Untold history of Kunnathambalam or Kunnath temple in Manjeri.

Untold history of Kunnathambalam or Kunnath temple in Manjeri.

Perched on a hilltop in the city of Manjeri, located in Malappuram district, Kerala lies the charming ancient temple called Mu-thru-kunnathu bhagavathy temple fondly known as Kunathambalam or Kunnath Temple. This temple belonged to the Manjeri Kovilakam, royal residence of a branch of the Zamorin (Samoothiri) dynasty, who ruled the Malabar region for centuries. The prominence of the Zamorins is noted in historical records, including the writings of the famed 13th-century traveler Ibn Battuta.

Manjeri, located in Kerala’s Malappuram district, is a town rich in history, its legacy stretching across countless generations. Ancient rock-cut caves, discovered throughout the region, reveal signs of human life dating back to the Stone Age, offering a timeless connection to our earliest ancestors. The historic Manjeri Kovilakam, once a royal seat of the Zamorins of Calicut, stands as a reminder of the town’s deep ties to Malabar’s regal past. Manjeri has also been a witness to turbulent times. It endured hardships during Tipu Sultan’s brutal invasion and the painful events of the 1921 Moplah uprising, both leaving a lasting mark on the land and its people.

The Moplah uprisings were not limited to the major events of 1921. There were several earlier incidents spanning the late 19th and early 20th centuries as well. These uprisings often occurred during the month of Ramadan, a time considered sacred, when actions tied to religious convictions were sometimes interpreted in extreme and violent ways. Clashes during this period were often marked by attacks on landowners and communities labeled as non-believers, with forced conversions, the seizure of land and temples, and widespread violence becoming common in certain regions. The regions surrounding Manjeri witnessed repeated unrest, with riots and conflicts frequently disrupting local life. These events form a complex and deeply painful chapter in the history of Northern Kerala.

Among the various Mappila uprisings that took place prior to 1921, one of the most significant in terms of both the number of participants and the tragic consequences was the 1896 clash at Kunnath Temple in Manjeri.

During the fasting period of the Moplahs or Mappilas, it was common for soldiers and reserve police to be stationed in small groups across areas known for unrest. Their role was to monitor the situation closely and maintain order during a time when tensions could easily rise. In that particular year, some soldiers had set up tents in the Manjeri court premises and in the gymnastics shed next to the local primary school. The presence of the security forces often brought a sense of reassurance and calm to the local population during the Ramadan period, helping to ease the underlying tension that tended to build during that time.

The police and army also relied on informants and spies to track the movements and intentions of the local population. Despite conducting extensive searches, they were unable to locate the rebels, who remained elusive. Typically, neither the authorities nor the locals had access to accurate information, what circulated were often rumors and speculations, many of which turned out to be far from the truth. As was often the case, misleading reports led the army on a fruitless pursuit across the district, chasing shadows rather than finding those they sought.

One Sunday morning, without attracting attention, a group of rioters entered the Kunnath Bhagavathy Temple, located just about half a mile from the Manjeri court. This temple held particular significance for them, as it was the site where they had previously overpowered and driven away soldiers, which had left a lasting sense of pride among the group. Upon entering, they threatened the residents of the nearby Manjeri Kovilakam, located at the base of the hill, demanding food and supplies. This act served not only a practical purpose but was also intended as a form of provocation and insult toward those they considered non-believers. They proceeded to deliver the Baang or Adhan (Islamic call to prayer) inside the temple and began setting up to prepare and eat their meal, asserting dominance over a space considered sacred by others.

When the news of the rioters’ presence in the temple reached the authorities, the soldiers guarding the treasury opened fire from the court premises towards Kunnathambalam. However, there was little resistance from the rioters, and the conflict was over in a short span of time. The firing ceased soon after. Despite this, the rioters failed to grasp the situation. In most riots, it was uncommon for so many to be involved, but in this case, no fewer than a hundred Mappilas had joined the disturbance. Had they followed the usual course of action, coming down from the temple and resisting the soldiers as they had done before, it is likely that the soldiers would not have withstood the attack. However, distracted by the rush of preparations for their meal, the rioters remained at the temple and did not engage further.

By 9 o'clock, the Collector and the army arrived in Manjeri in a rush. They quickly set up their positions on a hill to the southeast of the temple, with a clear view of the area. The Kunnath Temple, perched atop a picturesque hill, stood against a vast, open landscape. The land outside the temple walls was flat, barren, and completely devoid of trees. Given the terrain, the Mappilas' gunfire from the temple would have had limited range, unable to extend beyond the hill's edge. In contrast, the soldiers' firearms were capable of striking targets from a mile away with ease. Considering the open space, the soldiers' superior firepower, the rioters' determination, their willingness to die, the strength of the soldiers, and the quality of their weapons, the outcome of a direct confrontation is easy to imagine.

Realizing that a direct confrontation was futile, the rioters attempted to approach the soldiers from a distance. In a short period, many rioters had gathered. Though their efforts were in vain, they continued to fire intermittently at the soldiers. Eventually, the firing ceased completely.

When it became clear that most of the rebels had been killed, the Collector and the soldiers made their way to the temple. What they encountered there was a scene of unimaginable horror. In such a confined space, 92 lifeless bodies, bloodied and scattered, lay across the ground. While most of the rebels were dead, a few were still alive, barely breathing.

The bodies of more than 20 rebels bore the marks of sword cuts to their throats. These wounds were self-inflicted, as the rebels had taken their own lives in a desperate attempt to prevent those still alive from falling into the hands of the enemy.

Most of the riots before 1921 were typically sparked by petty reasons, which then escalated through the influence of religious fanaticism and superstition. However, there was no such clear cause for this particular uprising. One possible reason could be that a riot in another part of the district led to the arrest of four key organizers by the government, which angered many and spurred them to form a group in protest. As their group grew, the rioters launched a series of attacks on their way to Manjeri. Hindus were killed or forcibly converted, while their houses were looted and burnt. Idols were shattered, temples destroyed, and many other atrocities were committed along the way. Finally, as the fasting period was nearing its end, and it seemed too late for them to die in a cause they had believed in, they gathered and entrenched themselves at Kunnath temple. The remainder of the events unfolded as outlined above.

The content has been translated from Malayalam and paraphrased from the historical work "Malabar Kalapam" by K. Madhavan Nair, my grandfather.

To learn more about other attacks on Kunnath Ambalam by the Moplah rioters, read here