The Modern in Kerala

THE MODERN IN KERALA THE MODERN IN KERALA 8 Indians had to live under British domination for a long time. Our predecessors had suffered the brutalities perpetrated by foreign rule. They fought for the freedom of the country suffering this torture and adversities. Several revolts, big and small, defiances and resistances led finally to the dawn of freedom. Residents of the vast territory from Kashmir in the north to Kerala in the south have participated either directly or indirectly in these episodes marked by sacrifices of the highest variety. East India Company in Kerala When did the British tighten their hold over Kerala? How was it possible for them? How did the British harass the people of Kerala? Several such things are to be enquired into. Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan from Mysore arrived in Kerala when the land was administered by local rulers and chieftains. Tipu took over the control of Malabar. The rulers of Kochi and Travancore sought the help of the British to save their states from Tipu’s invasion. Henceforth, it was in the English East India company that the local chieftains found their hope. The rulers of Kochi and Travancore, too, considered the British as their saviour. The Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley enabled the British to bring the native states under their control easily. The British ruled Malabar directly according to the terms of the treaty of Srirangapattanam. Travancore and Kochi accepted the paramountcy of the British. 115 Standard X - Social Science I Subsidiary Alliance The local rulers and chieftains hoped that they could continue Lord Wellesley, the Governor General of India, their rule once their territories were introduced a clever device of Subsidiary Alliance saved from Tipu. But the British to bring the native states under their control. subjugated all of them. Thus the According to this, the responsibility of protecting whole of Kerala came under the the native states was with the British army.The English East India Company. expenditure of maintaining that army should be met by the states. These states lost their rights to Colonial domination existed not in keep their own army. The sole right of deciding the political sphere alone. foreign policy of these states were vested with the Economic exploitation and British. A British Resident was sent to each state to intellectual hegemony were also ensure that the provisions of the agreement were part of this process. Above all, observed. The mutually quarrelling native states exploitation affected the livelihood considered this arrangement as an attractive one. of ordinary people. The Subsidiary Alliance and the Treaty of Srirangapattanam brought the entire Kerala under British control. Analyse this statement. Against the Regime collecting taxes and other things. But when The East India Company ruled the Indian he realised the real intention of the territories by organising them as provinces. Company, he led a revolt against them. Malabar, which was under the Bombay Kerala Varma knew very well that it was Presidency till 1800, was later brought under difficult for him fight the well equipped the Madras Presidency. army of the British. He expected that in the feud among the members of the royal family The British followed anti people policies in the Company should stand by him. But he Malabar. The Company declared that both was disappointed. It was in this context that the rulers and their subjects should be under he mobilised his forces against the its control. The people were required to pay Company. the high taxes under pain of stringent action. This led to anti-British feelings everywhere Opposition Escalates in Malabar. When new officers were Following the friendly relations with the appointed to collect taxes, disputes began British and the conclusion of treaties with to surface. them, Kochi and Travancore accepted their Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja was a ruler who suzerainty. Against the attempts to intervene questioned the British usurpation of the in the internal affairs of Travancore Divan right to collect taxes and the removal of royal Velu Thampi took an independant position. power. The revolt staged under his The Divan opposed the move of the leadership was very difficult for the British Company to appropriate huge amounts to deal with. To begin with, Pazhassi Raja from the royal treasury. This even cost him was among those who helped the British in his Divanship. Thereupon he attempted to 116 THE MODERN IN KERALA resist the British by strengthening anti- cash. This caused resentment among them. British feelings among the people. The Those who were in arrears of tax were Kundara Proclmation of 1809 was part of punished by the British by confiscating their this move. In Kochi too Paliath Achan raised properties, household utensils, ransacking the banner of revolt against British their huts, eviction from land, etc. With this, hegemony. The Kurichia revolt of Vayanad a spontaneous resistance against the British was a reaction against the revenue reforms was thrown up. It developed into an open introduced by the British. The Kurichias rebellion. The Kurichia revolt was a popular used to pay tax in kind. But the British resistance against British domination. declared that tax would be collected only in It was the British land revenue policy and economic exploitation that formed the basis of anti-British revolts. Examine this statement in the light of the resistance led by Velu Thampi and Kerala Varma as well as the Kurichia rebellion. Before the establishment of British rule the The establishment of monopoly in trade by villages were more or less self-sufficient. The the East India Company made the life of the essential articles for day-to-day life and people miserable. Trade on salt, tobacco, clothes were produced within the respective timber, spices, etc. came under the control villages. Those things which could not be of the Company. The prices of these produced within were brought from outside. products shot up. As a result, the poor With the beginning of British rule the people were thrown to great misery. indigenous production of goods began to By making the teak wood industry of decline. British products were imported in Malabar a monopoly of the Company, the their place. timber workers and traders began to suffer. The British took away raw materials The Company tried to increase their income necessary for the industries of England at by imposing taxes irrespective of the size or cheap prices. The English products were quality of the houses. imposed on the natives at high prices. Roads More Taxes and bridges and rail roads were constructed for enabling the easy transportation of army The strangle hold of revenue system and commodities. British products were heightened its grip on other articles of available aplenty in every village. As a result daily use besides taxes on land, salt, to- the rural economy was in ruins. Many bacco, etc. Houses, shops, cattle, ferry, fish- families were reduced to starvation. Our ing net, looms, toddy, arrack, knives, etc. land became a ground for the British were important among them. In effect, capitalists to make enormous profit. nothing was spared from the grip of the Government. About fifty more different taxes were imposed. 117 Standard X - Social Science I Table: Taxes on Tobacco and Salt When prices of products increased, compared with land revenue landlords would evict old tenants whom Year salt tobacco Total Land revenue they did not like. They would assign that land to tenants who were ready to pay 1809-13 1,30,756 21,426 1,52,182 17,18,782 higher rents. Each landlord levied many 1819-23 1,84,517 2,21,267 3,04,784 17,45,587 exactions from tenants over and above the 1829-33 2,44,363 4,14,125 6,58,488 15,48,839 rent. The plight of the tenants was made even more miserable by practices like 1839-43 3,40,12 5,34,006 8,74,127 16,40,098 “polichezhuthu”. 1849-53 3,35,870 4,88,270 8,24,140 16,35,574 Renewal of lease and (Source: K.N.Panikkar: Against Lord and State superimposition Tenants had to renew the contract with the These kinds of taxes, too! lord every twelve years. This was known The British tried to collect huge amounts as “Polichezhuthu”. On this occasion the through petty taxes. Let us have a look at lord used to collect several kinds of levies the sufferings of the people on account of from him. Assigning the land held by one them. tenant to another after receiving more rent Women who earned their livelihood by was known as “melcharth”. This was a collecting firewood from the forests were super imposition. This harassed the not permitted to take home the same peasants considerably. without paying the tax. Those who had to cross rivers had to pay The peasants had to but obey whatever the a tax. Many who tried to swim across to lord and his manager commanded. Or else, evade tax were drowned in the river. they had to suffer severe consequences. The Easy Exploitation peasants and leaseholders lived in utter fear The land laws introduced by the British of the landlords. brought many hardship to the people. The peasants were harassed to the maximum • Land revenue was collected in cash by the British government, landlords, police • Land revenue was increased many times and judiciary. Resenting this, peasants protested. Their ire turned against the lords • Actual peasants were denied ownership and the officials who assisted them. This of land turned into organised revolts. The • Landlords got rights over all land Government imposed mass fines not only • Landlords were granted more rights and on those who resisted but on entire villages.

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