Salutations to thee…. Oomaithurai, the valiant commander of our
land, Nellai Cheemai, the Southern Tamil Country……
Thalavai Kumaraswamy @ Oomaithurai was the younger brother of the
famous Chieftain Veerapandiya Kattabomma Naik of Panjalamgurichy who fought against the
authority of the British East India Company during its inception phase in
colonizing the Tamil country.
Oomaithurai was immensely popular and completely swayed the loyalty
of the peasantry belonged to the ‘karisal’ (black cotton soil) tracts spanning across the Eastern parts of the Nellai
Cheemai i.e. the present day Tuticorin District. He was an excellent
organizer and a military genius who successfully turned the brewing rage of the
southern agrarian communities against the mechanisms of the alien colonizers.
Though Oomaithurai was a dumb prince he led his followers in the battle and inspired the masses just by his sign language. He often would take out a straw before the assembly of his men and tear it apart and then would blow away to symbolically convey his resolve to destroy the British. He was a master strategist and was consulted upon in every political decision by his brothers.
Oomaithurai spearheaded the tide which rose from the deep south later canonized in the annals of modern History as the ‘South Indian Rebellion’ which pre dates by 50 years to the First war of the Indian Freedom which broke out in the Northern India in 1857.
Oomaithurai was a prisoner of war after the first war of
Panjalamkurichi. The daring jail break and liberation of Oomaithurai and his younger brother, Duraisingam @ Sivathaiah along with some of his key lieutenants by his
comrades from the British garrison of Palyamkottai is a saga carved out in the history of Tirunelveli. This well planned military operation was
executed with precision and professionalism.
All the prisoners of war were rescued and whisked away to Panjalamkurichy by the dawn. All along the escape routes there were contingents of warriors at strategic points for facilitating their swift escape and for any rear guard action.
After coming out of the shackles,
Oomaithurai immediately took the command of the restive agrarian warriors and
led a powerful movement against the British which paved the way for a long
drawn struggle in the Tamil Country.
With indigenous materials like clay, ground millets, husk, hay and palmyra juice, Panjalamkurichy fort was rebuilt in an amazing time of six days. The said mix of materials were ground, fermented and used to raise the ramparts. This fort was bigger than the earlier one razed by the British in the aftermath of the Panjalamkurichy War - I. The rebuilt fort withstood the British artillery fire to the astonishment of the British. The fort had a net work of underground trenches to escape from the enemy fire.
With indigenous materials like clay, ground millets, husk, hay and palmyra juice, Panjalamkurichy fort was rebuilt in an amazing time of six days. The said mix of materials were ground, fermented and used to raise the ramparts. This fort was bigger than the earlier one razed by the British in the aftermath of the Panjalamkurichy War - I. The rebuilt fort withstood the British artillery fire to the astonishment of the British. The fort had a net work of underground trenches to escape from the enemy fire.
Oomaithurai's younger brother Sivathaiah was proclaimed as the Raja of Panjalamkurichy kingdom. Oomaithurai and his brother declared war on the British. Oomaithurai called upon the people of Nellai Cheemai to wage war against the British. The entire Eastern province of Nellai Cheemai reverberated with the traditional Tamil war cry, 'Vetri Vel' 'Veera Vel'.
Oomaithurai swiftly procured weapons from Mailappan Servai, the Military Chief of Ramnad Sethupathy. He organized lightning attacks on several detached British camps and garnered arms. He also sourced ammunition from his friend and Fishermen Community leader in Tuticorin who had overseas connections. Oomaithurai was also successful in gaining the support of the Nadar community of Nazereth. He received the immense support of the Dalit sections of the people of his province during his war efforts.
Earlier, the British with the information of Ettayapuram Raja gained success in the first Panjalamkurichy War by treacherously attacking the unprepared kingdom when the bulk of Panjalamkurichy men including Oomaithurai were on their pilgrimage to Tiruchendur.
The British were not fully aware of the local terrain, native intelligence, battle strategies and weaponry. Without the assistance of
native kings, of Ettayapuram and Pudukkottai who betrayed the patriotic mass leaders to gain their petty scores,
the British could never have succeeded. The people have never forgiven the
perfidy of these Kings which is etched in the folklore of Southern Tamil
Country.
| VALARI |
Swords, Valari (boomerang), Churul vaal
(rolling sword) and Vel kambu ( spears of varying lengths and lances up to 18 feet in length) were the main weaponry
of the native people. Fire arms mainly muskets were also not unknown to them. But Oomaithurai
lacked artillery and sustained logistic support.
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| Ground plan of Panjalamkurichy fort by Col. James Welsh |
The British suffered set backs in their initial skirmishes with the Panjalmkurichy forces. Unnerved by the massive mobilization of native warriors and their iron resolve, The British came with heavy reinforcements and
powerful field guns. The ensuing second Panjalamkurichy War broke out on
31.03.1801. The fort was finally overrun by the British with the active help of the Ettayapuram forces during the dusk of 24.05.1801.
A number of local chieftains and warriors also joined and a grand alliance was formed. Mailappan Servai, the valiant commander of Ramnad army and Dheeran Chinnamalai, from the royal clan of Kongu Country also joined the Alliance. Representatives from some 3000 villages of the south assembled in Virupatchi and avowed their allegiance to the Alliance. This Alliance drew the overwhelming support of the Peasantry from across the Southern parts of Tamil country who were suffering under the British yoke of exploitation and grinding taxation.
About 1500 Panjalamkurichy warriors martyred in their last heroic battle on that day. Oomaithurai was
severely wounded and fell unconscious on the battle grounds. Another fallen warrior nearby pleaded his
mother to save his 'Swamy' / 'master' instead of him. His old mother fulfilled the last wish of her dying son. This heroic mother rescued Oomaithurai from the eyes of Ettyapuram search parties. Thereafter, several Dalit families said to have assisted the escape of Oomaithurai risking their life.
Oomaithurai sneaked out of his country and reached Kamudhi fort where he was received by some 20,000 people and the ardent followers of Chinnamarudhu. The Diwan of Sivagangai Cheemai, Chinnamarudhu himself came down to Kamudhi fort and gave a resounding welcome to Oomaithurai. Oomaithurai was then taken to the personal quarters of Marudhu brothers at Siruvayal.
| Marudhu Brothers |
Other illustrious chiefs who were pulled in to the subsequent vortex of
struggle were, the illustrious ‘Marudhu Brothers’ the rulers of Sivagangai Cheemai and Gopala Naikkar, the Zamindhar of Virupatchi.
 |
| Marudhu brothers in popular contemporary depiction |
A number of local chieftains and warriors also joined and a grand alliance was formed. Mailappan Servai, the valiant commander of Ramnad army and Dheeran Chinnamalai, from the royal clan of Kongu Country also joined the Alliance. Representatives from some 3000 villages of the south assembled in Virupatchi and avowed their allegiance to the Alliance. This Alliance drew the overwhelming support of the Peasantry from across the Southern parts of Tamil country who were suffering under the British yoke of exploitation and grinding taxation.
| KONGU PRINCE DHEERAN CHINNAMALAI |
By
extending the struggle beyond the borders of Nellai Cheemai, Oomaithurai fulfilled the dreams of his legendary predecessor King Puli Thevar of Nerkattumcheval in the Western province of Nellai Cheemai.
The veteran warrior, Gopala Nayakkar started marching off with his men towards the British barracks at Sulur in Coimbatore. The traditional war cry of Nayakkar warriors, 'Jai Jakkamma' reverberated in the Western part of the Tamil Country. And the war broke out!
The veteran warrior, Gopala Nayakkar started marching off with his men towards the British barracks at Sulur in Coimbatore. The traditional war cry of Nayakkar warriors, 'Jai Jakkamma' reverberated in the Western part of the Tamil Country. And the war broke out!
The
British colonizers never faced such a wave of tremendous opposition to their colonizing
efforts in India before 1857. They needed to bring in huge mobilisation from their other overseas colonies. Ettayapuram King Ettappan, Pudukkottai King Thondaiman and Tanjore King Serfoji sided with the British during this critical war.
In his letter to the Tanjore King Serfoji, Oomaithurai
mentioned that he would not stop until decimating the British from this land;
and if it were not possible for him he would fight with them until his death. Oomaithurai never disturbed kingdoms which sided the British even when there were such chances. Even when the above kings supported the British the popular emotions were strongly with the native hero, Oomaithurai.
Oomaithurai's pristine regal qualities, lofty ideals and heroic efforts are
enshrined for ever in the folklore and in the ballads of Tirunelveli.
Ommaithurai’s observance of noble codes during the war was recorded
even by the Britishers. He was an ardent devotee of
Thiruchendur Senthilandava very much in tune with the popular tradition of Nellai Cheemai.
The prison wherein Oomaithurai and his comrades were kept by the
British is still intact and housing a Government museum. This stone
structure is in fact one of the remnants of the
dilapidated Palayamkottai fort.
Nellai Cheemai never ceased to produce patriotic lions in the
service of our country. The celebrated freedom fighters, VOC and
the doyen of modern Tamil poetry, Subramanya Bharathi carried forward the patriotic commitment of
Oomaithurai.
Fire brand revolutionaries like Vanchinathan Aiyer of
Sengottai and Madasamy Pillai of Ottapidaram who belonged to the Tirunelveli chapter of the Maharashtra based revolutionary movement, Bharath Matha Association along with several youths of this Association were trained in fire arms procured by VVS Aiyer, the saintly scholar and revolutionary from Vatlagundu of Madurai. He smuggled in fire arms from Europe. This youth brigade took blood oath before Godess Kaali Matha to wage war
against the British and kept up the free spirit of this land. Eventually Collector Ashe who harassed Tirunelveli patriots was shot dead at Maniachi Railway Junction. What ensued was the Tirunelveli conspiracy case which is classified as one of the top ten conspiracy cases of sedition during the British Raj.
Later, Nellai Cheemai like Madurai and Ramnad gave its resounding backing
to the cause of Muthuramalinga Thevar, an ardent follower of Nethaji and the war council member of Indian
National Army [INA] formed by Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose. In fact there were
many groups of volunteers prepared and waiting for the much expected march of
INA into Bengal to begin attacks on the British garrisons from the South.
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| Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar of Ramnad, the ardent follower of Nethaji |
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Followers of Nethaji and sympathizers of Indian National Army in the Southern Tamil Country were led by the saintly Nationalist Scholar Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar who commanded immense following in Nellai Cheemai as well.....
The migrants from the Southern Tamilnadu to Malaysia and other East Asian
countries also joined the cause of INA there. Such migrants in fact formed a major chunk of the INA. I am fortunate enough to have met one such Malaysian migrant and former INA warrior, Mariadasan
Nadar of Parappadi village situated in the dry South Eastern outskirts of Tirunelveli
District some 15 years ago. He was in his 70 plus and hale and healthy. I waited in his INA shop for him as he was on his cycling trip to nearby village. His room was full of photos of INA and II World War time Axis generals. I found in him the impeccable 'kshatria' tradition of pristine character
and fortitude of this country.
He belonged to the foremost Guerrilla Regiment of INA. He reminisced with passion and faith about his supreme commander, Nethaji. He became emotional and was moved when he reminisced about one sports event he participated in Singapore. The event was between the INA, Japanese military and the civilian participants. When he came first in an athletic event, Nethaji descended down from the galleries and embraced him and proclaiming him to the crowd as, "mera jawan".
It is one of the suppressed parts of the modern Indian history that the trials of INA warriors in the 'INA conspiracy case' sparked off the 'Indian Naval Mutiny', which actually paved the way for Indian freedom.
He belonged to the foremost Guerrilla Regiment of INA. He reminisced with passion and faith about his supreme commander, Nethaji. He became emotional and was moved when he reminisced about one sports event he participated in Singapore. The event was between the INA, Japanese military and the civilian participants. When he came first in an athletic event, Nethaji descended down from the galleries and embraced him and proclaiming him to the crowd as, "mera jawan".
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| one recently declassified INA document... |
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| Nethaji in Germany... |
It is one of the suppressed parts of the modern Indian history that the trials of INA warriors in the 'INA conspiracy case' sparked off the 'Indian Naval Mutiny', which actually paved the way for Indian freedom.
The immense popularity of Nethaji who represented the contemporary aspirations of the youth of India is one big deliberately suppressed parts of the modern Indian History written by the JNU - Marxist historians
Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose has been a household name of the Southern Tamil Country. Children are still named after him.....
The wisdom and dream lit up by Ommaithurai never fazed in the Tamil Country.......
May this land come out with such men of great leadership qualities
to the service of Mother India. May the blessings of our illustrious ancestors of Nellai Cheemai uplift this land from the shallow materialistic hallucinations and selfish
quandary it suffers from now........
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