Wires of Empire: The Role of Telegraphic Communication in the Moplah Rebellion of 1921

Abstract

The Moplah Rebellion (1921–22) in the Malabar region of the Madras Presidency is considered as one of the most significant peasant uprisings in colonial South India. The rebellion has been widely known for its communal and agrarian dimensions, the role of telegraphic communication in its suppression remains underexplored. The present paper examines how the British colonial state utilized the telegraph as an instrument for real time surveillance, rapid troop mobilization, and press censorship. It also highlights how Moplah rebels strategically targeted this infrastructure, exposing its deficiencies. The findings highlight how modern communication networks were central to both imperial power and native rebellions.