Tippoo - A King who was a Jacobian

The treachery of Arakkal Ali raja

During 18th century, Islamic rule was present in almost all regions except Kerala and Maratha. British defeated the Bengal Nawab in Plassey battle in 1757. After the death of Krishna Deva Raya the fall of Vijayanagar Empire began and the battle of Talikota ended the last great Medieval Hindu Empire in 1565. During that period, there were a number of small kingdoms in Malabar like Kottayam (Pazhassi Raja), Kolathiri (Chirackal Raja), Kadathanad Raja in North Malabar, and Zamorin in South Malabar. There was also a Muslim ruler under Kolathiri Raja called Ali Raja of Arackal.

Kolathunadu is regarded as one of the old political dynasties (Mooshika Vamsa) in India and was ruled by the Kolathiris. Ali Raja had secured a small slice of territory in Kolathunaduat and about Cannanore. At the dawn of the 18th Century, the Ali Raja became an independent ruler. The powerful ruler played a chief role in causing many quarrels and disturbances in the kingdom of Kolathunad. Ali Raja strengthened his position taking advantage of these quarrels. These quarrels reached their height in 1718. The trade of the Dutch East India Company was disrupted owing to the hostility between the Nairs of Kolathiri and Arakkal Ali Raja. At the invitation of Ali Raja, Canara forces invaded northern Malabar in 1732 with a large force. The invasion caused great confusion in the kingdom. The combined armies of the English and Dutch East India Companies entered the field and defeated the Canarese.

In 1763, Ali Rajah of Cannanore requested Hyder to invade Kerala and help him deal with Zamorin of Calicut. This Muslim ruler of Cannanore, an old of rival of the neighbouring powerful Kolathiri, was an active ally of Mysore during the years of occupation.

In 1766 , Hyder marched into Malabar through Mangalore with a force of 12,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry and a park of field guns and easily defeated all the petty kingdoms on the Malabar, beginning with Kolathunad. He was desperate for a port which opens to the Arabian sea to get weapons from the French. Mahe, a French controlled port, lay in the middle of Malabar. Ali Raja of Cannanore, a long rival of Kolathiri, seized and set fire to the palace of Kolathiri Raja.

After taking Calicut in a bloody battle, Hyder Ali, with a large amount of money, marched south-east and moved towards Coimbatore through Palghat. Ali Raja was appointed as military governor.

The waterloo of Tipu Sultan

നവോത്ഥാനം ആൻഡമാൻ ജയിലിൽ

Known as Kala Pani or black water, Cellular Jail in Andaman & Nicobar Islands was constructed in 1896 and opened by the British in 1906 to exile political prisoners in remote isolation. The prison was modelled in style of Jeremy Bentham’s concept of panopticon, identified as a symbol of surveillance. The watch tower housed the alarm bell and guardsmen kept an eye on the prisoners. The prison originally had seven wings that spread out from the central watch tower, in seven directions. Now only three wings still remain. The rest 4 wings were demolished in an effort to erase the history of British torture.

Evangelist Scotsman David Barry on steroids, the jailor between 1909 and 1931, was infamous for his insane cruelty. "While you are here, I am your god", was the cry with which he welcomed prisoners.

In 1933, the prisoners went on a 45-day hunger strike. In the end, the British relented and accepted the prisoners’ demands. Gradually, an academic environment grew within the premises of the jail. Prisoners studied political science and history under educated fellow prisoners. The British gave books related to communism and Das Kapital to read. That is how our freedom fighters learned Marxism

experiences of black terror in Andaman’s Kala Pani jail

കമ്മ്യൂണിസവും നവോത്ഥാനവും

സ്വാതന്ത്ര സമരത്തിനെതിരെ നിഴല്‍ യുദ്ധം നടത്തുവാൻ വേണ്ടിയാണ് 1885-ൽ കോൺഗ്രസ് പ്രസ്ഥാനം ബ്രിട്ടീഷുകാർ തന്നെ സ്ഥാപിച്ചത്. ഒരു Safety Valve എന്ന രീതിയിൽ കോൺഗ്രസ് മതിയാവില്ല എന്ന് തോന്നിയപ്പോൾ അവർ കമ്മ്യൂണിസത്തെ വളർത്തുവാൻ തീരുമാനിച്ചു. രണ്ടാം ലോക മഹായുദ്ധ സമയത്തു റഷ്യ ബ്രിട്ടന്റെ കൂടെ വന്നപ്പോൾ ഭാരതത്തിൽ ബ്രിട്ടീഷുകാരും കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റുകാരും തമ്മിൽ സഖ്യമുണ്ടായി. ആൻഡമാനിൽ കാലാപാനി പോലുള്ള ജയിലറകളിൽ അത്യന്തം പീഡിപ്പിക്കപ്പെട്ടു ജീവിതം തള്ളി നീക്കിയിരുന്ന സ്വാതന്ത്രസമര ദേശീയവാദികൾക്ക് മാർക്സിന്റെ പുസ്തകങ്ങൾ കൊടുത്ത് സോഷ്യലിസ്റ്റ് ആശയങ്ങൾ അവരുടെ തലയിൽ സന്നിവേശിപ്പിച്ചതും ബ്രിട്ടീഷുകാർ ആയിരുന്നു. കേരളത്തിൽ ദേശാഭിമാനി പത്രം തുടങ്ങാൻ വേണ്ട ധനസഹായം നൽകിയതും ബ്രിട്ടീഷുകാരും അന്നത്തെ കോൺഗ്രെസ്സുകാർ ആയിരുന്നു.

ആചാരങ്ങളെ പുച്ചിച്ചു തള്ളിയ ആളുകൾ അല്ല, അവയെ ശരിയായ രീതിയിൽ മനസ്സിലാക്കി അതിലെ നല്ല വശങ്ങൾ കണ്ടറിഞ്ഞു സ്വന്തം ജീവിതത്തിലും ചുറ്റുമുള്ളവരുടെ ജീവിതത്തിലും നല്ല നല്ല മാറ്റങ്ങൾ വരുത്തിയ ആത്മീയ ആചാര്യന്മാർ ആയിരുന്നു നമ്മുടെ ആദ്യ കാല നവോത്ഥാന നായകർ. ഇവരുടെ സ്വാധീനം കൊണ്ട് മാത്രമാണ് തിരുവിതാംകൂർ രാജാക്കന്മാർ പല വിപ്ലവകരമായ ഭരണ പരിഷ്‌കാരങ്ങൾ നടത്തിയതും. അയ്യാ വൈകുണ്ഠനും, തൈക്കാട് അയ്യാ സ്വാമിയും, ചട്ടമ്പി സ്വാമികളും, ശ്രീനാരായണ ഗുരുവും ഏതാനും ചില ഉദാഹരണങ്ങൾ മാത്രം.

സ്വാതന്ത്രത്തിനു ശേഷം മാത്രമേ കമ്യൂണിസം ഭാരതത്തിൽ വേരുറച്ചു വന്നുള്ളൂ. പാർട്ടി വളർന്നതോടു കൂടി ഐതിഹ്യമാലയെ വെല്ലുന്ന കെട്ടുകഥകൾ അവർ ഉണ്ടാക്കി പ്രചരിപ്പിച്ചു. കരം കൊടുക്കാന്‍ കഴിയാതെ നങ്ങേലി എന്നൊരു ഈഴവസ്ത്രീ മുല മുറിച്ചു എന്നു പറയുന്ന സംഭവം ശരിക്കും നടന്നതാണോ എന്ന കാര്യത്തിൽ ഒരു തെളിവും ഇത് വരെ കിട്ടിയിട്ടില്ല. ഈ കഥ ആദ്യം പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെടുന്നതായി കാണുന്നത് കേവലം ഇരുപതോ മുപ്പതോ വർഷങ്ങൾ മുൻപ് മാത്രമാണ്.

വീണ്ടും പുറകോട്ടു പോയാല്‍ അന്ത്രോപ്പോളജിസ്റ്റായ എല്‍. അനന്തകൃഷ്ണയ്യരുടെ 1937 ല്‍ പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിച്ച Travancore tribes and castes എന്ന പുസ്തകത്തില്‍ ഒരു മുലയറുക്കല്‍ കഥ പറയുന്നുണ്ട്. പണ്ടെന്നോ നടന്നത് എന്ന് കേട്ടു കേള്‍വിയുള്ള ഒരു കഥ. മലയരയന്‍ എന്ന വിഭാഗത്തില്‍ പെടുന്ന ഒരു വനവാസിയാണ് കഥയിലെ നായിക. അത് നടന്നത് ചേർത്തലയിൽ അല്ല. പുന്നാട്ട് രാജാവിന്റെ ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥന്‍ ഒരു മലയരയനോട് തലക്കരം ചോദിച്ചപ്പോള്‍ അത് കൊടുക്കാനില്ലാത്തതു കൊണ്ട് അവര്‍ ഒരാളുടെ തലവെട്ടി ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥന്റെ മുന്നില്‍ വച്ചത്രേ. അതുപോലെ മുലക്കരം കൊടുക്കാനില്ലാത്തതുകൊണ്ട് ഒരു സ്ത്രീയുടെ മുലയും അരിഞ്ഞെടുത്ത് ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥന് സമര്‍പ്പിച്ചത്രെ. ഈ വിവരം അറിഞ്ഞ് കോപം പൂണ്ട പുന്നാട്ട് രാജാവ് ആ കരങ്ങള്‍ നിര്‍ത്തലാക്കി എന്നാണ് കഥ എന്ന് എല്‍. അനന്തകൃഷ്ണയ്യര്‍ രേഖപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു. എന്താണ് തലക്കരം, എന്താണ് മുലക്കരം എന്ന് അനന്തകൃഷ്ണയ്യര്‍ വ്യക്തമായി പറയുന്നുണ്ട്. പണിയെടുക്കാന്‍ ശരീരശേഷിയുള്ള പുരുഷന്‍ കൊടുക്കേണ്ട നികുതിയാണ് തലക്കരം. സ്ത്രീകളില്‍ ആ നികുതിയെ വിളിക്കുന്ന പേരാണ് മുലക്കരം എന്നത്. അതായത് തലക്കരവും മുലക്കരവും വരുമാന നികുതി പോലെ ഒന്നാണ്. മാസം രണ്ടു ചക്രമായിരുന്നു നികുതി എന്നും അനന്തകൃഷ്ണയ്യര്‍ പറയുന്നു. തലയും മുലയും അര്‍പ്പിച്ചത് ഒരേ അവസരത്തിലാണ് എന്നാണ് ഈ കഥ വായിച്ചാല്‍ തോന്നുക. ഒറ്റ നോട്ടത്തില്‍ തന്നെ ഒരു വെറും ഭാവനാകഥ മാത്രമാണ് എന്ന് വളരെ വ്യക്തം. മറിച്ചൊരു അവകാശവാദം അനന്തകൃഷ്ണയ്യരും ഉന്നയിക്കുന്നില്ല. പിന്നെ പുന്നാട്ട് രാജാവ് തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ മഹാരാജാവിനു കീഴിലാണ്. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് സ്വന്തം ഇഷ്ടപ്രകാരം കരം പിരിവ് നിര്‍ത്താനൊന്നും പറ്റില്ല. ഇങ്ങനെ ഒരു സംഭവം ഉണ്ടായിട്ടുണ്ടെങ്കില്‍ തന്നെ അത് നടന്നത് മലയരയന്‍മാരുടെ ഇടയിലാണ്. ഈഴവരുടെ ഇടയിലല്ല. അത് നടന്നിട്ടുണ്ടെങ്കില്‍ തന്നെ അത് ചേര്‍ത്തലയിലല്ല. ആ സ്ത്രീയുടെ പേര് നങ്ങേലി എന്നുമല്ല. ഇതുപോലുള്ള നിസ്സാര നികുതികള്‍ പിരിച്ചെടുക്കാനുള്ള ബുദ്ധിമുട്ടു കൊണ്ടോ, ബ്രിട്ടീഷുകാരുടെ പ്രേരണകൊണ്ടോ, തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ മഹാരാജാവ് ദരിദ്രവാസികളുടെ മേല്‍ ചുമത്തിയിരുന്ന ഇതുപോലുള്ള നൂറ്റിഇരുപതോളം നിസ്സാര നികുതികള്‍ ‍‍1865 ല്‍ നിര്‍ത്തലാക്കി. നങ്ങേലി സംഭവം നടന്നത് 1803ലാണ് എന്ന് ചില കമ്മി ചരിത്രകാരന്‍മാര്‍ അവകാശപ്പെടുന്നുണ്ട്.

നങ്ങേലിയുടെ ജീവത്യാഗം? by Manoj Bright

വിപ്ലവത്തിൽ നിന്ന് വിഗ്രഹനിർമ്മിതിയിലേക്ക്: കേരള നവോത്ഥാനത്തിന്റെ ചില പ്രതി-രൂപങ്ങൾ (ഭാഗം: 1)

മുലച്ചി പറമ്പിലെ നങ്ങേലി നാടോടിക്കഥയോ ചരിത്രമോ?

കേരള നവോത്ഥാനചിന്തകള്‍-ഒരു വിയോജിപ്പ് by Dr.Kanam Sankara Pillai

Travancore tribes and castes. Vol. I

നങ്ങേലി സ്‌മൃതി വിവാദമാകുന്നമ്പോൾ; ഒരു സ്നേഹസംവാദം

യഥാർത്ഥ നവോത്ഥാന ശിൽപികൾ

ശ്രീശങ്കരനുശേഷം കേരളം കണ്ട ആദ്യത്തെ വിപ്ലവകാരിയും സാമൂഹ്യ പരിഷ്കര്‍ത്താവുമായിരുന്നു അയ്യാ വൈകുണ്ഠനാഥന്‍. തിരുവിതാംകൂറിലെ ഏറ്റവും ഇരുണ്ട ഒരു കാലഘട്ടത്തിലായിരുന്നു കന്യാകുമാരി ജില്ലയിലെ അഗസ്ഥീശ്വരം താലൂക്കില്‍ താമരക്കുളം ഗ്രാമത്തില്‍ 1809 ല്‍ അദ്ദേഹം ജനിച്ചത്‌. എല്ലാത്തരം ഉച്ചനീചത്വങ്ങളും, സവര്‍ണമേധാവിത്വവും മനുഷ്യത്വമില്ലാത്ത രാജശാസനകളും അന്ന്‌ നിലനിന്നിരുന്നു.

സനാതനമായ ഹിന്ദുസംസ്ക്കാരം സംരക്ഷിക്കുന്നതിനുവേണ്ടി ജനനം മുതല്‍ മരണംവരെ എതിര്‍പ്പുകളുടെ അഗ്നി ചൂളയിൽ നിന്ന് കൊണ്ട്‌ പോരാടിയ ഒരു വിപ്ലവയോഗിയായിരുന്നു സ്വാമി. ആത്മീയം പ്രസംഗിക്കാതെ നേരിട്ട്‌ രംഗത്തിറങ്ങി പ്രവര്‍ത്തിച്ചു കാണിച്ചുകൊടുത്ത ഒരേയൊരു കര്‍മയോഗി. ഇപ്പോഴും തെക്കന്‍ തിരുവിതാംകൂറിലെ ജനങ്ങള്‍ക്കിടയില്‍ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ പ്രഭാവം നിലനില്‍ക്കുന്നു.

ക്രിസ്തു മതത്തിലേയ്ക്കുള്ള അധഃസ്ഥിതരുടെ ഒഴുക്ക്‌ തടയുന്നതിനുവേണ്ടി, പതികള്‍ എന്നു പറയുന്ന ആരാധനാലയങ്ങള്‍ സ്വാമി സ്ഥാപിച്ചു. വിഗ്രഹത്തിനുപകരം കണ്ണാടിയായിരുന്നു അവിടെ പ്രതിഷ്ഠിച്ചത്‌. അഹം ബ്രഹ്മാസ്മി, തത്‌ ത്വം അസി എന്നീ മഹാവാക്യങ്ങളെ ദ്യോതിപ്പിക്കുന്ന ഒന്നാണ്‌ കണ്ണാടി പ്രതിഷ്ഠ. എല്ലാ ഞായറാഴ്ച ദിവസങ്ങളിലും ജനങ്ങളെ ഇവിടെ വിളിച്ചുകൂട്ടുമായിരുന്നു. മണ്ണും വെള്ളവും ഉപയോഗിച്ചുള്ള രോഗശാന്തി അന്നദാനം ഈശ്വരഭജനം എന്നിവയാണ്‌ പതികളില്‍ നടത്തിയിരുന്നത്‌.

മതപരിവര്‍ത്തനത്തിന്റെ ഒഴുക്ക്‌ തടഞ്ഞതോടെ വിദേശക്രിസ്ത്യന്‍ മിഷനറിമാര്‍ പരിഭ്രാന്തരായി. അവര്‍ സ്വാമിയോടുള്ള എതിര്‍പ്പ്‌ ശക്തിപ്പെടുത്തി. സ്വാമിയുടെ എല്ലാ പ്രസ്ഥാനങ്ങളെയും അവര്‍ ശക്തിയായി എതിര്‍ക്കാന്‍ തുടങ്ങി. ഇതിനകം തന്നെ കന്യാകുമാരി തിരുനല്‍വേലി തൂത്തുക്കുടി ജില്ലകളിലെ അധഃകൃത ഹിന്ദുക്കളില്‍ ഭൂരിപക്ഷവും ക്രിസ്ത്യാനികളായിത്തീര്‍ന്നിരുന്നു. യോഗീശ്വരനായ സ്വാമിയെ അവര്‍ സാത്താനെന്നാണ്‌ വിളിച്ചത്‌. അയ്യാ വൈകുണ്ഠസ്വാമികളുടെ പ്രവര്‍ത്തനങ്ങള്‍ തങ്ങളുടെ മതപരിവര്‍ത്തനത്തിന്‌ വിലങ്ങു തടിയാണെന്ന്‌ കാണിച്ചുകൊണ്ടുള്ള നിരവധി റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ടുകള്‍ ലണ്ടനിലുള്ള തങ്ങളുടെ കേന്ദ്രത്തിലേയ്ക്ക്‌ അയച്ചിരുന്നു.

1864 ല്‍ ലണ്ടനിലേയ്ക്കയച്ച ശാന്തപുരം മിഷ്യന്‍ റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ടില്‍ ഇപ്രകാരം പറയുന്നു. ഏതാനും വര്‍ഷംമുമ്പ്‌ മുത്തുക്കുട്ടി എന്നുപേരുള്ള ഒരു പന കയറി, വിഷ്ണുവിന്റെ അംശമാണെന്ന്‌ അവകാശപ്പെട്ടുകൊണ്ട്‌ ധാരാളംപേരെ കബളിപ്പിച്ചുവരുന്നു. ധാരാളം സ്ഥലങ്ങളില്‍ പഗോഡകള്‍ സ്ഥാപിച്ചുകൊണ്ട്‌ അവര്‍ അയാളെ വിഷ്ണുവിന്റെ അവതാരമായി കണക്കാക്കി ആരാധിക്കുന്നു. ഈശ്വരനെ ആരാധിക്കുന്നതിന്‌ തുല്യമാണ്‌ മുത്തുക്കുട്ടിയെ ആരാധിക്കുന്നത്‌ എന്നവര്‍ വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നു. ഈ പ്രദേശങ്ങളില്‍ സുവിശേഷം പ്രചരിപ്പിക്കുന്നതിന്‌ പ്രധാനതടസ്സങ്ങളില്‍ ഒന്നാണ്‌ ഈ വ്യാജന്‍.

ശങ്കരാചാര്യർക്കു ശേഷം മഹത്തായ സന്യാസി പരമ്പരകൾ ഉണ്ടായത്‌ ശിവരാജയോഗി തൈക്കാട്‌ അയ്യാ സ്വാമികൾക്കാണ്‌. നവോത്ഥന കാലഘട്ടത്തിൽ കേരളം കണ്ട ആദ്യത്തെ സാമൂഹ്യ പരിഷ്‌കർത്താവായിരുന്നു അദ്ദേഹം. കുടില്‍ തൊട്ട് കൊട്ടാരംവരെ ശിഷ്യ സമ്പത്തുണ്ടായിരുന്ന അദ്ദേഹം തിരുവിതാംകൂറിന്റെ ആത്മീയ ഗുരുവായിരുന്നു. 19-ാം നൂറ്റാണ്ടില്‍ കേരളത്തില്‍ ആദ്യമായി എല്ലാ സമുദായത്തിലേയും ജനങ്ങളെ പങ്കെടുപ്പിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് പന്തിഭോജനം നടപ്പിലാക്കിയതും അദ്ദേഹമായിരുന്നു. ശ്രീനാരായണ ഗുരുവിന്റെയും ചട്ടമ്പിസ്വാമികളുടെയും ഗുരുനാഥനായിരുന്നു അയ്യാസ്വാമികൾ.

    പടയോട്ടക്കാലത്ത് മലബാറിലെ കവളപ്പാറയിൽ നിന്നും തമിഴ്‌നാട്ടിലെ ചെങ്കൽപ്പേട്‌ ജില്ലയിലെ നാകലാപുരത്തേക്കു കുടിയേറിയ മുത്തുകുമാരന്റേയും കൊല്ലംകാരി ശൈവവെള്ളാളകുലജാതയായ രുക്മിണിയമ്മാളിന്റേയും മകനായി 1814 ലെ അശ്വതി നക്ഷത്രത്തിൽ ജനിച്ച സുബ്ബയ്യനാണ്‌ പില്ക്കാലത്ത്‌ ശിവരാജയോഗി അയ്യാസ്വാമികളായിത്തീർന്നത്‌.

അയ്യാ വൈകുണ്ഠൻ, ശ്രീ നാരായണ ഗുരു, ചട്ടമ്പി സ്വാമികൾ, സ്വയം പ്രാകശ യോഗിനിയമ്മ എന്നീ ശിഷ്യർ നിരവധി മഠങ്ങൾ തുറന്നു. തിരുവനന്തപുരത്തു ഗാന്ധാരി അമ്മൻകോവിൽ ഉണ്ടാകൻ കാരണം അയ്യവാണ്‌. പ്രൊഫസ്സർ മനോൻമണീയം പി. സുന്ദരം പിള്ള, അപ്പാവു വക്കീൽ എന്നിവരും ചേർന്ന്‌ അയ്യാ രൂപം കൊടുത്തതാണ് ചെന്തിട്ടയിലെ ശൈവപ്രകാശ സഭ. അവിടെയും പേട്ട രാമൻപിള്ളയാശാന്റെ ജ്ഞാനപ്രജാഗാര സഭയിലും സ്കന്ധപുരാണം, ശിവപുരാണം, ഹാലാസ്യ മാഹാത്മ്യം, തിരുവാചകം എന്നിവയെക്കുറിച്ചു അയ്യാ പ്രഭാഷണപരമ്പരകൾ നടത്തിയിരുന്നു. ജ്ഞാനപ്രജാഗാരത്തിലെ സ്ഥിരം സന്ദർശകനായിരുന്ന കൊല്ലൂറ്‍ കുഞ്ഞൻപിള്ളയെ ആറു വർഷതെ പരീക്ഷണനിരീക്ഷണങ്ങൾക്കു ശെഷമ്മണ്‌ 1889 ലെ ചിത്രാപൌർണമി ദിനം അയ്യാ ശിഷ്യനാക്കി ബാലാസുബ്രഹ്മണ്യ മന്ത്രം ഓതിക്കൊടുത്തത്‌. കുഞ്ഞ്ന്റെ അപേക്ഷപ്രകാരം കൂട്ടുകാരനായ നാണുവിന്‌ അടുത്ത വർഷത്തെ (1890) ചിത്രാ പൌർണമിക്കു മന്ത്രം ഓതിക്കൊടുത്തു ശിഷ്യനാക്കി.

സ്വാതി തിരുനാൾ, ചട്ടമ്പി സ്വാമികൾ, ശ്രീ നാരായണ ഗുരു, കൊല്ലത്ത്‌ അമ്മ, അയ്യൻകാളി, കേരള വർമ്മ കോയിത്തമ്പുരാൻ, പേഷ്കാർ മീനക്ഷി അയ്യർ, ചാല സൂര്യ നാരയണ അയ്യർ, ചാല അറുമുഖ വാധ്യാർ, ചാല മണിക്ക വാചകർ, കുമാരസ്വാമി വാധ്യാർ, മുത്തുകുമാര സ്വാമിപ്പിള്ള, പേഷ്കാർ പെരിയ പെരുമാൾ പിള്ള, അപ്പാവു വക്കീൽ, തൈക്കാട്ട്‌ ചിദംബരം പിള്ള, കൊട്ടാരം ഡൊക്ടർ കൃഷ്ണപിള്ള, കമ്പൌണ്ടർ പദ്മനാഭ പിള്ള, അയ്യപ്പൻ പിള്ള വാധ്യാർ, തോട്ടത്തിൽ രാമൻ കണിയാർ, കൽപട കണിയാർ, മണക്കാട്‌ ഭവാനി, പേട്ട ഫെർണാണ്ടസ്സ്‌, തക്കല പീർ മുഹമ്മദ്‌, ശങ്കര ലിംഗം പിള്ള, വെയിലൂർ രായസം മാധവൻ പിള്ള, ഭഗവതീശ്വർ, കേശവയ്യർ ആനവാൽ ശങ്കര നാരായണ അയ്യർ, അക്കൗണ്ടാഫീസ്സർ സുന്ദരമയ്യങ്കാർ, ഹെഡ് ഡ്രാഫ്റ്റ്സ്മാൻ പാർഥസാരഥി നായിഡു, നന്തങ്കോട് കൃഷ്ണപിള്ള, കരമന സുബ്രമണ്യയ്യർ, കരമന പദ്മനാഭൻ പോറ്റി, കരമന ഹരിഹരയ്യർ, വാമനപുരം നാരായണൻ പോറ്റി, വഞ്ചിയൂർ ബാലന്ദൻ, കഴകൂട്ടം നാരായണൻ പോറ്റി, പാറശ്ശാല മാധവൻ പിള്ള, തിരുവാതിര നാൾ അമ്മ തമ്പുരൻ (മാവേലിക്കര), മണക്കാട് നല്ലപെരുമാൾ, കണക്കു വേലുപ്പിള്ള, പേശും പെരുമാൾ, വെളുത്തേരി കേശവൻ വൈദ്യൻ തുടങ്ങി 51 പേർ ശിഷ്യരായിരുന്നു.

തമിഴ് സിദ്ധന്മാരുടെ ശിവയോഗവും പതഞ്ജലി മഹർഷിയുടെ രാജയോഗവും രൂപ-അരൂപ ഉപാസനയും ചേർന്ന ശിവരാജയോഗവിദ്യയിൽ നിഷ്ണാതനായിരുന്നു.

വിദ്യാ പോഷിണി എന്ന സംഘടന സ്ഥാപിച്ച സഹോദരൻ അയ്യപ്പൻ, വില്ലുവണ്ടിയാത്ര നടത്തിയ അയ്യങ്കാളി എന്നിവരെല്ലാം സ്വാമിയുടെ ശിഷ്യ പരമ്പരയിൽ പെട്ടവർ ആയിരുന്നു. അവർ അറിയപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നത് ഹൈന്ദവ പേരുകളിൽ ആയിരുന്നു എന്നത് തന്നെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ തെളിവ്. ബ്രിട്ടീഷുകാർ രാജാവിനെ പോലും നിയന്ത്രിച്ചിരുന്ന അക്കാലത്ത് കീഴ് ജാതിക്കാർക്ക് മതം മാറുവാൻ വേണ്ടി ഒട്ടനേകം പ്രലോഭനങ്ങളും സമ്മർദ്ദങ്ങളും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. അതിനെയെല്ലാം അതി ജീവിച്ചവർ ആയിരുന്നു നമ്മുടെ നവോത്ഥാനവും അതിലെ നായകരും. ഇന്ന് ക്രിസ്‌തു മത വിശ്വാസികൾ ഹൈന്ദവ പേരുകൾ സ്വീകരിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. പക്ഷെ സ്വാതന്ത്രത്തിനു മുൻപ് അങ്ങനെ ആയിരുന്നില്ല സ്ഥിതി. ഹിന്ദു മത വിശ്വാസികൾ മാത്രമേ ഹൈന്ദവ പേരുകളിൽ അറിയപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നുള്ളൂ

The waterloo of Tipu Sultan

Battle of Nedumkotta - The beginning of the end of Tipu

significance : Heavy defeat for Tipu who was at that point at the height of his power and reputation as brilliant commander. Lost a major part of his force and guns. Saved the Travancore state. Shortly after, the British defeated Tipu and the entire Malabar came under British rule
Tipu: Total 30000 infantry ,5000 horse,20 cannons
deployed for battle: 14,000 select infantry (his commando version) and 500 pioneers ,guns , some cotton
Travancore:2000 infantry, guns one wall and snakes and a dam trick

Kerala before Tipu Sultan

Until 18th century Kerala and coastal Karnataka were rich in terms of Knowledge, Power and Wealth. There were commercial relations with a number of foreign countries for trading in commodities like pepper, cardamom, sandalwood etc. During 15th century, the huge and vast fleet of Chinese mariner Zheng He visited Calicut during all his voyages. Before that Arabs had established trade with the Calicut King. The Chinese ships went as far as East Africa. The Europeans came to know about the land of opulence and also the sea route to Calicut. Useing these information, Vasco De Gama landed in Calicut in 1498. Later conflicts arose between Europeans, Arabas and also between Calicut and Kochi. Arab Muslims integrated and mixed with local population (known as Mappilas). The British merchants too had their eyes on Kerala wealth, but were swayed away by the other powerful players. After the battle of Colachel, Captain de Lannoy and other Dutchman joined the Travancore Nair brigade. With de Lannoy as captain, fondly known as valia kapitan, the army was equipped with modern weapons. He had also built many forts and later like the David and Goliath story, saved Travancore by stopping a possible plunder.

The European never dictated the political and military affairs of Malabar. They were just watching the fight between kings. While the kings were at play, the vultures were hovering above for the spoils of war. When the Zamorin attacked Cochin and was about to annex it in 1757, the Raja of Cochin in desperation signed a treaty with Marthanda Varma. But unfortunately, by 1758 both the warring Zamorin and Marthanda Varma died. Rama Varma took over in Travancore and charged Lannoy to build fortifications to prevent any further incursions into Travancore. Thus the Travancore lines or Nedumkotta took shape.

During 18th century, Islamic rule was present in almost all regions except Kerala and Maratha. British defeated the Bengal Nawab in Plassey battle in 1757. After the death of Krishna Deva Raya the fall of Vijayanagar Empire began and the battle of Talikota ended the last great Medieval Hindu Empire in 1565. During that period, there were a number of small kingdoms in Malabar like Kottayam (Pazhassi Raja), Kolathiri (Chirackal Raja), Kadathanad Raja in North Malabar, and Zamorin in South Malabar. There was also a Muslim ruler under Kolathiri Raja called Ali Raja of Arackal.

The treachery of Ali raja

Kolathunadu is regarded as one of the old political dynasties (Mooshika Vamsa) in India and was ruled by the Kolathiris. Ali Raja had secured a small slice of territory in Kolathunaduat and about Cannanore. At the dawn of the 18th Century, the Ali Raja became an independent ruler. The powerful ruler played a chief role in causing many quarrels and disturbances in the kingdom of Kolathunad. Ali Raja strengthened his position taking advantage of these quarrels. These quarrels reached their height in 1718. The trade of the Dutch East India Company was disrupted owing to the hostility between the Nairs of Kolathiri and Arakkal Ali Raja. At the invitation of Ali Raja, Canara forces invaded northern Malabar in 1732 with a large force. The invasion caused great confusion in the kingdom. The combined armies of the English and Dutch East India Companies entered the field and defeated the Canarese.

In 1763, Ali Rajah of Cannanore requested Hyder to invade Kerala and help him deal with Zamorin of Calicut. This Muslim ruler of Cannanore, an old of rival of the neighbouring powerful Kolathiri, was an active ally of Mysore during the years of occupation.

Hyder Ali's attack on Malabar

Hyder Ali Khan was the son of a Punjabi Muslim settled in Mysore. When he was the army chief stationed in Dindigal, he overthrew the Mysore King with the help of the wily Purnaiyya and imprisoned all the royal family members in Srirangapatanam. Later on, he declared himself the Sultan of Mysore with Srirangapatanam as capital in 1761 (p. 456 of Malabar Manual).

In 1757 the King of Palghat invited Hyder Ali, who at that time was the Faujdar of Dindigul under Kingdom of Mysore, to take on Zamorin of nearby Kingdom of Calicut. With a force of 2,500 horses and 7,500 men and supported by Palghat troops, marched into southern Malabar and defeated the Calicut army. Zamorin came to a treaty with Haider Ali and agreed to pay huge money. For his role in these activities Hyder Ali was rewarded by Devaraja with the jaghir (regional governorship) of Bangalore. King of Calicut, despite the invasion, did not modernise his army – a neglect for which he paid nine years later

In 1766 , Hyder marched into Malabar through Mangalore with a force of 12,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry and a park of field guns and easily defeated all the petty kingdoms on the Malabar, beginning with Kolathunad. He was desperate for a port which opens to the Arabian sea to get weapons from the French. Mahe, a French controlled port, lay in the middle of Malabar. Ali Raja of Cannanore, a long rival of Kolathiri, seized and set fire to the palace of Kolathiri Raja. The latter escaped with his followers to the then-British settlement at Tellicherry. The Zamorin sent most of his relatives to safe haven in Ponnani and to avoid the humiliation of surrender committed self-immolation by setting fire to his palace at Mananchira. After the victory, Hyder Ali entered the Kingdom of Kottayam in present-day North Malabar and occupied it, with assistance from native Muslims, after some resistance by the Kottayam army. The first serious resistance encountered by Hyder Ali's army was in Kadathanad, followed by a series of atrocities against the natives. After taking Calicut in a bloody battle, Hyder Ali, with a large amount of money, marched south-east and moved towards Coimbatore through Palghat. Ali Raja was appointed as military governor.

Supported by the English East India Company, the Hindus hidden in the forests started their rebellion against the Mysore authorities and re-occupied forts and large portions of land in the monsoon season. However, by June 1766, Hyder Ali himself returned to Malabar and imposed his troops on the rebels, killing many Nairs and at many places Hindus suffered complete defeat.

An eye on the rich treasures of the Tranvancore

In 1774, Hyder Ali Slowly moved southwards with a huge army, concentrating on the rich treasures of the Tranvancore. He wanted free passage to Travancore through Dutch territories, which was refused. Cochin agreed to to pay tribute as vassal state, but Travancore who was the protected ally of the British refused. In August 1776, Mysore invaded Cochin from the north and captured the fort at Trichur. In 1779, the British captured the French controlled port at Mahe that was of great strategic importance to Hyder Ali. The Second Anglo-Mysore War (1779–1784) started soon after. In 1782, Hyder Ali sent his elder Tipu Sultan and a strong force to counter the threat of additional company troops from Bombay.

Hyder Ali asked his commander Sardar Khan to take an army of 10,000 along the Cochin Kingdom. Meanwhile, the Dutch, with the help of the Travancore Nair Army, put down an attempt by the Mysore forces to capture the Cranganore Fort. The ruler of Cranganore, however surrendered to Hyder Ali, though the Dutch stormed his palace and captured it in January 1778. However, after facing losses from the combined forces of Dutch, British and Travancore, and a series of incursions and fort takeovers Hyder retreated to Mysore before planning another attack on Travancore. He died in 1782 suffering from cancer and his son Tipu took over.

In 1789, Tipu marched to Kozhikode with a 60,000-strong army, destroyed the fort, and razed the town to the ground. This event is known as the Fall of Calicut. In August 1788, the ruler of Parappanad, a chieftain of Nilamboor, Trichera Thiruppad, and many other Hindu nobles who had been carried away earlier to Coimbatore by Mysore under Tipu, were forcibly converted to Islam.

Almost all female members and many male members of different Royal families such as Chirackal, Parappanad, and Calicut, and chieftains' families like Punnathoor, Nilamboor, Kavalapara and Azhvanchery Thamprakkal, found political asylum in Travancore from Mysore under Tipu and temporarily settled down in different parts of Travancore. Even after the fall of Tipu Sultan in Srirangapatanam, many of these families preferred to remain in Travancore.

The glorification of Tipu Sultan by the Liberal historians

Tipu's legitimacy to rule derived from his father who had grabbed the throne of Mysore Raja by a Palace coup and through subterfuge. Hyder Ali Khan was just as an employee of the Mysore kingdom and technically Tipu also has to be a servant. At that time hereditary rulership was the norm.

Tipus glorification by the Liberal historians are by deliberately suppressing the available references and even by distorting the facts. The Malabar Manual of William Logan published over a hundred years ago, historical sketches of Col. Wilks, Voyage to East Indies of Fra Bartolomaeo, histories of Kerala written by K.P. Padmanabha Menon and Sardar K.M. Panicker, historical research papers of Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai, official English Company reports, and the records of Chirackal, Zamorin and Palghat royal families and those from Trichur, Guruvayoor, Thirunavaya and Perumanam temples, clearly and conclusively depict Tipu Sultan as the most intolerant, cruel and fanatic mass murderer. William Logan was Collector of Malabar and worked in various capacities for over twenty years in Kerala, before 1886. The highly acclaimed Malabar Manual was the result of this strenuous research and study of various official records, oral history, and legends of Kerala. Malayalis cannot forget Tipu and the the darkest period in Kerala history for generations. It had turned Kerala Hinduism upside down. Since the british never had any presense in Kerala at that time, his Jihad on Kerala was not a fight against any European power. Mysore Sultans did NOT attack any of the British establishments in Kerala at any time. Tipu had spent most of his active life in Kerala Jihad and hence the true character of Tipu Sultan can be best judged from his activities in Kerala.

Pretext for attack on Travancore

Tipu and Hyder had laid waste Malabar, enforced the rule of cap (choice of converting to Islam) or sword (facing immediate execution). The royal families and large numbers of Hindu and Christian families to fled to Travancore, where they were received and treated hospitably by the Maharajah, who now came to be known as Dharma Raja on account of his protecting the refugees and the Hindu faith. In 1788, Tipu took up his father's idea of subjugating Malabar and Travancore. Holding Dharma as supreme, the Travancore Raja never succumbed to the demands, threats and persuations made by Tipu Sultan. Tipu considered this as an insult.

Travancore is the only portion of India which was never under direct mohammaden or British rule. The Rajas used a mix of diplomacy and warfare to keep them all out. Tipu eyed it for the immense wealth of these kingdoms. After tasting the blood of great success in Mangalore, Kodagu and North Kerala, Tipu thought conquering Travancore was an easy task. With thousands of trained men, he marched towards Nedumkotta, a defence fortification constructed along the northern borders of the erstwhile Travancore State.

Tipu Sultan now demanded that the Rajah of Cochin, who had accepted the status of a vassal, to claim Alangad and Parur so as to provide Tipu with a pretext foran invasion of Travancore. However, the Rajah diplomatically assured Tipu that he would convince the Raja of Travancore to become a vassal of Tipu like himself. Tipu then sent envoys to Travancore with a letter stating his desire to cultivate friendship. The Maharaja received Tipu’s envoys in the presence of an East India Company representative, which was taken as an insult by Tipu. The Maharajah also negotiated with the British for a force to assist in the defense of Travancore, anticipating an attack from Tipu Sultan.

Travancore had an alliance (Treaty of Mangalore) with the English Company according to which an aggression against Travancore would be viewed as equivalent to declaration of war against the English. The Dutch who were afraid of Tipu also agreed to transfer the Kodungallur Fort to Travancore, mainly as a strategy to involve the more powerful British in case of war with Travancore on that account. Since Cochin was considered a tributary to Mysore, Tipu objected to the transfer of Kodungallur Fort which was part of Cochin territory before its occupation by the Dutch. Therefore, Tipu Sultan demanded of Travancore to (i) allow free access to Kodungallur because the Travancore defence line had stretched and passed through Cochin territory, and (ii) surrender all Hindu Rajas and nobles from Malabar who had taken refuge in Travancore.

But the demand was rejected. That was his pretext for waging a war against the Travancore State. In the meantime, the Cochin Raja, who was under the guidance and protection of the weak Dutch, openly shook off his tributary links with Tipu and aligned with Travancore after the firm offer of support and protection by the British. It may be noted here that Tipu never fought against the British in Kerala. He fought mainly against the Hindu Rajas.

War preparations by Travancore

The new enemy for all was the marauding Sultan. Their atrocities were well explained by the asylees, and it was very clear that Sultan had eyes for Travancore. The period more popularly known as the Padayottakalam or the period of military Juggernaught. It was a period of turmoil, fear and anxiety. The calm Malabar was a boiling caldron with religious animosity, foreign soldiers, atrocities, plunder, mayhem and the common man had no respite. The only area that was calm was Travancore and the Dharma Raja’s wanted to keep it that way. Lannoy’s wall was created with that purpose

Travancore had bought Cranganore and Pallippuram forts from the Dutch and extended the Nedunkotta fortifications along the border with Mysore into territory claimed by Mysore in Cochin. Travacore, via the Nawab of Carnatic, found relations with the English East India Company.

Nedumkotta: a small wall of Kerala

The Nedumkotta was built primarily to resist the invasion under Hyder Ali Khan against Travancore State by de Lannoy who had surrendered in kulachal battle. It was raised mainly with clay and mud, and reinforced with stones, laterite and granite at strategic places. It had a length of 40 km. It started from the Krishan Kotta on the west coast, above Kodungallur, and stretched up to the Annamalai Hills on the Western Ghats. It was about 48 km long, twenty feet wide and twelve feet high. Its alignment was along the Periyar river on the west coast up to Chalakudy from where it went along the Chalakudy river up to the Annamalai Hills in the east. There were underground cells to store gunpowder and other war materials, special chambers for soldiers to live, and look-outs and mounted field-guns all along the fortification. Besides, on the north side of the fortification, ditches were dug twenty feet wide and sixteen feet deep, and filled with thorny plants, poisonous snakes, and hidden weapons. On the south side as well as on the top of the fortification, wide roads were laid for the convenience of military movements.

It started from Pallipuram Kotta near the sea, touches kottamukku, krishnankotta and extended till the Foot hills of the Anamalai in the Western Ghats. The Chalakudy river and lagoon which falls on the alignment was left alone as they themselves were a barrier. A trench 20 feet (6.1 m) deep and 16 feet (4.9 m) wide was built along the northern side of the wall for the full length. At some places the wall reached 50 ft (15 m) in height. Hollows were made inside where about 100 soldiers could hide and make an ambush. A company of soldiers was stationed about every kilometer with ammunition store house at strategic points. There were also caves in the nearby wells to hide in the possibility of an unannounced attack.

It was erased by Tipu Sultan in an act of revenge for having defeated his attempt to subdue Travancore in 1789. Just before returning to Mysore after his failed attempt, he spent six days to demolish the Lines which he called the Contemptible Wall.

Tipu's attack on the lines

Travancore had provided shelter to many noble men from North Kerala. Tipu demanded surrender all Hindu Rajas and nobles from Malabar who had taken refuge in Travancore. But the demand was rejected by Dharma Raja. As Bhagwan Krishna says in Gita, the Raja of Travancore held Dharma the Supreme. Earlier Maharaja Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma dedicated the expanded country of Travancore to the Sree Padmanabha, One of the world's most important Vaishnava temples, in January 1750 and pledged that he and his descendants will serve the kingdom as Padmanabha Dasa or Servants of god. The Grand dedication or Trippadidanam was done by offering the royal sword in front of the idol. By the act of the Grand Dedication, Marthanda Varma became able to suppress the negative voices against the King and the land came to be called as God's own country

It is also worth recalling the frenzy of rapture Tipu felt after his Malabar raid. He describes this rapture in his 19 January 1790 letter to his loyal servant, Badruz Juman Khan:
I have achieved a great victory recently in Malabar and over four lakh Hindus were converted to Islam. I am now determined to march against the cursed Raman Nair. Since I am overjoyed at the prospect of converting him and his subjects to Islam, I have happily abandoned the idea of going back to Srirangapatanam now
This Raman Nair was the same Dharmaraja, Ramavarma Maharaja of Travancore. This determination cost Tipu dearly.

Tipu not satisfied with these replies sent by Dharmaraja, on the 24th December 1789, another embassy with two caparisoned elephants ostensibly meant for taking the two Rajahs of Cochin and Travancore. Arguing that the Nedumkotta passed illegally through the territories of Cochin, his vassal state, Tipu Sultan gathered his entire force in Malabar and marched to invade Travancore. Tipu and his forces reached the Nedumkotta line which protected Travancore’s northern frontier and launched an attack in late December 1789. On the night between the 28th and 29th of December they encamped at a place six miles distant northward from the main entrance to the lines. Leaving most of his forces to manoeuvre at daybreak in front of the principal gate, Tipu marched with 14,000 infantry and 500 pioneers by a roundabout way at 10 o'clock in the night being guided by a native of the country.

Before day-break he found himself in possession of a large extent of the rampart on the right flank of the lines. His aim was to gain the gate about nine miles from the point of entrance, to open it to the division of his army placed to manoeuvre in front of it and to place his whole force within the lines in one day. About 9 o'clock in the morning the Sultan had come three miles along the water in the inner side with his whole force without any opposition. Tipu commanded his soldiers to level up the ditch, and thus make a road for his army to advance, while retreating Travancore soldiers and militiamen regrouped on the other side of the ditch. Unable to fill the ditch under heavy fire from the enemy, Tipu ordered his soldiers to march forward through a very narrow passage. The Travancoreans were retreating from successive towers until finally they made a stand in a small square enclosure within the works employed as a magazine, storehouse and barrack, and having drawn a small gun inside they poured grape upon the advancing Mysoreans. A group of two dozen Nair militiamen from the Nandyat kalari under Vaikom Padmanabha Pillai ambushed their enemies half-way. A few dozen Mysore soldiers died of direct gun-fire, and the commanding officer was also killed.

The sudden and unexpected attack, made the Mysore army panicky, and in the confusion Sultan himself was carried away in the crowd, the rear now becoming the front fell into the ditch. The foremost leaped or were forced into the ditclh and such was the pressure of the succeeding mass, that there was no alternative but to follow. The undermost, of course, were trampled to death and in a short time the bodies, by which the ditch was nearly filled, enabled the remainder to pass over. The Mysore army suffered 2,000 deaths and many thousands were injured. Several high-ranking Mysorean officers were taken prisoner.

Tipu sultan fell down from the ramparts of the fort into the ditch below along with his palanquin. Tipu Sultan himself was carried away by the crowd. His palanquin, seals, rings, sword and other personal ornaments fell into the hands of the Travancore armies. Tipu fell back into the ditch twice before scrambling out and the occasional lameness which he suffered until his death was due to the contusions suffered by his fall into the ditches of Travancore. He then made the best of his way out with very great difficulty and was soon carried in a dhuli unperceived to his tent. In an intense lit of rage and humiliation he swore that he would remain in that camp until he took what he described as this contemptible wall.

According to the English despatches the ditch was said to have been filled with bales of cotton by the Mysoreans for the purpose of passing in and an accidental inflammation of the cotton made them seek another passage. Mr. Powney in his account written from Parur on the first of January 1790 states that Tipu had breached a weak part of the lines and filled the ditch with bales of cotton and earth for his cavalry to enter. He made the attack with seven thousand men. They carried it and possessed the lines for three miles in extent, but reinforcements of the Raja's troops coming from the right and left, the enemy were hemmed in line between two fires and were driven out with great slaughter. Near a thousand were left dead within the lines, some horses and prisoners were taken. Zemaul Beg, commander of a cussoom was killed, likewise another person of consequence; it is said to be a son of the late Meer Saib. The enemy as soon as he fell, cut off his head and carried it with them. About two hundred of the Raja's people were killed and wounded. By all accouuts they behaved very gallantly. A Brahman of some consequance is among the prisoners; he says that Tipu was at the attack, and had a horse shot under him. We apprehend he is meditating some grand attack. Report says he has crossed the Chitwa river and is advancing along the sea side with the intention of attacking Cranganore and Ayacotta.

The account of bales of cotton having been used for the purpose of passing over the ditch is not corroborated by other accounts, though it is affirmed by all that the mass of bodies in the ditch were consumed by fire after the retreat, fuel being supposed to have been added for the purpose by the Travancoreans. Tipu's palanquin, his seals, rings and personal ornaments, sword fell into the Dalawa's hands as trophies, which were duly forwarded to the Nawab of Arcot at his request.

In the following weeks, Tipu Sultan, stung by his defeat, wrote a letter to Governor Holland at Madras that his soldiers were searching for fugitives from Malabar and that it was Travancore which had taken the offensive and his troops retaliated and carried the lines, but that on the first intimation of the affair he ordered his troops to desist from the attack; and finally he requested the Governor to advise the Rajah to observe the treaty. In reply to this, Mr. Holland wrote to him proposing the appointment of commissioners for the adjustment of the points at issue. He even spoke to Lord Cornwallis on the occasion of his departure for England his own conviction of Tipu's amicable intentions.. As part of the preparation for another attack, after the failed attempt in December, Tipu bribed Holland.

While Tipu regrouped, Governor Holland, much to dismay of Cornwallis, engaged in negotiations with Tipu rather than mobilising the military. Cornwallis was on the brink of going to Madras to take command when he received word that Holland's replacement, General William Medows was about to arrive. Medows forcibly removed Holland, and set about planning operations against Mysore.

Meanwhile, Maharaja appraised the Government of Madras of the intended attack by Tipu. The British were still slow to act and in a letter dated 3rd January 1790, they "deprecated the policy of committing the honour of Government by taking part in the defence of places furtively obtained", and even went the length of criticising the arguments supporting the cause of Travancore. In another letter written to the Maharaja of Travancore even after the attack on the lines, Mr. Holland gave little hopes of assistance and support.

A second attack is daily expected and it is sure that King's army cannot stop the superior Mysorean army. The English battalions were behind the lines, but not at the attack zone and it is said that they have orders not to act, even on the defensive. If such be the case, the Bajah ought to dismiss them with scorn, but for the present is the only moment in which the aid of such a handful of men can be effectual. If orders for them to act arrive too late, then their efforts will then avail but little against the numbers of their enemies, and will only serve to draw a heavier vengeance on themselves and the unfortunate Raja.

Finally, Tipu attacked the Nedumkotta again after waiting for three months for further reinforcements to arrive from Coorg, Bangalore and Seringapatam. For nearly a month, the Travancore army under the protection of the Nedumkotta lines, managed to defend the state. The Maharajah requested the Madras Governor to issue orders to the British contingent to co-operate with him in case of an attack from Tipu which was expected every moment. Aid was promised but not rendered. On the second of March Tipu again commenced hostilities by a skirmish outside the wall and on the sixth he ordered his artillery to work.

The wall resisted the heavy fire of the artillery for nearly a month but at last yielded, a breach three quarter of a mile long having been effected. Soon, the entire Nedumkotta fell into the hands of Tipu Sultan, who captured large quantities of ammunition and 200 cannons. The British forces stationed to assist Travancore did not provide aid to Travancore, but remained passive spectators, since they had not received orders from Governor Hollond to fight with the Sultan, much to the despair of the Maharajah. The Mysorean army entered Travancore. The Travancore army finding that resistance was useless retreated and the Mysoreans entered Travancore. The two battalions of the Company's sepoys remained passive spectators without giving any aid to the Travancore army on the plea that no orders had been issued to them to march. Tipu next appeared before Cranganore, his army being commanded by Lally. The garrison at Cranganore was defended by the Maharajah's troops under Captain Flory who however had to abandon the fort, resistance being useless.

Tipu and his army were camping on the banks of the Alwaye River before launching another attack on the Travancore defense lines. The Travancore army was no match for the huge Mysore army and the monsoon season was four or five months away. Therefore, under the guidance of Raja Kesavadas, the Prime minister of Travancore, a temporary bund was constructed way up on the stream by a team headed by Kalikutty Nair. When the Mysore army launched its assault and Nedunkotta was penetrated, the temporary bund was breached in the midst of heavy fighting, causing an unexpected flood which drowned many Mysore soldiers and rendered the gunpowder wet and useless. The result was panic and confusion in the Mysore army. The triumphant Nair forces inflicted heavy casualties on the invading army. The valiant Kalikutty Nair became a martyr.

Srirangapatanam was sieged in January-February 1791 by a combined army consisting of the British, Maratha and the Nizam's forces. Tipu sultan, who-rushed to Srirangapatanam, abandoning his military operations against Travancore, was forced to sign a treaty in 1792 ceding the entire west coast and half of his other possessions to the allies, thus relieving the Hindus of Kerala from further Islamic brutalities.

Tipu was a fanatic and a tyrant from 1782 to 1790. Between 1790 and 1799 he was truly secular. Tipu met his waterloo at Nedumkotta in 1790 and was forced to flee like a fugitive. He realized the importance of Secularism at a time When the combined forces of Marathas, Nizam and British sieged Mysore and forced him to sign a treaty. After this Tipu was forced to create new friends. He maintained friendly relations with temple poojaris. The secular behaviour came out of necessity and that was not his true intention

Several officers and men were taken prisoners ; of the former five were Europeans and one a Mahratta.

The attitude of the British

While Tipu was carrying on his destructive warfare, a large force consisting of the 75th regiment, two battalions of sepoys and one company of artillery were sent under the command of Colonel Hartley with orders to co-operate with the Travancore army, but it arrived too late, however, to be of service in saving the lines.

Tipu retreats. About the 15th of April, the enemy were in possession of the lines near Ayacotta; 6,000 of his horsemen having opened assault on them, the Travancore army withstood it for some time but had soon to give way. The Travancore commanders had arranged that they should reassemble at Vypeen, but this arrangement was lipset bv the con» sternation of their sepoys who immediately retreated to the Wood*. Colonel Hartley's firm resolve to take pest at Ayacotta encouraged the Eajah's troops. On the 8th of May the garrison stationed at Crangafiore was removed to Ayacotta which was the only place not touched by Tipu. With the combined troops it was clear that Tipu could not effect any considerable forward movement into Travancore. Tipu then committed various atrocities in the districts of Parur and Alangad where he desecrated the Hindu and Christian places of worship and burned the bouses of the rich and poor alike. After establishing his head-quarters at Trichur, he marched southward with his army to Alwaye When his progress was obstructed by natural causes.

The Dam trick

Tipu saw the water level at the edge of the wall was low , the mysore army camped on river bed with all its guns . Tipu ordered a night attack his superior war strategy. The actual reality was the water was controlled by a dam at the hill. Travancore forces destroyed the dam and Tipu lost all his guns and a major chunk of his army was swept away in the flood. He had to turn back.

His army suffered a great deal for wi.nt of prop<r ;he t r and ail the ammunition and accoutrements became damaged. Many perished by disease. His position had became one of danger and anxiety; the rivers were all full, the Cranganore bar rose high with a swift current going seawards and there were no means of communication except by boa,ts. All this necessitated his return to his native country. Moreover the military preparations of the English assisted by the Nizam and the Mahrattas began to disturb his mind. Further a French officer named Macnamara who about this time touched this coast, while paying his respects to the Sultan by whom he was kindJy received, repeatedly assured him of the formidable preparations that were being made by the English against Tipu. These quickened his departure from Travancore. He divided his army into two divisions and ordered one to march via Annamanadai and Chalakudi to Trichur and thence to Palghat, and the other via Crangancre and Chowghat to Talghat. But before finally leaving Travancore he ordered the complete demolition of the lines which was effected as a sort of public ceremony.

"The whole army off duty was regularly paraded without arms, and marched in divisions to the appointed stations; the Sultaun, placed on an eminence, «et the example of striking the first stroke with a pick-axe; the ceremony was repeated by the courtiers and chiefs, the followers of every description, bankers, money-changers, shop-keepers and the mixed crowd of followers were all ordered to assist the soldiers, and the whole was razed to the ground in six days."*

Tipu thus left Malabar destined never to return again

Tipu's brutalities

The barbaric brutalities of Tipu can be compared only with other barbarians of his clan like Timur

During the invasion from 1783 to 1792, Tipu sultan had committed a variety of atrocities against the Hindus in Kerala. In Malabar, the main target of Tipu sultan’s atrocities was Hindus and Hindu temples. There was no limit as to the loss the Hindu temples suffered due to the military operations of Tipu sultan. Burning down the temples, destruction of the idols installed therein and also cutting the heads of cattle over the temple deities were the cruel entertainments of Tipu sultan and his equally cruel army. The Mysore gazetteer says that the ravaging army of Tipu sultan had destroyed more than 8000 temples in south India. The temples of Malabar and Cochin principalities had to bear the brunt of plunder and destruction. According to the Malabar Manual of William Logan who was the District Collector for some time, Thrichambaram and Thalipparampu temples in Chirackal, Thiruvangatu temple in Tellicherry, and Ponmeri temple near Badakara were all destroyed by Tipu sultan. The famous and ancient Thirunavaya temple, known throughout the country as an ancient teaching centre of the vedas, revered by the devotees of Vishnu from Tamil nadu, and existing before the advent of Christ, was also plundered and destroyed by Tipu's army.Some of the famous temples looted and desecrated were as follows: Triprangot, Thiruvannoor, Calicut Thali, Hemambika temple, the Jain temple in Palghat, Mammiyur, Parambatali, Venkitangu, Pemmayanadu, Tiruvanjikulam, Perumanam, Vadakhumnnathan temple of Thrissur, Belur, Veliyanattukavu, Varakkal, Puthu,Govindapuram, Keraladhiswara, Trikkandiyur, thiruvannur, Varackal, Puthur, Govindapuram, Thalikkunnu Sukapuram, Maranehei temple of Aaalvancheiri tambrakkal, Vengara temple of Aranadu, Tikulam, Rama nathakra, Azhinjalam, Indiannur, Mannur Narayankanniar and Vadukunadha siva temple of Madayi. The Trikkavu temple of Ponnani was converted into military garrison. Damages caused to the temples at Parampathali, Panmayanadu and Vengidangu temple are visible even today. In the case of Triprayar temple, the main deity was shifted temporarily to nchanappillymana situated in a remote village, and in the case of Guruvayoor temple, the idol was shifted to Ambalapuzha Sri Krishna temple in Travancore state before the barbarian army of Tipu sultan reached there. The damage that can be seen even today on the installed presiding deity of Thirumoozikkulam temple is believed to have been caused by Tipu sultan's army