Moplah

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by olikara

Bill,
A very beautiful Katthi. Congrats.

This will be from the Moplah or 'Mappilai' people of Malabar. They are quite different from the Coorgis who are of Scythian and Hindu stock. The Mappilais are of Arab-Dravidian Muslim stock.

Coorg is adjacent to Malabar but not a part of Malabar. And very interestingly the Moplah rebellion of 1921 where the Moplahs rebelled against their Hindu landlords (Mostly Nair and Brahmin) was put down by the British who used their Gorkha levees to great effect. Moplah Katthis against the Kukris!

The Coorgis and Moplahs were never on the best of terms though. Tipu Sultan in order to subdue the ever restive Coorgis had a policy of settling Muslim populations from Mysore and adjoining Malabar into Coorg. Needless, to say after Tipu's destruction the Coorgis drove off most of these new settlers.

Hi Olikara,
A bit late in commenting on your statement re the origin of the Coorgs being of Scythian-Hindu stock. I have done a little research into the origins of these people as they are so interesting but I cannot find a conclusive answer. The origin you have stated is one of a number of theories none of which have concrete evidence, have you found such evidence? If so I would be grateful if you would share it so that I can stop knocking my head against what appears to be a brick wall regarding this subject.
Regards
Miguel

[Ian]

Hi Miguel:

There are many tales about the origin of the Coorg. Perhaps the most romantic is that they are the descendants of some of Alexander the Great's soldiers who stayed and married local women--hence the Scythian theory. Whatever their origins, the Coorg have long been famed for their fighting skills and even in recent decades have held prominent roles in the Indian armed forces.

Ian

[Bob A]

Originally Posted by Ian

Hi Miguel:

There are many tales about the origin of the Coorg. Perhaps the most romantic is that they are the descendants of some of Alexander the Great's soldiers who stayed and married local women--hence the Scythian theory. Whatever their origins, the Coorg have long been famed for their fighting skills and even in recent decades have held prominent roles in the Indian armed forces.

Ian

Sounds like an opportunity for DNA testing.

[BANDOOK]

Here Is An Example of a Malabar Katti,Has wood and bone in the handle ,I Had posted these pictures earlier but saw Bill M Post ,so reposting one from my collection
Kind Regards

[Ian]

Hi Bandook:

I posted pictures more than 10 years ago of a similar chopper that also had a turned wooden hilt. That post is here.

These are hard to find.

Ian.

[Jens Nordlunde]

Ian, 'hard to find' is an understatement, as far as I see it:-).

There are variations over the same weapon, although it seems as if the variations were connected to religion, and local places. Research needed!!!

I am still wondering how the two Aydha Katthis I have have 'survived', when such a large number was dropped at sea. Maybe they were originally taken apart for a museum - who knows?

Did anyone read the article in In The Journal of The Arms and Armour Society. UK. Vol. XXII. No 4, September 2017?

I just read the first post once more. The Moplahs were double edged, but the Aydha Katthis were only one edged.

[BANDOOK]

Originally Posted by Ian

Hi Bandook:

I posted pictures more than 10 years ago of a similar chopper that also had a turned wooden hilt. That post is here.

These are hard to find.

Ian.

THANKS IAN
yes they do have some similarities ,no comments were made at that time of your post,someone can tell us more about our weapons,thanks for your comments
Regards Rajesh