Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

centre. Along with the mosques, there arose a string of Othupallis, where instruction was
given in the Qur-An.
Another interesting feature of the activity of the Ba alawis should be noted. It was the
patronage given by the Thangals to kavus or the local shrines. A typical example of such
patronage was to the shrine of kaliyattakkavu, where the practice of kozhikkaliyattam
was sanctioned by Thangal. The Thangal is believed to have watched the proceedings of
the festival by being at the house of a local landlord, Kaithakath Moideen. There is a
kavu at Ullanam in Parappanangadi, where the annual festival commences paying a ritual
offering to the Thangal of Mamburam. The Thangal used to arbitrate the cases of not only
the Mappilas but other groups also, a practice that is continued in a ritual form in the
Makham at Mamburam. Obviously the same patronage or friendship is not extended to
the Devaswams under the large landlords. It appears that the Thangal maintained a
cordial relationship Kaprat Krishna Panikkar.
Exact what made Sayyid Alawi a major enemy in the eyes of the British? There is no
direct involvement of the Thangals in any of the actions against the British that took
place in Tirurangadi or other areas. However, it is clear that the British believed him to be
troublemaker. Taramal Thangal was thought by the British to be the force behind the
revolt of Manjeri Athan kurukkal in 1817. There are two apparent reasons for this belief.
One is a statement attributed to him that killing an oppressor Janmi is not a sin. (Logan
1951; 691)The second is that Mappilas used to seek his benediction before embarking on
their rebellious activities. Although Sayyid Alawi denied vehemently that he had
anything to do with the deeds of his followers, the British were not prepared to take him
at his face value. The British attitude was apparently based on the reading that Sayyid
alawi as the spiritual leader and social arbitrator had to know and give sanction to the
deeds of his followers. Moreover, sayyid Alawi refused to meet the British and refused to
have anything to do with the British officials. Whether this conformed to the reality or