Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

Sayyid Fasl were also famous. Sayyid Fasl also encouraged conversions from Cherumar,
Pulayar, Vettuvar and Mukkuvar and they formed the principal supporters of Sayyid Fasl
Such memories give hints regarding the actual role of the Thangals. We have seen how
the Thangals came to occupy the role of spiritual leaders of a group of migrants and
settlers, who were forced to contend with the customary privileges and rights of the
landlords. The activities of Sayyid Alawi and his presumed role in the various Mappila
revolts show that they were primarily aimed at giving sanction, by the invocation to the
Islamic law, the efforts of the Mappilas to retain their autonomous space against the
customary privileges as well as the legal system of the British. At the same time he was
not defying the British legal system himself by inciting rebellious activities. The first role
was ordained to him as a spiritual leader, which he was bound to fulfill, while not
subverting any of the existing legal norms. This building of autonomous space was not to
be done through alienating other social groups as collectivities with their own spaces.
Mappila revolts
This is shown through the two instances of Mappila revolts that are recorded in this
region. The first was the Cherur Revolt, following the murder of Kaprat Krishna
Panikkar, a powerful landlord and Adhikari. In 1843, a complaint was made by the
Applies of Tirurangadi village that Panikkar had dishonored the Mappilas by forcing a
lower class Hindu woman convert to apostatize from Islam. According to the complaint,
six persons of Venniyur, in Tirurangadi became Muslims in the presence of Thangal and
took the names of Husain, Sahil, Ahmed, Khadeeja, Aysha and Aleena. Kaprat Panikkar
summoned the converts and threatened to punish them if they returned to their old faith,
but they refused to budge. One among them wearing a blouse and standing very near to
panikkar, addressed him ‘you’. Since she came within 12 paces from Panikkar without