After the 1837 rebellion, the Coorgs were most abundantly praised by the British Government for their loyalty, and in recognition of their services Rs. 20,000 of Vira Raja's recaptured treasure were ordered to be divided amongst those employed on the expedition. But they requested that they might be honoured with other distinctions in lieu; consequently they were rewarded with jaghir lands to a great extent, and pensions for three generations, with horses, gold and silver medals, and broad cloth, according to their merits, or perhaps to the different degrees of relationship and friendship in which they stood to the Divans.
The Coorg medal, in gold, weighs 7 tolas without the chain and 11.5 tolas with, and is two inches in diameter. On one side it represents a Coorg warrior in fighting attitude, and on the other it bears, round a wreath which encircles the Coorg knives—the picha-katti and the udu-katti—the following inscription in English: 'For distinguished conduct and loyalty to the British Government. Coorg, April 1837.' The same inscription in Canarese is given on the reverse side.
Source: Mysore and Coorg, Vol. III by Lewis Rice
British could rule Coorg from 1834 to 1947 by deviding the local natives and rewarding the cousins against other cousins true warriors who questioned the high rate of un reasonable land revenue and discrimination of farmers of Lower & Upper Coorg. Devide & Rule policy of British. The Lower Coorg with wild forests and scattered habitation was delinked from than Kodagu in 1837 after the Amara Sullia Katakayi ( Revolt- First Freedom Struggle of India) attached to Uppinangady Taluk on to Dakshina Kannada District under the direct control of British Governor at Madras. Part of Kanara was called as North Kanara and attached to BOMBAY Province.[ To suppress the unity of intelligent Saraswats/ Gowda Saraswths/ Havyaks with Nadavas/ Bunts/ Gowdas of TULUNAADU].
ReplyDelete