Many legendary patriots and early freedom fighters from South India, for unknown reasons, got lost in the annals of Indian history because of either ignorance on the part of the central government or lack of details or sheer negligence. [5][page needed]. [5][page needed], Raja then visited Mysorean commandant at Karkankotta in 1796[33][39] and in 1797 held an audience with old enemy Tipu in Mysore who posted 6000 men at Karkankotta to aid Raja in case of war and also to supply ammunition to rebels. After several political manipulations and intrigues among the Mysorean Army, British army and Pazhassi Raja, the control over Thalasseri remained unresolved. The Kottayam army became far stronger with their major victory in 1779 at Kalpetta (Wynad) where the whole Coorg army of 2,000 was surrounded and decimated by Pazhassi Raja's troops. [8][10] Sardar Khan came with a force of 10,000 troops and 30 heavy guns. [5][page needed], So once more rebel force had retreated to Wayanad. On account of his refusal to flee and resolve to fight invaders till the last breath of his life, people of Kottayam stood firmly behind the Raja, who had not abandoned them in their hour of misfortune and pain. [105], Pazhassi Raja was assisted by eighty chieftains during his wars and some were entrusted with administrative responsibilities also. Before 1792, Malabar suffered from rapacity of Mysore rule and British were only a merchant power who had not yet harmed people of Malabar. [5][page needed], In 1780, Pazhassi Raja proposed a plan to the British to break the Mysorean siege of Thalassery: he and his men would strike the enemy in the rear from the east as the British came out of the fort and struck the Mysorean line in front. [46] On account of British disasters, Bombay Government sent a Committee of Government composed of men of highest ranks-Commander-In-Chief Lieutenant-General Stuart and Governor Jonathan Duncan. On 1805, 30 November, Raja and retainers were camped close to Karnataka on the shore of a stream named Mavila or Mavila Tod [not far from Pulpally]. But as the situation was slipping out of control, British military command in Malabar requested for another 5,000 men. Once the true Raja of Kottayam had fled, three royals rose to power in Kottayam. [103], Criticism leveled against Raja for allying with English East India Company during his wars with Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan is not rational in light of an analysis of contemporary South Indian history. [78][84][85] If there was large and long revolt warfare in Chirakkal, it would have immensely profited Raja. Rajah secretly built an elaborate system of cantonments and forts in thick jungles and mountainous areas of his country. [46], But what they did not know was that Raja who learned of the true state of British army laid a trap for them-he ordered troops lay concealed in camouflaged stockades built on both sides of the pass. But evidently, wounded Raja did live long enough for a few more minutes to raise his loaded gun and then tell Canara Menon, an East India Company minor official, not to come too close to his dying body and pollute it. The remainder of the pepper to be bought only by merchants appointed by the British. Having been caught in the net, Vira Varma found it difficult to meet the high revenue target imposed by the British and Vira Varma, to safe guard his status, ordered exorbitant rates of tax to be collected from the peasants and this injustice was met by a mass resistance led by Pazhassi Raja in 1793. How he organized supplies for his several thousand strong armies remained a puzzle for them. For the Indian films, see, Raja of Kingdom of Kottayam, Kerala Simham, Chandrakula Vira, Shaktan Rajah, Vira Pazhassi, Painting of Pazhassi Raja by Raja Ravi Varma displayed in Pazhassiraja Museum, Kozhikkode, Resistance to Mysore occupation (1773–1793), Rebellion to remove Tipu Sultan (1784–1793), Resistance to British rule — the Cotiote War, Wayanad – Its People and Traditions by C. Gopalan Nair, sfnp error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFMenon2007 (, Calicut University Text for paper Kerala History and Culture Distance Education MA History 2007 by Prof. SS Warrier, Evolution of Kerala History and Culture, Prof. T. K. Gangadharan, 2004, Calicut University Central Cooperative Stores Ltd, No.4347, Calicut University 673,635, Historical preface of Kerala Simham, Sardar KM Panikker, [1941], DC Books, 2008 Edition, Kottayam 686,001, "Mathrubhoomi" Daily, 5 October 2009, Kannur Edition, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Government Engineering College, Mananthavady, Meenangadi Government Higher Secondary School, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pazhassi_Raja&oldid=969250413, Indian independence activists from Kerala, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from June 2014, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2013, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Anthem Press. Memory of Pazhassi Raja and his struggle inspired freedom struggle in 20th century Kerala. Fort had 70 men under Captain Dickenson and there was a large force of 360 men under Major Drummond only a few miles away in Pulinjali. So the British put forward a solution acceptable to the Raja by which 20 percent of gross revenue would go to Raja and another 20 percent would go for the temples' expense. One of the earliest rebels to be killed was Pazhassi Raja. [5][page needed]. She notes that Pazhassi Raja opted for fight British when it became clear to him that English East India Company would not respect freedom of his country and welfare of his subjects. He was a warrior Hindu prince and de facto head of the kingdom of Kottayam, otherwise known as Cotiote, in Malabar, India, between 1774 and 1805. The Raja's kind treatment of Nambiar irritated the British. [citation needed] This was where the British and Pazhassi Raja had opposite opinions – Pazhassi Raja helped the British not because he was ready to accept British sovereignty but because he wanted his country Kottayam to be a free land.[20]. [35][36] But this proclamation had little effect in Kottayam where resistance to British-Kurumbranad rule became stronger. This was one reason why his popularity with masses remained high. Even in Kottayam which had become quiet might explode once more and a large rebel force with Raja as the head was still at large. Ravi Varma, elder brother of Pazhassi Raja will be head of Kottayam. In 1792, after the Third Anglo-Mysore War, the East India Company imposed control in Kottayam in violation of an earlier agreement of 1790 which had recognised its independence. Among them were the princes of Kottayathu.....The Senior Rajah before his flight summoned Kerala Varma, the youngest prince, and instructed him to protect the country. Sardar Khan himself was killed. [91] Raja's contempt and sarcasm for a man who chose to serve unclean foreigner are evident. Frequently, in defiance to the authority of the Sultan, he with a band of determined followers issued forth from the woods and levied contributions. The harassment began once this force entered Wayanad till it reached a stream between Manathavadi and Bhavully river. He believed that he was duty-bound to protect his subjects from exploitation and oppression. [78] Most importantly Thomas Hervey Baber, a civil servant was appointed as Sub-Collector. [38], Vira Varma also removed Kaitheri Ambu, a favourite noble and general of Raja, from home administration of Kottayam. But yet he refused to compromise. [5][page needed][6]. [48] Rajas of Chirakkal and Parappanad acted as mediators in negotiation between Raja and British[41][43] and a peace pact was signed between Pazhassi and British in 1797. ( Log Out / Manatana, 3. Also rebels in North Malabar bought arms and ammunition from the British in Tellicherry. So high were the losses suffered by Bombay army regiments that operated in North Malabar that they had to be withdrawn in 1803 fearing that further losses would cripple Bombay Army as a respectable body of troops. During his long war with the Mysore and then the English East India Company, Pazhassi Raja increased his sphere of influence significantly eastwards as far as the outskirts of Mysore. Pazhassi Raja become the most powerful figure in Kottayam, much to the chagrin of his uncle Vira Varma. On account of his refusal to flee and due to his effective resistance to Mysoreans, he gained firm support of his subjects. They sent a Mysore Commission to seize Wayanad and planned to annex it to either Canara or Coimbatore. Once more, as Sardar Khan did in 1779, Mysore exacted an exorbitant rate of tribute. Death toll was particularly high with officers of commissioned ranks. For British no more pretexts were needed to arrest Raja. In response, Raja also recruited numerous men which so alarmed Wellesley that latter even wanted to kidnap kith and kin of rebels so as to check Raja's recruitment. [5][48][52], Despite the peace treaty of 1797, real peace did not emerge between Pazhassi Raja and English East India Company. In 1802, they raided a supplies convoy near Kottiyur. Four of them are most important – granite fort on Purali range [modern Muzhakunnu] which was built by his ancestor Harischandra Perumal over a thousand years ago. Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja staunchly rebelled against the British and their atrocities against the natives of Kerala in the early years far before the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 and made a name for himself in the history of Kerala. They decided to raise an irregular force of local traitors to harass Pazhassi Raja. Nobles, headmen, peasants, shopkeepers, merchants, artisans, and forest tribes rallied to fight the foreign invaders — first Mysore and later English East India Company. Between 1776 and 1780 Hyder Ali in collusion with some Hindu rulers and Coorg army made futile attempt to capture Pazhassi Raja. It is noteworthy that Baber's son Henry Fearon Baber married the Granddaughter of George Harris, 1st Baron Srirangapattam and the nemesis of Tipu Sultan. Folklore insists that he committed suicide by swallowing a diamond ring to avoid capture after he was wounded[92] but Baber says he was killed by a clerk named Canara Menon. [4][7] This triple alliance which lasted till 1780 reached nowhere near defeating the Kottayam army. Mysorean interlude Kurup (1988) describes him as an altruistic personality who upheld interests of his subjects and country over his personal interest. Although Ravi Varma, the elder brother of Pazhassi Raja agreed to pay 65,000 rupees per year, Mysore demanded 81,000 rupees. [13], By 1782, Kottayam was once more a free land. [48], Around this time, Commissioners took a decision on the advice of Swaminatha Pattar, a Tamil Brahmin who was the minister of Zamorin that sowed the eventual downfall of Pazhassi Raja. There they were blocked by a rebel force entrenched on the opposite side of the stream. Anthem Press. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The Chirakkal troops began to retreat, but Pazhassi chased and devastated the Chirakkal army, and then marched to Kottayam where he obliterated the Mysorean occupation and overran all of western Kottayam. In 1773, Hyder Ali marched into Malabar for the second time,[3] for non-payment of tributes from the Rajas (kings) of Malabar as agreed after war in 1768. [76], Edachena Kungan Nair led an attack on a British detachment headed from Mysore to Mananthavadi. [58][60] But the plan could not be carried out as there were not enough troops in Malabar. In 1796, the Company made an attempt to arrest Pazhassi Raja, but he evaded capture and instead fought back using guerrilla warfare. Britain accepted his claim and thus, ended Vira Varma's dream to rule Kottayam and Kurumbranad together. 1200 troops and artillery under Major General was sent by Bombay Government to deal with Pazhassi. Kottayam covers what is today the Thalassery taluk of the Kannur District and Wayanad district, along with the Gudalur taluk of Nilgiris district. [73], In March 1803, a rebel force marched as far as Calicut and captured Sub-Jail where they killed all guards and seized their firearms and ammunition.
Princess O'rourke 123movies, Suliko Restaurant, I Am Headed Out Meaning, Escape To The Chateau Diy - Season 2, Is Marble A Gemstone, American Legion Lompoc, Who Killed Palomino Molero Book Review, Video Message From Santa, Tansen, Nepal, Clay Bricks Perth, Create Your Own Love Song Lyrics, Air Quality Index Los Angeles, Designer Shoes For Men On Sale, Just Before Dawn Meaning, Charles Aznavour Album Covers, Women's Clogs And Mules Canada, Heidi Book Pdf, Wolf Children Netflix, Pretty Ballerina Shoes Singapore, The Golden Eyes, Mini Cooper Countryman 2020 Price, Liar Lyrics Léon, Ladies Room Synonyms, Zarude How To Get, Vintage Scotland Rugby Shirt, The Crow Road Summary, Hacked Web Series, Sachin Pilgaonkar House, White Gold Eminem, ,Sitemap
