The Malabar rebellion of 1921 (also known as the Moplah rebellion and the Mappila rebellion) began as a rebellion against British colonial rule in Kerala's Malabar region. The popular uprising was also directed against the existing feudal system, which was dominated by elite Hindus. It was the culmination of a series of riots in Kerala by Mappila Muslims against the British and Hindu landlords in the 19th and early 20th centuries (Northern Kerala). It was an armed uprising. Variyamkunnath Kunjahammed Haji led it. In this article, we will discuss the Mappila Revolt (1921) which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Taluks affected by Mappila Revolt

Mappila Revolt - Background

• Muslims arrived in Kerala as traders via the Arabian Sea in the 7th century AD, long before north India was invaded by Muslim armies from the west.
• The native rulers granted them permission to trade and settle. Many of them married local women, and their offspring became known as Moplahs (which means son-in-law in Malayalam).
• Prior to Tipu Sultan's attack on Malabar, the Jenmi or landlord held the land that was leased to others for farming. There were three hierarchical levels of ownership, including the cultivator, and each of them received a portion of the produce.
• Under this system, the Moplahs were mostly land cultivators, while the Jenmis were upper-caste Hindus.
• During Hyder Ali's 18th-century invasion of Malabar, many Hindu landlords fled to neighboring areas to avoid persecution and forced conversions.
• The Moplah tenants were given ownership rights to the lands during this time.
• Following Tipu Sultan's death in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1799, Malabar came under British control as part of the Madras Presidency.
• The British set out to reclaim the Jenmis' ownership rights after they had fled the region.
• Jenmis were now granted absolute ownership of the land, which was not previously the case.
• The peasants were now faced with high rents and a lack of tenure security.
• Beginning in 1836, this sparked a series of riots by the Moplahs. Between 1836 and 1896, they assassinated a large number of government officers and Hindu landlords.

Mappila Revolt - Causes

• The Mappilas were Muslim tenants who lived in the Malabar region, where the majority of the landlords were Hindus.
• During the nineteenth century, the Mappilas also expressed their dissatisfaction with landlord oppression.
• Their complaints centred on a lack of tenure security, high rents, renewal fees, and other oppressive exactions.
• The Mappila tenants were especially encouraged by the local Congress body's demand for government legislation governing tenant-landlord relations.
• The Mappila movement eventually merged with the ongoing Khilafat agitation.
• Mappila meetings were addressed by leaders of the Khilafat-Non-Cooperation Movement such as Gandhi, Shaukat Ali, and Maulana Azad.
• Following the arrest of national leaders, the leadership passed to local Mappila leaders.
• Initially, Mahatma Gandhi supported this movement.
• After the Non Cooperation Movement was launched in 1920, the trigger for this uprising was pulled.
• Tenancy laws favored landlords while exploiting farmers, which sparked the movement.

Mappila Revolt - Outcome

• In August 1921, the arrest of a respected priest leader, Ali Musaliar, sparked large-scale riots.
• Initially, the targets were British authority symbols such as courts, police stations, treasuries, and offices, as well as unpopular landlords (mostly Hindu jenmies).
• However, once the British declared martial law and repression began in earnest, the nature of the rebellion changed dramatically. The Mappilas perceived many Hindus to be assisting the authorities.
• What began as an anti-government and anti-landlord squabble quickly took on communal overtones.
• The communalisation of the rebellion effectively cut the Mappilas off from the Khilafat-Non-Cooperation Movement.
• The movement was crushed by the British in 1921. For this riot, they raised a special battalion called the Malabar Special Force.
• In November 1921, 67 Moplah prisoners were killed while being transported from Tirur to Paodanur Central Prison. They died of suffocation in a closed freight car.
• By December 1921, all forms of resistance had ceased.

Conclusion

By the end of 1921, the situation had been stabilized. The colonial government established the Malabar Special Police, a special quasi-military (or Armed Police) battalion comprised initially of non-Muslims and trained by the colonial army. The Special Police then engaged the rioters and eventually brought the riot to an end. Different people, including Variyankunnath Kunjahammad Haji, condemned atrocities against Hindus in the name of the movement, which he claimed was part of a British plot, in their various narratives as they attempted to comprehend it.

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the significance of the Mappila Revolt of 1921 in the context of the Indian independence movement.

Answer: The Mappila Revolt of 1921 holds significant importance in the narrative of the Indian independence movement. It was not merely an agrarian uprising but a manifestation of deeper socio-economic and religious discontent among the Mappila community in Malabar. The revolt was fueled by grievances against oppressive landlords and British colonial policies, showcasing the intersection of economic exploitation and religious identity. The involvement of the Khilafat Movement lent a political dimension to the revolt, linking local struggles to broader nationalistic sentiments. However, the British suppression of the revolt, marked by violence and mass arrests, highlighted the lengths to which colonial authorities would go to maintain control. The revolt also revealed the complexities of Hindu-Muslim relations during this period, as it heightened communal tensions and mistrust. Ultimately, the Mappila Revolt served as a critical chapter in the Indian struggle for freedom, emphasizing the role of localized uprisings in the larger context of national resistance against colonial rule.

Q2: Analyze the causes and consequences of the Mappila Revolt.

Answer: The Mappila Revolt of 1921 was driven by multiple interrelated causes, primarily rooted in socio-economic and political discontent. Economic exploitation by landlords, coupled with British colonial policies that marginalized the Mappila community, created a fertile ground for rebellion. Additionally, the Khilafat Movement played a pivotal role in mobilizing the Mappilas, as it resonated with their religious sentiments and aspirations for political rights. The immediate consequence of the revolt was a violent crackdown by British authorities, leading to widespread atrocities, mass arrests, and loss of life among the Mappilas. This repression further alienated the Mappila community and deepened existing tensions with the Hindu population. In the longer term, the revolt highlighted the grievances of agrarian communities in India and underscored the need for addressing socio-economic injustices within the framework of the independence movement. The Mappila Revolt remains a crucial example of how localized conflicts were intertwined with the broader struggle against colonialism, reflecting the complexities of India’s path to independence.

Q3: Examine the role of religion in the Mappila Revolt.

Answer: Religion played a significant role in the Mappila Revolt of 1921, serving as both a catalyst for mobilization and a framework for understanding the socio-political landscape of the time. The Mappilas, a Muslim community in Malabar, were deeply affected by economic hardships imposed by landlords and colonial policies, which contributed to their grievances. The Khilafat Movement, which aimed to protect the Ottoman Caliphate, resonated with the Mappilas, leading them to view the revolt as not only an agrarian struggle but also a defense of their religious identity. This intertwining of religion and resistance manifested in the fervent participation of the Mappilas, as they sought to assert their rights against both economic exploitation and colonial oppression. However, the religious dimension of the revolt also had complex consequences, as it intensified communal tensions in the region, particularly between Hindus and Muslims. The aftermath of the revolt saw a hardened divide, influencing communal relations in subsequent years. Overall, the Mappila Revolt illustrates how religious sentiments can shape political actions and identities in the context of broader socio-economic struggles.

Previous Year Questions on  Mappila Revolt

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2022

Question: Which of the following statements regarding the Mappila Revolt of 1921 is correct?

a) It was a revolt primarily against British rule.

b) It was a non-violent movement.

c) It was influenced by the Khilafat Movement.

d) It was successful in achieving its goals.

Answer: c) It was influenced by the Khilafat Movement.

Explanation: The Mappila Revolt was significantly influenced by the Khilafat Movement, linking local grievances to a broader religious and political context.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2020

Question: "The Mappila Revolt of 1921 was a significant event in the history of modern India." Discuss this statement with reference to its causes and impacts. (200 words)

Answer: The Mappila Revolt of 1921 was a crucial event in modern Indian history, reflecting the complex interplay of social, economic, and religious factors in the struggle against colonial rule. The revolt arose from deep-seated grievances against oppressive landlord practices and exploitative British policies, which marginalized the Mappila Muslim community in Malabar. Additionally, the Khilafat Movement galvanized religious sentiments and provided a framework for mobilization, intertwining local issues with national aspirations. The British response was marked by violent repression, resulting in significant loss of life and a temporary crackdown on the Mappilas. This event not only highlighted the agrarian distress prevalent in India but also underscored the role of communal identity in the freedom struggle. The aftermath of the revolt had lasting implications, intensifying communal divisions and affecting Hindu-Muslim relations in the region. Overall, the Mappila Revolt serves as a testament to the complexities of the Indian independence movement, emphasizing the importance of localized uprisings in the broader narrative of resistance against colonial oppression.