Tipu's Role In The Development Of Trade And Industry In Malabar
By
Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam
10 July 2023
The
commercial and industrial sector is the major area that marked Tipu Sultan's
role in the modernization of India. The progress in trade and industry, which
existed in all the dominions of Mysore, was also visible in Malabar. They can
be seen as a continuation of the growth in agriculture. Reforms in the field of
commerce were not favourable to the exploiting colonial powers, just as the
reforms in agriculture were unfavourable to the exploiting natives of the
feudal lords. Because of that, Tipu's industrial and commercial policies were
more of a setback for the British. The British were engaged in trade with
various kings of India. But what they had there was a trade agreement that
supported unilateral profits. But their efforts did not succeed in the areas
under Mysore rule.
It was not
with the intention of making the British or other foreign traders difficult
that Tipu Sultan's policy of trade and industry was formulated. His objectives
were to provide adequate prices for the local products and crops, to increase
the income of the farmers and the country, and to free the farmers from the
exploitation of the monopoly capitalists. As a part of it, state monopoly was
imposed on products like pepper, sandalwood, coconut, tobacco, teak, elephant
and gold.
With that
in mind, many godowns were established in different parts of the country. The
main workshop in Malabar was in Vadakara. Apart from this, sub-godowns also
functioned in Kozhikode and Koilandi. Agricultural produce from the interior of
Malabar was stored in them and sold only if a sufficient price was obtained.
With that, the farmer will get a fair price and the government will increase
its income. As a result of Tipu's activities, farmers in Malabar were getting
higher prices than in other regions. In Travancore, ruler also declared a
monopoly on pepper. It can be seen that Tipu's activities were instrumental in
giving Kerala a sense of direction in the field of commerce and industry.
Trade and
commerce further developed as a result of Tipu's planned reforms. Subsequently,
new workshops were established in Palakkad, Mankada, Mancheri, Malappuram,
Ponnani, Farooq, Sultan Bathery, Kannur, Kasaragod and Mangalore. All of them
accelerated commercial development in Malabar. They grew into towns, densely
populated villages and inland cities. In connection with these centres came
Husur concert halls (Karnataka), tax centres and the residences of its
officials, and with the construction of safe roads, they all became safe
centres of trade. All these are the major centres of Malabar today. Apart from
Kozhikode, Kannur, Ponnani and Mahi, all others emerged during Mysore rule. Not
only that, As mentioned above, many other markets and small towns sprang up in
different parts of Malabar. All of them played a role in Malabar's prosperity
that eclipsed 150 years of British rule.
Another important policy introduced by Tipu
Sultan in the field of trade was the prohibition of direct dealings with local
traders by foreigners. Instead, they were allowed direct trade with officials
of the Mysore government. The main reason for bringing that law was the
exploitative attitudes of foreign traders. They gave money to the farmers as
capital for the agricultural produce and collected produce from farmers at low
prices. The Sultan came to know that foreign traders were making a profit by
cornering excessive profit. It was in that context that the Sultan tried to
implement such laws. They were formulated and implemented with an emphasis on
justice and equity, and this law imposed on foreign traders, also applied to
the Imam of Muscat who was Tipu's closest trading partner.
Among the
letters compiled by Kirk Patrick, Tipu wrote to the Imam of Muscat, stating
that new commercial laws had been enacted in the Mysore dominions and were
binding on all foreigners. This fact also contradicts the view of those who see
Tipu as a fanatic. Muhibbul Hasan Khan mentions that the Imam of Muscat was
Tipu's biggest trading partner in selling Mysore products abroad. Yet when it
came time to enforce an administrative law, he did not grant exemptions on the
grounds of religion or trade.
On the model
of modern business enterprises, Tipu formed a commercial company with public
participation. It was one of the first business ventures established in the
national trade arena. Public offering was issued for those interested in
business. And laws were formulated to ensure that it was not monopolized and to
maintain the participation of common people. 500 k.
Another area of service he envisioned in the
areas of trade and industry was the industrial centres established within and
outside Mysore. 30 factories inside Mysore and 17 outside Mysore were
sanctioned with money and other materials from the public treasury. Karnool,
Chinapattan (Madras), Pahalcheri (Pondicherry), Poona, Nagur (Thanjour),
Maligaon (Hyderabad), Raichur and Kutch were some of the factories established.
Apart from them, factories were established in distant foreign countries such
as Muscat, Pegu, Ormuz and Jeddah. Tipu strengthened trade with China.
Necessary activities were carried out to start trade-industrial-diplomatic
relations with the then prominent countries like France, Turkey and Iran. He
also wrote to his counterparts to bring the necessary raw materials and
technical experts to Mysore from foreign countries to manufacture new products.
With their help many new products were launched from Mysore. Watches, glass,
guns, handguns, paper, watches, water-powered cannon drilling engines,
ammunition and musical instruments were developed in various factories in
Mysore. He developed weapon industry. Rocket was one among many inventions.
This weapon is propelled by a rocket engine filled with ammunition in an iron
tube. The hot gas released from it is the force behind the push in three
directions. It was an innovative model of rocket.
During
Tipu's brief rule in Malabar, he also took several initiatives for commercial
development in Malabar. Most of the raw materials needed for the shipyards
established in Mangalore were collected from Malabar. Directly and indirectly
it also contributed to the commercial development of Malabar. With the
nationalization of teak wood, the timber required for shipbuilding became
readily available. Moreover, they can be exported to foreign countries for
better profit. A large-scale timber processing centre was also started at
Kozhikode. From there, first-class timber was supplied to the shipyard in
Mangalore. The wood processing plant established in Kozhikode is still one of
the best processing centres in the world. It still stands tall as a crowning
example of his thoughtful planning and insight into business. Also, the coir
products manufactured in Malabar were exported to other countries. The military
college, started in Mangalore to train the Navy, created a great stir in the
industrial and professional sector of Malabar. Two large textile mills were established
in Kannur and Kasargod to make clothes for the soldiers and to solve the
unemployment in Malabar. Historians have noted that Tipu's action helped revive
the declining textile industry in South India. The influence of those weaving
mills cannot be overlooked in keeping the weaving industry intact in North
Kerala even today.
Divers were
tipped to explore the possibilities of the pearl industry on the Malabar coast
and to provide diving training to the Malayalis to collect pearls. But before
that plan could be completed, the Third Mysore War and Tipu's disappearance
from Malabar took place. With that, Malabar lost that project forever.
letters
were also been sent to many business leaders asking them to find adequate
prices while selling agricultural products like pepper, betel nut, dried and
non-dried coconut, sandalwood, and cardamom and explore the possibilities of
exporting abroad.
Mechanisms
were created to find markets for Kerala products, sell them at higher prices
and, as interest was expressed, to procure necessary resources from outside
Malabar. Every day, around 200 bullock carts used to transport daily
necessities from Mysore to the border of Kerala. It was part of the promotion
of domestic exports and imports that would bring the products of one part of
the country to other parts of the country where there is demand for it. He also
started a forestry trading company and a convenience store for hat making and
dyeing clothes.
Tipu's
commercial and industrial ventures also created opportunities for the
development of the hinterland. It united all the territories under the rule of
Mysore. All of them were planned in such a way as to help the progress of the
life of any common man. An example can be taken of the commercial progress of
Thamarassery in the present Kozhikode district. During the Mysore rule,
Thamarassery was one of the important centres in Malabar where agricultural
produce and forest resources were stored. Francis Buchanan has recorded that
there were 50 large establishments in Thamarassery Bazaar during Tipu's reign.
But all the glory of Thamarassery came to a halt due to the exploitative and
oppressive attitude of the British. It changed from being a vibrant hill trade
area to a few local trade groups in the inland villages. When the Thamarassery
panchayat was formed in 1937 during the British rule, none of the trading
establishments active during the Mysore rule remained. Instead, it was limited
to six spice shops, two cloth shops, seven tea shops and two textile shops.
From these
two narratives, Tipu's role in the development of an inland region in Malabar
and the role of the British in its decline are clear. Thamarassery was not an
isolated region in the growth of the hinterland of Malabar. Trithala in
Palakkad district also falls under this category. Trithala was also the
confluence of Kozhikode, Ponnani and Palakkad roads. Tipu paid special
attention to the development of trade and running hotels, considering the
convenience of travellers and others there. Hindus (pattans) from various parts
of Tamil Nadu who were prominent in hotel management were settled in Trithala.
At that time Malayalis did not like jobs like hotel management. But the
transport facility in Malabar and the growth of agriculture and commerce forced
Tipu to initiate urbanization activities. Moreover, all the pilgrims to Palani,
one of the Hindu pilgrimage centres, used to travel via Thrithala. As a result
of Tipu's actions, the Malayalis had a sector of their own which was later
decimated under British.
He also
worked to transform Malabar into a region of modern conveniences. Eligible
persons were brought from outside on various occasions and settled here. Such
administrative measures of Tipu also created an opportunity to sideline that
field of work to the Malayalis through the association of professional experts
from outside. Like the Brahmins who were the hotel-keepers of Trithala, the
potters were another group of people who were brought from outside by Tipu
Sultan and settled in Malabar. They mainly lived in Nilambur and Wayanad
regions. Kusavas are also known as Kumbarar and Chettimar. Pottery is the main
occupation. They came to Malabar in connection with the construction of
Wayanad, Nilambur and Palakkad roads connecting Malabar with Mysore. During the
construction of those roads, Tipu persuaded them to come to Malabar to make
earthen pots necessary to cook food for the laborers and the Mysore army. Later
they settled there. They are considered by the local people to be an upper
caste of Hindus who do not eat meat and fish.
The
policies implemented by Tipu Sultan in the field of trade and industry expose
the falsehood of the British propaganda. They observed that Tipu's monopoly on
agricultural crops had a negative impact on Muslim traders. Francis Buchanan
stated that even the owners of the ships that went to Bengal, Madras, Surat and
Mecca with commercial resources were poor due to the commercial policy of Tipu
Sultan.
But the
main indication given by that statement is that Tipu's administration was
transparent and impartial. If he had given special Favor to the Muslims, their
trade would not have suffered as Buccaneer pointed out. He implemented all the
administrative reforms in the same way. It is clear that Tipu's administrative
reforms were motivated by the goals of equality, justice, ending exploitation
and not losing the country's revenue. But it was not about destroying the power
or wealth of any people or religious group.
The Mysore
rule in Malabar and Tipu's commercial policies and transport system brought
about an extraordinary transformation in the socio-civilization and
commercialization of Malabar. Commercial and urban growth was concentrated
along the coast until the Mysore period. All the kings ruled along the coast
and relied on foreign trade. Their main focus was also on foreign trade. It was
customary to leave the inland areas to the interests of the respective
villages. Those peasants were only interested in making as much wealth as
possible by exploiting the peasants and tenants as much as possible. Before the
Mysore rule the natives of the interior were not aware of the benefits of
foreign trade. But it was only after the Mysore rule that they became convinced
that inland agriculture could be linked to the potential of foreign trade. They
then cleared the forests and made plans for extensive agriculture. Priority was
given to commercial crops in agriculture. Pepper, cardamom, ginger, coconut and
sandalwood were extensively cultivated. As a result of that production process,
commercial culture spread more and more even in the countryside. It is due to
changes in social life, work and family structure. A new generation of wealthy
people was born within the great family houses. Gradually their social status
rose and they tried to become independent from the dependence of the great
clans. It created new clans. Thus, the small landowners and tenants became the
founders of new tribal families.
Such trends
may also have led to increased inland migration from coastal areas. This trend
continued even after the Mysore period. As a result, new clans have emerged
among the Namboothiri, Nair, Ezhava and Muslim communities. Balakrishna Kurup
indicates that Tipu's reforms became a source of social reformation for the
people who were unable to enter into new avenues of family life. The mercantile
policies implemented by Tipu Sultan expanded the civil culture and social life
in the interior of Malabar to a new level. One of his reforms was becoming a
complement to another. They were all planned with such foresight.
------
This
article is Third of series that look into Tipu’s legacy in Kerala
history
First
Part of the Article: Tipu Sultan and the Modernisation of Kerala
Second
Part of the Article: Tipu's Religious Policy In Kerala
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A regular columnist for NewAgeIslam.com, Mubashir
V.P is a PhD scholar in Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia and freelance
journalist.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-politics/tipu-development-trade-industry-malabar/d/130180
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