The Coorg Rebellion was, properly speaking, a rising of the Gowdas, a tribe on the western slope of the Ghats, who resemble the Coorgs in many of their habits. These were disaffected to the Company's Government. After the annexation of Coorg, the districts of Amara-Sulya, Puttur and Bantwala, the latter adjoining that of Mangalore, had been re-transferred to the province of Canara, from which they had been originally taken. Under the Coorg Rajas the assessment had been paid in kind. The Collector of Mangalore now demanded cash payment. This was considered a grievance, as the farmers were laid under tribute by the money changers. One of the four Divans, the above named Lakshmi Narayana, a Brahman, who was displeased with the ascendancy of his Coorg brother-Devans, made political capital out of the ill feeling of the Gaudas. A brother of his, at Sulya in the low country, was in league with some rich and influential men of the malcontent Gowda. The insurgents assembled at Sulya. They were a mere rabble, but they made a successful attack at Puttur on the Collector of Mangalore and two companies of sepoys. A party of the rebels, whose courage and numbers increased after their unexpected success, advanced to Mangalore, opened the gaol, and with the assistance of the prison fraternity, burnt and looted the kacheri and some civilians' houses situated on the hills overlooking the town. All the Europeans of the station were seized with a panic. The civilians, who fled on board a ship bound for Cannanore, were spectators of the conflagration of their houses, and thought the whole country was in arms. The Commanding Officer held a council of war, and would have embarked the garrison had boats been procurable. But they soon recovered their presence of mind, and had no difficulty in maintaining their ground and restoring order; so that when the troops immediately sent from Cannanore and Bombay arrived, they found nobody to fight with.
Though this was altogether a Gowda affair, a rising was also planned amongst the Coorgs at Nalknad and Beppunad, and amongst the Badagas in the Panje, Bellare and Subrahmanya districts, and the northern parts of Coorg inhabited by the late Raja's trusted and favoured Sivacharis. Also the relatives, connections and ever ready tools of the late Devan Kunta Basava were there.
But this insurrection was put down with little shedding of blood and Coorg was once again at peace.
Source: Mysore and Coorg, Vol. III by Lewis Rice
Thank you Amritha for a brief account of "1837 Amara Sullia uprising of Ryoths". I have narrated this in detail in my book "IN PURSUIT OF OUR ROOTS". It is necessary to recognise this uprising as the first freedom struggle and those martyred fighters like Kedambadi Rama Gowda, Guddemane Appayya Gowda and others including few Kodava men get their due share in the history of Indian Freedom Struggle!
ReplyDelete"rising of the Gowdas, a tribe on the western slope of the Ghats, who resemble the Coorgs in many of their habits."
ReplyDeleteSmall correction, Gowdas has a long history and the culture of Kodagu (later Coorg by British) was periodically set under many rulers and lately by Haleri kings... The dress, the weapons or other customs are influenced by present Kerala and Dakshina Kannada. Due to everlasting war, harsh climate, the Gowdas changed their lifestyle or customs as per convenience.... There were other communities like traders(Shetty), potters(kumbara),priests (brahmin) etc in town or near fort and many tribes who were close knit for supporting Vokkaliga(farming Gowdas) for forest products and estate works. The tribes intermixed with the socially forward class and gave birth to many other ethnic group. Classic example for effects /affects of War... Its interesting to dig history but becoming contraversis for pinching the roots of some ethnic groups...
"rising of the Gowdas, a tribe on the western slope of the Ghats, who resemble the Coorgs in many of their habits."
ReplyDeleteSmall correction, Gowdas has a long history and the culture of Kodagu (later Coorg by British) was periodically set under many rulers and lately by Haleri kings... The dress, the weapons or other customs are influenced by present Kerala and Dakshina Kannada. Due to everlasting war, harsh climate, the Gowdas changed their lifestyle or customs as per convenience.... There were other communities like traders(Shetty), potters(kumbara),priests (brahmin) etc in town or near fort and many tribes who were close knit for supporting Vokkaliga(farming Gowdas) for forest products and estate works. The tribes intermixed with the socially forward class and gave birth to many other ethnic group. Classic example for effects /affects of War... Its interesting to dig history but becoming contraversis for pinching the roots of some ethnic groups...
Dear Mr.
ReplyDeleteRaj: you are right. Gowdas are not a "Tribal" ethinic Group. They are athe descendants of Talakadu Gangas (200-1004 AD)- Gangawadikar-Gangadikara. Gowdas are known to be originally belonging to agrarian community and on their journey they built Kingdoms and were Rulers. Talakadu Gangas Ruled most part of Southern Karnataka and northern part of present Tamilnadu. They had marimonial relationship with Kadambas, Chalukyas. Even after the down fall of their Royalty they continued to occupy a position of administration in the Political System of the Land. They have been referred as "Gowda Prabhu" in the inscriptions of Vijayanagara Royality.(Rajaram Heggade; Ashoka Settar, 2001, 221). It is known from the Rule of Dynasties of malnadu such as Hoysalas, Keladi (Ikkeri) Naayakas, Haleri that the Village Administration was vested with Gaundas(Same P. 20). They were the "Samanthas, Manilikas Kings, Palegars", commanding Generals i.e. Vassals to the Empires of the Time.
Prominent among them are Beluru Hoysalas, Keladi Nayakas, Yalahanka Nada Prabhu Kempegowda and Haleri Dynasty of Greater Kodagu who originated from Gowda(Vokkaliga) roots, that is "Western Ganga Dynasty" - Gangawadikara - Gangadikara. Kodagu was sparsely inhabited and Gowdas were appointed as Nada Gowda prominent among them are Haleri Nada Gowda _ Bommagowda, Father in law of Haleri Dynasty founder Veeraraju, Daragana (Niddyamale) and Kodi Families who were appointed as "Ksethrapalakas" of Bhagandeshwara and Talakeaveri temples respectively. In addition, During the Rule of Doddaveera Rajendra, Gowdas were reallocated (1790-1805) in large nos.from Lower Kodagu (Amara Sullia and Puttur) to upper Kodagu and were granted "Jamma Lands". These Gowdas as well were originally re-allocated from "Igoor " Seeme(Hassan Dist.) during the Rule of Ikkeri Nayakas. For Details read my book "IN PURSUIT OF OUR ROOTS".