TRACING THE REMAINS OF PALAYAMKOTTAI FORT

Palayam or Palayappattu refers to an administrative segment during the Vijayanagar Rule and in the subsequent Nayakkar Dynasty. Palayakkarar or the British colonial reference of ‘polygar’ indicates the ruler or chieftain of this segment who were subordinates to the Emperor of Vijayanagar or Madurai. Thus we got a number of references in the name of Palayam such as Rajapalayam and Palayamkottai.

There were several fortified localities / townships in Tirunelveli Cheemai indicated by their very names such as Palayamkottai, Ukkirankottai, vallvankottai, Parivallikkottai, Thalaivankottai, Pazhamkottai etc. British references indicate existence of forts in Vasudevanallur and Nerkattumcheval which were the main bastions of Raja Puli Thevar who effectively challenged the military might of the British–Arcot Nawab Alliance. Among the above forts, Palayamkottai is a recent one.

There is hearsay that one Basavappa probably a high ranking official of Vijayanagar Empire is said to have built this fort. There is one village near Palayamkottai, in the Tirnelveli–Tuticorin Highways, ‘Vasavappapuram’ said to be named after him.

However Tinnelvelli Gazetteer compiled by H.R.Pate, a British ICS officer in 1916, ascribes the construction of Palayamkottai fort and many other irrigation systems in Tirunelveli Zilla to Aryanatha Mudaliar, a famous General and the Southern Viceroy of the legendary Madurai King Viswanatha Nayakka, the first Ruler of the Nayakka Dynasty. It also mentions that the district was studded with numerous forts of chieftains.

Colonel James Welsh’s description of Palayamkottai fort:

Col James Welsh of the East India Company’s army who was posted as Quarter master of a brigade encamped near Palayamkottai in the year 1799, describes Palayamkottai fortification in his book, Military Reminiscence – Volume I [ ‘Military Reminiscence; An Extract from the journal of nearly forty years’ active service in the East Indies’]. Palayamkottai was the Tirunelveli district Headquarters at that time. 

Following is the sketch of Palayamkottai fort presented by the Colonel;

 From the hillock in the backdrop, the temple towers seen along the face of the fort walls, and from the vast agricultural fields, the sketch appears to be drawn from the North Western side of the fort.

Col. James Welsh describes,

“the fort is situated upon a fertile plain, about two miles from the river, with a clear nullah running a short distance from the walls. It is about two miles in circumference, nearly square, with two rows of works all round it, but no ditch; the inner rampart much higher than the outer one, and the whole having small round bastions, and short curtains, with four gate ways in the middle of the faces, covered by square redoubts; the two to the West and South being closed up. A capital road led from the northern gate to   the towns Tinnevelly and Tatchenoor, across the river by a ford, always passable, excepting during a few days in the North - East monsoon. Some pleasantly situated garden – houses were close to the road leading to the river, and the whole of the surrounding country being well watered and wooded, are highly picturesque and beautiful.”

Another description of the fort:

A 1756, account of the fort by one Orme as recorded in the Gazetteer says that the fort was spacious but the ramparts were in ruins, nevertheless capable of resisting an enemy with no battering cannon.

Portrayal of the fort by Tinnevelly Gazetteer (1916) compiled by H.R. Pate :

There are more elaborate details of the fort in this Gazetteer. 

The Gazetteer depicts,

“the fort formed a rectangle 900 yards by 840 yards and possessed neither ditch nor glacis. It consisted of a main inner rampart, 15 feet high and 15 feet thick, and an  outer line, 9 feet high; both walls were surmounted by parapets. The ramparts were of earth, faced with massive cut stones. At irregular intervals there were square bastions, and at the angles of the fort the bastions were round. At the middle point of each rampart was a gate. The great square tower, on which, the modern police-station now reposes surmounted the western or “ Tinnevelly” gate. Just beside the existing racquet court, which was built up against the southern rampart was the south or “Travancore” gate. The other entrances – the “ Tiruchendur” gate on the east  the site of which is now occupied by the sub-magistrate’s court and the northern or “ Madura” gate ( which stood on the site of the present market) – have disappeared.” 

The Gazetteer further elaborates,

“Quarters for the native soldiers were outside the fort near the Eastern face of the fort while the British officers stayed inside the fort in the southern part of the walled township. The artillery barracks was the building, still popularly known as “Tillery,” in which the post office is now located. The northern two-thirds of the fort was the crowded town it now is. In the remaining one-third in the south were the artillery, the mess-house and the bungalows of the military officers. “

In search of the traces of the bygone fortification:

The ‘clear nullah’ mentioned by Col.James Welsh is the present day ‘Palayam Kaal’ or Palayam Canal which fetches water from ‘Pazhavur anaicut’ which is an amazingly  very long stone work-diversion barrage built across the river Tamiraparani near Pazhavur. Palayam canal skirts around the 'fertile and well watered fields' as mentioned by James Welsh. This canal covers the full stretch of Western and Northern periphery of the present day Palayamkottai town sketching a boundary line on these two sides. This canal might have been so coursed, so as to serve as a moat to the fortification; apart from its purpose of irrigation. There are two temple inside the fortified area, Ramar Temple in the Western side and Thiripurantheeswarar Temple in the East with huge tanks. There were narrow canal arrangements to bring water inside the fort to these tanks.

The fertile and well watered and scenic surrounding fields as described by  Col James Welsh in 1799 are still so.

                         

Though the double walled structure of the fort, bastions, redoubts and entrances have almost withered away, there are few remnants of the ruined fortification which still stand testimony to the British descriptions.   

The ruins of the redoubts in the Western and Eastern entrances though concealed by modern developments are still noticeable. The Western entrance of the fort is almost completely intact. This entrance / redoubt is located near the so called ‘Vaikkal Palam’ [Canal Bridge] area. Atop this redoubt the 'Medai Police Station' referred by the British records is still functioning in that very name which now houses the City Crime Branch office. The surrounding massive walls are about 20 feet in height. 'Medai' means upstairs.  This redoubt entrances are completely closed and the inside entrances house two small temples. Among them 'Sri Prasanna Vinayagar Temple' is located exactly covering the inner part of the entrance. ‘Mela vassal Murugan koil’ i.e. Western entrance Murugan temple is the adjoining another temple. 

This entire complex is a massive stone structure and was a part of the old fort system. This complex is connected by the straight South Bazar road with the Eastern entrance of the fort. The Eastern entrance is though magnificent its remains are hidden behind the huge Samathanapuram Water Tank. The South Bazar Road is the arterial pathway of the walled township. A bike ride from the Western entrance to this Eastern structure takes exactly one kilometer. The remaining part of this redoubt now houses a Govt museum.

Closed southern entrance of the fort referred by James Welsh might be located near the present day Central Library and in the road leading to the ‘Ilanthaikulam reservoir’ nearby. This reservoir spread in parallel to the southern face of the former fort is fed by sub canals from the Palayam canal.

A road from this southern entrance to Northern Gate of the Palayamkottai fort cuts South Bazar road at right angles causing a cross road point which is  actually the centre of the fort and this path way passes through the Eastern side of Gopala Swami Temple towards the Western periphery of the present day vegetable market and merges with the North Bazar or Tuticorin Road. ‘Kaaval’ i.e. protection deities are part of the features of ancient forts. The East facing kaval deity, ‘Kottai Karuppa Swamy temple’ located in the middle of a narrow adjoining lane near the Western entrance locality indicates and corroborates the mainly used Northern entrance of the former fort.    

  

A bike ride measure from this Northern opening to the centre of the fort measures exactly half a kilometer. The fort structure being almost square in shape as depicted by Col James Welsh, it can very well be deduced that the entire perimeter of the fort should have been 4 kilometers. Thus the measurements almost match with the description of Col James Welsh.    

There are no apparent traces of the ‘double ramparts, the inner being higher than the outer one’ as described by the Colonel. The basements of which might have gone into the residential building structures in the narrow lanes and by lanes running along the northern and Eastern periphery of the Palayamkottai.

The stone structure with a statue of King Kattabomman atop near Palayamkottai Bus stand is the other clearly discernible remaining piece of the lost fortification. This might be the South Western corner-bastion of the former fort. A British period stable was said to be in the adjoining building which housed a Govt office latter.

The so called ‘Military lane’ in the North Eastern part of the Palayamkottai is just outside the fort wall where the native army barracks was located. Quarters for the native solders were also at the nearby site of the present day District Superintendent of Police office.  

Oomaithurai’s dramatic escape from the fort prison:

This massive closet in the Eastern redoubt also served as a prison during the early British period wherein Kattbomman’s younger brother, Oomaithurai was imprisoned along with his younger brother Sivathiah @ Duraisingham and 17 other family members and his close lieutenants for about 13 months after the end of Panjalamkurichy War I.

Oomaithurai and his valiant comrades were kept shackled by iron chains in this prison. Panjalamkurichy Kambala Naikka warriors and several palayakkarar chieftains drew plans to rescue Oomaithurai out of the gallows. But the plans were postponed and strategies redrawn for more opportune times. Chinna Marudhu, the Diwan of Sivagangai Cheemai sent a special task force to rescue his friend, Oomaithurai. But this force unfortunately failed in its attempt. They had been spotted by the British and were arrested and later executed in public. Details about the identity of the members of this force and the reasons for their failure are an important piece, lost in the annals of the glorious history of our Tirunelveli Chemmai. Lack of effective coordination with the Panjalamkurichy men and need for local intelligence inputs might be the reasons for their failure.

Later, the Panjalamkurichy men charted out a more meticulous strategy after a month long close surveillance. Hundreds of Panjalam warriors  sneaked into the fort, camouflaging as fire wood sellers, plantain leaf vendors or as pilgrims concealing weapons and necessary equipments to break iron chains. Oomaithurai was already informed of the operation. Few fort residents inside the fort also helped these men. Several hundreds of men spread swiftly across the Eastern face of the fort and all along the escape route to Panjalamkurichy via Seevalapperi junction point and were in waiting for their next move. On the dusk of that chosen day, the British officers in the garrison were away at the palace of Ettayapuram Raja on the other side of the Tamiraparani river bank enjoying a party hosted by the Raja. This palace called 'Castle Wood' and its sprawling surroundings are still intact in Tirunelveli Junction behind the so called vast Raja Building complex. The Panjalamkurichy men made a synchronized and lightning attack on the garrison and disarmed the British sentry and rescued all the inmates of the prison paving the way for Panjalamkurichy War - II and the ensuing famous Polygar Wars or South Indian Rebellion.   

      

Surroundings of the fort:

On the side track, Col James Welsh in his book further says, ‘The town of Tinnevelly or Tirnawelly as the natives call it, is very large, and contains very wealthy Hindoo merchants; and Tachenoor, which is much smaller, had a cavalry cantonment formed near it.’ He also mentions about a ‘ford’ which might be the traditional path used by the people to cross the river Tamiraparani before the construction of bridges across the river. This shallow path way might be between the stone paved and stepped banks / 'Padithurai' at Vannarpettai on one side and Sindhupoondurai Padithurai on the other side of the bank. 

          

Destruction of the fort:

How come the Nellai Cheemai’s forts withered away and disappeared from the public memory?

In 1795, the British East India Company regime in Fort St. George of Madras issued a decree directing the Polygars to destroy their forts and surrender their weaponry. This decree was effectively implemented after the so called Polygar Wars in the regions formerly ruled by the native Chieftains and Rulers who opposed the British colonization. 

For example, the H.R.Pate’s ‘Tinnevelly Gazateer’ says, ‘the Panjalankurichi fort was razed to the ground; the site was ploughed over and sown with castor seed, and the name of the place was also expunged from all the registers of the district.’

Another telling example is that the present day Marret Streets around the core of Madurai city are actually the stretches where the moats ran around the Madurai Fortification. These streets were created by filling the moats by pulling down the fort walls. The streets are named after the British officer and the natives who helped him in accomplishing this work! The ‘Veli’ Veedhi meaning outer Streets were the ones running outside the famed fort of Madurai. One massive side bastion of a redoubt located just adjacent to the Bus Terminus near Nethaji Road is the only remaining piece of the Madurai fort at present. This area is still known as 'Western entrance' by the locals. The 'southern entrance' to the Madurai fort is also still called in the same name.

All the ancient Pandya forts were brick or mud works and presumably smaller in size. After the advent of Vijayanagar rule in Madurai region, particularly King Viswanatha Nayak converted the Madurai and Tirunelveli [Palayamkottai?] forts into double walled stone masonry works.  

By razing down the forts and confiscating the weapon stocks in the restive regions, the British colonizers tried to preempt further rebellions. These were the attempts to emasculate us by obliterating the memories of our valorous ancestral history and heritage. 

The southern Tamil Country, Nellai Cheemai has always been a fertile nursery of valorous and patriotic lions who stood against the alien might in the service of this country. This actually explains the disappearance of many forts in Nellai Cheemai.

However in the case of dilapidation of Palayamkottai fort, which only served as a British cantonment and prison for a long time from the initial stages of colonization i.e. from 1765 there were other reasons too. 

The Gazetteer narrates thus,

          “The disappearance of the old fort was a gradual process. As early as 1840 a large quantity of stone had been taken from the outer wall for the purpose of building the foundations of the bridge at Tinnevelly. The eastern gate had been shut up and on its site a civil jail (now the court of the sub magistrate) had been built; the other gates were in existence, but there were innumerable breaches, especially on the west side, and pieces of wall were constantly collapsing. Mr. E.B.Thomas, the Collector, recommended in the interests of the public health that the outer wall at least should be completely removed, and, though the military authorities opposed the suggestion, its destruction was ordered in 1844 by Government. A few years later – in 1851- the demolition of the main wall on the east was put in hand, and permission was obtained to use the stones for public buildings. In 1860 the removal of the western wall followed; the southern wall was destroyed next and last of all, the northern wall. By 1861 the fort had practically disappeared. The stones were sorted, good ones being retained for various public works and the best of all sent off to Srivaikuntam for the new anicut. The rest were sold.”

The few remains of the Palayamkottai fort particularly the Western Gate structure is in need of repairs. It is high time to conserve and popularize these heritage pieces of historic and antique value of this land.

The parapet walls of the Western redoubt structure:

The stone tiled outer walls of the Western redoubt structure: 

The stone steps to the upstairs :

Closed Western Gate:

Temple precincts in the inner side of the Western redoubt: :

--:: O :: --

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. 

Oomaithurai's men sneaked in to Palayamkottai's walled township and spread out, camouflaging as firewood or banana leaf vendors or  pilgrims or monks with weapons concealed in their firewood or banana leaf loads or in their clothing. They regrouped and made a synchronized attack on the prison guards on a prefixed time in the evening. 

  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. 

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.    

Colonel James Welsh's sketch of Panjalamkurichy fort from his book 'Military Reminiscences'

                 

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.   

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. 

   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 

Gopala Nayakkar who was in his seventies assumed leadership of this Southern Alliance of Tamil chieftains. The leaders charted out detailed strategies. A synchronized and multipronged attack on the British Garrisons across the South was planned. Keralavarma of Malabar and Krishnappa Naik of Southern Karnataka were also contacted by the Alliance. A contingent of Maratha cavalry was also expected to join.

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 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.  This is the reason behind the  privileges they enjoyed during the British Raj until independence.  

   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. 

Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar of Ramnad, the ardent follower of Nethaji

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". 

one recently declassified INA document...

 

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..... 

Nethaji has now become an identity icon of  few traditional warrior communities of the South. Nethaji is one of the two Bengali leaders immensely supported by the Tamils during the Indian Nationalist Movement. The other popular icon Tamils followed was Swami Vivekananda.

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........