Attingal revolt

GS PAPER 1: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.

Context: Attingal revolt commemorated.

• The observance of the 300th anniversary of the Attingal Revolt of 1721, the first organised rebellion against the English East India Company, began at the Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan .

Attingal Outbreak

• Also referred as Anjengo Revolt.
• It refers to the massacre of 140 East India Company soldiers by native Indians and the following siege of Fort Anjengo.
• The Attingal Outbreak is often regarded as the first organized revolt against British authority in Malabar, Cochin and Travancore.
• The main reasons behind the resentment was large scale corruption and the manipulation of black pepper prices by the Company.
• The chief factor at the Anjengo factor, Gyfford refused to hand over the customary gifts meant for the Rani of Attingal to the agents of the local feudal lords (Pillamar) and tried to hand them directly to the Rani at the head of a force of 140 soldiers on 15 April 1721.
• This show of force had the opposite effect and the local people rebelled, attacked and destroyed the entire force and then laid siege to the fort.
• Following the turn of events, the Company and the Rani of Attingal entered into an agreement under which;
  • the Company was compensated for all losses sustained during the attack on Anjengo
  • was also given the sole monopoly of trade in pepper
  • the right to erect factories in places of its choice

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/attingal-revolt-commemorated/article34312514.ece