Maruthu Pandiyar

The Marudhu Pandiyars[1] (Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu) were chieftains of Sivagangai, Tamil Nadu, India, towards the end of the 18th century. They were known for fighting against the East India Company.[2] They were finally executed by the EIC after being captured by them.

Maruthu Pandiyars

Childhood

Periya and Chinna Marudhu,[3] sons of Mookiah Palaniappan Servai was native of Mukkulam, near Narikudi which was 18 miles away from Aruppukottai. Their mother Anandhayee alias Ponnathal was native of Pudhupatti near Sivagangai. Both the Brothers were born at Mukkulam in the year 1748 and 1753 respectively. The first son was named as Vellai Marudhu alias Periya Marudhu and the second son as Chinna Marudhu.

Rebellion

In 1782, Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah, (the Nawab of Arcot) had killed Muthuvaduganatha Thevar over his refusal to pay taxes. However Marudhu Pandiyar and Queen Velunachiyar escaped, and stayed with Gopala Nayak in Virupakshipuram for 7 years. After this time, an alliance of kingdoms led by the Pandiyar attacked Sivagangai and retook it in 1789. Both Maruthu Pandiyar were given high positions in the kingdom.[4]

They were good at aerodynamics and craftsmanship and is said to have invented the Valari, a variant of the boomerang. They were in close association with Veerapandiya Kattabomman of Panchalankurichi Seemai. Kattabomman held frequent consultations with Marudhus. After the execution of Kattabomman in 17 October 1799 at Kayattar, Chinna Marudhu gave asylum to Kattabomman's brother Maveeran Oomadurai.

Death

The Marudhu Pandiyars, planned to war against East India Company in India. They gave the protection to Velunachiyar who was temporarily seeking refuge from the chaos of war. They along with the war leader Sivagangai and many of their family members, were captured at Cholapuram and were killed at Tiruppattur. They were hanged in the fort of Tirupputhur, which is now Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu, on 24 October 1801.[5] The burial of Maruthu Padiyars is located at Sivagangai .

Honour

Maruthu Brothers are good in aerodynamics and invented many variants of spears and Valari.[6] They also founded guerilla war tactic in India during the early stages of colonization. A commemorative postage stamp was released in October 2004.[3][7] Every year people conduct Maruthu Pandiyars Guru Pooja at the Kalayarkovil temple in October.[8]

A film was done about their lives in 1959: Sivagangai Seemai .

See also

References
  1. Rajarajan, R.K.K. (2019). "Linking the ancient with the modern: Rāma-Lakṣmaṇa and the Marutu Brothers analogy". The Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society: 110.2: 41-49. ISSN 0047-8555.
  2. Gourlay, J. (1813). Mahradū, an Indian story, with some observations on the present state of the British empire. p. 17.
  3. "Stamp on Marudhu Pandiar brothers released". The Hindu. Madurai, India. 25 October 2004. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  4. Govindarajan, Vinita. "Remembering the Maruthu Pandiyar brothers, the leaders of the South Indian Rebellion of 1801". Scroll.in. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  5. Southindian states website Archived 18 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Children of midnight! Maruthu Pandiyar: Two brothers on one mission! - YoungBites". www.youngbites.com. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  7. "Stamps 2004". Indian Postal department. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  8. "Thousands pay homage to Marudhu Brothers". The Hindu. Madurai, India. 28 October 2010.
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