Velu Thampi Dalawa - Mutiny of The Nair Troops

Mutiny of The Nair Troops

The armies of Travancore consisted mainly of the Nairs. When in 1804 Velu Thampi proposed a reduction in their allowances, his proposal was met with immediate discontent. The troops believed that this proposal was at the suggestion of the British and immediately resolved in the assassination of both, the Resident, Major Macaulay, as well as the Dalawa, Velu Thampi. Velu Thampi fled to Cochin again to his friend, the Resident, as the Nairs marched to Trivandrum in a strong army of ten thousand sepoys and demanded of the Maharajah the immediate dismissal of the Dalawa and ending of any alliance with the British. Meanwhile the Resident and the Dalawa collected forces at Cochin and assisted by the Carnatic Brigade marched to Trivandrum and put an end to the mutiny. Several of its leaders were executed in the most gruesome manner. One Krishna Pillai, a commander of a regiment, had his legs tied to two elephants which were driven in the opposite direction, tearing him to pieces.