Variyan Kunnathu Kunjahammed Haji

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Chakkiparamban Variyan Kunnathu Kunjahammed Haji
Variyan Kunnathu Kunjahammed Haji (1919)
Born	1883 (1883) Malabar, British India (now Malappuram, India)
Died	20 January 1922(1922-01-20) (aged 38–39) Kottakkunnu, Malappuram, British India (now Malappuram, India)
Cause of death	Execution by shooting
Education	Ezhuthu Kalari
Organization	Khilafat Movement,[1]
Known for	Indian independence movement
Predecessor	British Raj
Movement	Khilafat movement & Indian independence movement
Spouse(s)	Ruqiyya ​ ​ (m. 1905, Death)​ Sainaba ​ ​ (m. 1908, Death)​ Malu Hajjumma (Paravetti Fathima) 1920
Parents	Chakkiparamban Moideenkutty Haji [2][need quotation to verify] (father) Kunjaisha Hajjumma (mother)

Chakkiparamban Variyankunnathu Kunjahammed Haji was an Indian independence activist,^[3] Indian freedom fighter ^[4][5] (1883 – 20 January 1922)^[6][7][8][9] was an active member of Khilafat Movement.^[10][11] He founded a State in Malabar In open defiance of British rulers and landlords, for more than six months in most parts of the then Eranadu and Valluvanadu taluks.^[12] He seized control of a large area from the British rule and set up a parallel government of his Malayalam State in Malabar, named 'Malayala Rajyam' and now part of the Kerala State, India, with his long term mentor, friend Ali Musliyar.^[12][13]

Early life[]

Haji was born in a Muslim merchant family in 1883 in Valluvangad. His family later moved to Nellikuth village, near Manjeri, Malappuram district. He was the second child of his parents, Chakkiparamban Moideenkutty Haji and Kunjaisha Hajjumma. Moideenkutty Haji was a merchant, farmer, and local leader. He was imprisoned in Andaman for taking part in the 1894 Mannarkkad Rebellion.^{[2][need quotation to verify]}

He pursued his basic religious education from village Madrasa, later upgraded as 'Ezhuthukalari' where Malayalam language was also part of curriculam. He studied many Arabic texts from Mammad Kutty Musliyar. After his father was deported to Andaman, Haji was brought up in his mother's family. His grandfather was also a local leader, he appointed a teacher named Balakrishnan Ezhuthachan, from whom he learnt Malayalam and basic English along with other grandchildren of his grandfather. He was also trained in martial arts along with his primary education.^{[14][need quotation to verify]}

Haji could also be seen as the one who was very passionate of traditional mappila art forms, he used to conduct Kolkkali, Daffumutt, and Katha Prasangam. It is also said that he was good singer too. The acceptance he acquired through performing arts soon made him popular in community. The deportation of his father and other rebels and the seizure of their lands and properties followed, triggered his anger and hostility towards British.^[2]

Marriage and Family[]

Haji returned from Mecca in 1905 and married Ruqiyya; daughter of Unni Muhammed. After her death in 1908, he married Sainaba; the sister of one of his friends. In 1920 Haji married his cousin Malu Hajjumma (Paravetti Fathima); daughter of his uncle Koyammu Haji. They were brought up in same home and this was third marriage for both of them. Malu had an important role in Haji's life.^[15]

Variyankunnathu Kunjahammed Haji Memorial Municipal Town Hall, Malappuram

Manjeri Peasant Revolt[]

In 1896 Manjeri Kovilakam landlords started to evacuate the tenants from their lands.^{[citation needed]} The conflict between tenants and landlords along with British following the evacuation of tenants from their lands. The landless tenants started to revolt under the leadership of Variyan Kunnathu Kunjammad Haji. They seized land and properties of the land lords. British army came to help the landlords. The conflict caused British to risk 94 out of 100 their soldiers. Inspector Khan Bahadhur Chekkutty tried to arrest Haji but CI Kurikkal, one of his friend helped him. Haji has become under constant surveillance of British spies. His friends and family insisted him to leave for Mecca when they smelt that Chekkutty is planning to arrest him immediately. sooner he left to Bombay, then to Mecca. During the self imposed exile, he visited home several times but was compelled to go back due to the continued surveillance before he finally decided to settle permanently at his native place in 1914.^[16]

Malabar rebellion[]

A letter written by Variyan Kunnathu Kunjahammed Haji which appeared in the newspaper The Hindu on October 18, 1921

There are many events that could be seen as undercurrents that caused Malabar rebellion. The conflict between tenants and landlords along with British following the evacuation of tenants from their farming lands fired up the British. Tenants were mostly from lower caste and mappilas. The immediate reason of the Malabar War was the rumor spread that the British army destroyed Mamburam mosque and Makkham following British army's raid in the mosque in the name of arm hunt. Ali Musaliyar, followed by a crowd went to Thirurangadi Kacheri(the compound including police station, register office, magistrate court, post office) to inquire about the incident. Seeing the Ali Musaliyar and the crowd with him the Collector ordered the Police to shoot them without any provocation. The crowd was huge, they got triggered by the sudden action and stated to attack back. They killed some Policemen and seized the police station. Collector and other officials fled to Calicut.^[12]

State declaration[]

Following Thirurangadi Mosque attack on 20 August 1920, people were up in arms. Haji mobulised them . They attacked and seized police station, treasuries, courts, registrar and other government offices The rebellion soon spread to the nearby areas of Malappuram, Manjeri, Pandikad and Tirur under leadership of Variyan Kunnath Kunjahammad Haji, Seethi Koya Thangal, Chembrassery Thangal and Ali Musliyar. Police, army, and other British officials escaped from areas like Malappuram, Manjeri, Thiruragadi and Perinthalmanna, become independent of British by 28 August 1921.^[16][17]

Since the police and other forces escaped from Eranad, Valluvanadu and Ponnani, Haji declared it as an Independent Islamic state from British. According to Hitchcock,^[18] the name of this state was Doula; Arabic equivalent word for state.

Haji had already planned well about the foundation of the Islamic state. He organised the ex-military officers who fought for British in First World War and were sent without adequate pension Nayik Thaami, the commander of Variyan Kunnath wrote in his diary that "Doula" had almost 60000 soldiers in his Army.^[19]

On 24 August 1921, Variyan Kunnath Kunjahammad Haji took over command of the War from Ali Musliyar. On 30 August 1921, the mob rebels under Haji killed Khan Bahadur Chekkutty, a police officer.The state declaration was conducted in Manjeri.

The letter written by Variyan Kunnathu Kunjahammed Haji, which appeared on the newspaper The Hindu on October 18, 1921:^[20]

"Honoured Editor, I request you to publish the following facts in your paper. According to the Press Reports from Malabar which you will have got. Hindu-Muslim Unity in Malabar has thoroughly ceased to exist. It appears that the report that Hindus are forcibly converted (by any men) is entirely untrue. Such conversions were done by the Government Party and Reserve Policemen in mufti mingling themselves with the rebels (masquerading as rebels.) Moreover, because some Hindu brethren, aiding the military, handed over to the military innocent (Moplahs) who were hiding themselves from the military, a few Hindus have been put to some trouble. Besides, the Nambudiri, who is the cause of this rising, has also similarly suffered. The Hindus are compulsorily impressed for military service. Therefore, several Hindus seek protection in my Hill. Several Moplahs, too, have sought my protection. Now the chief military commander [of the government] is causing Hindus to evacuate from these Taluks. Innocent women and children of Islam, who have done nothing and possess nothing, are not permitted to leave the place. For the last one month and a half, except for the seizure and punishment of the innocent, no purpose has been achieved. Let all the people in the world know this. Let Mahatma Gandhi and Moulana know it. If this letter is not seen published, I will ask your explanation at one time."

Judgement in British court[]

The crime committed by Kunjahammed Haji is described in the Appendix IX, which carries the text of the judgement passed the Court during the trial of Kunjahammed Haji.^{[citation needed]}

" These were the two of the most brutal murders in the rebellion which cost the lives of two loyal Government officers who were killed for doing their duty and for their services to the Crown. It is difficult to say which of the two was the more dreadful and the callous crime. In Chekutti's case the murderers had the decency to send away the women-folk before they finished the deceased off, but they were guilty of appalling barbarity in subsequently parading the head on a spear. In the case of Hydross the murder was carried out in the presence of his wife and children and in spite of the entreaties of the latter and the efforts of his wife to protect her husband."^{[citation needed]}

Later life[]

Haji was sentenced to death by Martial law Commander Colonel Humphrey. He was shot dead on 20 January 1922 at Kottakkunnu. British officials burnt his dead body along with all government records and documents relating to his five months long parallel government.^[16]

References[]

Further reading[]

• E. M. S. Namboodiripad (1967). Kerala: yesterday, today and tomorrow. National Book Agency.
• Alok Mukhopadhyay, ed. (2002). Roots, genesis of socio-economic development of modern India. Voluntary Health Association of India.
• Vallatt George (1977). Discovery of Kerala: a Tourist Guide of Kerala. S. B. Press and Book Depot.
• The peasant Revolt in Malabar 1921, Robert L Hardgrave Jr
• Mappila Muslims of Malabar, Miller RE, Orient Longmans Madras 1976
• History of Freedom Movement in Kerala, Menon PKK, Government Press Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram 1972
• Rise of Muslims in Kerla Politics, Abdul Aziz, thiruvanathapuram 1992
• Variyankunnathu Kunjahammed Haji, A Nisamusheen, Thiruvanathapuram January 1972
• Mappila Samudhyam Charithram Samskaram, T Muhammed
• 1921 Chila Charithra varthamanagal, P Geetha, Current Books Thrissur
• Moulaviyude Athma Kata, E Moidu Moulavi, DC Books, Kottayam 1985
• Ente Koottukkaran, Moulavi E, 1981
• Short History of Peasant Movements in Kerala, Namboothiripadu, Peoples Publishing House, 1943