A rare document from 1931 reveals the role played by freedom fighters from Kodagu
A rare document from 1931 obtained by The Hindu here speaks volumes about people from Kodagu district who were in the forefront of the freedom struggle under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.
The people of Kodagu had issued a ‘manapatra’ then, a letter of honour, commending and saluting the 98 brave men and women who revolted against the British, following the footsteps of the Father of the Nation. They had taken part in the satyagraha in 1930-31 and were incarcerated.
Pandyanda Belliappa, Kollimada Karumbaiah, Chekkera Monnaiah, Makki Krishnaiah, Mallengada Chengappa, Abdul Gafoor Khan, Ajjikuttira Chinnappa, Ponnimada Machaiah, Kalengada Chinnappa, K.M. Subraya, Puliyanda Subbaiah, V. R. Thammaiah, Bidarur Madaiah, Chokira Madappa, Poojari Muthappa, Pandikanda Madappa, H.R. Krishnaiah were some among the people honoured by the people of Kodagu in 1931. Puliyanda Subbaiah, who hailed from Maggula village, was a true Gandhian till his death. He wore Khadi and counselled patience whenever a rift arose among people. So was V.R. Thammaiah, another Gandhian, who also hailed from the village. Elders say that H.R. Krishnaiah even refused to apply for pension after Independence saying if the Government recognised his contribution, it should come to his doorstep and give him the pension papers.
Even women did not lag behind. Kotera Accavva, Balyatanda Muddavva, Mukkatira Bojamma, Machimanda Medakka, Appanderanda Kalamma also joined the freedom struggle. The manapatra given to them on March 11, 1931, stated that they had been imprisoned for preaching the message of Mahatma Gandhi and taking part in the satyagraha.
The manapatra further stated that the people of Kodagu would not be able to offer them (the freedom fighters) privileges such as ‘Jahagir’, ‘Umbali’ — both land grants for service rendered — or ‘Pinchani’ (pension), but would carry forward the noble message of freedom struggle, support and abide by it.
A sentence read significantly that “Bharata mateya makallada Kodaginavaru drohigalalla, Bhartada veera putra putriyaru embudannu prapanchakke saridiri”. This meant “the people of Kodagu, who are the children of mother India, are not traitors. You have heralded a message to the world that you are valiant sons and daughters of India.” The people who were mentioned in the manapatra at the function presided by Biddanda Subbaiah, also had taken a pledge to follow the ideals propounded by Gandhiji such as ‘swadeshi’ and liquor prohibition.
A section of people might feel that some people of Kodagu supported the British. But it cannot be forgotten that Guddemane Appaiah Gowda who had fought the British was hanged at the Fort here by the British on October 31, 1837, much before the Sepoy Mutiny took place.
Kodagina Gowramma had offered all her jewellery to Gandhiji when he had visited here soliciting peoples’ support for continuing the freedom movement in the early 1930s.
It is an unfortunate irony that the Freedom Fighters’ memorial, the work for which started at Gonicoppa 12 years ago and the Guddemane Appaiah Gowda memorial, of which works are now underway, are yet to be completed.
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The ‘manapatra’ saluted the 98 men and women who revolted against the British
The work on the Freedom Fighters’ memorial at Gonicoppa started 12 years ago
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source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Karnataka / by Staff Correspondent / Madikeri – August 15th, 2010
dear sir
it is not the memorial planned in gonikoppa. guddemane appaiah is belongs to Amara sulya and amara sulya was part of kodagu during the time. young rebellions guddemane appaiah, kudiyara , billavara name are also along with appaiah gowda. if our people really wants to give the tribute to freedom fighters from Amara sulya then including kudiyara, billavara name also should include. And in gonikoppa there is freedom fighters holl. There are many freedom fighters who hailed from south Coorg and the movement got spread from this place to the whole Kodagu. guddemane appaiah fought only on Amara sulya. not for whole Kodagu and gonikoppa. please correct yourself while writing the history.
Those who fighting against British they are all freedom fighters , today is our duty to remember them and follow ideology towards building great nation.
Guddemane appaiah gowda was not a freedom fighter he fought only for amara sulya and not for kodagu. Kodagu raja wanted help of sulya people to get his throne back so toom help appaiah. He was a theif he robbed the treasures of British so he was hunged in madikeri.
**TRUTH ABOUT “Subedar Guddemane Appaiah Gowda” and “The Amara Sulya Freedom Movement against The British
East India Company, 1837″**
The relevance to this incident in the month of October is that on October 31st, 1837
Freedom Fighter Hutaatma Subedar Guddemane Appaiah Gowda was hanged by The
British East India Company within The Madikeri Fort Premises.
In 1834, The last Rajah of Kodagu – Chikkavirarajah was dethroned and The British
East India Company took over by adopting unethical methods. The part of Amara
Sulya was divided from The former Kodagu Kingdom and forcible tax collection by
cash only was implemented in The Amara Sulya region. This hurts the people of
Sulya as until then tax collection was only in the form of Kind (i.e.: through crops, rice being the staple crop in the region). The method was also hurting the Mangaluru, Kasargod, and Kodagu regions, therefore people (both the royalty at the region and the common folk) decide to put up
a united front against the same! (This has been documented by Englishmen such as
B.L. Rice, G. Richter among others)
Freedom Fighter Kedambadi Ramaiah
Gowda and his followers march up to Mangaluru’s Baavutagudde and it is here in
1837, that Freedom Fighter Kedambadi Ramaiah Gowda pulls down The British
Union Jack as a mark of contempt to the unethical practices followed by The British
East India Company in the region.
What’s more, is that Freedom Fighter Kedambadi Ramaiah Gowda and the team can
retain power over the region for 13 days and he gives this power of ruling over the
region to the erstwhile royal family of the region
Freedom Fighter Subedar Guddemane Appaiah Gowda joins him in the
mission. But, sadly The Coorg Loyal Forces of The East India Co. Commanded by
Capt. Le Hardy captures them in the Ghat section and this is what makes way for
Subedar Guddemane Appaiah Gowda to become publicly executed by The British.
The National Army Museum, the U.K. and
have received information on the medal given by The East India Company to The
Coorg Loyal Forces who helped The British in defeating the purpose of The Freedom
Movement.