Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

autonomous spaces. Spiritual work through founding of mosques, social work through
their fatwas and healing practices and proselytisation work through conversions of the
oppressed castes were means by which they were trying to perform their role. However,
they neither tried to nor were able to stand in the way of the oppressed Mappilas who
were trying to find their ways of protest through the ritual practices and belief patterns of
their own religion. It should be noted the first halilakkam took place when a Muslim
laborer refused to report for work. And the halilakkam also implied that he could labor in
his own fields, with his resources. The hidden transcript of halilakkam as a form of
protest needs careful consideration, and it is this element that was apparently noted by the
British officials.
The impact of the legend of Thangals and their miraculous deeds finds expression in the
murder of Connolly the collector of Malabar in his official residence at West hill on 12 th
September 1855. The murderers were four Mappilas who escaped from jail, named
Valassery Emalu, Puliyakunnath Thenu, Chemban Moideenkutti and
Veluthedathparambil Moideen and a boy named Ossan Hyderman. Before they went
ahead with their task, they went to Mamburam, prayed in the Jarum of the Mamburam
Thangal, and confided their intention to Tharamal Kunhikkoya, one of the members of
the family. The ritual importance of the jarum is demonstrated here. It is the same ritual
importance which persuaded the Mappilas of Mattannur to make their trip to Mamburam
before proceeding to Murder Kallattil yajamanan. Thus, more than the physical deeds of
the Thangals, including their fatwas, it is their spiritual eminence and their attributed
supernatural power that made Mamburam the holy place of the Mappilas, particularly
when they embarked on any rebellious act against the British. It is in this sense, rather
than their intellectual protest against the British rule, that the Mamburam Thangals are
remembered in this region.