Maruthu Pandiyar
The Marudhu
Pandiyar brothers (Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu) ruled Sivagangai,
Tamil Nadu towards the end of the 18th century. The Marudhu brothers were the
first to issue a proclamation of independence from the colonial British rule
from Trichy Thiruvarangam Temple, Tamil Nadu on 10 June 1801, more than
56 years before what is generally said to be the First War of Indian
Independence which broke out mainly in Northern India in the year 1857.
Childhood
The Marudhu
brothers were the sons of Udayar Servai alias Mookiah Palaniappan Servai
and Anandayer alias Ponnathal.Marudhu Pandiyar, the Elder was born on
15.12.1748 in a small hamlet called Narikkudi near Aruppukkottai in then
Ramnad principal state (now Virudhunagar district). In 1753 the younger Marudhu
Pandiyar was born in Ramnad. Their father "Udayar Servai" served as
the General in the Ramnad state military and he shifted his family to Virudhunagar
from Narikkudi.
Early life
The Marudhu
brothers were trained in native martial arts at Surankottai which
traditionally served as a training centre for the Ramnad state army. The Valari
is a peculiar weapon unique to India used originally by the indigenous people
(ancient Tamils) of the South Asia. Two forms of this weapon are used in India
and known as boomerang warfare. These are normally made of wood. They are known
as Valari sticks in Sangam Tamil. Marudhu brothers were experts in the art of
throwing the Valari stick and using it as a weapon. They used Valari in
their Poligar Wars against the British colonial forces. They contested in and
won many competitions of martial arts and distinguished themselves as brave warriors.
The Raja of Ramnad Muthu Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathy issued the title
of Pandiyas to honour the Marudhu Pandiyargal.
Bravery
The Raja of Sivagangai,
a principal state near Ramnad, Muthu Vaduganadhathevar came to know of their
brave and courageous deeds and requested the Ramnad king to assign them to
serve the Sivaganga state army. They were appointed as Generals of the Sivaganga
military and the brothers left an indelible impression in the military history
of India.
In the year
1772, the English military of the British East India Company, under the command
of Lt.Col. Bon Jour attacked the state at Kalayar Kovil. During the war, Raja
Muthu Vaduganadhathevar lost his life in the battlefield. But the Marudhu
brothers managed to escape along with Rani Velu Nachiar, wife of Raja Muthu
Vadughanadhathevar and arrived at Dindigul which was ruled by Hyder Ali – the
Sultan of Mysore as refugees. Hyder Ali supported them in all respects.
The Nawab of
Arcot, the alliance partner of British East India Company, was not able to
collect any taxes from the people of Sivaganga state for eight long years. He
entered into an agreement whereby the rule of Sivaganga was restored to
"Rani Velu Nachiar" after he collected his dues from her. The Marudhu
brothers with 12,000 armed men surrounded Sivaganga and plundered the Arcot
Nawab's territories. The Nawab on the 10th of March 1789 appealed to the Madras
Council for aid. On 29 April 1789, the British forces attacked Kollangudi. It
was defeated by a large body of Marudhu troops.
Marudhu Pandiyars Battles against the British
After the
execution of Kattabomman in 17 October 1799 at Kayattar, Chinna Marudhu gave
asylum to Kattabomman's brother Oomaidurai. But the British took this reason to
invade and attacked Sivaganga in 1801 with a powerful army. The Maruthu
Pandiyars and their allies were quite successful and captured three districts
from the British. The British considered it such a serious threat to their
future in India that they rushed additional troops from Britain to put down the
Maruthu Pandiyars' rebellion. These forces surrounded the Maruthu Pandiyars'
army at Kalayar Koil, and the latter scattered. The Maruthu Brothers and their
top commanders escaped. They regrouped and fought the British and their allies
at Viruppatchi, Dindigul and Cholapuram. While they won the battle at
Viruppatchi, they lost the other two battles.
Administration
Marudhu
brothers were not only warriors and noted for bravery, but they were very great
administrators. Rani Velu Nachiar made a will and paved the way for Marudhu
Pandiyar Elder to rule. Marudhu Pandiar younger was made the Dewan of the
state. During the period from 1783 to 1801, they worked for the welfare of their
subjects and the Sivaganga Seemai was made fertile. They constructed many
notable temples like Kalayar Kovil, Sivaganga many Ooranis and Tanks.
Death
The Marudhu
Pandiyars and many of their family members were captured at Cholapuram they
were infamously hanged at same time in the Fort of Tiruppathur (Sivaganga
District, Tamil Nadu) on the English month of October 24, 1801.
Honour
A commemorative
postage stamp has been released on October 2004. Every year people conduct guru pooja to
them in October month.
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