Historic Alleys

Ummini Thampi’s (Marthandam Thampi Iravi, Womana Tomby) overtures against the British.

I wrote about the Munro years in Travancore in 2017, and introduced to readers a fascinating character named Ummini Thampi – Well, I mentioned therein that he was an intriguer in Travancore, the cause of so many misfortunes and deaths and was involved in what was known as the 1812 Quilon plot or the Quilon revolt. How this Dewan, who was squarely on the British side, changed sides and went against them is the thread of the plot, leaving behind questions on whether he was a patriot or schemer.

First, a recap on Ummini Thampi (Thampi Marthandan Iravi – Woomana Tumby), was considered to be a son of the Dharma Raja, whom we talked about while introducing Manorama Thampuratti’s exile (Calicut) in Travancore, and Tipu’s Travancore overtures. As Veluthampi Dalawa was being pursued by the British, Ummini (who had previously crossed swords with the Dewan and had been briefly imprisoned) offered help, was rewarded by the Resident Macaulay, and instated as the Dewan of Travancore in 1809. Going in search of Veluthampi, he tracked down the body of the late Dewan who had committed suicide, and handed it over to the British, after which he is said to have done to death many of Velu Thampi’s relatives. In British accounts, Ummini Thampi is described as a haughty man, dressed in Mughal outfits (that’s strange!), and one who preferred to have Pathans in the army (perhaps they were considered more ruthless).

The EIC, following the Veluthampi revolt (I had covered this previously), levied a large war indemnity and a huge annual subsidy (190,000 pagoda and 8 lakhs respectively), which Ummini did not reject. As the new Dewan Ummini was unacceptable to Balarama Varma Raja (Thampi tried to restrict his temple and festival expenses etc.), many intrigues took place in Travancore, resulting in the Dewan being summoned to Trivandrum for a concert with the plan was to have him assassinated at Kazhakootam, or if it failed, following a second attempt, at the palace. The Dewan fled to Macaulay seeking support and refuge. After this failed, the situation deteriorated, since the resident was on the side of the Dewan, and Thampi’s family were ill-treated, and beaten up by the Raja’s men. Macaulay with Thampi’s support now suggested an EIC annexation of Travancore, which the Governor General rejected. At this juncture, Macaulay resigned and left Travancore in 1810, to be succeeded by John Munro. In Nov 1810, Balarama Varma, the Raja passed away under mysterious circumstances (It is mentioned that Munro prevented the Raja’s physician from treating the sick man, and employed another who administered the wrong medication leading to his death).

The Elaya Raja (Kerala Varma - Vishakam Annan from Mavelikkara) who took over the throne, was also against the British and struggled with the machinations of Ummini Thampi, even threatening to shoot the latter. Kerala Varma eventually lost in his bid to the throne owing to the re-interpretation of succession rules (expert opinion by TH Baber), pressure from Ummini Thampi, and thus a female regent Lakshmi Bayi was placed on the throne, with Munro to support. Kerala Varma was forced to abdicate, later deposed, and exiled to Tellicherry/Chingleput, dying there (This was detailed in the previous article on Munro).

Ummini Thampi continued until 1811, but got on the wrong side of the regent queen and was involved in accusations of graft and corruption, irritating his benefactor Munro. Studies show that many of these expenses were related to modernizing the Vizhinjam port and the ire was directed against restricting royal expenses, as well as Thampi’s attempts at getting his Devadasi paramour released from the temple institution. We can also see that he did some good work as a Dewan, like instituting the Kavalpada (with 200 kaval footmen, to counter brewing political unrest, as a precautionary measure) or police at Travancore, the establishment of the weaver’s conclave at Balaramapuram, courts of justice (Insaff Kutcheri) with local Judges and so on. But it was not yet a time ripe for reform, and the Travancore royals insisted on retaining traditions and status quo, understandably.

The regent queen wanted Thampi thrown out of office and jailed, and demanded action from Munro.  He was eventually fired by Munro in 1811 and confined at Quilon. Thampi tried to influence Madras using Mallan Pillai, a senior minister and a relative of his, but the ploy failed. Thus, Munro took over as Dewan, with the queen’s complete support. While a regent was an EIC overseer, the Dewan had vast enforceable powers. Munro took over the reins, by restricting correspondence in his Rayasam office, money could be issued only with the Resident’s authorization, and the Kaval was headed by European officers. The Karyakkars lost authority and were reinstituted as Tehsildars, while laws were reencoded as Chattavariyolas combining Dharma Shastra with EIC codes. Missionary activities were increased and promoted, mainly to support and strengthen British power.

Some of this rankled the Hindu bureaucracy, and this was used by Fakirs at Quilon, to whip up resentment among the ranks.  Eventually, these as well as machinations by Ummini Thampi, resulted in a revolt. Most accounts concluded that the main instigators were Ummini Thampi and a Raja from Pazhassi (the original had been killed in 1795 if you recall, this was another assumed to be from the Kotiote family).

The conspiracy precipitated on the night of 24^th May 1812., when Jamadar Ayyalu (Iyaloo) met and reported what he had gleaned about a conspiracy, from another sepoy Venkatram, to Adjutant Cox, 2nd Battalion, 14th Regiment. At that time, the subsidiary force, under the command of Colonel Hamilton Hall, was composed of a company of European artillery, the 2nd battalion 9th, 2nd of the 11th, 2nd of the 14th, and 2nd of the 18th regiments of native infantry.

The next day, the commander Col. Hamilton Hall, and other battalion officers met and decided to order a parade of the troops that afternoon, with the Resident Lt Col Munro presiding. Actions were quick, after the parade assembled, Jamadar Shaik Hussain, together with 2 Havildars and 22 sepoys, were called out and confined. Several civilians who were part of the plot were seized by Munro's agents, and jailed. An investigation was ordered. Following this, Jamadar Shaik Hussain and Private Salabat Khan were summarily tried by Major Fraser presiding over a board of officers, and blown from a gun on the 28th of May, while the two Havildars, one Naik and 26 sepoys, of whom 19 were Muslims and 10 Hindus, were court-martialed and sentenced to death. Two of the sepoys were later pardoned, and the rest were either shot or hanged, the sentences being carried out al Quilon, Cannanore, Seringapatam, Trichinopoly, Vellore, and St Thomas Mount. Many others initially confined and indirectly involved, were pardoned and let off.

The result of the inquiries held by Munro showed that the conspiracy was organized by a local group headed by Sheik Hussain, goaded by Ummini Thampi, the ex-Dewan of Travancore, and an individual claiming to be the nephew and representative of the late Pazhassi Raja and several Islamic mendicants. The plan was to confer the sovereignty of Travancore upon the Pseudo Pazhassi Rajah. The Jemadar was promised the office of Dewan, but this, in all probability, was intended for Ummini Thampi. The pay of all sepoys who were included in the plot was to be raised to Rs. 10 per month. The European officers were to have been attacked while at dinner, and the barracks set on fire at the same time to distract attention, after which the public treasury was to be plundered. The homes of Munro and Mrs. Top (a trader in Chicory and betelnuts who was in debt to the Circar), were to be looted and ransacked.

Lt Col Wilson writes - On the 16th February 1813 Jemadar Iyaloo of the 14th was promoted to be Subadar, and presented with a palankeen and an allowance for bearers. He also received a gold medal, and a donation of 1,000 rupees. On his decease, his nearest heir was to be allowed a pension of 35 rupees per mensem. Venkatram, the sepoy who had informed the Jemadar of the plot, was pensioned on the pay of a Jemadar, and received a donation of 500 rupees. Private Hoossain Khan, who had given information to Captain Ives of the same battalion on the 24th May, but in rather an incoherent manner, was pensioned on the pay of a Havildar. Womanah Tumby, and the Pychy Rajah were tried by the Court of the Travancore, Government. The former was sentenced to death, but this sentence was commuted to banishment, and he was removed to Nellore. The Pychy Rajah was banished to Chingleput, but he was released from confinement in 1815.

Some additional background comes from a resident officer who wrote to his friend on May 30^th which was thence published in the Scots Magazine Vol 74, pt2 of Nov. 1812 – We can understand from his letter that a first attempt had failed due to the delay in the arrival of some 30 armed men to support the rebels, and so a second plan had been formulated, as follows.

These (Dewan and Rajah) together, by bribery, had corrupted a native officer of the 14th regiment of infantry, and they engaged him to bring into their plans the greatest part of the native troops of Quilon; and, I am sorry to say, in a great measure succeeded. The Rajah, the prime instigator of the whole plot, proposed, that when sufficient numbers of sepoys came into their view, to attempt the murder of all the European officers in the place, and to be accomplished in the following manner:

They had heard that the 18th regiment was to be reviewed on a certain day, and that every officer in the cantonment, the Resident included, were to dine at our mess in the evening. The conspirators were to fall upon us when assembled, and to strike off the head of everyone. When this horrible murder was accomplished, they were to remain quiet till morning, on the appearance of which the drums were to beat to arms, and the three corps were to be thus disposed of: one was to march to the southern lines, another to the northern, and the third to the Arunghaut pass, for the purpose of preventing the march of troops into the country. Several battalions were also to be immediately raised, and by these means they expected to keep possession of Travancore. I must tell you, that, to accomplish the intended massacre, and to make it more easy, the lines were to be fired and if the officers left the mess-house, which they expected they would do, they intended to bayonet them as they came out. This abominable and atrocious design was prevented only by the absence of one man, who had promised to make his appearance with fifty associates. It was two days after found out by a sepoy, who overheard a few of the conspirators talking of the business, and lamenting why it was not accomplished, and appointing the next public party, which they expected would be on the 4th of June, as the day of business. The Commanding Officer was informed of the whole by this man.

"The brigade was immediately ordered out, for what purpose not an officer knew. The native officer above-mentioned was called to the front, with about thirty sepoys, by name these were from the 14th regiment, and were immediately put, in irons, and sent to the main-guard, A field officer, one captain, and 2 subalterns, were immediately ordered on duty; and it was then that the officers knew the extent of the danger they had providentially escaped, but never dreamed that more of the native troops were concerned. The following morning a board of officers was held, and a few sepoys turned King's evidence. They informed the Committee of what I have already told you, but did not implicate another person. It was thought strange that so few should have the temerity, without other assistance to attempt such a vile murder; but the following morning a Fakeer, and one or two other persons, were taken up on suspicion, and when the Committee had met, they gave in evidence that two-thirds of the troops, with the native officers, were concerned.

The Fakeer called out a great number, by name, from the 14th native officers; five from the 18th, two or three from the 11th and 9th; implicated some of the Resident's Peons, natives of the place, and several officers' servants: he also said, nearly all the sepoys of the 14th, and several from the other corps, were engaged in the plot; said, that the man in charge of the public cattle had been bribed, and many others.

"The danger was now thought very great, and Quilon was in great agitation and alarm. It was deemed necessary to make an immediate example of one or two of the ringleaders. All the native officers who had been implicated from the different corps, were sent off to Trichinopoly that day, under the guard of fifty of the Resident's Peons, and the whole under the charge of an officer of the 14th. The 14th itself was ordered to leave Quilon, with its European officers, the following morning, and to march to the same place; but they march in the course of this day instead, as twelve hours was rather too short a notice. On the same day that this information was received (the day before yesterday,) the troops were ordered under arms, and formed a line in brigade at five o'clock.

Three guns were advanced to the front of the line, about one hundred paces from the centre; also, a gun from each flank the same distance. The latter were primed and loaded with grapeshot, and pointed towards the battalion, as it was expected the sepoys would make some opposition to the severe measures in contemplation. Two of the guns in the centre were only loaded with powder. Two prisoners, the Jamadar, that I first mentioned, and a writer, who had been most guilty, was brought forward, without ceremony were lashed each to the muzzle or gun. The troops, upon seeing this, were still as death-not a murmur-no, not even breath was to be heard-and at this awful crisis, Balmain, the Brigade-Major, read over the sentence that had been awarded to the prisoners, by the board of officers which sat in the morning, and the Colonel gave the words "Ready, Fire!"

An involuntary shudder ran through the whole line, but nothing more. The Colonel then informed the troops why he was obliged to have recourse to this severe measure, and ordered the whole line to march round the bodies, and return to their barracks.”

It looks like Munro was in a quandary, he felt and opined that all this was not really the doing of Thampi or the so called Pazhassi Raja, who he felt did not really know each other. He believed that this was planned by the deposed Kerala Varma, the exile at Tellicherry and Chingleput. In fact, Munro even believed that Thampi who sported Mughal dress, though not converted or overtly in favor of Islam, and selected Muslim sepoys for the conspiracy, wanted to establish Muslim power in Travancore.

BN Mehta who studied the revolt says - It is just possible that Womana Thampi who was known to favour Islam succeeded in enlisting the support of the Fakir and through him, of the Muslim section of the army. But Munro subsequently changed his opinion and put forward the theory of the establishment of a Muslim power in Travancore, which as we have seen above, is not tenable. That the plot was laid by Womana Thampi for the sake of revenge and his probable restoration to power appears to be quite a reasonable theory.

It also turned out that letters had been sent out to all the Rajas of Malabar to join them in the conspiracy, as well as the Paliat Achan in Cochin. Many of the Sarvadi Karyakkars of Travancore friendly with Thampi, were supposedly in favor and the group even planned to invite the French to join and support! Further, the sepoy who would murder Munro would be made the Ameen of the state! The Fakirs involved were Muhammed Baksh and Hussain Shah of Quilon.

As matters turned out, the Travancore Courts passed the sentence of death on both Ummini Thampi and the so-called Pazhassi Raja who were found to be the principal conspirators, but the latter was pardoned. Munro suggested clemency for Ummini Thampi as he had helped the British on various occasions and - his lack of talents or courage, the unlikelihood of any recurrence of the circumstances which had helped the conspiracy, and his habits of intemperance which were threatening to cut short his life early.

The Madras government (the Rani consented eventually) commuted the sentence and banished Thampi to the Nellore in 1813. Thampi then requested that his paramour, partner/wife, the dancer named Ummaiammah be sent with him to Nellore, but the Rani refused permission stating that releasing a bonded (devadasi) temple dancer set a bad precedent. A monthly allowance of Rs 60/- plus house rent Rs 10/- was sanctioned for Thampi’s stay, out of the Travancore treasury. Thampi left for Nellore without the dancer, and years after, is seen to have requested permission to go to Benares, which was sanctioned by the new resident Mc Dowell (after Munro retired). Approval was accorded in 1834, so it is likely that Thampi visited Benares and died there, never to see Travancore again.

Readers would have wondered who this pseudo-Pazhassi Raja was. Well, he turned out to be a total imposter and seems to have been an incredibly adventurous person to have gotten involved in this dangerous plot.

Following interrogation at Chingleput, the commanding officer of the British forces at Trichy reported in 1813 – On investigation, it was found that the person who styled himself as the Pyche Raja did not belong to the family of the Koliat Raja. He gave a declaration that he was the son of a woman named Nedungadi Kunji of the Nedungadi Veedu in the village of Pulimugham in the taluk of Cherapulissery in Calicut. His name was Unni Rarichan. Owing to distress, he came into the Fort called Valiakotta to gain his livelihood. On hearing that an order had been issued to apprehend the Koliat Raja, he thought that he could get something for his expenses if he pretended that he was one of the Rajas.

Did he, a commoner from, Cherplassery in Palghat, really think he would become the sovereign of Travancore? Well, Thampi must have had great persuasive talents to have made him feel so.

Munro returned to Britain, but not before having an island in Quilon named after him. Before he left, he made sure that the Dewans of Travancore were always non-Travancoreans and had a reformed Westernized outlook. As VJ Varghese explains “Consequently, the office of Dewan soon became “a gift of the Resident” and as the turn of subsequent events testified, the primary allegiance of the Dewan was to the British. As a consequence, the system was reordered in such a way that in all matters of importance “the Resident ruled, the Dewan executed and the Raja sanctioned,” though in theory, the division of authority was, roughly speaking was, Raja to rule, the Dewan to execute and the Resident to advise. Munro is viewed differently by different classes of Travancoreans, some believe he did good for the state, while others believe he was manipulative, selective, and quite crafty.

References

Ummini Thampi, The Dewan of Travancore 91809-1812) – TK Vijayamohan

The Quilon Sepoy Conspiracy – A Sathiyaraj

KSC papers Vol2, Series & Col Munro – Ulloor Parameswara Aiyer

A little-known event in the history of Travancore: the Quilon plot – BN Mehta

Kerala Varma – A forgotten patriot of Kerala – B Sobhanam

History of the Madras Army – Vol 3 – Lt Col WJ Wilson

Historic Alleys – Munro Years https://historicalleys.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-munro-years-travancore.html

Pics - wikimedia

Note – Why were rebels blown away from a cannon? Munro seems to have favored it all along his career – It was due to the widespread belief in Eastern religions that mutilation debarred a man from entering paradise. Probably from an early date native princes found that this form of punishment acted as a strong deterrent to rebellion, and it thus became the customary punishment for soldiers found guilty of mutiny to be blown away.