Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

the mob had apparently been persuaded by K.M.Moulavi to return to Tanur when the
police opened fire on them, without any warning or call to disperse. Nine people were
killed and 40 were injured. Meanwhile, the crowd before Tirurangadi mosque kept their
peace until 2pm, and they were persuaded by Ali Musaliar initially and later by Thayer
Mohammed kutty Moulavi to remain calm as they were being confronted by the British
soldiers. As per the instructions of Ali Musaliar, three were to be sent to negotiate with
the British, and the entire crowd followed them. According to informants
(T.V.Mohammed and Lavakkutty who were in the crowd and Achuthan Nair, a
constable) the British officer asked them what they wanted, they replied that they only
wanted the release of their friends, the official told them to wait for some more time. As
these parleys were going on, a few volleys were fired at the crowd from ‘behind the
official’. The crowd got infuriated and retaliated and killed Sergeant Duncan Rowley
immediately with sticks and knives. Another Englishman named Johnstone, and a
constable was killed in the melee. In the firing that ensued about 20 among the crowd
were killed and thirty wounded.
The incidents at Kizhakkeppalli sparked off the rebellion all over South Malabar.
Tirurangadi itself became a centre for armed resistance, and procession of armed
volunteers became a regular feature every Friday. It has been argued that Ali Musaliar
himself was preparing for armed conflict as shown by his visit to the martyrs tomb at
Cherur along with armed volunteers on June 2, 1920. After the rebellion broke out Ali
Musaliar declared Tirurangadi as a Khilafat kingdom, and declared himself as its Emir
and Kunhalavi as the Prime Minister. But Ali Musaliar apparently knew that his Khilafat
kingdom was a lost cause. The British army had another encounter with Ali Musaliar and
his followers on August 31 st . In the encounter, Kunhalavi and a few others were killed
and Al Musaliar along with his remaining followers, surrendered to the army. Lavakkutty