Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

Finally there are the political results of the First World War. It is not impossible that even
as the slogan of Khilafat was raised, the people of Tururangadi knew about the
implications of the slogan. They may not have known the details, but they knew the
‘Caliphs’ in Turkey were removed by the British, and his kingdom dismembered, and
that it was the duty of the Muslims to help restore the Caliphate by fighting against the
British. Those who are familiar with the Friday gatherings in all mosques and their
discussions inside and outside the prayer hall will not be surprised how the information
was passed on. When Turkey entered the war against the British, the Muslims of Eranad
had hopes of German Turkish victory, and at the same time the entire Eranad was
outwardly quiet (Wood 1987:134-6). It is not surprising that when Turkey was defeated
and dismembered under the Sevres treaty, it aroused the already existing anti _British
sentiments. Moulavis and other educated men within the Muslims became the agencies
for the spread of this sentiment and Khilafat committees sprouted everywhere.
Tirurangadi Kizhakke palli was a very large structure, and Ali Musaliar, an extremely
respected and knowledgeable Musaliyar. Message was passed from such congregations at
the mosques to the nearby bazaars, and it was matter of time before they reached the
households. The most important role was played by chanthas like the Tirurangadi chantha
the largest chantha of the entire region and not far away from the mosque. As we have
seen, the chantha was in a junction that connected Tirurangadi with a number of places,
where a large number of people used to gather. It was easy for information to be passed
on. Such messages were on the growth of the Khilafat and the repression of the
movement by the British. In Calicut, prohibitory orders were issued on a meeting at
Kadappuram, and the Khilafat leader, Yakub Hasan was arrested along with the local
Congress leaders. A meeting was to be held at Parappanangadi, which was also
prohibited. Orders were issued banning meetings and demonstrations in all the nearby
towns. It was clear that the British were out to suppress the entire movement.