War Between Pazhassi Raja and British
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 10:42 PM |  
Pazhassi Kudeeram-a memorial for Pazhassi Raja at his burial spot in Mananthavadi, Wayanad,Kerala

Pazhassi Raja resisted British imperialism from 1793 onwards till his death in 1805. He fought two wars to resist English intervention in domestic affairs of his kingdom. From 1793-1797 he fought over the question of management of Kottayam and from 1800-1805 over the issue of who is master of Wynad.
First Revolt [1793-1797]
Pazhassi Raja was not on good terms with his uncle Vira Varma, Raja of Kurumbranad. In 1793, this foxy uncle Raja convinced British Commissioners to let him collect tax in Kottayam. He calculated that a good collection might please British and that will let him seize all of Kottayam. Needless to say that Pazhassi Raja was angry at this British move. He felt betrayed. After all he was the only Raja in Northern Malabar to have helped British consistently in war with Mysore. Vira Varma Raja was a real crook-on one hand he undertook to collect tax in Kottayam directly and on other hand he instigated Pazhassi Raja to oppose English. Moreover, British assessment was harsh and beyond peasant capacity to pay. They resisted forcible collection by agents of British and Pazhassi Raja took up their cause. As seen before, Raja was deadly opposed to extortion of peasantry. In 1793, Pazhassi Raja made sure that no tax was collected in Kottayam by English-as a mark of his protest. He also threatened that if British officials did not give up their enumeration of pepper vines, he will have vines destroyed. Local British authorities, however, debated with Raja and soon both discovered Vira Varma’s dirty games. So British put forward a solution acceptable to Raja by which 20 percent of gross revenue would go to Raja and another 20 percent would go for temples’ expense. No tax would be imposed on temple property in immediate future. In 1793, Tipu’s Vakils protested with British that Pychy Raja who was latter’s tributary had overrun most of Wayanad, still under Mysore. Soon Raja is supreme in Wayanad Plateau. But Governor General unwisely revoked the agreement in 1794 and gave Kottayam on a five year lease to Kurumbranad Raja. Raja was truly angry at this decision and decided retaliate by ruling his country as per customary law. That year before lease was concluded Raja provided asylum to a Nayar noble Narangoli Nambiar of Iruvazinad who had been declared an outlaw by British for murder of three men who killed his kinsman. Raja’s kind treatment to Nambiar irritated English. British also became angry that Raja impaled two robbers as per customary law. British planned to arrest Raja for ‘murder’ but gave up the idea as Raja had a bodyguard of 500 well armed Wayanad Nayars. In 1795, even after a year Vira Varma Raja got Kottayam on lease, he was not able to collect tax in Kottayam-thanks to his nephew Raja’s determination. So British troops arrived in Kottayam to help Vira Varma’s tax collectors, but Pychy Raja’s men resisted them with success In 1796, orders were issued from Bombay to collect tax arrears for 2 years in Kottayam. For British no more pretexts were needed to arrest Raja. 300 men under Lieutenant James Gordon marched from Talassery and seized Raja’s fortified house at Pazhassi-but Raja fled four days earlier to Manattana [near Kottiyur]. Gordon plundered the palace where traditional treasure of Raja was kept. Raja was angry at this loot and sent a letter to Supervisor at Talassery. Raja was also angry that one of his former general named Pazayamviden Chandu had become an agent of Kurumbranad Raja and what angered him even more than that was that this turn-coat had the audacity to boss him with Vira Varma’s and Britons’ blessings. Chandu was later killed by a follower of Kaitheri Ambu when latter was about to be killed by Pazayamviden. Raja shifted his HQ to Purali Range and then into Wayanad. Raja then blocked all British communications between Wayanad and Low Malabar through Kuttiyadi Pass. British retaliated by cutting all communications between Raja and Low Malabar. But as they did not have enough troops to chase him they waited for reinforcements. British commandant was Colonel Dow, whom Raja knew well during Siege of Talassery. So Raja thought that this old friend might help him mediate with British government. Raja offered to give up struggle provided he was pardoned and his treasure and house restored. Colonel and Raja being old soldiers hated needless bloodshed and so he forwarded Raja’s request to Commissioners, who though were bitterly opposed to Raja’s independent style, agreed to Colonel’s suggestion as there was a risk that Raja might ally with join with Tipu. So Northern Superintendent orders restoration of house back to Raja [but not treasure] and pardon to Raja was confirmed by Bombay and Supreme Governments. But orders of government was communicated to Raja via Vira Varma-which meant uncle Raja took care not to report his nephew of British agreement of his demands. Uncle Raja had vested interest in war between Company and his nephew Pazhassi Raja.
Vira Varma also removed Kaitheri Ambu, a favourite noble and general of Raja, form home administration of Kottayam. Ambu along with followers went to Kannoth, where he planned and executed a mass resistance with people’s support, which made sure that Vira Varma could make no tax collection in Kottayam. But Ambu acted clearly on guidance of Raja, who felt expulsion of Ambu was another of his uncle’s conspiracies to undermine him. Raja feared that British planned to seize him [not knowing that their truce terms were kept blocked from him by his uncle] and retreated into depths of Wayanad. British troop build up in Wayanad also accelerated his doubts. However Raja was still eager to avoid a war and came to meet Northern Superintendent with a bodyguard of 1500 armed men. Vira Varma Raja was also ordered to be present. Pazhassi Raja’s main demand was that Kottayam must be under his rule-a demand his uncle was not ready to accede. British Commissioners’ attitude also was arrogant-they were already prejudiced towards Raja and so were blind towards Raja’s logical argument that Vira Varma had no business in Kottayam. As talks broke down, Commissioners’ issued a threat proclamation in Kottayam that if those Kottayam men in service of Raja does not desert him and come home, they would be declare enemies and their properties would be confiscated. But this proclamation had little effect in Kottayam where resistance to British-Kurumbranad rule became stronger. British, to their horror, found out that a large number of Vira Varma’s troops had deserted to join ranks of resisters and Vira Varma himself was not much interested to help British-after all his aim was to create a flare up between his nephew and British for sake of pure self-interest. Raja then visited to Mysorean commandant at Karkankotta in 1796 and in 1797 held an audience with old enemy Tipu in Mysore who posted 6000 men at Karkankotta to aid Raja in case of war and also to supply ammunition to rebels. He also began to collect troops and armament. War was imminent. 1200 troops and artillery under Major General was sent by Bombay Government to deal with Pazhassi. British also began to set up outposts in Kottayam and sent more troops to Wayanad.In early 1797, Nayar militia rose all over Kottayam and British outposts were trapped in a true state of siege. Partisan bands became active all over Kottayam and harassed reinforcements and supply convoys. Same was the case in Wayanad where British troops that moved out of safety of block-houses risked being way-laid by Kurichia bowmen. British suffered good loss in terms of men, ammunitions and stores in these ambuscades. Periya Pass Episode-
This event is the most important in the whole war. In 1797, Colonel Dow & force marches into Wayanad. His plan was to block Periya Pass and then crush a large rebel force in Kannoth once their retreat is blocked. Reinforcements under Lieutenant Mealy were to reach Dow at Periya, but on way they were severely harassed by a force of Nayars and Kurichias and suffered a casualty of 105 men. So instead of Periya they retreated to their original base. Dow’s troops suffered chronic shortage of supplies and so Dow applied for reinforcements and re-supplies to be sent under Major Anderson of Bowles’ regiment. But as Mappila guides of Anderson deserted at last moment. That caused a delay in journey of Anderson-a delay that had fatal consequence for British.Dow then received news that Tipu had sent sepoys to aid Raja as Tipu considered British entry into Wayanad a violation of Seringapatam Pact. Dow decided that he will go to Talassery to consult authorities there and to plan a greater operation to deal with troops of Raja and Tipu simultaneously in Wayanad. He left with a small band of men but was ambushed on way by Raja’s men aided by Mysorean sepoys but Dow escaped unhurt. Day after he left, British force of 1100 under Major Cameroon in Periya decided to descend into Kottayam via Periya Pass as their supplies have exhausted. But what they did not know was that Raja who learnt of true state of British army laid a trap for them-he ordered troops lay concealed in camouflaged stockades built on both sides of pass. Once the whole British force entered the narrow pass, hidden troops were to pounce on their enemy who must be caught unawares. Plan worked well and what followed was great slaughter of British. Had it not been for arrival of Major Anderson’s force the following day, hardly any would have survived due to lack of medical care. Most of enemy were killed and all their guns, ammunition, baggage and cattle were plundered along with Union colours. Senior British officers like Major Cameroon, Lieutenant Nugent, Lieutenant Madge and Lieutenant Rudderman were killed in action. Around this time, Commissioners took a decision on advice of Swaminatha Pattar, a Tamil Brahmin who was minister of Zamorin that sowed the eventual downfall of Pazhassi Raja. They decided to raise an irregular force of local traitors to harass Pazhassi Raja. This force was a fore-runner of the infamous Kolkar, a Malabar version of Turkish Bashi-Bazouks, who became infamous for their sycophancy to British and cruelty to resisters and people. A brief introduction to Shamnath-He is an arch rogue who helped to consolidate British rule in Calicut. He was so hated by right minded people of Calicut that near kin of Zamorin made a nearly successful attempt to have this rascal killed. [Logan] But for time being, Raja was in a strong position. On account of British disasters, Bombay Government sent a Committee of Government composed of men of highest ranks-Commander-In-Chief Lieutenant General Stuart and Governor Jonathan Duncan. They decided to make peace as they were anxious that guerrilla warfare in a mountainous and forested terrain could last long and that Raja might join forces with Tipu or French. They also decided that Kurumbranad Raja Vira Varma should be ousted form administration of Kottayam. Rajas of Chirakkal and Parappanad acted as mediators in negotiation between Raja and British and a peace pact was signed between Pazhassi and British in 1797. Treaty of 1797 agreed on following points-
1. Pazhassi Raja was to be ‘pardoned’.
2. He will be returned his treasure.
3. He will be provided an annual allowance of 8000 rupees.
4. He will be given back his confiscated house at Pazhassi.
5. Ravi Varma, elder brother of Pazhassi Raja will be head of Kottayam. A pardon and restoration of property was also extended to Narangoli Nambiar of Iruvazinad also.Thus Raja’s efforts of four years ended in a political victory. Peace dawned after four years of antagonism and war.
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