Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

jama to be realized by the Government on every landlord, from the pattam collected by
him, was the first attack on the privileges so far enjoyed by the landlords, through which
the landlords were brought on par with the other landowners as tax-paying farmers. The
revenue imposed was both unsystematic and unequal (Logan, 1951; 701). There is no
evidence that the land settlement introduced by Tipu was mean to favor the Muslims
against the other landlords. But the Muslims might have welcomed Mysorean reforms as
they worked against the customary privileges of the landlords, which had so far been
working against them. However, when the Mysorean reforms harmed their own
customary privileges, the Muslims revolted against Mysore.
During Mysorean occupation, the representatives of the Mysore rulers were using a fort
at Tirurangadi. The location of the fort with the name kottapparamba still exists at
Trikkulam. The choice of the fort was obviously inspired by the fact that it had access to
several major routes and the river, and there was an old path that connected the area with
Parappanangadi, after crossing the Kadalundi River. It is not surprising that the British
also built their Catchery not very far away from this fort. But on 8 th April1782, the
British were engaged in a major battle with the Mysore soldiers in the fort. The British
army under Col.Humberstone encountered the Mysore army led by Mukhdum Ali, with
about seven thousand men. Mukhdum Ali, was, to the British records in an ‘injudicious’
position with the Kadalundi river ‘at the rear’. Humberstone was able to drive the right
wing of the army into the river and killed about three hundred soldiers, including
Mukhdum Ali (Logan,1951;433).Obviously, Mukhdum Ali was unable to use the ‘deep
and difficult river’ as a possible way of escape. The records do not mention that the local
Muslims were supporting Makhdum Ali’s army.
The second engagement between the Mysore and the British fought in the same field on
December10th, 1790. This time the Mysore army was stronger led by Martab Khan and
Hussain Ali Khan. The army was 9000 strong and supported by 4000 Mappila Muslims.