>InternetArchiveBot at 16:37, 6 March 2020

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The '''Kamuthi looting''' was an invasion of [[Kamuthi]] by [[Maravars]] from neighbouring villages on 17 September 1918. The looting ended with around 50 rioters being shot dead by the police and two policemen being killed. It also resulted in property losses estimated at [[Rupees]] 50,000.<ref name="Robert L. Hardgrave page 156">The Nadars of Tamilnad by Robert L. Hardgrave, Jr. page 156</ref>

== Background ==
In the late nineteenth century, Kamuthi was a trading town surrounded by Many villages. Its population was less than 7000 mostly [[Nadar (caste)|Nadar]] and [[Tamil Muslim|Muslim]].<ref name="Robert L. Hardgrave page 120">The Nadars of Tamilnad by Robert L. Hardgrave, Jr. page 120</ref> These were the times when the Nadars across the [[Ramnad district]] were rising in prosperity and were seeking recognition of higher status in the society.<ref name="Robert L. Hardgrave page 120"/> There was economic unrest and bitterness against Nadar traders for rising food prices.<ref name="google">{{cite book|title=The Political Economy of Hunger: Volume 1: Entitlement and Well-being|author1=Drèze, J.|author2=Sen, A.|date=1991|publisher=Clarendon Press|isbn=9780191544460|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BkhHC6AgRrgC&pg=PA164|page=164|accessdate=2017-01-14}}</ref> In August 1918, a disturbance rose at the weekly market, when Maravar villagers squatted upon a stall site prepared by the Nadars in the market compound.<ref name="Robert L. Hardgrave page 155">The Nadars of Tamilnad by Robert L. Hardgrave, Jr. page 155</ref> The Maravars were attacked by the Nadars and filed a complaint before the police.<ref name="Robert L. Hardgrave page 155"/> A [[Panchayat]] composed of members from both communities was convened, which decided that the Nadars were the aggressors and a fine was levied against them.<ref name="Robert L. Hardgrave page 156"/> Ukkarapandia Thevar from [[Pasumpon]] wanted some definitive action against the Nadars.<ref name="Robert L. Hardgrave page 156"/> The scattered robberies made the Kamuthi Nadars to fear a recurrence of [[Sivakasi riots of 1899|Sivakasi massacre]].<ref name="Robert L. Hardgrave page 156"/>

A rumor circulated that Kamuthi would be stormed and sacked on 17 September. A detachment of 15 [[Police Constable|constables]] with a [[head constable]] was sent on 16 September. The police immediately started to disperse the mobs collecting around the town.<ref name="Robert L. Hardgrave page 156"/> The fight with the rioters resulted in five constables being seriously injured. The head constable wired his superiors for more men.<ref name="Robert L. Hardgrave page 156"/>

== Incident ==
The police equipped with [[carbines]] were stationed in the Bazaar street.<ref name="Robert L. Hardgrave page 156"/> Around 1000 Maravars entered the street and started to loot and set fire to the shops and houses. The police then opened fire at the rioters. As the riot was brought under control, around fifty rioters and two policemen including the head constable were killed.<ref name="google"/> Around forty shops and houses in the Nadar bazaar street were looted and burnt. Property losses were estimated at Rupees 50'000.<ref name="Robert L. Hardgrave page 156"/>

== Aftermath ==
In October 1918, a punitive force of 50 reserve police was quartered in Kamuthi<ref name="thehindu">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/memorials-of-a-bygone-era/article650137.ece|publisher=thehindu.com|title=Memorials of a bygone era - MADU - The Hindu|accessdate=2017-01-14}}</ref> in order to maintain peace. A Penalty Tax was imposed on both Nadars and Maravars to pay the cost of maintenance.<ref name="Robert L. Hardgrave page 156"/> Even though this special force was to be stationed only for a year, it was continued year after year.<ref name="Robert L. Hardgrave page 157">The Nadars of Tamilnad by Robert L. Hardgrave, Jr. page 157</ref><ref name="google2">{{cite book|title=The Nadars of Tamilnad: The Political Culture of a Community in Change|author1=Hardgrave, R.L.|author2=University of California, Berkeley. Center for South and Southeast Asia Studies|date=1969|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=9780520014718|url=https://archive.org/details/nadarsoftamilnad0000hard|url-access=registration|accessdate=2017-01-14}}</ref>
In January 1922 [[Soundrapandian Nadar|W.P.A. Soundrapandian Nadar]], introduced a resolution for the repeal of the punitive tax citing the burden it caused on both the communities.<ref name="Robert L. Hardgrave page 157"/> The Raja of Ramnad (son of [[Bhaskara Sethupathi|Raja Bhaskara Sethupathi]]) joined Soundrapandian Nadar in assuring the council that there will be no longer disturbance on account of the old feud between Nadars and Maravars.<ref name="Robert L. Hardgrave page 157"/> The motion to repeal the tax was carried.<ref name="Robert L. Hardgrave page 157"/>

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in India]]
[[Category:Ethnic riots]]
[[Category:Social history of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Caste-related violence in India]]
[[Category:September 1918 events]]
[[Category:1918 in India]]
[[Category:1918 riots]]

Kamuthi looting of 1918 - Revision history

>InternetArchiveBot at 16:37, 6 March 2020