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 ----- 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 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism