Mopila/Mappila Revolt

Again in news is a historical event which took place during British rule : 'Mappila/Moplah/Malabar revolt'

I read about it in history books of mine and the sequence of events that took place were as follows:

Moplahs: descendants of Arab traders became dependent on agriculture, turned into cultivating tenants(landless labourers)

land was given by ruling rajas to Namboodri Brahmins and chieftains. (which became their janmam rights)

Land revenue was equally shared between the three.

Under Tipu Sultan and Haider Ali, these land ruling classes fled and their position taken up Moplahs (became kanamdars)

Under British rule, Jenmi land tenures were recognised while these Moplah peasants were rendered landless. 

1834-36, 1882-85, 1876: uprisings took place against British and Hindu landlords, 

1921: Moplah uprising took place but this time it merged into larger Khilafat Movement taking place in the country. This lent a religious overtone to the movement and it turned violent. It also tried to establish khilafat government instead of a nationalist govt. in the country. Mosques were used a factor of mobilisation.

Now, as the event is about to complete its centenary, movies are planned to be made glorifying leader of the movement. This, as always, are seen in communal light.

However, in most of the rebellions that took place in Medieval and Modern India, religion served as galvanising point. Few examples are:

 Satnami revolt against Aurangzeb where people of Satnami sect rose in rebellion.

Birsa Munda leader of Munda rebellion used his Messiah image to garner support against British.

Sikhism in their revolt against Mughals and British. 

Although, religious rhetoric was used,that doesn't capture the soul of the rebellion which was more due to atrocities done upon them.

We don't see Gandhi's 'Ramrajya' in religious light but the light that served as mobilisation point of all Indians against 'atrocities' of British rule.

Therefore, in my humble opinion the movies will do justice to history if it show the struggle of peasants against british and landlords and not show it as a religious war.

And as to the question of trying to establish 'khilafat govt.', which was entirely wrong esp. during Struggle for Independent India, must be seen in the larger light of the support of some Muslims to the idea of separate nation, ultimately leading to the creation of Pakistan. This idea of vying for separate nation must be contrasted with the unity Hindu-Muslims showed during Revolt of 1857.

To conclude, it can be said that as long as we continue to fight among ourselves we are strengthening the result of "Divide and Rule" of British rule and thus, Colonised even though we are free!!!