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Thoughts on Malabar

Long and turbulent history

MALABAR is a common name for northern Kerala districts; formerly whole the western coast of Peninsular India was known by this name. It is a quite unique place with the history of a long and turbulent past. Once upon a time Malabar had a community life clad in simplicity and innocence. Like Chile in the South American continent it is a narrow stretch of land; sand-witched between sea and mountain ranges. For Malabar it is the Arabian Sea that roars in the west and the Western Ghats that tower in the east. The original Malabar during British time stretched from Gokarnam in the north to Cape Comorin (Kanya kumari) in the south. Tamilnadu and Karnataka are the Indian states which share the eastern boundary.

Origin of Malabar

Mythology has it that Parasu Rama the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu; who came with an axe (that was his weapon) in his hand and threw it standing from the rocky hills of Kanya kumari to north over the Arabian Sea. The axe fell on Gokarnam and the sea receded giving birth to a fertile land called the Malabar Coast. Parasu Rama later distributed this land Brahmins who were priests of that time. It is perceived that Parasu Rama was a warrior king who came here with his followers cleared the forests and made new settlements under his leadership. In this process he would have driven away the original settlers of the forests. Geological excavations have proved that the Arabian Sea once extended far east-wards up to the Kalladikkodan ranges (the word ‘Kalladikkodan’ itself is the corrupt form of ‘kadaladi-kodan’ or sea-beaten). Remnants of marine animals have been unearthed from the foot of the Kalladikkodan ranges.

Enter; St. Thomas

It is believed that St. Thomas - the disciple of Jesus Christ; during evangelic missions; visited this land and established various institutions and converted many down trodden people in to Christianity. Most of the Christians boast of stories of their fore-fathers playing host to St. Thomas. There are also many churches here that claim its construction under St. Thomas.

A cock-pit

Malabar also has the status of being the first venue for the European colonization when Vasco da Gama first set his foot on Kappadu Beach at Kozhikode (May 18, 1498). Later those who came in search of spices for trade became rulers and oppressors of the natives. They built big forts, raised army brought in latest weapons to subjugate the local chieftains. Malabar became a cock-pit for Europeans to fight each other. The costly spices grown abundantly here like pepper, cardamom, ginger etc were worth fighting for. The Portuguese, British, French and the Dutch all were here for the share of the pie. Finally it was the British who prevailed; Mahe near Tellicherry remained as a pocket for the French to rule for several more years to come.

Red Indians and West Indies

For a student of ethnology; the people of Malabar, their institutions, customs, traditions, myths etc are of so quaintly pristine and so deeply interesting. It is not much known that America was discovered by Columbus in his quest to reach Malabar; thinking that new continent Columbus named its inhabitants as Red Indians; the word West Indies also has its root in this miss-concept.

A change under the Sultan’s sword

Arabs where the first who engaged in trade with Malabar; the huge profit they cornered was the main draw of Europeans in to this land. The Arabs also brought Islam to this land by many means; some of them fair and others not so. However the size of Muslims grew greater with the aggression of Hyderali –the emperor of Mysore. Malabar tasted blood on his brutal army’s swords. Later it was his son Tippu Sultan’s turn to make Malabar drink blood. It was perhaps the end of innocence and people living here were never the same again. Much of the people; who so far lived in a pristine society had to yield to the brutal swords, most of them fled and the remaining converted in to an alien faith. People of Malabar got divided in to three compartments, Hindus who remained as such, Muslims and Christians.

Samoothiri and Mamankom

Samoothiris or Zamorins were the most famous dynasty ever ruled Malabar their might kept the territorial ambitions of foreign nations at bay. The last Zamorin’s naval commander Kunhali Marakkar fought many battles against the Portuguese; in the battle of Diu. Zamorin got the help of Mohamed Begara; the Sultan of Gujarat. Yet that did end in the establishment of Portuguese colony in Malabar.

Mamankom held once in twelve years on the sand-banks of Thirunavaya on the banks of Bharathappuzha (Nila) was the most thrilling events of Malabar. When Zamorin paid his ceremonial visit to the venue; he used to wait for a ritualistic assault by trained youths owing alliance to the king of Vettathiri of Valluvanad. These youths advanced to assassinate Zamorin until they got killed by Zamorin’s army. Last Mamankom was held in 1755. The last Zamorin of the dynasty committed suicide when got defeated by Hyderali’s army.

The Moplah rebellion and Wagon Tragedy

In the history of Malabar this agrarian rebellion -that occurred in 1921- has much prominence and it is something that cannot be missed at any cost. Muslims of Malabar are popularly called Moplahs; they were simple, enterprising and brave. It is said to have occurred due to some false rumors perpetrated by vested interests (regarding reinstatement of Muslim rule in Delhi). Agrarian folks first fought against Government institutions and then against people of other community.

More than a hundred police and paramilitary personnel perished in this war; where as the toll on Moplah’s side was not less than 3000 (the number is widely debated) During the rebellion a police wagon was thickly packed by rioters were transferred form central prison to Coimbatore prison; reaching jail it was found that 66 out of 100 prisoners were dead. This incident –known as the ‘wagon tragedy’- has boosted the freedom movement of India.

The Eastern Ireland!

Historians find striking similarities between the cultures of Malabar with that of Scotland in some aspects and with Ireland in some other aspects. That is not the apparent features like the strong elements of culture or in the- stern hardihood and the persevering industry of its people, but in the fascinating charms of its native scenery, in its systematized clan-organization, and in the primitive religious conceptions of its people embodied in ridiculously superstitious tales about fairies, witches, and demons.

Unniyarcha and Otheyanan

The rustic scenery as well as novels and poems belonging to Scotland have for long impressed foreign visitor and readers. Ballads and folklores of Malabar also have the same impact. Its heroes like Othenan, Unniyarcha, Aromal Chevakar etc all are household names for the people of Malabar; that make its youth more brave and its ladies more confident. Unniyarcha was so brave a lady who fought and won against a group of anti socials. Even now people of Malabar get trained in martial arts towing the lines of their role-model Othenan. Chevakar is a one-man army who set to fight until death; it is believed that such death assures a seat in heaven.

Kalari

An article on Malabar is never complete without mentioning Kalari which was the precursor of Japanese Karate. Kalari is a school of Indian martial arts like those temples of Japan; the premise of the school is also known as kalari and its teacher is Kalari – Assan. Ponniam is a place where there existed a famous kalari known as Ponniath Anka Kalari conducted by great martial art expert known as Aringoder. Aringoder was guru to seven kalaris; he was later killed by Aromal Chevakar in a duel. People of Malabar sent their children to kalari to learn these arts. A boy is recognized as a man only when he masters the steps of this magnificent art. The gurus of Kalari are still is considered as a very respectable persons of the locality. Vadakkan pattukal (The Northern Ballads) are folklores about the heroes who fought bravely until death.

Malabar today

Indian style of electoral politics has done much to malign the image of Malabar. People have got compartmentalized based on caste, religion, political affiliation, local issues etc. Every one has become a virtual outsider; even brothers fight to death for their political lenience. It is still remains a pleasant surprise to a traveler who hires the service of an auto-rickshaw driver; they deal gentlemanly and demand just rate and act as a good guides. As long as Malabar remains as Malabar it never will be lost for ever.