Colonial Counter-insurgency in Southern India: The Malabar Rebellion, 1921–1922

Abstract

The Malabar Rebellion of 1921–1922 is a little studied and poorly known Indian insurgency that deserves wider attention. Not only was it the bloodiest outbreak of disorder in southern India for generations, it also witnessed extensive communal violence against the Hindu population, and was only put down after a series of major operations conducted by the Indian Army. This article re-examines this counter-insurgency campaign and presents a series of conclusions about the level of force used, its effectiveness and the introduction and prosecution of martial law.