Haji Hassan bin Munas

Tok Janggut was a Malay warrior and religious leader who led a peasant rebellion against British colonial rule in Kelantan in 1915. He was born in Kampung Jeram, Pasir Puteh, Kelantan in 1853. His father was Panglima Munas, a commander in the Kelantan palace, and his mother was Che Mah, a native of Pattani. He received his early education in Kelantan and Mecca, and was a master of silat, a Malay martial art. He was also a follower of Tok Ku Paloh, a Sufi teacher and mystic. He was nicknamed Tok Janggut because of his long white beard. Tok Janggut opposed the British intervention in Kelantan, which began after the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909. He resented the changes that the British made in the administration system, especially the imposition of new taxes and the displacement of the local chiefs. He formed a pact with Engku Besar Jeram, the deposed chief of Pasir Puteh, and other local leaders to resist the British. He also gained the support of many Kelantanese, who refused to pay taxes and joined his rebel army. In April 1915, Tok Janggut killed a British officer, Sergeant Sulaiman, who came to arrest him. He then marched to Pasir Puteh with his followers and declared the independence of the district from British rule. He appointed Engku Besar as the Sultan of Pasir Puteh, and himself as the chief minister. He also issued his own currency and stamps, and established an Islamic court. The British sent troops from Singapore to quell the rebellion, and also sought the help of the Sultan of Kelantan, who denounced Tok Janggut as a traitor. The British forces attacked Tok Janggut's stronghold in Pasir Puteh on 25 June 1915, and after a fierce battle, Tok Janggut was shot and killed. His body was taken to Kota Bharu and displayed as a warning to other rebels. His followers dispersed or were captured, and the rebellion was crushed. Tok Janggut is remembered as a hero and a martyr in the anti-colonial struggle in Malaya. He inspired other resistance movements, such as the Baling Revolt and the Communist insurgency. He is also regarded as a saint and a wali by some Muslims, who visit his grave and seek his blessings. His story has been told in books, films, and songs, and his legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of the Malay people.