Massacre of Kodavas at Madikeri Fort 1807-1808

Many incidents of  Atrocities on Kodavas are found and documented across centuries in Kodagu 

Author 

Name :Darshan Devaiah Kaiblira (Nelji)

email : darshandevaiah87@gmail.com

Massacre of Kodavas at Madikeri Fort 1807-1808

Though Dodda-Virarajendra was instrumental in organizing Kodava army to defeat Tipu Sultan and drive out Muslim settlers (whom Tipu had brought to the depopulated Kodag after Devaatparamb massacre 1785).
But, the ending days of Dodda-Virarajendra’s rule was more brutal towards Kodavas than one can imagine.
After the death of his wife Mahadevarani , his hopes of having a male child was buried. He became mentally unstable suspecting that Kodava officers would take his throne after his death.
G Richter writes ” He had killed hundreds of his own people on some idle suspicion or malicious denunciation , or on the mere impulse of a sudden gust of passion ” .
He had surrounded himself with African (Siddi) bodyguards and eunuchs from Mysore had charge of his Harem. But, the guards of the palace and all the military officers were Kodavas.
No longer able to bear the iron yoke , Kodavas planned to kill Dodda-Virarajendra. The day and the hour was fixed. All the Kodava guards , who held the gates of the Madikeri Fort and the entraces of the palace, being of one accord , Dodda-Virarajendra’s destruction was certain. But, a few minutes before the signal was given, the secret was leaked to Dodda-Virarajendra. With great presence of mind he imitated Hyder Ali , who had similar circumstances gained time ,by placing a bundle of clothes on his bed covered with a blanket. The Kodavas rushed in and cut the form , which they mistook for the sleeping Dodda-Virarajendra.
Dodda-Virarajendra in mean time had run out and summoned his African Siddis. The Madikeri Fort gates were shut . Some 300 Kodavas had assembled in the palace yard . The African Siddis received orders to cut down every Kodava. Dodda-Virarajendra himself took his post at a window and fired upon Kodavas. They allowed themselves to be slaughtered like Sheep . Dodda-Virarajendra boasted of having shot 25 Kodavas. The rest of the Kodavas fell under the swords of African Siddis , who waded ankle deep in blood. It is said, that the blood of Kodavas ran out of the palace yard as the rain in a heavy monsoon day.
Later Dodda-Virarajendra destroyed many clans of fallen Kodavas , ordering men to be killed and distributing the Kodavathi women among the slaves of the Madikeri Fort . This massacre of Kodavas took place in the end of 1807 or early in 1808 .
After this incident, it is said that deep melancholy settled upon Dodda-Virarajendra , he used to get dreams of Kodava rebellion. He started killing and tearing whatever objects first met his fury.
During the year 1808 fits of madness seized the Dodda-Virarajendra. His madness rarely passed without some victims of his uncontrollable fury , falling by his bullet or under the knives of his African Siddi executioners.
Doctor Ingledew , who was sent early in 1809 to Madikeri by Mr Cole (the Resident in Mysore), to attend Dodda-Virarajendra’s mental health , heard that several thousands of Kodavas were being killed .
Towards end of February 1809 , Dodda-Virarajendra under his unstable mental state ordered assassination of his 4 principal Kodava officers.
Next day , he himself was shocked to know that his officers were dead and he ordered it. He bit his arm , that the blood gushed out . He tried slitting his own throat . On 9th of June 1809 Dodda-Virarajendra died of serious illness.

Books referred

Gazetteer of Coorg and Pattolepalame .