Captivity of Kodavas at Seringapatam

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The captivity of Kodavas (Coorgis) at Seringapatam was the period of capture, deportation, and imprisonment of

Tippu Sultan, the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, they (60,000-70,000) were caught during a number of attempts to suppress their rebellion
in the 1780s.

Historians doubt the letter as sixty-thousands to seventy-thousands christians living in Coorgs as genuine before arrival of British missionary to India. [1]

The rebels and their families were subjected to forced deportation (

Mangalorean Christians & a few other communities ended with the Siege of Seringapatam (1799)
.

Background

Tipu Sultan (1750–1799), the architect of the Seringapatam Captivity

Hyder Ali's invasion

The conquest of

Malabar region.[7] Hyder conquered Coorg from its king and placed his garrison in its capital Madikeri (Mercara). He gave gifts to the twelve barons who had been under the king, levied money from them and returned to his capital Seringapatam (Srirangapatna) in Mysore.[8] When Hyder Ali unexpectedly invaded Coorg, some Coorgs were assembled on a wooded hill when Hyder's troops encompassed it.[9] Hyder offered five rupees for every head of a Coorg (Kodava) that was brought before him. After some time when his soldiers brought him 700 heads, Hyder got the carnage stopped.[10][11]

Coorg was again invaded by Hyder in 1773 at the invitation of Linga Raja who claimed the throne for his nephew Appaji Raja against Devappa Raja of Horamale.

Kodagu (called 'Coorgman' or 'Koduguwala' by Punganuri) rebelled,[13] made his escape and hid in Basavapatnam (a place located between Chitradurga and Ikkeri).[8] He was traced, caught and imprisoned in Srirangapatna.[8] Hyder had him punished and had eminent men hanged.[13] After occupying the country, Hyder gave it to Appaji Raja, the leading man, appointed him the 'Raja of Great Coorg',[13] collected annual tribute [12] and established a garrison there under a Commandant.[13] Appaji died in 1776 and Linga Raja, his uncle, succeeded him.[12]

Linga Raja died in 1780 leaving behind his young sons, the eldest being (Dodda) Vira Rajendra.[14] As they were young, Hyder became their guardian and took over Coorg completely.[15] Instead of setting a son of the previous Raja, Hyder Ali made a priest (Subbarasaya) the ruler in Coorg. The Coorgs were enraged with this and hence revolted in June 1782. Hyder got the princes removed from Madikeri (Mercara) to Goruru (in Hassan region) so as to deprive the Coorgs of a rallying point.[15][16]

Rebellion during Tipu Sultan's reign

The Coorgs had rebelled and driven out the Sultanate's forces.[16] When Tipu became ruler of Mysore he ordered the princes removed from Goruru and placed in Periapatam (Periyapatna in Mysore). Then he sent Hyder Ali Beg and Raja Kankeri to suppress the Coorg rebels. At first they achieved some success but were then defeated by the Coorgs. Beg fled while Raja Kankeri was killed.[15]

In 1785 Tipu marched into Coorg and defeated the stiff resistance of the rebels. Tipu occupied Mercara renamed it Zafarabad, appointed Zain ul Abidin Mahdavi (also called Zain-ul-Abedin Khan Mehdivi) the faujdar in charge of Coorg and Tipu returned to Seringapatam (Srirangapatna).[15][17] But when Tipu left, two Nairs (Munmate and Ranga) came to Coorg, occupied it and prepared to take Mercara.[15] They incited the Coorgs and rebellion again broke out in Kodagu that same year (1785). The faujdar then appealed to Tipu for help.[15] In response Tipu sent some troops with general Janulabdin (also called Zain-ul-Abidin Shushtary or Zain-ul-Abedin Shustri) into Coorg to the Faujdar's relief.[18][19][20] (According to Moegling, p. 95 and Tarikh-i-Coorg, 15,000 soldiers were sent but according to Kirmani, p. 292 2,000 soldiers were sent)[21] They were defeated at Ulugulli village by 4000–5000 Coorgs.[19][21] Janulabdin reached the fort at Mercara but finding it hard to hold on he tried to escape to Bettadapura in Mysore.[19][21] While retreating, at Ulugulli he again suffered a loss,[19] the rebels pursued him, captured his baggage and killed many of his men.[21] The fleeing army of Tippu Sultan left behind a large cache of arms and ammunition, including cannonballs imported from France.[22]

Captivity by Tipu Sultan

A dungeon at Srirangapatna during modern times.

Coorgs rebellion

On hearing of his general's plight,

Coorg in October 1785.[21][23] Tipu marched into the region through Aighur pass.[24]

He came to terms with the Coorgs and camped for six weeks in

Mercara.[21][23] Troops and provisions were dispatched to relieve the garrison of Mercara.[21] Tipu had also been to Talakaveri (Thul Kaveri, according to Kirmani) where he camped for a while.[23][25] The Queen of Cannanore came to visit him in Talakaveri and pay her tribute money to him.[26]

Tipu then camped at Devatu Parambu.

Frenchman, Husain Ali Khan, Mir Mahmud and Imam Khan in different directions to crush the Coorgs (Kirmani p. 297).[21] Tipu gave the task of implementing the orders to Runmust Khan, the Nawab of Kurnool. This task was accomplished when a surprise attack was launched upon the Kodava rebels who were besieged by the invading army. 40,000 Kodavas fled to the woods and concealed themselves in the mountains.[27] The Coorgs had fought with great courage but were defeated and a large number of them had been taken captive.[21] The actual number of Kodavas that were captured in the operation is unclear. The British administrator Mark Wilks gives it as 60,000 Christians, Historian Lewis Rice arrives at the figure of 85,000, while Mir Kirmani's score for the Coorg campaign is 80,000 men, women and child prisoners.[27]

...

Deportations

A soldier from Tipu Sultan's army, using his rocket as a flagstaff.

To prevent further uprisings the Coorgs had been transported to Mysore.

Hosakote and Nandidurga in different groups.[24] According to Kirmani, 80,000 Coorgs were captured and deported.[26]

Tipu had transplanted Kodavas outside Coorg and into

Bellary. They were settled on farm lands and advanced loans. But some of them returned to Mysore because the climate of Coorg did not suit them.[21] Nagappayya, a nephew of Subbarasaya, was appointed Faujdar in charge of Coorg.[21]
[29] But these measures failed to crush the Coorgs who rose in rebellion again.[21]

With Coorg depopulated of its original inhabitants, Tipu sought to islamize it with Muslim settlements. To this end, he brought in 7,000 men from the

Shaikh and Sayyid clans, along with their families. However, this attempt proved to be partly successful, as many of them were eventually slain or fled after Tipu lost Coorg. The Coorg capital of Madikeri had been renamed to Zafarabad.[27] The Muslim descendants of the Kodavas who were forcibly converted into Islam, after Tipu Sultan's army on various forays into Coorg had captured them and thrown them into the Seringapatam prison, are called Kodava Maaple.[30]

Nagappayya

Nagappayya, Subbarasaya's nephew who was in-charge of Coorg (

Kodagu Raja who was detained at Periyapatna escaped with help from his Coorg friends.[29][31] A dispute rose between the Kodagu Raja and Kote Raja who was aided by Nagappayya.[29] Nagappayya however was later captured by the Kodagu Raja.[29] Meanwhile, the Kodagu Raja also engaged Tipu's troops and send them away from Coorg, its extremes being Bisle ghat in the North to Manantvadi in the South. By defeating Tipu he repossessed himself of his kingdom.[29][31]

Further captures

In 1789 Tipu sent Gulam Ali, Gaji Khan and Darvedil Khan with troops into Coorg by way of Siddhesvara.[32] They took up strong positions in Coorg, seized grain, taking prisoners.[32] They set fire to the Padinalkanadu temple.[32] Later the 'Maleyalam' (Malabar) people joined the Coorgs.[32] Tipu sent Gulam Ali into Malabar but en route Gulam was attacked by the Coorgs.[32] Gulam managed to reach Malabar where he burnt down the Payyavur temple and attacked that region.[32]

When Tipu was marching against the

Malabar where he halted. There he ordered some of the inhabitants to be made Asadulai (captured and converted), placed Officer Ghafar in command there and had a wooden fort or stockade built.[33]

Related Letters

Mark Wilks has described Tipu as an Islamic fanatic.[34]

In a letter to Runmust Khan, in early 1786, Tipu himself stated:[35]

We proceeded with the utmost speed, and, at once, made prisoners of 40,000 occasion-seeking and sedition-exciting Koorgs (Coorgis), who alarmed at the approach of our victorious army, had slunk into woods, and concealed themselves in lofty mountains, inaccessible even to birds. Then carrying them away from their native country (the native place of sedition) we raised them (60000 Christian prisoner) to the honour of Islam, and incorporated them into our Ahmedy corps.[36]

Historians doubt the letter from British colonial source as to be genuine as such demography of 60000 christians population inhabiting Koorg is not correct from Tipu Sultan rule [37]

Col. Kirkpatrick translated Tipu's letters into English. At one time he writes: "There are 500 Coorg prisoners, who must be thrown, in parties of fifty, into ten forts, where they must be dealt with in such a manner as shall insure their death in the course of a month or twenty days-such of the women as are young must be given to Musselmauns; and the rest, together with their children, must be removed to, and kept in confinement, at Seringapatam, on a small allowance."[38]

In another place he writes: "By the favor of the Almighty and the assistance of the Prophet, we have arranged and adjusted the affairs of the Taalik of Zufeerabad in the most suitable [and satisfactory] manner; the tribe of Koorgs, to the number of fifty thousand Christian men and women, having been made captive, and incorporated with the Ahmedy class."[39]

To Budruz Zuman Khan he writes

What you write, concerning the death of five hundred Koorgs from the small-pox, is understood. The whole country [thereabouts] is covered with underwood. They [i.e. the Koorgs] must be kept where the climate [literally, the water and air] may best agree with them.[40]

Again to Budruz Zuman Khan he writes

You will also make a daily allowance of one pice to such of the children of the Koorgs, between five and ten years old, as you may think proper.[41]

The following is a translation of an inscription on a stone found at Seringapatam, which was situated in a conspicuous place in the fort:

Oh Almighty God! dispose the whole body of infidels! Scatter their tribe, cause their feet to stagger! Overthrow their councils, change their state, destroy their very root! Cause death to be near them, cut off from them the means of sustenance! Shorten their days! Be their bodies the constant object of their cares [i.e., infest them with diseases], deprive their eyes of sight, make black their faces [i.e., bring shame].[42]

Escape of the captives

In 1790, Dodda Vira Rajendra signed a treaty with the British, who promised to protect his kingdom against Tipu's onslaught. In 1792, Coorg became independent of Mysore once again. Eventually, Kodagu backed the British troops and Tipu fell on 4 May 1799.[31] According to the 1799 Asiatic Annual Register, the Assud Illahee (Asadulai) of Srirangapatana (Seringapatam) were converts and of two kinds: Ahmadis who were Carnatic Christians and the Mohammadies who were Coorgs.[43] Wilks also speaks of the Asadulai.[43]

During the Mysore War (1789–1792) in 1791, one night the British attacked the Sultan's army which fled. That day the Asadullai (converts) who were seized at Coorg and other places along with the Neze Cardar (lancers) all numbering ten thousand people escaped with their weapons to Coorg.

Mappilas and Bearys, are known as Kodava Maaple and constitute a very small minority in modern Kodagu. In spite of their change in faith, they maintained their original Kodava clan names and dress habits and speak Kodava language
, although now they do follow some Mappila–Beary customs also.

Arabic and Persian Inscriptions Record

The treatment of the prisoners of Tippu Sultan's Coorg and Mangalore campaigns is recorded in the

Seringapatam
, dated 1787 AD

Inscriptions

(Arabic) Khaulahu Ta'ala :—va anzalallazina zaharuhum min ahhlkitabi min syasihim va khazafa fi khulu-bihimurroba farikhan takhtaliin va tusiruna farikhan va avarasakum arzahum va diyarahum va amvalahum va arzan lam tatavha va kanallahu 'ala kuUi shayin khadira.

(Persian) B'adaz fararl kuffar hukm shud ki baharbi Bani Khuraiza ravand ki 'ahad shikasta madadgariahzab namudand : lashkari Islani ishanra panzda shaban roz mahasaru kardand va kar bar ishan tang shud va bar hukrai S'ad-bin-M'aaz farod amadand. Va Sad hukra kavd ki mardani ishanra bakushand va zanan va kodakani ishanrA Itarda girand va amvali ishanra bar Musalmanan khismat kuuand. Hazrat risalat, salairahii 'alailii va sallani, farmiid ki ai S'acl M'aaz hukm karJi ki Khiiclai T'aala bar balai haft asman hukm karda biid: va Hakh Subhanahu azin vakh'aa khabar midehad: va farmud farod avard Khuda ananra ki yiiri dadand ahzabra va ham pushti ishan gashtand az ahl Tavarait y'ani Yahud kharizara farod avard az kharahai ishan va afgand dar dilhai ishan tars az paighambar va lashkari u giirohera ki kushidande noh-sad tan bekushtand ya haft-sad tan va barda migired gurohera y'ani farzandan va zauani ishanra va miras dad shumara zamini ishan y'ani mazar'ay va hadaikh va sarahai ishan y'ani liusun va khaVa va malhai ishan az nak'aud va amt'aa va niav'ashi va arazi va bashaina dLid zamin ra ki berafta aid daian ya maUki an buded murad Khaiber ast ya dayaro Piiun ya mumahki Faris: va gufta and har zaminke bahavze Islam darayed ta khiyamat dariu dakhil ast: va hast Khuda bar har chiz khadir va tuvana.

See also

External links

Citations

  1. ^ https://archive.org/details/selectlettersoft00tipu/page/60/mode/1up?q=koorg
  2. ISBN 9780230618459
    .
  3. ISBN 978-0-19-758056-1
    .
  4. ^ "OPINION | Khilafat: Scriptural Sanction and Historical Antecedents". 7 July 2020. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Tipu Sultan's relations with the Ottoman Empire". 29 November 2020. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Two-faced Tipu Sultan: Political double trouble | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". Archived from the original on 9 December 2017.
  7. ^ Punganuri, Ram Chandra Rao (1849). Memoirs of Hyder and Tippoo: Rulers of Seringapatam, Written in the Mahratta language (Google e-book). p. 13. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  8. ^ a b c Punganuri, Ram Chandra Rao (1849). Memoirs of Hyder and Tippoo: Rulers of Seringapatam, Written in the Mahratta language (Google e-book). p. 22. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  9. ISBN 9788120604919
    . Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  10. ISBN 9788177551747
    . Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  11. ISBN 9788129113023
    . Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  12. ^
    ISBN 9788187879572
    . Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  13. ^ a b c d Punganuri, Ram Chandra Rao (1849). Memoirs of Hyder and Tippoo: Rulers of Seringapatam, Written in the Mahratta language (Google e-book). p. 23. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  14. ISBN 9788187879572
    . Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  15. ^
    ISBN 9788187879572
    . Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  16. ^ a b Moegling, H (1855). Coorg Memoirs: An Account of Coorg and of the Coorg Mission. p. 94. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  17. ^ Kirmani, Mir Hussain Ali Khan (1997). History of Tipu Sultan: Being a Continuation of the Neshani Hyduri. Asian Educational Services. p. 14.
  18. ^ Kirmani, Mir Hussain Ali Khan (1997). History of Tipu Sultan: Being a Continuation of the Neshani Hyduri. Asian Educational Services. p. 33.
  19. ^ a b c d Moegling, H (1855). Coorg Memoirs: An Account of Coorg and of the Coorg Mission. p. 95. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  20. ^ Punganuri, Ram Chandra Rao (1849). Memoirs of Hyder and Tippoo: Rulers of Seringapatam, Written in the Mahratta language (Google e-book). p. 34. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  21. ^
    ISBN 9788187879572
    . Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  22. ^ Belliappa, C P (21 May 2013). "Blast from the past". No. Bangalore. Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g Moegling, H (1855). Coorg Memoirs: An Account of Coorg and of the Coorg Mission. p. 96. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  24. ^ a b c d Punganuri, Ram Chandra Rao (1849). Memoirs of Hyder and Tippoo: Rulers of Seringapatam, Written in the Mahratta language (Google e-book). p. 39. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  25. ^ Kirmani, Mir Hussain Ali Khan (1997). History of Tipu Sultan: Being a Continuation of the Neshani Hyduri. Asian Educational Services. p. 38.
  26. ^ a b Kirmani, Mir Hussain Ali Khan (1997). History of Tipu Sultan: Being a Continuation of the Neshani Hyduri. Asian Educational Services. p. 39.
  27. ^ a b c Prabhu 1999, p. 223
  28. ^ Kasturi, N (1940). "The Last Rajas of Coorg" (PDF). The Half – Yearly Journal of the Mysore University: Section B-Science. 1 (1): 15–79. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  29. ^ a b c d e f Moegling, H (1855). Coorg Memoirs: An Account of Coorg and of the Coorg Mission. p. 97. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  30. ^ a b Cariappa 1981, p. 136
  31. ^ a b c Ramaswamy 2007, p. 379
  32. ^ a b c d e f Moegling, H (1855). Coorg Memoirs: An Account of Coorg and of the Coorg Mission. p. 98. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  33. ^ Punganuri, Ram Chandra Rao (1849). Memoirs of Hyder and Tippoo: Rulers of Seringapatam, Written in the Mahratta language (Google e-book). p. 40. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  34. ^ Bhat 1998, p. 39: "However, the image of Tipu in the memoirs of the people of Coorg, Malabar and South Kanara conforms more to the one presented by Kirkpatrick and Wilks, one of a bitter religious bigot and a ferocious conquistadore."
  35. ^ Sen 1930, p. 157
  36. ^ Sultan, Tipu (1811). Select letters of Tippoo Sultan to various public functionaries. London: Black. p. 228. Retrieved 11 February 2014. koorgs runmust.
  37. ^ https://archive.org/details/selectlettersoft00tipu/page/60/mode/1up?q=koorg
  38. ^ THE SCOTS MAGAZINE OR GENERAL REPOSITORY OF LITERATURE, HISTORY, AND POLITICS (Google eBook). 1800. p. 502.
  39. ^ Sultan, Tipu (1811). Select letters of Tippoo Sultan to various public functionaries. Black. p. 151. Retrieved 12 February 2014. koorgs.
  40. ^ Sultan, Tipu (1811). Select letters of Tippoo Sultan to various public functionaries. Black. p. 269. Retrieved 12 February 2014. koorgs.
  41. ^ Sultan, Tipu (1811). Select letters of Tippoo Sultan to various public functionaries. Black. p. 267. Retrieved 12 February 2014. koorgs.
  42. ^ Conjeeveram Hayavadana Rao (rao sahib), Benjamin Lewis Rice (1930). Mysore gazetteer, Volume 2, Issue 4. Government Press. p. 2697.
  43. ^ a b Punganuri, Ram Chandra Rao (1849). Memoirs of Hyder and Tippoo: Rulers of Seringapatam, Written in the Mahratta language (Google e-book). p. 36. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  44. ^ Punganuri, Ram Chandra Rao (1849). Memoirs of Hyder and Tippoo: Rulers of Seringapatam, Written in the Mahratta language (Google e-book). p. 47. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  45. ^ Moegling, H (1855). Coorg Memoirs: An Account of Coorg and of the Coorg Mission. p. 117. Retrieved 11 February 2014.

References

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