20^th September 2021 – August 2021 marked the centenary of the gruesome genocide and forceful conversion of Hindus in the Malabar district of Kerala. The ghastly attacks which ran for almost 5-6 months by the Moplahs took thousands of Hindu lives, displaced countless families, desecrated temples and its deities, raped and dishonored Hindu women (including those who were pregnant) and young girls, murdered cows and other cattle. Thousands were converted forcefully to Islam and those who denied had to sacrifice their lives.

Arya Samaj, under the leadership of Pandit Rishi Ram, played an instrumental role in spearheading the relief programs for the refugees and was able to bring back many forced converts to Hinduism. It is estimated that over 2,000 refugees were re-converted to Hinduism. In those troubled times, here are the rituals which Arya Samaj asked the forced converts to perform in order to do ‘Shuddhi’.

1. The victims were to take ‘Panchagavya’ for three days at any temple, make any offerings they can and repeat ‘Narayana or Shiva’ at least 3,000 times a day.
2. For those victims who were forcibly circumcised and had to live with a Moplah, were asked to do as stated in 1. for 12 days and the prayers were to be repeated 12,000 times a day
3. Anyone who was fed beef (cow meat) forcefully had to perform steps 1. and 2. for 41 days. A local purohit would certify the completion of this ablution.

The bigger challenge for the Arya Samaj society was to ensure that the re-converts are accepted graciously in their own villages and society. Countless volunteers from Arya Samaj toiled for those who had given up hope and brought life back to them.

Source: The Moplah Rebellion, 1921, Diwan Bahadur C. Gopalan Nair