The Malabar Rebellion in the Malabar province of the British India is a watershed event in the history of Kerala and the Indian subcontinent. '1921: The Year of the Great Divide', the first episode of a 25-part podcast, traces the genesis of the rebellion - the killing of Henry Valentine Connolly, the Collector of Malabar on September 11, 1855 becomes the flashpoint of the discontent simmering in the region for more than a century.

Written by KP Sethunath and Narrated by Sashi Kumar.

Tirurangadi, located 36 km towards the south of Calicut in northern Kerala, is famous for one of the most revered mosques of the Muslim Community in Malabar. A raid on the mosque, led by the then Malabar Collector C.F. Thomas and Police Chief Richard H Hitchcock, on the night of August 20, 1921 in search of Congress-Khilafat leaders triggers the mass revolt that came to be known as the Malabar Rebellion.

Written by KP Sethunath and Narrated by Sashi Kumar

The rebels take control of the region with systematic destruction of the civil and police administration of the British administration in Eranad and Valluvanad Taluks (in the present-day Malappuram district) after August 20 1921. Ali Musliyar, a highly regarded Muslim cleric, is chosen as the de facto ruler of the region.

Written by KP Sethunath and Narrated by Sashi Kumar

The British impose martial law in Eranad, Valluvanad, Ponnani, Kurumbranad, Wayanad taluks in the Malabar Region as a prelude to launching military strikes against the rebels. As army reinforcements from Bangalore and Madars spread out to the rebel strongholds, the resistance becomes sporadic and haphazard, although the armed insurgency by the Mappilas turns out to be one of the longest against British rule in India during the 20th century.

Written by KP Sethunath and Narrated by Sashi Kumar

The British, with experience of more than a century of counter insurgency operations in the Indian subcontinent, launch a systematic assault against the rebels. The primary target is Tirurangadi -- the headquarters of Ali Musliyar, the most prominent rebel leader. Anticipating such an attack, the rebels plan to ambush the advancing forces at a place called Pookkottur. Although the rebels mount a heroic attack, superior firepower and tactical advantages help the British defeat the rebels.

Written by KP Sethunath and Narrated by Sashi Kumar

The crushing defeat of the rebels at Pookkottur makes the march to Tirurangadi easier for the British troops. The troops surround the mosque and nearby places by the night of August 28 and ask Ali Musliyar and his supporters to surrender. On August 30, 1921 Musliyar and a few others opt to surrender realising that the rebels in the mosque are hopelessly outnumbered by the British forces.

Written by KP Sethunath and Narrated by Sashi Kumar

Variamkunnath Kunjahammad Haji emergs as the most prominent rebel leader with a declaration made at Manjeri. The declaration explicitly positions the rebellion as against British rule and calls upon everyone to join the rebels to end colonialism.

Written by KP Sethunath and Narrated by Sashi Kumar

Counter insurgency operations by the British make rapid progress after the battle of Pookkottur and Ali Musliyar’s surrender. Army detachments move to Manjeri on September 2, 1921 two days after Variamkunnath Kunjhammad Haji makes his historic declaration.

Written by KP Sethunath and Narrated by Sashi Kumar