Head Severed; Body Parts Marinated: Tragic End Of Kunchali Marakkar Saga Of Anti-Colonial Resistance

By Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam 23 May 2023 Kottakal, a sleepy town tucked away in the idyllic coastal area of Kozhikode, has mesmerizing tale of bravery to tell. It was the nerve centre of the anti-imperial activities of Kunchali Marakkars. During the third and fourth Kuchalis stint as naval admirals of Hindu king Zamorin, Irigallur-Kottakkal fort has fearsome acclaim, as it sent chill down the spine of cabals of Portugal. When Zamorin permitted Portuguese fortified settlement at Ponnani, they were forced to shift their beehive of activity to Kottakkal. This caused tremendous changes in the anti-colonial resistance as the Portuguese proved successful in driving wedge among communities to corner trade monopoly. Kunjali Marakkar (alternatively spelled Kunhali Marakkar) was the title inherited by the Admiral of the fleet of the Samoothiri / Zamorin, the king of Kozhikode / Calicut, in present-day Kerala, India. ----- Third Kunchali Marakkar, alias Pattu Marakkar, moved into this new locality. After he died in 1595, Kunchali Fourth, alias Muhammad Kunchali, took the reins of struggle and put up stiff resistance against invading forces. From the Strait of Good Hope, South Africa, to China his popularity fired anti-colonial resistance. Portuguese, petrified about the threat it posed, declared new chapter in Crusade wars. What ensued was gory episodes of retribution and unbridled bloodletting. Aware of their precarious position in terms of resources, Kunchali Marakkars developed indigenous strategies to harass the smooth passage of Portuguese progress. The ‘hit-and-run warfare’ they adopted is integral to modern-day naval combat. They made local and national alliances and formed an armada of naval power and challenged the military might and religious fanaticism of Portuguese ambitions. Kunchali Marakkars are four ferocious naval commanders under Kozhikode king Zamorin. They led the fight against Portuguese colonialism when they challenged the famed spot of Kozhikode as a trade hub. The difference between Zamorin and Kuchali Marakkar grew during Third Kunchali Marakkar. Later the ties froze beyond mending and that caused the fall of Kunchali Marakkars along with resistance against Portugal. The exponential clout Kunchali Marakkars wielded raised doubts among the Zamorin family and they betrayed their commander falling prey to colonial intrigues. Sensing the worsening of the relations, Portuguese administrators moved quickly to defect Zamorin into the fold of colonialism. Some bad moves from the part of Kunchali Marakkars also fed this suspicion. He was celebrated as the ‘King of Moors’ and ‘Commander of the Indian Ocean’, ridiculing the sovereignty of Zamorin. They started a semi-independent rule from Kottakkal Fort. He challenged the authority of Zamorin by sending representatives to Muslim Kings, including Ottoman Caliphate. These moves from both sides punctured the anti-colonial resistance. This also aggravated communal tensions among perpetually peace-loving communities. Communal rumours spread at that time are part of local lores even to this day. Allegations spread of how Kunchalis chopped away the tail of Zamorin’s elephant and violated the modesty of Nayar woman. Kunchali Marakkar Fourth-Portuguese Wars Sensing the thorny relation between Zamorin and Kunchali, Portuguese Governor Al Bourque (1591-1597) surreptitiously sent an emissary to Zamorin. As per the secret pact, a holy alliance between Zamorin and Portuguese merged. Zamorin will attack Kunchalis on the ground as Portuguese in the sea. But when the government changed, the plans went haywire. When the grandson of Vasco de Gama, Francisco de Gama (1597-1600) was appointed as governor he pushed ahead the plans. He collected a large army to neutralize the threat of Kunchalis. 1597 November 13 the army set off from Goa. King Zamorin was aware of the wide popularity Kunchalis commanded among the local people and ruling Hindu class and retracted from open enmity. He was also prescient about the plans of the Portuguese to capitulate Kozhikode in collusion with the Cochin ruler. The oscillation of Zamorin saved the moment and Portuguese sailed back to Goa. In 1598 December Gama came back to attack Malabar and launched a blitzkrieg with an armada of around 1500 boats and ships. More supplies were provided from Cochin. 1599 March 5 witnessed the beginning of hostilities at full scale. Zamorin led cavalry, supported by Portuguese bombardment. The strategies Kunchalis foreshadowed combined military might of Zamorin and Portuguese. He was successful to stave off his forts and warships. Initial Victory of Kunchali Marakkar The combined military attack started five hours ahead of the planned schedule. This mangled all strategies and ended in a colossal loss for the Portuguese. This failure of colonial force is considered to be the biggest military loss of the Portuguese in entire Asia. More than 500 Portuguese fell in the futile battle to neutralize colonial resistance. This infuriated the Portuguese masters and planned a larger attack with the aid of Zamorin. Under the direct command of the Portuguese governor, preparations started in full swing. On 1599 December 3, Furtado set off to Malabar from Goa. They looted Muslim ships en-route to Malabar and warned allies from providing supplies to Kunchali. They reached Kottakkal on December 15. Allied forces from Cochin had already arrived to bolster Portuguese military might. Zamorin made a new treaty with the Portuguese to join the military move and share the booties equally after the war. They sieged the Kottakkal fort from all sides. Kunchali pleaded for help from benefactors but none came forward, and the supply chain was severed. At the same time, the Portuguese alliance got further provisions from Lisbon and other places. Due to customs, Zamorin was away for two months. The Portuguese used the time to fortify the siege. They were able to break through the security cover of Kunchalis. The attack started once the Portuguese were able to get details of Kunchali Marakkar’s military plans through espionage. When initial attacks were repelled, Furtado took the lead and bombarded the mouth of the river torrently. In 1600 March, Zamorin reached back. Kunchali sent an emissary to ensure the safety of the occupants of the fort. On the assurance of Zamorin, around 300 civilians were able to leave the fort safely. Portuguese, against the promises given, set some parts of the fort on fire. The war dragged on for five days. The fort fell into a combined military strength of enemies. Once the capitulation was imminent, Kunchali offered the fort to Zamorin and implored for forgiveness. He promised to surrender in front of Zamorin and serve the king obediently. Zamorin brokered the truce and asked Kunchali to surrender. Kunchali presented himself along with three hundred people in front of the king. Employing treachery, Portuguese attacked Kunchali Marakkar’s ships. Anticipating the dangers Kunchali went back to the fort. Portuguese were afraid to drive a wedge between Zamorin and Kunchalis. Furtado set a deadline for surrender, 1600 March 16; failing which he threatened retaliatory military attack. 400 people, including women and children, came out of the fort. Finally, Kunchali came out, flanked by captains on both sides. He prostrated before Zamorin and gifted his sword to the king. Once Zamorin acknowledged Kunchali’s surrender, swiftly Portuguese soldiers capture Kunchali. Nair soldiers’ revolt was put down savagely. Portuguese flouted the term of surrender. After suppressing the revolts, Zamorin and Furtado paraded inside the fort. The fort was pulled down and the entire property of Kunchalis was burned down. 40 trusted soldiers were rounded up to be executed at Goa, as per explicit orders of the Viceroy. By 1600 March 22 the curtains downed on the epic resistance against colonial forces. At Goa, Kunchali chained from head to toe was paraded in front of cheering people. He was abused and hurled with expletives. Violating the terms of surrender, the death sentence was given to Kunchalis. Few clergymen asked him to convert to escape from death. He refused the temptations and that infuriated the authorities. A special guillotine was hoisted in the Viceroy House. The sentence was for two crimes; he persecuted Christianity and traitor to the Portuguese cause. After public execution, his mortal remains were chopped into pieces. His body parts were marinated and sent to Muslim rulers to warn them of opposing Portuguese power. His death was also celebrated in Portugal with great fanfare. Portuguese converted a few relatives of Kunchalis and married off to Portuguese widows. The Lives For Homeland Against Colonial Forces The history bears witness to the brave resistance by Kunchalis against colonial invasion. The century-long resistance kept away the foothold of colonialism in Malabar, but the end was tragic. It also gives important lessons in today’s fight against communalism. It gives the message to be alert against the forces dividing common unity against communal camaraderie. ----- A regular columnist for NewAgeIslam.com, Mubashir V.P is a PhD scholar in Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia and freelance journalist. 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