Ali Musliyar

Āli Musliyār
Āli Musliyār in 1922, at Coimbatore Prison
Born	Erikkunnan Pālattu Mūlayil Āli 1861 Nellikunnattu desom, Eranād taluk, Malabar district
Died	17 February 1922 Coimbatore Prison, Madras Presidency
Nationality	British India
Occupation	Chief Musliar at Tirurangādi Mosque (1907–1922)
Known for	Leader of Māppila Uprising (1921–22)

Āli Musliyār (1861–1922) Malayalam: ആലി മുസ്ലിയാർ, Arabic: عالي مسليار), born Erikkunnan Pālattu Mūlayil Āli was one of the prominent leaders of the 1921–22 Māppila Uprising in Madras Presidency, British India.

Musliyār was an Masjid al-Haram educated Islamic scholar and religious leader who served as the Imam of Tirurangadi Mosque from 1907 until his eventual execution at Coimbatore Prison. He was also the leader of a prominent landless peasant-laborer organization and an active orator of the Khilafat Movement.

Early life and career in Mecca

Āli Musliyar was born in Nellikkunattu desom, Eranad taluk, Malabar district to Kunhimoitīn Molla and Kōtakkal Āmina. Kōtakkal Āmina was a member of the famous Maqdoom family of Ponnani, known for their religions scholarship. Musliyar's grandfather, Mūsa, was one of several "Malappuram Martyrs". Ali Musliyar began his education studying the Qur'an, tajwīd and the Malayālam language with Kakkadammal Kunnukammu Molla. He was sent to Ponnani Darse for further studies in religion and philosophy, under the tutelage of Shiekh Zainuddin Maqdum I (Akhir), which he successfully completed after 10 years.

He then went to Haram, Makkah (Mecca) for further education. Throughout this period, he was guided by several famous scholars, including Sayyid Ahmed Sahni Dahlan, Shiekh Muhammed Hisbullahi Makki, and Sayyid Husain Habshi. After spending seven years in Mecca, he went on to serve as the Chief Qasi in Kavaratti, Laccadive Islands.

Musliyar in Malabar

In 1894, after learning of the slaying of his brother and several other family members, Musliyar returned to Malabar. He discovered that many of his relations and fellow students were lost during an 1896 riot. In 1907 he was appointed as the Chief Musliyar of the mosque at Tirurangadi, Eranad taluk.

The revolt of 1921–22 began following the police arrest of a number of Tenancy Association – Caliphate Movement – Indian National Congress leaders in August, 1921. Rumours that the British troops had destroyed the Mampuram Mosque led to large scale rioting throughout South Malabar against both wealthy Hindu landlords and the British.

Although the British army troops were quick to take the upper hand in many towns, a number of rebels initiated guerilla operations, forcing the British to deploy additional military units and introduce "aggressive" patrolling. The revolt came to an end in February 1922. Ali Musliyar was among a dozen leaders who were tried and sentenced to death. He was subsequently hanged at the Coimbatore Prison on 17 February 1922.

External links

NY Times reports on the rebellion

• Military Occupy Riot area in India – Published: 28 August 1921, The New York Times
• Moplahs a menace for several years Published: 4 September 1921, The New York Times
• 64 out of 100 Moplah prisoners suffocated in a closed car on Train in India – 22 Nov 1921, The New York Times
• More Moplah disorders – Published: 14 September 1921, The New York Times
• Ambush British in India – 2 September 1921, The New York Times