Variyankunnath Kunjahammad Haji

In 1896, many kudiyans became landless in Chembrassery in one day from land associated with people of the Manjeri kovilakam through eviction. Hundreds of those who objected this eviction took control of assets associated with the Manjeri kovilakam. These people fought against the British that came to help the kovilakam. Variamkunnath Kunjahammad Haji played a leadership role in this fight. It was the first battle that he participated. Then he was 20 years old. 94 people got killed on the bjectors' side. The British force left mistaking all the objectors were killed. But some did not die. Variamkunnath Kunnahammad Haji was one of those who didn't got killed.[36][37]

Around 1899, Inspector Anakayam Chekkutty decided to arrest Variamkunnath Kunjahammad Haji anyway to exile. So some decided to send Haji to Mecca in the name of Hajj to solve the problem. Some forced him to flee to evade arrest. So he exiled himself for the first time.[38] And he spent five years in Mecca.[39]

He went to Bombay and learned Urdu, Hindi and English and conducted business there. Next year he went to Mecca and performed Hajj. In 1905 he returned to Malabar.[40]

He made few more trips to Mecca later. He came to Malabar after his last trip to Mecca, in 1914.[41]

MP Narayana Menon formed Malabar Kudiyan Sangham in 1920. MP Narayana Menon dissolved 'Kudiyan Sankadanivarana Sangham', a body he had formed to redress the grievances of kudiyans and whose activities were joined with those of the Congress,[42][43] in the newly formed Malabar Kudiyan Sangham. Many branches were formed in different taluks. Because of these kudiyan movements, Mappilas and lower caste people became attracted to the Congress.[44][45]

The fifth Malabar District Political Conference was held at Manjeri 28–29 April 1920.[46] The Manjeri Congress conference held 28–29 April 1920 was a huge victory for Mappilas, lower caste people and peasants. In this conference a motion supporting, non-violent non-cooperation in case the British government decides Khilafat matter contrary to the Muslims' request and faith, was passed with a huge majority. Annie Basant had said though the British is wrong in the matter of Khilafat, non-cooperation is not right. The second motion supporting the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms which Annie Basant presented got defeated through voting with a huge majority. Annie Basant walked out[46] of the conference. Later she resigned from the Congress. The third one was the most revolutionary. The third motion was for the relief of peasants and reform in law related to land. That too was passed with a great majority. It was the first day people saw the voice of the poor peasants get a victory in a Congress conference.[47][48]

With the Manjeri Congress Conference, Jenmis and chiefs almost lost interest in freedom. What seen next was Nilambur Thamburam and the like who organised the Manjeri Congress Conference turning against the Khilafat-Non-cooperation movement. MP Narayana Menon says Jenmis and prominent Congress leaders in Malabar expressed concern about this organised activity of Mappilas.[49][50]

With the Manjeri Congress Conference, Congress got placed in Eranad.[50] This conference helped the activities of the Congress to spread to the rural areas of Malabar.[50]

Gandhiji was invited to the Delhi Khilafat Conference in April 1919. In that conference, Gandhi declared the full support of the Congress to the Khilafat Movement.[51]

The Non-cooperation movement spread like a wildfire in Malabar with the coming of Mahatma Gandhi and Moulana Shoukathali as part of the Khilafat-Congress non-cooperation movement in Kozhikode. On 20 August 1920 both of them got a huge reception at the Kozhikode beach.[52]

After the conference, Ali Musliyar was asked to join the movement. Though he was not ready at first he agreed to co-operate. He became the vice president of Thirurangadi Khilafat committee. With his entrance to the protest, Congress-Khilafat committees were formed all over Malabar. MP Narayana Menon's Kudiyan Sanghams dissolved in Khilafat committees. Soon Congress-Khilafat committees in Malabar became more strengthed as compared to other districts in Madras Presidency. Many resigned their jobs. Advocates left courts. Several removed titles given by the British. Courts and schools were boycotted. Anyway the Khilafat-Congress non-cooperation struggle grew as a threat to the authority.[53]

At the time the collector of Malabar was EF Thomas. What the Hitchcock-Thomas group did on 5 February 1921 was to ban meetings in Eranad and Valluvanad, and speeches by certain people (inuding Variamkunnath Kunjahammad Haji). Consequently, four arrests were made when Congress-Khilafat leader Yakoob Hasan came to Kozhikode. To protest against this move, protests, including meetings and hartals, were organized in several places. But the protest in Thrissur became a problem.[54][55]

Protests began due to the arrest of four people after Congress-Khilafat leader Yakoob Hasan came to Kozhikode on 15 February 1921. But the protest became a problem in Thrissur. A Christian priest and his followers unleashed violence against this protest in Thrissur. Thus the table and chairs on the stage were set on fire. And an atmosphere of terror was created in Thrissur with the help of the police (Superintendent Chako played the leadership role in it). But Congress-Khilafat workers organised another meeting against this on 26 February 1921.[56]

On 27 February 1921 a loyalty procession by 1500 people with the help of the Government started. They attacked mosques, Mappila houses, houses belonging to lower caste Hindus, and their shops. Tired, Mappilas counter-attacked. One was killed and forty people injured.[56]

To counter the attacks unleashed in the loyalty procession, Congress, under the leadership of Thrissur Congress leader Dr. AR Menon, sought the help of Mappilas of Eranad. Thus 2000 Mappilas under the leadership of Vadakkuveettil Mammad reached Thrissur by train. There were Hindu TTRs who did not ask train tickets from these Mappilas. These Mappilas took out a march shaking Thrissur town on 2 March 1921. Seeing the serious situation, Divan and President reached the place and invited people from both sides and the problem was solved. As a result, Hindus and Muslims made a victory procession.[56]

The trick used by the British to divide and rule was to constantly target one group from the people. This trick would be much to make a divide among them.[57][58]

Mappilas had taken out a march of 2000 people in Thrissur on 2 March 1921, followed by a victory procession by Hindus and Muslims. The police in Malabar began to threaten the Khilafat volunteers and leaders in a particular manner in important centres and, to visit the prominent people loyal to the British and receive food and others from there, each day. By 15 March 1921 an undeclared police raj came into effect. The Mappilas began to be charged with cases and arrested in a huge number.[59] So many false cases were charged against them such as theft, rape. Even a funny charge of stealing a pen, that too by two persons, was made against Mappilas. There was an instance of charging a case and registering arrest even for going to the police station wearing a Khilafat cap. These were reported in the British newspaper Madras Daily, newspapers Mithavadi, The Muslim, and Jenmis' newspapers, Kerala Pathrika, Yogakshemam.[60] All were false cases. Many were arrested in such false cases. All those arrested were cruelly tortured.[61]

By the end of May, with canes, guns and spears on the guns, a declared police raj came into effect under the Hichkock-Thomas-Amu leadership. Cruel torture became a continuous story. Even the house and household of Mappilas were attacked.[62]

Because several cases were of stealing things of high caste Hindus, Mappilas began to hate them. Lower caste people isolated themselves from Muslims who are constantly being targeted, due to fear. Cracks began to appear in the unity created by Congress-Khilafat committees. The Kudiyan collective and the Khiafat collective began to collapse. People working under Jenmis began to be tortured more than earlier. The condition of workers of Eaton, the manager of Kerala estate, was worse than that of the cattle. Congress leaders except MP Narayana Menon apparently abandoned Mappilas.[63][64]

Knap, the Special Commission, came to Kozhikode on 14 August 1921. Knap gave permission to search for weapons in houses of some places.[65] Thomas' order to relocate families of the British officers to Kozhikode made doubt among people. They understood all Mappilas, their houses and relatives are going to be attacked for no reason. Congress leaders cruelly abandoned Khilafat movement members in this turbulent time. A handful of persons including MP Narayana Menon, Kattilasseri and Muhammad Abdulrahman became courageous to go to people. Though Kattilasseri and Abdulrahman Sahib were Congress workers, they did not have much influence in the Congress since the organisational structure inside the Congress was the reflection of varnashrama system. Generally they lost trust in the Congress. They had trust only in MP Narayana Menon. MP Narayana Menon understood the only way to stop the upcoming big torture is stopping the protest. He asked the national leaders to stop the protest. Though, through a statement,the message to stop the protest could have been conveyed within 24 hours where newspapers worked well, no such a statement was made.[66]

On 19 August 1921 a group of police including Hitchcock and Thomas left for Thirurangadi. They had arrest warrants for 24 people including Ali Musliyar prepared by Hitchcock and signed by Thomas with them. It is said Variamkunnath Kunjahammad Haji's was in the list but removed because of Variamkunnath Kunjahammad Haji's connection with Hitchcock and SI Ramanathayyar.[67]

The people of Thomas-Hitchcock unleashed attacks widely in Thirurangadi, searching for Ali Musliyar. At this time Ali Musliyar was in a secret place in Thirurangadi discussing with other leaders of the protest about how to respond to the British. The meeting reached a decision to stop protesting for the time being in the situation the Congress abandoned them and to entrust Ali Musiyar to tell the Collector that they are stopping the protest and to demand the release of those arrested.[68]

It was after the Thirurangadi firing incident that Haji took the leadership of the rebellion against the British in a moment after six or seven years of silence. He came to Malabar, after his last trip to Mecca in 1914.[72][73][75]

His military included a group of previous members of the military that fought in the First World War. They had weapons those were seized and those were manufactured after the rebellion started.[79] Most of his military were Khilafat Movement members.[80] His forces against the British included uniformed members and a certain number of ex-sepoys.[81]

As the rebellion helmed by the Haji and others began to spread across the Ernad and Valluvanad taluks of erstwhile Malabar district, British officers and the local police loyal to them escaped[82] From the first day of war those fled to Kozhikode from Eranad include some pro-British Mappilas besides Jenmis.[83] In South Malabar, especially Walluvanad, many Hindus along with Muslims attacked government institutions. At this time even some Nambudiris were with Khilafat Movement members.[84]

From the first day of war, looting also started. The looters included even CI Narayana Menon who participated in the looting wearing Mappila dress. CI Narayana Menon used criminals and prisoners to loot. One of the main looters of Thirurangadi was Kizhakan Mukari who was pretending as Variamkunnath. Fifteen looters including Mukhari was caught by on very 21 August 1921. All of them belonged to the chottu pattalam (the private army of chiefstains who were conducive for the British government) of Khan Bahadur-Khan Sahibs. Those who tried to loot the Namboothiri Bank were Mappilas loyal to the British[85][86] Thus the loot was carried out by those who are loyal to the British.[87] The main people who tried to thwart the war against the British were the Mappilas loyal to the British. Intervention by Ali Musliyar and Variamkunnan stopped their attempt to an extent.[88][89]

Around 25 August 1921 he declared an independent state in Manjeri [90][91] with Haji its undisputed ruler.[82] Later on its own passport, currency, and its own system of taxation were introduced[91] Even in the Manjeri proclamation which was made within few days after the rebellion started he said he had known it was propagated in the outside world that it was a war between the Muslims and Hindus. He also blamed Mappilas loyal to the British similar to Khan Bahadur Chekkutti and Jenmis for propagating this. He also said he did not intent to make it a Muslims' only country.[92][93]

Variamkunnath Kunjahammad Haji came to Pookottur. An armed force was set up, to attack the British force at Pookottur, on their way to rescue the British military personnel stuck in the area where the revolution took place.[94] And the Battle of Pookottur was fought on 26 August 1921.[95][96]

On 30 August 1921 a firing occurred at the Thirurangadi mosque in which 114 people including Ali Musliyar were present between the British force and those inside the mosque. Huge casualties occurred on both sides.[97][98] Some people managed to escape and ran to Variamkunnath Kunjahammad Haji.[97][98] Ali Musliyar and 39 followers surrendered when he became certain that the mosque would be destroyed. Immediately after this Variamkunnath Kunjahammad Haji asked his soldiers to move to forests.[99][100]

Immediately after the surrender of Ali Musliyar, Variamkunnath Kunjahammad Haji had asked his forces to move to forests. On 1 September 1921 martial law was declared specifically targeting Mappilas by the British. Those who would allow Mappillas who come from certain area to live were to be punished and in case Mappillas come to live nearby, it was to be reported to the nearest police station to avoid punishment. Because of the law Mappilas could not go outside or shops or mosques. But Mappilas loyal to the British got the pass so that they could move freely.[101]

Massacres of Mappilas

Even a vast number Mappilas who did not take part in any protest were also tortured. The British conducted a series of massacres against Muslims, in several places. Women were raped. Mappilas' houses were burnt. On 2 September 1921 the British force which arrived at Manjeri attacked all Mappila houses. Then came an order from the British to shoot all Mappillas seen outside. A group of lower caste Hindus would shave their head like Mappilas. So even many lower caste Hindus as well as Mappillas were killed because of this.[102]

Divide and rule policy

Some Jenmis betrayed Mappilas. Under the pretext of revenge, militant employees of the Mappilas loyal to the British unleashed cruelty. They looted houses. Some ordinary Mapilas joined them for vengeance thereby causing the goal of Mappillas loyal to the British, to destroy Hindu-Muslim unity, to be fulfilled. Hindu-Muslim enmity grew. This was part of divide and rule policy of the British. They propagated it was a Hindu-Muslim riot through newspapers.[103] All this happed after marshal law was declared by the British. And the British brought almost all area under their control.[104][105]

On 13 September 1921 guerrilla warfare was started by Variyankunnath Kunjahammad Haji. They carried out guerrilla warfare with separate small groups of 50-500 people. They began to seize the food for the British force. The British would not succeed in the war.[106][107]

On 16 September 1921 he declared martial law in Nalambur. As per the martial law orders a pass was required to leave the area under his control. Moreover, the British and people loyal to the British were not allowed to come outside after afternoon ; if seen violating they may be fired at.[108][109] He issued passports[110] for that purpose.[111] With his martial law the people denied freedom to move were the people loyal to the British.[112] The most important thing he did after declaring martial law was punishing those who helped the British and carried out the riot.[113]

From 12 October 1921 force including the Gurkhas, Chins and Kachins came to Malabar. Important reason for the failure of the First War of Independence was the Gurkhas. They were more interested in conducting massacres of ordinary people than fighting war directly.[114] The Mappilas were becoming unsuccessful in the fight while the number of the Gurkhas was more in number and with so many modern weapons.[115][116]

There were six or seven people who left from the Variamkunnan's movement.They made some violence in Areekode.Variamkunnan restored peace there. Knowing this, force from the British side reached there and made a fight. In the fight seventeen people from the Variamkunnan's force and as per the witnesses all from the British side got killed. Later the Gurkhas threw bomb on the Variamkunnan's force who were hiding in a thicket and a large number of people got killed.[117][118]

Variamkunnan decided to revenge the Gurkhas, who killed children and raped women.[119] Thus on13 November 1921, the Battle of Pandikkad was fought. Variamkunnan's force made a pre-emptive attack on a Gurkha regiment camp in which there were 150-300 Grurkhas, at night. 75-120 of the Gurkhas were killed.[120] Thus they revenged the Gurkhas.[121]

Again a great series of massacres were unleashed against innocent Mappilas. There was no a day without the massacre of 200-300 Mappilas. This led to weakening of the fight against the British forces and the Mappila fighters started to surrender.[122][123]

Variamkunnan had camped at Hajippara. A group including the Gurkhas and Kachins attacked there and became successful in taking so much rice and cattle. In the fight 17 from Variamkunnan's side and 35 from Gurkha-Kachins side got killed.[124]

He changed his hiding place to Kallaamoola hill storing food centering its valley Kurukkan Pottikkulam. On 8 December 1921 a large group consisting of the Gurkhas and Kachins attacked this place as well. In this fight a huge loss occurred for Variamkunnan. Large amount of rice and thousands of cattle were captured from there. In this attack 13 from Gurkhas, 8 from Kachins and 24 from the Variamkunnan's side got killed. And the Cherumas and Advasis also were captured and brought to Nilambur besides the food.[124]

Variamkunnan attacked a bangalow. He saved captured Cheruman-Advasi soldiers of his force on 11 December 1921. Right after this he went to Goodalloor where he attacked and killed a policeman, who was at the Panthalloor training camp, (belonging to the British force) . After this Variamkunnan's group got divided to three. One attacked a police station and killed three from the police (under the British rule). Another group attacked a survey office (under the British rule) and killed three from them. The third group attacked a post office and killed a policeman. In this operation Variamkunnan's force got a huge victory. In this fight 7 people got killed on Variamkunnan's side and 27 on the other.[125]

The soldiers of Variamkunnan began to surrender when genocide against Mappilas continued.[126][127]

To avoid the genocide of the innocent, people including the leaders began to think of surrendering. Chembrasseri Thangal, Seethi Koya Thangal and Unneen Kutty Haji suggested surrender. Though it shocked Variamkunnath, he did not express it.[128][129]

Variyamkunnath disbanded the army after he could not make the military operation at Palemad. He could not move to Palemad because he was surrounded by the British force. It is said that 25000 of Variamkunnan's forces had reached Palemad on 18 December 1921.[130][131]

Leaders Chembrasseri Thangal and Seethi Koya Thangal surrendered.[132] Chembrassery Thangal's right hand Unneen Kutty Haji and his 450 followers surrendered. Thus a huge number of surrenders took place this time.[133]

On 5 January 1922, through a planned operation, Variyamkunnath was captured.Variyamkunnath wrestled for half an hour and he was chained.[134]

The British burned his body and all records related to his rule .They destroyed all records through raids in all houses and by offering rewards.[135][136]

When asked about his last wish by Humphreys he said shooting should be from the front with the eyes are unfolded and hands are free. His last wish was accepted by Humphreys.[137][138]

Variamkunnath Kunjahammed Haji said, in a cablegram received by the Friends of Freedom for India, the reported forced conversion of many Hindus to Mohammadanism and killing others were by the British agents and spies. He also claimed to have killed theses British spies and agents. This was published in two American newspapers on 7 December 1921.[140][141] Variamkunnath Kunjahammad Haji sent a letter to The Hindu claiming that the forced conversion of Hindus was done by the Government Party and Reserve Policemen in mufti mingling themselves with the rebels (masquerading as rebels.)[142]

He was of the opinion that the reported forced conversions during the Malabar rebellion were done by the Government Party and Reserve Policemen in mufti mingling themselves with the rebels (masquerading as rebels.)[143][144][145] He said in a cablegram to have put the British agents and spies joined his forces as patriots only to discredit his soldiers to death, after the report of alleged forced conversion of Hindus to Mohammedanism and killing the rest of the Hindus.[30]

The most important thing he did after declaring martial law was punishing those who helped the British and carried out the riot.[113]

To thwart the attempt of Mappilas loyal to the British, Variamkunnath Kunnahammad Haji, on the second day of the war started, organised the Thekkekalam meeting. In this meeting, even the first decision taken was that no activity that could cause a different opinion about from Hindus shall not happen.[146]

In a letter written to The Hindu, Variyamkunnath Kunjahammad Haji exposed the attempt for compulsory military service by the British. In the letter, he said the following.

"The Hindus are compulsorily impressed for military service. Therefore, several Hindus seek protection in my Hill. Several Moplahs, too, have sought my protection. Now the chief military commander [of the government] is causing Hindus to evacuate from these Taluks. Innocent women and children of Islam, who have done nothing and possess nothing, are not permitted to leave the place."

[147]

Haji gave orders to his followers that people of other faiths were to be given adequate security and not be subjected to torture. But at the same time, he targeted all those who helped the British, be they Hindu or Muslim.[148]

Variyamkunnath Kunjahammad Haji declared the death penalty to people who attempt forceful conversion.[149]

Several British loyalist Mappilas had taken refuge in the Chekutty's house. With them was CI Mangatt Narayana Menon. Twenty four people including Kunjahammad Haji went to the Chekutty's house. They had guns with them. Naik Haidru killed Chekutty by shooting. As the shooting happened other Adhikaris and CI Narayana Menon escaped through the side of the kitchen. Naik Thami read a charge sheet near the fallen Chekutty which took forty minutes to finish. This charge sheet contained 300 "crimes". Chekutty, as a servant of the colonial government, had caused so much trouble to ordinary people in Eranad. After the reading of the crimes, Kunjahammad Haji decapitated Chekutty. Though several historians have recorded that the Chekutty's severed head was stuck to a spear and brought to the place taking place Manjeri proclamation at, KK Abdul Kareem says that this is not correct, and that the severed head was thrown to a thicket of a Chekutty's own plot.[168]

Anyway, the Chekutty murder shocked everyone of Ernad. Those who heard about the murder, which people had thought unusual and impossible, rushed to Anakkayam and Manjeri. Thus the crossroad joining four main roads in Manjeri was crowded with people for Kunjahammad Haji's historic declaration.[169]

An important incident during the peak of the war was the attempt by the chottu pattalam to loot the Namboothiri bank in Manjeri, which was well known in the Malabar region, and run by Pulloor Kuttyanikkad Manakkal Damodaran Namboothiri. The action taken by Kunjahammad Haji against this is one of the best examples of his skill of administration. There was jewellery worth millions of rupees belonging to people including ordinary peasants in the bank. The first approach by Namboothiri knowing of the loot was to Kunjahammad Haji. On learning about the loot, without sparing a minute, Kunjahammad Haji set out with a few followers at midnight itself. On seeing Kunjahammad Haji, the looters escaped running. Kunjahammad Haji decided to guard the bank since all what was in the bank was of the public, several of them ordinary peasants. He took charge of protection on 24 August 1921. He entrusted some of his soldiers to stand guard over the bank and some others to capture the looters. Kunjahammad Haji fully examined the bank. As Shankunni Nair informed that the unrecorded jewellery in the shelf was from the Namboothiri's house, soon it was sent to Anakkayam. After that he made a proclamation to take back the pledged articles from the bank giving the money immediately. Because of suddenness several did not have money. He ordered, such people who did not have money, should give whatever they have, to take back the pledged articles; but their account should be kept. This was done by the bank clerk Shankunni Nair and Kapad Krishnan Nair. Each day Shankunni Nair would go to Anakkayam closing the bank in the evening. On arrival by Shankunni Nair with the key in the morning, Kunjahammad Haji would open the bank. Appukuttan, the son of Namboothiri, said to AK Kodoor that in those days Kunjahammad Haji would stay on the bank building itself.[170]

RH Hitchcock says Kunjahammad Haji did not loot the bank.[171]

There were different reports about the number of forced conversions with report of the Congress saying that even the forced conversions are not even more than three in number while a person belonging to the British side says about just around 180 conversions.[172]

Sumit Sarkar in Modern India quotes an Arya Samaj source that claimed about 600 Hindus were killed and 2,500 forcibly converted during the rebellion.[173] The British forces had killed a group of lower caste Hindus mistaking them for Mappilas because they used to shave the head like Mappilas.[174]

Variankunnath said in a cablegram reported on 7 December 1921 in two American newspapers that the reported a few forced conversions of Hindus and killing others were part of the British plot. He also blamed British spies and agents for this and claimed to have killed the British spies and agents.[175]

The superintendant [sic] of police for South Malabar, R.H. Hitchcock, who played outstanding part in the fight against the Malabar rebellion[185] said it was not a riot against Hindus by Muslims.[186]

B. R. Ambedkar ,who advocated for the formation of Pakistan[187] in Pakistan or the Partition of India,[188] said on the rebellion,

"The blood-curdling atrocities committed by the Moplas in Malabar against the Hindus were indescribable. All over Southern India, a wave of horrified feeling had spread among the Hindus of every shade of opinion, which was intensified when certain Khilafat leaders were so misguided as to pass resolutions of congratulations to the Moplas on the brave fight they were conducting for the sake of religion". Any person could have said that this was too heavy a price for Hindu-Muslim unity. But Mr. Gandhi was so much obsessed by the necessity of establishing Hindu-Muslim unity that he was prepared to make light of the doings of the Moplas and the Khilafats who were congratulating them. He spoke of the Mappilas as the "brave God-fearing Moplahs". who were fighting for what they consider as religion and in a manner which they consider as religious".

Madhavan Nair said Variamkunnath Kunnahammad Haji punished Mappilas involved in looting.[189][190]

B. R. Ambedkar ,who was a person criticising Islam,[191] said on the rebellion,

"The Hindus were visited by a dire fate at the hands of the Moplas. Massacres, forcible conversions, desecration of temples, foul outrages upon women, such as ripping open pregnant women, pillage, arson and destruction in short, all the accompaniments of brutal and unrestrained barbarism, were perpetrated freely by the Moplas upon the Hindus until such time as troops could be hurried to the task of restoring order through a difficult and extensive tract of the country. This was not a Hindu-Moslem riot. This was just a Bartholomew. The number of Hindus who were killed, wounded or converted, is not known. But the number must have been enormous."

Arya Samaj said number of Hindus killed is 600 and forcibly converted is 2500.[192]

Madhavan Nair who criticised the rebellion, who always sided with Jenmis, who authored a series of articles which later became part of the book titled Malabar Kalapam (whose authenticity is desputed and has cntradictions in several parts) about the rebellion, who sided with the British in his writing about the Battle of Pookottur,[193] said it was not a riot against Hindus by Muslims.[186]

Annie Besant, whose motion was once defeated by people in Manjeri, recounts in two separate articles in New India on 29 November 1921 and 6 December 1921 as to what happened to the Malabar Hindus at the hands of the Moplahs,

"Mr. Gandhi...can he not feel a little sympathy for thousands of women left with only rags, driven from home, for little children born of the flying mothers on roads in refuge camps? The misery is beyond description. Girl wives, pretty and sweet, with eyes half blind with weeping, distraught with terror; women who have seen their husbands hacked to pieces before their eye, in the way "Moplas consider as religious"; old women tottering, whose faces become written with anguish and who cry at a gentle touch....men who have lost all, hopeless, crushed, desperate... Can you conceive of a more ghastly and inhuman crime than the murders of babies and pregnant women?...A pregnant woman carrying 7 months was cut through the abdomen by a rebel and she was seen lying dead on the way with the dead child projecting out of the womb... Another: a baby of six months was snatched away from the breast of his own mother and cut into two pieces... Are these rebels human beings or monsters? A respectable Nayar Lady at Melatur was stripped naked by the rebels in the presence of her husband and brothers, who were made to stand close by with their hands tied behind. When they shut their eyes in abhorrence they were compelled at the point of sword to open their eyes and witness the rape committed by the brute in their presence."

The British used divide and rule policy by using the British spies and agents. Moreover, they portrayed the rebellion as a riot against Hindus using fake news and atrocities by British spies and agents. Some fell in the British lies.[194][195]

Annie Besant, who wanted dominion status for India,[196] opposed the non-cooperation movement, supported the Montague-Chelmsford reforms, who had adverse effect on her popularity due to difference of opinion and later left the political field,[197] said on the rebellion,

"They established the Khilafat Raj, crowned a King, murdered and plundered abundantly, and killed or drove away all Hindus who would not apostatise. Somewhere about a lakh people were driven from their homes with nothing but the clothes. they had on, stripped of everything."

In a Variyankunnath Kunjahammad Haji's cablegram, received by the Friends of Freedom for India, he said the British spies and agents joined his forces as patriots forcibly converted Hindus and killed others. And he also said to have killed these British spies and agents.[140]

Critics very often criticise the rebellion citing the Thuvvur incident. The Thuvvur incident is an incident of punishing those people who raped Mappila women and aided the British force by giving them information about Mappilas, so that the British force could find Mappilas to kill. Ten persons were captured for punishment. Dalits helped to find the people who gave information to the British force. Eight of the ten had been killed by the time Chembrasseri Thangal came. Two Mappilas include in those killed. One Mappila killed was beaten so that the skin would damage severely. Chembrassery Thangal prevented this extrajudicial killing and set the remaining two free. The people responsible for this were taken to Variamkunnan and Variyankunnath Kunjahammad Haji gave punishment for conducting the extrajudicial punishment. The story of the Thuvvur well into which the severed heads were put and the narrative with number of people killed differing such as some 20 or 36 or 38 or some 35 also exist.[198][199][200]