Saturday, July 12, 2008

maruthu-brothers







The Maruthu Pandiyar brothers (Periya Maruthu & Chinna Maruthu) ruled Sivagangai, Tamil Nadu during the last part of the 18th century and they were the first to issue a proclamation of independence from the British rule from Trichy Thiruvarangam Temple, Tamil Nadu on June 10, 1801, which is 56 years before the North Indian rebellion - Sepoy mutiny of 1857.


child hood:

Marudu brothers are the sons of Udayar Servai alias Mookiah Palaniappan Servai and Anandayer alias Ponnathal. Maruthu Pandiyar, the Elder was born on 15.12.1748 in a small village Narikkudi near Aruppukkottai of the Ramnad principal state. After five years, i.e., in 1753 Marudhu Pandiyar, the younger was born in Ramnad. Their father Udayar Servai served as a General in the Ramnad state military and he shifted his family to Ramnad from Narikkudi.



Early life:
The brothers both learned all martial arts at Surankottai, a then training centre for Ramnad military. Boomerang is a peculiar weapon to India. Two forms of this weapons are used in India. These weapons are commonly made of wood. In tamil it is called as Valari stick. It is said that Maruthu brothers were experts in the art of throwing the valari stick. It is said that Maruthus used Valari in the Poligar wars against the English. By that time they were awarded with the titles of ‘Pandiyas’ by the then Raja of Ramnad Muthu Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathy. They participated in many competitions of martial arts and won all of those.

Bravery :
Hearing their fame, the Raja of Sivaganga principal state (near Ramnad), Muthu Vaduganadhar requested the Ramnad king to send them for serving in the Sivaganga military service. After their arrival they were appointed as Generals of the Sivaganga military and the brothers got an unremovable place in the history of Sivaganga.
In the year 1772, the English military of the East India Company, under the command of Lt.Col. Bon Jour attacked the state at Kalayar Kovil. As the war worsened, Raja Muthu Vaduganadhar lost his life on the spot. But the Maruthu brothers managed to escape along with Rani Velu Nachiar, wife of Raja Muthu Vadughanadhar and arrived at Dindigul which was ruled by Hyder Ali – the Sultan of Mysore as refugees. Hyder Ali supported them with all respects.
Arcot Nawab, the alliance partner of East India Company was not able to collect any taxes from the people of Sivaganga state for eight years, arranged for an agreement whereby the rule of Sivaganga was restored to Rani Velu Nachiar after he collected his dues from her. The Marudu brothers with 12,000 armed men surrounded Sivaganga and plundered Arcot Nawab's territories. The Nawab on the 10th of March 1789 appealed to the Madras Council for aid. On 29th April 1789, the British forces attacked Kollangudi. It was defeated by a large body of Marudu's troops.

War against British
They were in close association with Veera Pandiya Kattabomman of Panchalankurichi. Kattabomman held frequent consultations with Marudhus. After the execution of Kattabomman in 17th October 1799 at Kayattar, Chinna Marudhu gave asylum to Kattabomman's brother Oomadurai (dumb brother). 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. British considered it as a serious threat to their future in India that they rushed additional troops from Britain to put down Maruthu Pandiyars' rebellion. These forces surrounded 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
Marudu brothers were not only warriers and noted for bravery, but they were very great Administrators. Rani Velu Nachiar made a Will and paved way for Marudhu Pandiyar Elder to rule. Marudhu Pandiar younger was made as Dewan of the state. During the period from 1783 to 1801, they worked for the welfare of the people and the Sivaganga Seemai was reported as fertile. They constructed many notable temples like Kalayar Kovil, Sivaganga many Ooranis and Tanks .
Death
Maruthu Pandiyars and many of their family members were captured at Cholapuram and they were hanged on October 24, 1801.

2 comments:

KRP.MuthuBharathi said...

sivagangai mannin maruthu vasanai innum veesukirathu anal our varisugal vasaam kooda kanavillai ennpathuthan varutham .krp.muthubharathi.

KRP.MuthuBharathi said...

KRP.MuthuBharathi said...
sivagangai mannin maruthu vasanai innum veesukirathu anal our varisugal vasaam kooda kanavillai ennpathuthan varutham .krp.muthubharathi.
ORU NAAL OURIN PERUMAI SIVAGANAGIYAI,PESA VAIPPOM.