Editing Pazhassi Raja (section)

===First revolt (1793–1797)===

Pazhassi Raja was not on good terms with his uncle Vira Varma, Raja of Kurumbranad. In 1793, foxy Vira Varma who had surrendered Kottayam to the EIC back in 1792, convinced Company commissioners to let him collect tax in Kottayam.{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=16}} He calculated that a good collection might please the EIC and that they would let him seize all of Kottayam.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=38}} The company had by this time adopted a hostile approach to Pazhassi Raja who had consistently refused to accept Company suzerainty and hence they made the obedient Vira Varma head of Kottayam{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=60}} Pazhassi Raja was angry at this move. He felt betrayed.{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=91}} After all, he was the only Raja in Northern Malabar to have helped the East India Company consistently in the war with Mysore.{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=313}}

Vira Varma Raja, on the one hand, undertook to collect tax in Kottayam directly, but on the other hand, he encouraged Pazhassi Raja to oppose the company's domination. Moreover, the tax imposed by the company was beyond the peasants' capacity to pay. They resisted attempts to collect these taxes by the agents of the East India Company, and Pazhassi Raja took up their cause.{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=61}}

In 1793 Pazhassi Raja made sure that no tax was collected in Kottayam by the EIC&nbsp;– as a mark of his protest.{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=60}} He also threatened that if Company officials did not give up their enumeration of pepper vines, he would have the vines destroyed.{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=91}} Local Company authorities, however, debated with Raja and soon both discovered Vira Varma's deceptions. The East India Company put forward a solution acceptable to the Raja by which 20 percent of gross revenue would go to Raja and another 20 percent would go for temple expenses. No tax would be imposed on temple property in the immediate future.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=42}}{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=29}}

In 1793 Tipu's Vakils protested to the Company that Pazhassi Raja, who was an EIC subsidiary, had overrun most of Wayanad. Soon the Raja was supreme in the Wayanad Plateau.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=36}}

But the Governor General unwisely revoked the agreement in 1794 and gave Kottayam to Kurumbranad Raja on a five-year lease.{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=91}}{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=61}}{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=30}}{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=43}} The Raja was very angry at this decision and decided to retaliate by ruling his country as per customary law. The year before the lease was concluded the Raja had provided asylum to a Nayar noble, Narangoli Nambiar of the Iruvazinad royal clan, who had been declared an outlaw by the East India Company for the murder of three men who had killed his kinsman. The Raja's kind treatment of Nambiar irritated the EIC.{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=62}}{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=45}} The EIC also became angry that the Raja had executed by impalement two robbers as per customary law.{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=314}} The Company planned to arrest Raja 'for murder' but gave up the idea as the Raja had a bodyguard of 500 well-armed Wayanad Nayars.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}

In 1795, after a year, Vira Varma Raja got Kottayam on lease but was not able to collect tax there due to the efforts of his nephew Raja. So East India Company troops arrived in Kottayam to help Vira Varma's tax collectors, but Pazhassi Raja's men resisted them with success.{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=30}}{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=314}}

In 1796 orders were issued from Bombay to collect tax arrears for 2 years in Kottayam. For the Company administration, no more pretexts were needed to arrest Raja. 300 men under Lieutenant James Gordon marched from Talassery and seized Raja's fortified house at Pazhassi-but Raja fled four days earlier to Manattana (near Kottiyur). Gordon sacked the palace where traditional treasure of Raja was kept.{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=30}}{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=92}} Raja was angry at Gordon's actions and sent a letter to the Supervisor at Thalassery.{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}}{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=62}}{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=314}}{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=48}}

Raja was also angry that one of his former generals, named [[Pazhayamviden Chandu]], had become an agent of Kurumbranad Raja and what angered him even more was that this turncoat had the audacity to boss him with Vira Varma's and EIC blessings.{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}} Raja shifted his HQ to Purali Range and then into Wayanad. Raja then blocked all Company communications between Wayanad and Low Malabar through Kuttiyadi Pass.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=48}} The EIC retaliated by cutting all communications between Raja and Low Malabar. But as they did not have enough troops to chase him they waited for reinforcements.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}

The East India Company commandant was Colonel Dow, who Raja knew well from the Siege of Thalassery. Raja thought that this old friend might help him mediate with the Company administration. Raja offered to give up the struggle provided he was pardoned and his treasure and house restored.{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=92}}{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=49}} The Colonel and Raja being old soldiers hated needless bloodshed, so he forwarded Raja's request to the Commissioners, who though they were bitterly opposed to Raja's independent style, agreed to the Colonel's request as there was a risk that Raja might ally with Tipu.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=92}}

So Northern Superintendent ordered the restoration of the Raja's house [but not treasure], and the Raja's pardon was confirmed by the Bombay and Supreme Governments.{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=92}} But the orders of government were communicated to the Raja via Vira Varma&nbsp;– which meant that uncle Raja took care not to report to his nephew that the company had agreed to his requests. Uncle Raja had a vested interest in the war between the company and his nephew Pazhassi Raja.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=49}}

Vira Varma also removed [[Kaitheri Ambu]], a favourite noble and general of Raja, from home administration of Kottayam. Ambu along with followers went to Kannavam [also spelled ''Kannavath'' and ''Kannoth''], where he planned and executed a mass resistance with people's support, which made sure that Vira Varma could make no tax collection in Kottayam. But Ambu acted clearly on guidance of Raja, who felt the expulsion of Ambu was another of his uncle's conspiracies to undermine him.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}

Raja feared that the East India Company planned to seize him [not knowing that their truce terms were kept blocked from him by his uncle] and retreated into the depths of Wayanad. Company troop build-up in Wayanad also amplified his doubts. However, Raja was still eager to avoid a war and came to meet the Northern Superintendent with a bodyguard of 1500 armed Nayars. Vira Varma Raja was also ordered to be present. Pazhassi Raja's main demand was that Kottayam must be under his rule, a demand to which his uncle was not ready to accede.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}

The EIC Commissioners' attitude also was arrogant; they were already prejudiced against Raja and were therefore blind towards Raja's logical argument that Vira Varma had no business in Kottayam. As talks broke down, the Commissioners' issued a proclamation in Kottayam that if those Kottayam men in service of Raja did not desert him and come home, they would be declared enemies and their properties confiscated.{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=314}}{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=92}} But this proclamation had little effect in Kottayam where resistance to Company-Kurumbranad rule became stronger.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}

The East India Company, to their horror, found out that a large number of Vira Varma's troops had deserted to join ranks of insurgents{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=314}}{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=92}} and Vira Varma himself was not much interested to help the company; after all his aim was to create a flare-up between his nephew and the EIC for sake of pure self-interest.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}

Raja then visited the Mysorean commandant at Karkankotta in 1796{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=62}}{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=94}} and in 1797 held an audience with his old enemy Tipu in Mysore, who posted 6000 men at Karkankotta to aid Raja in case of war and to supply ammunition to rebels.<ref name="WFrancis103">{{cite book |last1=W. Francis |title=The Nilgiris |year=1908 |page=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.22380/page/n121 103] |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.22380 |access-date=5 September 2019}}</ref> He also began to collect troops and armaments. War was imminent. 1200 troops and artillery under a Major General was sent by the Bombay Government to deal with Pazhassi. The company also began to set up outposts in Kottayam and sent more troops to Wayanad.{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=314}}{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=32}}

In early 1797, the Nayar militia uprose all over Kottayam{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=63}} and Company outposts were trapped in a true state of siege. Partisan bands became active all over Kottayam and harassed reinforcements and supply convoys. The case was similar in Wayanad where East India Company troops that moved out of the safety of their garrisons risked being harried by Kurichia bowmen. The EIC suffered a good deal of loss in terms of men, ammunition and stores in these ambuscades.{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=314}}{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=95}}

====Victory at Periya Pass====

This event was the most important in the whole war. In 1797, Colonel Dow & force marches into Wayanad. His plan was to block Periya Pass and then crush a large rebel force in Kannoth once their retreat is blocked.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}

Reinforcements under Lieutenant Mealy were to reach Dow at Periya, but on way they were severely harassed by a force of Nayars and Kurichias and suffered a casualty of 105 men. So instead of Periya they retreated to their original base.{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=63}}{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=58}}

Dow's troops suffered chronic shortage of supplies and so Dow applied for reinforcements and re-supplies to be sent under Major Anderson of Bowles' regiment. But as Mappila guides of Anderson deserted at last moment. That caused a delay in journey of Anderson-a delay that had fatal consequence for the EIC.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=59}}

Dow then received news that Tipu had sent sepoys to aid Raja as Tipu considered the Company entry into Wayanad a violation of Seringapatam Pact. Dow decided that he will go to Talassery to consult authorities there and to plan a greater operation to deal with troops of Raja and Tipu simultaneously in Wayanad. He left with a small band of men but was ambushed on way by Raja's men aided by Mysorean sepoys but Dow escaped unhurt.{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=63}}{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=59}}

The day after he left, an EIC force of 1100 under Major Cameroon in Periya decided to descend into Kottayam via Periya Pass as their supplies have exhausted.{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=64}}

But what they did not know was that Raja who learned of the true state of the Company expeditionary force laid a trap for them-he ordered troops lay concealed in camouflaged stockades built on both sides of the pass. Once the whole Company force entered the narrow pass, hidden troops were to pounce on their enemy who must be caught unawares.{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=314}}

Plan worked well and what followed was great slaughter of the Company force.{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=95}}{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=64}}{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=19}} Had it not been for the arrival of Major Anderson's force the following day, hardly any would have survived due to lack of medical care. Most of the enemy were killed and all their guns, ammunition, baggage and cattle were plundered along with Union colours. Senior Company officers like Major Cameroon, Lieutenant Nugent, Lieutenant Madge, and Lieutenant Rudderman were killed in action.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=60}}

Around this time, Commissioners took a decision on the advice of Swaminatha Pattar, a Tamil Brahmin who was the minister of Zamorin that sowed the eventual downfall of Pazhassi Raja. They decided to raise an irregular force of local traitors to harass Pazhassi Raja.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=60}} This force was a forerunner of the Kolkar,{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=64}} who became hated because of their support of the company and cruelty to resisters and people.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{Page needed|date=June 2014}}

But for time being, Raja was in a strong position.{{sfnp|Balakrishnan|2011|p=64}}  On account of the disasters suffered by their army, Bombay Government sent a Committee of Government composed of men of highest ranks-Commander-In-Chief Lieutenant-General Stuart and Governor Jonathan Duncan.{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=32}}{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=60}}{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=315}} They decided to make peace as they were anxious that guerrilla warfare in a mountainous and forested terrain could last long and that Raja might join forces with Tipu or French. They also decided that Kurumbranad Raja Vira Varma should be ousted from administration of Kottayam.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=60}} Rajas of Chirakkal and Parappanad acted as mediators in negotiation between Raja and the East India Company{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=32}}{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=95}} and a peace pact was signed between Pazhassi and the Company in 1797.{{sfnp|Menon|2007|p=315}}

The Treaty of 1797 agreed on following points:{{sfnp|Rajayyan|1971|p=95}}{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=64}}
* Pazhassi Raja was to be 'pardoned'.
* He will be returned his treasure.
* He will be provided an annual allowance of 8000 rupees.
* He will be given back his confiscated house at Pazhassi.
* Ravi Varma, elder brother of Pazhassi Raja will be head of Kottayam.

A pardon and restoration of property was also extended to Narangoli Nambiar of Iruvazinad.{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=72}}

Thus Raja's efforts of four years ended in a political victory. Peace dawned after four years of antagonism and war.

Tipu Sultan in his letter to French government notes with glee that East India Company had lost 1,000 European soldiers and 3,000 native sepoys in four years of war between the [[Presidency armies]] and Kottayam army.{{sfnp|Kurup|1980|p=}}{{sfnp|Kurup|2008|p=60}}{{sfnp|Elayavoor|2007|p=20}}