Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

widespread in the region. We should also remember that burning the katchery at
Tirurangadi, where all the revenue accounts were kept, was an act of retaliation against
peasant oppression (even though there is a theory that that relative of the Mamburam
Thangal, Khanbahadur Attakkoya was behind the burning, as he wanted to destroy
certain crucial documents related to the properties of Mamburam Thangal). In the period
immediately after the state suppression of the rebellion, when normal livelihood patterns
had not been restored, it is not surprising that lawlessness ensued, which was probably
directed by personal animosity and religious passions. It should also be remembered that
even Muslim houses were not spared from plunder. There were instances in which the
Muslims and Hindus of a certain village jointly decided to resist the incursion of the
looters (Panikkar, 1990; 359). The letter by Mohammad Abdurahiman to the Central
Khilafat Committee at Mumbai pointed out that he has ‘reliable information to the effect
that the Muslims attack against the Hindus have been leveled not only for the only reason
that the Hindus help the police in arresting them, but also that they commit rape and loot
in Muslim houses in the absence of men from home’ (Ibid 361) Some areas like Kodinji-
Tanur road had acquired some notoriety as being infested by robber gangs. However, the
major robber gang’ identified by the British operated from Vengara and Urakam, and
came down to Kuriyad and Kakkad. One such gang was arrested from Venniyur.
Aftermath of Rebellion
People do not remember any serious relief operation immediately after the rebellion,
either by political parties such as the Congress or the philanthropic agencies in the area.
After the kilowatt committees and their activities had been wiped out and Ali Musaliar
kept in prison and then executed, the people of the area were without any leadership or
organizing strength. The number of people who were arrested were either executed, or
languished in jail for several years before released, or were being sent to Andamans.