Maruthu Pandiyar

Maruthu Pandiyar
Maruthu Pandiyar
Born	Mukkulam, Tamil Nadu

Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu sculptures inside of Kalaiyar Kovil, Sivagangai District.

The Marudhu Pandiyars^[1] (Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu) were de facto rulers 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 .^[3]

Childhood

Periya and Chinna Marudhu,^[4] 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 1772, British East India company had killed Muthuvaduganatha Thevar over his refusal to pay taxes.^[5] However Marudhu Pandiyar and Queen Velunachiyar escaped, and stayed with Gopala Nayak in Virupatchi for 8 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.^[6]

They were good at aerodynamics and craftsmanship and is said to have invented the Valari, a variant of the boomerang.

Death

The Marudhu Pandiyars, planned to wage war against East India Company in India. They gave protection to Oomaithurai Kumaraswamy 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. The Marudhu Brothers were hanged to death at the fort of Tirupputhur, which is now Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu, on 24 October 1801.^[7] The Memorial Square of Maruthu Pandiyars is located at Kalaiyarkoil.

Honour

Maruthu Brothers are good in aerodynamics and invented many variants of spears and Valari.^[8] They also founded guerilla war tactic in India during the early stages of colonization.

A commemorative postage stamp of Marudhu pandyars was released in October 2004.^[4]^[9]
on December 15, 2007 Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanithi, that day CM of Tamilnadu opened the 10 feet Bronze Sculpture of Marudhu pandyars holding the swords on a horse facing Madurai Mariamman Theppakulam^[10]
Every year, Maruthu Pandiyars Guru Poojai was greatly celebrated at their Memorial in Kalaiyarkoil in October 27. Its also a Public holiday only in Sivaganga district.^[11]

Local Tamilians also worship them and there is a temple dedicated and located at Batu Dua Mariamman Temple, Sungai Petani, Kedah state at Malaysia.

A film called Sivagangai Seemai was made about their lives in 1959 .

References

^ 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. Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
^ Gourlay, J. (1813). Mahradū, an Indian story, with some observations on the present state of the British empire. p. 17. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
^ Welsh, James (1930). Military Reminiscences: Extracted from a journal of nearly forty years' active service in the East Indies, Volume 1 (Second ed.). London: Smith, Elder & Co., Cornhill. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Stamp on Marudhu Pandiar brothers released". The Hindu. Madurai, India. 25 October 2004. Archived from the original on 11 February 2005. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
^ "சிவகங்கை மன்னர் முத்துவடுகநாதர் வரலாறு". Sivagangai Express. Retrieved 31 May 2022.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Govindarajan, Vinita. "Remembering the Maruthu Pandiyar brothers, the leaders of the South Indian Rebellion of 1801". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 31 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
^ Southindian states website Archived 18 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Children of midnight! Maruthu Pandiyar: Two brothers on one mission! - YoungBites". www.youngbites.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
^ "Stamps 2004". Indian Postal department. Archived from the original on 5 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
^ "Kalaignar karunanithi open bronze sculpture of Marudhu Brothers at Madurai". One India Tamil. 15 December 2007.
^ "Thousands pay homage to Marudhu Brothers". The Hindu. Madurai, India. 28 October 2010. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2012.