The Moplah Massacre of 1921, a gruesome chapter in Kerala’s history, remains etched in the collective memory of Hindus, particularly those from the Malabar region. This massacre was part of the broader Moplah Rebellion, an uprising that began ostensibly as a peasant revolt against British colonial rule but soon descended into an anti-Hindu pogrom marked by forced conversions, brutal killings, and widespread displacement of Hindus. The specific event on September 25, 1921, when 38 Hindus were slaughtered and thrown into the Thuvoor well, highlights the scale of brutality and serves as a reminder of religious intolerance and violence.
Historical Context of the Moplah Rebellion
The Moplahs, or Mappilas, were descendants of Arab traders who had settled in Kerala centuries ago. Over time, they developed a distinct identity that was deeply rooted in Islam, with their loyalties tied to Islamic leaders rather than the local Hindu rulers or the British. The Moplah Rebellion of 1921 cannot be seen in isolation but must be contextualized within the broader framework of social, economic, and political changes that had been shaping the region for decades.
Under British rule, the introduction of new land revenue systems created tensions between Hindu landlords and Muslim peasants, many of whom were Moplahs. This led to a series of smaller, localized uprisings in the 19th century, which were primarily driven by economic grievances. However, these uprisings often took on a religious character, with Moplah leaders rallying their followers in the name of Islam.
By 1921, the Moplah Rebellion had grown into a full-blown insurrection, influenced by the wider Khilafat Movement, which sought to protect the Ottoman Caliphate following its collapse in the wake of World War I. The Khilafat Movement, which was supported by both Hindu and Muslim leaders in India, inadvertently fueled religious extremism in the Malabar region, where Moplahs began to see their struggle as not only against the British but also against the ‘infidel’ Hindus.
The Thuvoor Massacre: A Gruesome Atrocity
The Thuvoor massacre is one of the most heinous incidents of the Moplah Rebellion. On September 25, 1921, Moplah insurgents captured 38 Hindus, many of whom were unwilling to convert to Islam. These men were brought to the village of Thuvoor, tied up, and marched to the local well. In a display of religious fanaticism, the Moplah rebels beheaded the captives and threw their bodies into the well, turning the site into a gruesome mass grave.
Witnesses and survivors from neighbouring villages recounted how the Moplahs, armed with swords and other weapons, went on a rampage, looting Hindu homes and temples, and forcibly converting those who survived. Forced conversions were a common feature of the Moplah Rebellion, and those who refused were often met with horrific violence. The 38 men at Thuvoor were given an ultimatum: convert or face death. Their refusal to renounce their faith cost them their lives.
Religious Motivations and Fanaticism
Although the Moplah Rebellion began with some legitimate grievances against British rule, it quickly spiralled into a religiously charged conflict, with Moplahs attacking Hindus indiscriminately. Religious fanaticism played a major role in fueling the violence, as many Moplahs believed that they were waging a jihad against non-Muslims. The Khilafat Movement’s influence, which sought to defend the Ottoman Caliphate, only intensified these sentiments, with the Moplahs rallying around the idea of defending Islam by targeting Hindus.
Historical accounts reveal that the Moplah insurgents were often encouraged by local religious leaders, who provided theological justifications for the violence. They claimed that killing Hindus and forcibly converting them was a legitimate way of defending the faith. This religious zealotry turned a political rebellion into a full-scale pogrom, where the goal was not just to overthrow British rule but also to establish Islamic dominance in the region.
Responses to the Atrocities
The British government was slow to respond to the Moplah Rebellion, and by the time they intervened, the violence had already spread across large parts of the Malabar region. The British launched a military campaign to suppress the rebellion, which eventually succeeded, but not before thousands of Hindus had been killed or displaced. The British crackdown on the Moplahs was brutal, leading to mass arrests and executions of insurgents. However, their response was too late to prevent the widespread atrocities against Hindus.
Indian leaders, too, were divided in their response to the rebellion. M.K. Gandhi initially supported the Moplahs as part of the broader anti-colonial struggle, but he later mildly condemned the violence. Other leaders, such as Annie Besant, were more critical of the rebellion from the outset, describing it as a ‘Hindu genocide’. Besant, who had visited the affected areas, documented the extent of the atrocities and pointed out that the rebellion was not simply about resistance to British rule but also involved a deliberate attempt to exterminate Hindus.
B. R. Ambedkar, who would later become the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, also spoke out against the Moplah Rebellion, criticizing the Congress Party’s attempts to downplay the religious aspect of the violence. Ambedkar’s critique highlighted the selective memory of some sections of Indian society, which chose to view the rebellion only through the lens of anti-colonialism while ignoring its sectarian nature. Ambedkar was outraged by Gandhi’s selective stance, particularly regarding the Moplah Massacre. He remarked, “Mr Gandhi has never held Muslims accountable, even when they have committed serious crimes against Hindus”.
Legacy of the Moplah Massacre
Despite the scale of the violence, the Moplah Massacre has largely been forgotten in the official history of India’s struggle for independence. The focus on the anti-colonial narrative has often overshadowed the sectarian violence that occurred during the rebellion, leaving the victims of the Moplah atrocities without proper recognition or commemoration.
In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in revisiting this dark chapter of Indian history, with some groups calling for the Moplah Rebellion to be recognized as a genocide. The massacre at Thuvoor well remains one of the most poignant symbols of the religious violence that engulfed the region during the rebellion. The well, which became a mass grave for 38 innocent Hindus, stands as a reminder of the brutality of religious intolerance.
Conclusion
The Moplah Massacre of 1921 is a tragic chapter in Indian history that highlights the dangers of religious fanaticism and violence. While the Moplah Rebellion may have had its roots in legitimate grievances against British colonial rule, it quickly became a religiously motivated genocide against Hindus. The massacre at Thuvoor well, where 38 Hindus were killed for refusing to convert to Islam, is a stark reminder of the lengths to which religious extremists will go to impose their beliefs on others.
It is important to remember the victims of the Moplah Massacre and to recognize the events for what they were: a targeted campaign of violence against Hindus that must be acknowledged in India’s historical memory. Only by confronting this painful past can we hope to build a more tolerant and inclusive future.