Variyan Kunnathu Kunjahammed Haji

Chakkiparamban Variyan Kunnathu Kunjahammed Haji
Chakkiparamban Variyan Kunnathu Kunjahammed Haji
Born	Malabar, British India ; (now Malappuram, India)
Died	23 March 1922 (aged 38–39); Kottakkunnu, Malappuram, British India; (now Malappuram, India)
Organization	Khilafat Movement,[1]
Movement	Khilafat movement

Chakkiparamban Variyankunnathu Kunjahammed Haji (1883-20 January 1922 ) was an activist of Khilafat Movement who led the Malabar War against the British,[2][3] which culminated in an attempt to establish an Republic State.[4] He ran a parallel government,[5] in open defiance of British rulers, for more than six months in most parts of the then Eranadu and Valluvanadu taluks.[6] He seized control of a large area from the British rule and set up a parallel government against British in Malabar, named 'Malayala Rajyam' and now part of the Kerala State, India, with his long term mentor, friend Ali Musliyar.[6][7]

He was convicted and executed in March 1922.[8]

Early life

Haji was born in a Muslim merchant family with a history of anti colonial struggles, in 1883 in valluvangad, later on moved to Nellikuth village, near Manjeri, Malappuram district. He was second child of his parents, Chakkiparamban Moideenkutty Haji and Kunjaisha Hajjumma. Moideenkutty Haji was merchant and farmer as well, a local leader and one among those who had been deported and imprisoned in notorious Jails of Andaman for taking part in the 1894 Mannarkkad Rebellion.[8]

He pursued his basic religious education from village Madrasa, later upgraded as 'Ezhuthukalari' where Malayalam language was also part of curriculam. He studied many Arabic texts from Mammad Kutty Musliyar. After his father was deported to Andaman, Haji was brought up in his mother's family. His grandfather was also a local leader, he appointed a teacher named Balakrishnan Ezhuthachan, from whom he learnt Malayalam and basic English along with other grandchildren of his grandfather. He was also trained in martial arts along with his primary education.[9]

Haji could also be seen as the one who was very passionate of traditional mappila art forms, he used to conduct Kolkkali, Daffumutt, and Katha Prasangam. It is also said that he was good singer too. The acceptance he acquired through performing arts soon made him popular in community. The deportation of his father and other rebels and the seizure of their lands and properties followed, triggered his anger and hostility towards British.[8]

Marriage and Family

Haji returned from Mecca in 1905 and married Ruqiyya; daughter of Unni Muhammed . After her death in 1908, he married Sainaba ; sister of one of his friends. In 1920 Haji married his cousin Malu Hajjumma(Paravetti Fathima); daughter of his uncle Koyammu Haji . They were brought up in same home and this was third marriage for both of them. Malu had an important role in Haji's life. She assisted him like a minister, warrior and adviser.[10]

Manjeri Peasant Revolt

In 1896 Manjeri Kovilakam landlords started to evacuate the tenants from their lands. The conflict between tenants and landlords along with British following the evacuation of tenants from their lands. The landless tenants started to revolt under the leadership of Variyan Kunnathu Kunjammad Haji. They seized land and properties of the land lords. British army came to help the landlords. The conflict caused British to risk 94 out of 100 their soldiers. Inspector Khan Bahadhur Chekkutty tried to arrest Haji but CI Kurikkal, one of his friend helped him. Haji has become under constant surveillance of British spies. His friends and family insisted him to leave for Mecca when they smelt that Chekkutty is planning to arrest him immediately. sooner he left to Bombay, then to Mecca. During the self imposed exile, he visited home several times but was compelled to go back due to the continued surveillance before he finally decided to settle permanently at his native place in 1914.[11]

Malabar War

A letter written by Variyan Kunnathu Kunjahammed Haji which appeared in the newspaper The Hindu on October 18, 1921

There are many events that could be seen as undercurrents that caused Malabar War. The conflict between tenants and landlords along with British following the evacuation of tenants from their farming lands fired up the British. Tenants were mostly from lower caste and mappilas. The immediate reason of the Malabar War was the rumor spread that the British army destroyed Mamburam mosque and Makkham following British army's raid in the mosque in the name of arm hunt. Ali Musaliyar, followed by a crowd went to Thirurangadi Kacheri(the compound including police station, register office, magistrate court, post office) to inquire about the incident. Seeing the Ali Musaliyar and the crowd with him the Collector ordered the Police to shoot them without any provocation. The crowd was huge, they got triggered by the sudden action and stated to attack back. They killed some Policemen and seized the police station. Collector and other officials fled to Calicut.[6]

State declaration

Following Thirurangadi Mosque attack in 20 August 1920, people were up in arms. Haji mobulised them They attacked and seized police station, treasuries, courts, registrar and other government offices. The rebellion soon spread to the nearby areas of Malappuram, Manjeri, Pandikad and Tirur under leadership of Variyan Kunnath Kunjahammad Haji, Seethi Koya Thangal, Chembrassery Thangal and Ali Musliyar. Police, army, and other British officials escaped from areas like Malappuram, Manjeri, Thiruragadi and Perinthalmanna, become independent of British by 28 August 1921. They destroyed railway and telephone lines, bridges and roads etc. since they facilitated British access.[11][12]

Since the police and other forces escaped from Eranad, Valluvanadu and Ponnani, Haji declared it as an Independent state from British. According to Hitchcock,[13] the name of this state was Doula; Arabic equivalent word for state.

Haji had already planned well about the foundation of the state. He organised the ex-military officers who fought for British in First World War and were sent without adequate pension Nayik Thaami, the commander of Variyan Kunnath wrote in his diary that "Doula" had almost 60000 soldiers in his Army.[14]

On 24 August 1921, Variyan Kunnath Kunjahammad Haji took over command of the War from Ali Musliyar. Public proclamations were issued by Variyan Kunnath that those Mappilas who resorted to looting would receive exemplary punishments. In 30 August 1921 the mob rebels under Haji killed Khan Bahadur Chekkutty, a police officer.The state declaration was conducted in Manjeri.

The letter written by Variyan Kunnathu Kunjahammed Haji, which was appeared on the newspaper The Hindu on October 18, 1921:[15]

"Honoured Editor, I request you to publish the following facts in your paper. According to the Press Reports from Malabar which you will have got. Hindu-Muslim Unity in Malabar has thoroughly ceased to exist. It appears that the report that Hindus are forcibly converted (by any men) is entirely untrue. Such conversions were done by the Government Party and Reserve Policemen in mufti mingling themselves with the rebels (masquerading as rebels.) Moreover, because some Hindu brethren, aiding the military, handed over to the military innocent (Moplahs) who were hiding themselves from the military, a few Hindus have been put to some trouble. Besides, the Nambudiri, who is the cause of this rising, has also similarly suffered. 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. For the last one month and a half, except for the seizure and punishment of the innocent, no purpose has been achieved. Let all the people in the world know this. Let Mahatma Gandhi and Moulana know it. If this letter is not seen published, I will ask your explanation at one time."

Judgement in British court

The monstrosity of the crime committed by Kunjahammed Haji is described in the Appendix IX, which carries the text of the judgement passed the Court during the trial of Kunjahammed Haji.

" These were the two of the most brutal murders in the rebellion which cost the lives of two loyal Government officers who were killed for doing their duty and for their services to the Crown. It is difficult to say which of the two was the more dreadful and the callous crime. In Chekutti's case the murderers had the decency to send away the women-folk before they finished the deceased off, but they were guilty of appalling barbarity in subsequently parading the head on a spear. In the case of Hydross the murder was carried out in the presence of his wife and children and in spite of the entreaties of the latter and the efforts of his wife to protect her husband."

List of acts committed

The exact nature of acts committed by Kunhammed Haji is documented across the book in many places, and there are roughly around 4 to 5 references regarding Kunhammed Haji.

Killing of Police Inspector Khan Bahadur Chekkutti, decapitating the head, and parading the head on a spike.
Collection of taxes (collecting of harvest directly from the Tirumulpad Estate.)
Collection of money called Ayudha Fund, towards purchase of weapons for the uprising.
Issuance of passports to people to leave Malabar
Guerilla warfare on British officers in various militant engagements with the officers in 1921

Later life

Haji was sentenced to death by Martial law Commander Colonel Humphrey. He was shot dead on 20 January 1922 at Kottakkunnu. British officials burnt his dead body along with all government records and documents relating to his five months long parallel government.[11]

Movies

To mark the occasion of centenary of Malabar Rebellion , 4 film makers have recently announced a movie on him, with 3 films showing him as a protagonist and 1 showing him as an antagonist.[16] This has run into a controversy, as right-wing outfits have accused the film makers of attempting to whitewash history.[17] It ran into further controversy when one of the scriptwriter was found to have expressed misogynist and radical Islamist views on social media in the past and withdrew from the team.[18]

References

Miller, R.E. Encyclopaedia Dictionary Islam Muslim World, etc V 6. p. 459. Retrieved 29 February 2020. This course of events reached its final denouement in the Malabar Rebellion of 1921, frequently called the Mappila Rebellion. This was a spontaneous uprising (not one of "systematic preparation", as stated by T.W. Arnold, EI, Mappilas) that included the establishment of a temporary "Moplastan" in Ernad, South Malabar, under V.K. Kunyahamad Haji.
EncyclopaediaDictionaryIslamMuslimWorld Volume 6. 1988. p. 460. Contemporary evaluation within India tends to the view that the Malabar Rebellion was a war of liberation, and in 1971 the Kerala Government granted the remaining active participants in the revolt the accolade of Ayagi, "freedom fighter"
C. Gopalan Nair (1923). Moplah Rebellion, 1921. p. 77. Retrieved 28 January 2020. He styled himself Raja of the Hindus, Amir of the Mohammedans and Colonel of the Khilafat Army
Menon, Dilip M. "Becoming'Hindu'and'Muslim': identity and conflict in Malabar, 1900-1936." (1994).
C. Gopalan Nair (1923). Moplah Rebellion, 1921. p. 78. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
K. N. Panikkar (1991). Peasant protests and revolts in Malabar. Indian Council of Historical Research.
"The Mapilla Rebellion : 1921-1922". Retrieved 9 November 2019.
Adul Kareem, KK Muhammed (1992). Variyankunnathu kunjahammed Haji. Kozhikkode. p. 24.
Jaleel, Dr KT (2015). Malabar Kalapam Oru Punar Vayana. Thiruvananthapuram: Chinatha Publishers. p. 79. ISBN 978-93-86112-66-8.
GEETHA, P (2015). 1921 cHILA cHARITHRA vARTHAMANGAL. THRISSUR: CURRENT BOOKS. p. 71. ISBN 978-81-226-1265-3.
Menon, MPS (1992). Malabar Samaram MP Narayanamenonum Sahapravarthakarum. Kozhikkode: Islamic Publishing House. p. 77. ISBN 81-8271-100-2.
mozhikunnath Barahmadhatthan, Nambbodiripadd (1965). Khilafat Smaranakal. calicut. p. 54.
RH Hitch cock, 1983 Peasant revolt in Malabar, History of Malabar Rebellion 1921.
Hitchcock, RH (1983). A History Of Malabar the War. Delhi: Usha Publications. p. 57.
K. S. Sudhi (25 June 2020). "Reports of Hindu-Muslim strife in Malabar baseless, wrote Variamkunnath Kunhamed Haji in The Hindu in 1921". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
"Four Malayalam directors announce movie on Haji". Kerala Kaumudi. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
"Prithviraj faces wrath of religious outfits". India Today. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
"Scriptwriter Rameez withdraws from Prithviraj film". India Today. 27 June 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.