Insight: An International Journal for Arts and Humanities Peer Reviewed and Refereed Vol: 1; Issue: 3 ISSN: 2582-8002

Between English East India Company and Kavalappara: An Analytical Study of 18th Century

Bhavya A Research Scholar Department of History Sree Sankaracharya University of Kalady Abstract

Colonial supremacy reached the central power in Malabar after the Srirangapattanm treaty in 1792. With this, the Bombay Presidency immediately appointed commissioners they were directed to make a scheme for internal administration in Malabar. The first step was renovated Malabar into north and south. As a result, East India Company forced the joint families of Malabar to sign agreements. Most of the treaties were signed before the formation of . The first treaty signed in the year of 1792 September, Willam Gamul Farmer and Major Dow on the part of the East India Company with Karakat Moopil from Kavalappara.

The study constructs certain important socio- political and economic aspects of early modern Kavalappara. Kavalappara family is land owning Nair family situated in Kavalappara Desom near to Valluvanad. Its properties were available inside and around Kavalappara, Panayur, Vaniyamkulam, Konathara, Kailiad, Kanniambram, Chuduvalathur. Malayala Kollavarsham 992, English East India Company provides a particular list, prominent persons such as Deshavazhi or Naduvazhi. When Kavalappara Mupil Nair as local governor of Thenmalapuram. So the study becomes significant and it throws light on the history Kavalappara family.

Key words

Sthanam rights, Swarupam, Deshavazhi, Naduvazhi, Treaties and Engagements.

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Insight: An International Journal for Arts and Humanities Peer Reviewed and Refereed Vol: 1; Issue: 3 ISSN: 2582-8002

Brief History of Kavalappara Family

Kavalappara is landowning Nair family situated in Kavalappara Desom near Valluvanad. The family assets were located in and around Kavalappara, Panayur, Vaniyamkulam, Konathara, Kailiad, Kanniambram and Chuduvalathur.i As per traditional myth, the family origin from Saint of . One of the twelve children of Pulaya women and Brahmin saint, eldest of them is Mezhathur Agnihothri in Kadambur Mana.ii Kadambur Mana maintained traditional customs with Kavalappara family.

Kavalappara family belonged to Nedunganad in medieval period.iii It was one of the Nadus in , located between Shornur to in the modern sense. Later, Nedunganad was divided in to four Desoms under four Nair families.iv This statement clearly reveals the formation of family.

Head of the family was known as Kavalappara Nair; he enjoyed traditionally Deshavazhi rights and held eight dignities of Desom.v The eight dignities held by the head of the family are given below:

1. Karakkat Moothar 2. Kunhumelpada Nayar 3. Pannithiruthi Kaimal 4. Chundi Moothar 5. Kattuseri Kaimal 6. Pazhampalakode Moothar 7. Ayyazhipada Nair 8. Vadakkum Nambidi

The last two Stanams held by the head of the family were under the Raja of Cochin and these properties belonged to Cochin. The family head was a Naduvazhi, he also possessed the authorities of Deshavazhi in several villages.vi Therefore, the terms of Naduvazhi and Desavazhi has very often confused. The privileges were never the same in Malabar. The political unit above

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Insight: An International Journal for Arts and Humanities Peer Reviewed and Refereed Vol: 1; Issue: 3 ISSN: 2582-8002

Tara was the Desom and person, who wielded authority over it was named Desavazhi.vii Northern Ballads would show that Valunnor was lowest rank of the political order below the Desavazhi or Naduvazhi.ṣ viii This ideology has partly changed from later medieval to early modern period; the Nair families had claimed social status and used the title Swarupam.

Kavalappara Mupil Nair enjoyed considerable authority in the Kavalappara Desom. The Stanam created many feudal privileges and the family followed the system of Marumakathayam or matrilineal. In this system, power is concentrated on the eldest son of the family. However all members of family enjoyed social hierarchy and respect from the people. Kavalappara Document nine describes that along with properties or Parambas it is seen that the Nair had mortgaged Kovi, Kannanathu Chakkan, Kannan and Chathan.ix In addition to Document 27 deals with same things. The Nair in a kanam transaction assigned on Pattam a Valliyalar of Kunnan Cheruman, Kuppi Cherumi, Kuchi Cherumi, and two Cherumi girls and Cheruma boy.x Such transactions clearly denote that lower castes had no rights of economic security.

The majority of farming was done by the Cherma category of . Often, they were transferred along with land. In case of Kanam and Pattam tenures the person extracted labor from the slave as far as possible and reduced subsistence to the bare minimum.xi According to K.K.N. Kurup, “the Malabar slaves belonged to the category of Valliyalar, they possessed certain customary rights which were not violated by landlords”.xii

Vanniyumkulam market was one of the popular cattle market situated in Kavalappara. The elder Nair had the right to oversee the market under the jurisdiction of Kavalappara. The main feature of the market is that the quality of the cattle is determined by the price. Therefore, Vaniyumkulam market will bid annually from the Kavalappara family. Pay tax on the purchase of cattle from the market, it is called Vettakass.xiii

The foregoing study of the Kavalappara family proves that it was one of the major landowning family of Malabar. The main duty of the family was to maintain the security of Thenmalapuram. So, Kavalappara was able to thwart attacks to gain control of the pass. The family retained 5000 nair’sxiv as Naduvazhi and held properties along with eight Sthanms or dignities. An analytical study of the family Document describes some of the

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Insight: An International Journal for Arts and Humanities Peer Reviewed and Refereed Vol: 1; Issue: 3 ISSN: 2582-8002

most important socio- political and economic aspects of the early modern period. Actually in eighteenth century the family was assuming the role of an independent authority.

The Company and the Kavalappara: Negotiations and Treaties

The 18th century was certain significance for England. One of the most political changes of this period the English and Scottish Governments were transformed in to British Parliament. It was incorporated in 1760, after King Stuart was united for more than Century. According to Irfan Habib, “as the classical period of enclosures and the early phase of the Industrial Revolution for France as the period of the long crisis of the ancient regime and for colonialism, generally as the phase when colonial primary accumulation reached very high levels”.xv In 18th century, two major wars were fought in India. One was Battle of Plassey (1757), another one Third Panipat in the year of 1761, and it implies the inefficiency of the Mugal Empire.

For the Purpose of historical discourse the eighteenth century economic situation in India are to be fully considered from the point of Indian context. With Aurangzeb’s death, Company moved strategically to the all over northern portion. Generally historians say that “the death of Aurangzeb in 1707 marked the beginning of the decline of the empire, and then Nadirsha was expelled from Delhi in 1739”.xvi This was a great opportunity for company for political intervention in northern India. But in south India the Mysorean period and colonial phases together in a single century is difficult to comprehend. Because, the southern area was under the control of Hyder and Tipu in the mid 18th century.

By the end of 1792, Tipu’s power in Malabar was practically replaced by the East India Company. Then, Company decided to modernize the Malabar region, and administration of the ceded territories was carried out by Commissioners called ‘Joint Commission’. This is the one of the important steps taken by the company to establish a colonial State in Malabar.xvii

The Joint Commission first sought to understand the social situation in Malabar and then entered into an agreement with the authorities to seek local assistance. These agreements

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Insight: An International Journal for Arts and Humanities Peer Reviewed and Refereed Vol: 1; Issue: 3 ISSN: 2582-8002

were based on revenue terms, and each region was required to pay a fixed amount of tax to the Company. As a part of these agreements, the Commission renovated Malabar as north and south, and two headquarters were set up at the and .

In southeast Malabar, the commission signed the first agreement with Valuvakonathiri of Valluvand. According to this agreement, Valluvanad is required to pay a fixed amount of annual tax to Company. On the other hand, Commission and Kavalappara signed the first treaty in Calicut on 12th July 1792, (Kollavarsham 967 Midunum), which was sealed by W.G. Farmer and Alexander Dow, John Agnew, and Joseph Dias were the witnesses.

The treaty deals with six statements, one describes in “Country having formerly belonged to the ancestors of the Kavalappara Nair, he came to Calicut and represented that he had been placed in charge of the Country of Kavalappara by Divan of Keshava Pillai, was assured by him in the name of the Company of being continued in his said Country at the peace”.xviii

Third statement was most important for Company. It appears that the value of 18,285/- from which detecting the sum of 2,285/- for the collection charge and one thousand for himself.xix Karakkat Moopil Nair agrees the treaty and paying the revenue in three times.

1) Malayalam month Dhannu, the first annual amount of eight thousand rupees assessed to Company. 2) Malabar month Vidunum sum of five thousand assed to Company. 3) In 1793, Malabar month Minom, sum of two thousand rupees paying to Company.

It was sealed by W.G. Farmer and Alexander Dow and John Agnew, Joseph Dias were witnesses. With this, the revenue responsibilities directly under the Southern Superintendence and the family converted in to an intermediary section.

Another treaty in 1794 October, The treaty describes in nine statements. According to second statement “Inspectors or Collectors should be appointed on the part of the Company in to every district of the Company to carry on the collections jointly with the officers”.xx Nair agreed, Permanent collection on the part of Government, and the fifth one deals with

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Insight: An International Journal for Arts and Humanities Peer Reviewed and Refereed Vol: 1; Issue: 3 ISSN: 2582-8002

Kavalappara family Karyakars shall not collect any other taxes than those included under the head of Negudi with the customary tax.xxi Treaty sealed by W.G. Farmer and Alexander Dow and John Agnew.

By 1796 September 18th, East India Company proclaimed about revenue settlements in Kavalappara, It was sealed by Commissioners from Southern Superintendence of Cherpulassery. It describes that “A large balance being due to the Companies Sircar from the Nair, the Commissioners for conducting the office of Supervisor have directed that the said Nair’s lease shall be resumed, this is therefore to warn all the inhabitants of Karakkat from paying their Negudi after the date hereof to the said Nair or his agents”.xxii

Analytical study of these treaties reconstructs some of the most important socio-political and economic aspect of the early modern Kerala. The family was revenue agent under the East India Company. As it enjoyed traditionally Naduvazhi rights. Document No.16 Kollavarsham 992(1817), English East India Company provides a particular list. Prominent persons such as Deshavazhi or Naduvazhi.

Thenmalapuram of Palghat Region

Naduvazhi (Governor) - Kanhumel pada- Nair

From, Kavalappara Family. xxiii

Most of the treaties were signed before the formation of Madras Presidency. The fact is that colonialism has greatly influenced the joint families of south Malabar. During the time, many joint families in south Malabar began to claim their Sthanam under the East India Company. The eldest person of the family is used the title of Raja like Venganad family and Tharur family. At same time, the Company appointed Kavalappara Moopil Nair as the local Governor of Thenmalapuram in Palghat region.

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Insight: An International Journal for Arts and Humanities Peer Reviewed and Refereed Vol: 1; Issue: 3 ISSN: 2582-8002

End Notes

i K. K. N. Kurup, Kavalappara papers, Department of History, Calicut University, Calicut, 1984, p. 1. ii ibid. iii S. Rajendhu, Nedunganadinte Charithram, Published by K. Sankaranarayanam and Madhavam, Perithalmanna, 2012, p. 155. iv ibid. v K. K. N. Kurup, OP.cit., pp. 5-6. v vi M. T. Narayanan, Agrarian Relations in Late Medieval Malabar, Northern Book Center, Delhi 2003, p. 4. vii K. S. Mathew, Society in Medieval Malabar: A study Based on Vadakkan Pattukal, Jafee Books, Kottyam, 1979, p. 70. viii ibid., p. 69. ix Kavalappara Document 9, Kollavarshm 945, Calicut University, Calicut, 1984, cited in K. K. N. Kurup, Kavalappara papers, p. 6. x Kavalappara Document 27, Kollavarshm 993, Calicut University, Calicut, 1984, cited in K. K. N. Kurup, Kavalappara papers, p. 31. xi Francis Buchanan, A Journey from Madras through the Countries of Mysore, Canara and Malabar, London, 1807, p. 370. xii K. K. N. Kurup, Kavalappara Papers, OP.cit., p. 18. xiii S. Rajendhu, OP. cit., p. 219. xiv K. K. N. Kurup, Kavalappara Papers, OP.cit., p. 37. xv Irfan Habib, ‘ The Eighteenth Century in Indian Economic History’, in P. J. Marshall (ed.), The Eighteenth Century in indian History, Oxford University Press, Delhi, 2003, p. 100. xvi M. Athar Ali, ‘Recent Theories of Eighteenth Century’, in P. J. Marshall, Op.Cit., p. 90. xvii N. Rajendran, Establishment of British Power in Malabar, Chugh Publications, Allahabad, 1979, p. 236. xviii William Logan, A Collection of Treaties, Engagements and Other Paper of Importance, Government Regional Archives , 1998, p. 155. xix ibid. xx ibid.,p.220. xxi ibid., p. 221. xxii ibid.,p.258. xxiii Kavalappara Document 16, Kollavarsham 992, Calicut University, Calicut, 1984, cited in K. K. N. Kurup, Kavalappara Papers, p. 12.

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