Marudhu – A Rebellion or the beginning of the
freedom struggle?
S.Vairavarajan
Director,
Youth Development Centre,
Tirunelveli
Vairavaraj2020@gmail.com
The death of Marudhu brothers was began at the hour
when Colonel Stray captured the Kalaiyarkoil town.
Exactly on 1.10.1801 the Kalaiyarkoil fell in an
outrageous three-pronged attacks. Colonel Stray was
aimed to capture Marudhu. But both Marudhu brothers
were not available in his hand. Colonel Stray's forces
also set out in search of Marudhu. Marudhu brothers
were left the Kalaiyarkoil and hide in the forest with his
soldiers. There was a war with a sense of life and death
for the Marudhu’s small force with the huge British
forces. Marudhu brothers were exhausted as they ran and
hid in the forest for many days due to lack of sleep and
food.
Stary announced that people who gave information about
the whereabouts of Marudhu would be rewarded with
gold coins and good positions in the government. It was
a tragedy that some of Marudhu’s soldiers sought to
betray Marudhu.
One of those betrayers Karadi Karuththan gave a secret
information that Marudhu Brothers were hiding in the
forests of Kalaiyarmangalam thick forest area. The true
soldiers of Marudhu were not afraid of death. It is
impossible to catch them in the woods. So just spread the
word of we were going to demolish the tower of the
Kalaiyarkoil which Marudhu considered as their lifetime
achievement. On hearing this information both Maru
brothers were immediately surrendered. Major Agnew
arrested both the Marudhu Brothers. All those arrested
were brought to Tirupathur.
A rare manuscript records the munificence of Marudhu.
Standing before the gallows, in the fort of Thirupattur
before execution, without any fear or trepidation, the
courageous Chinna Marudu expressed his last wish to
the British officers to honor the ‘grants’ he had
bequeathed to the Catholic Church. This incident was
mentioned in the book titled Marutha Pandiyan the
Fateful 18th Century by Rev.Baauche, a French Catholic
Priest of 18th century who had lived there during that
period.
Marudhu told the British Officials not to show him any
mercy. ‘I fought and was defeated to defend my country.
You may think you have the right to take my life. I don’t
want to say anything about it. But these boys? What did
these people do wrong?
Did they take up arms against you? Look at them, can
they take up arms? ' So, let them free. This demand of
Marudhu was like a sinking sailor appealing to the sea!
About five hundred people were killed. J.Gourlay, a
famous historian of Scotland stated in his book
(Mahrudhu- An Indian story of the beginning of the
nineteenth century- With some observations 1813) that
the massacre took place in the presence of the 74, 77, 94
Regiments of British Army.
Gourlay mentioned that the main aim of the British
officers was to kill Marudhu. He also mentioned that
they hanged Marudhu without proper permission from
the high command and latter casually obtained
permission. Killing of innocent women and children
were not properly reported. Despite the tragedy of killing
captives, women, and children, it was surprising that the
British culprits escaped the eyes of the angel of justice.
Not only the angel of justice but also judicial system of
the East India Company also closed its eyes. Could we
expect justice from traders?
All of these horrific incidents were occurred in front on
the Civilians and soldiers, and the righteous people of
England, but no one was with a compassionate heart had
not talk about the British officers who committed the
ruthless and inhumane war crimes. Why? Is it because
the dead are Tamils?
Brutally killing a warrior, mercilessly massacred women
and even children, and those who committed such
atrocities were adorn the ranks in the government. The
gift of appreciation for these ruthless criminals’ casts
doubts on the whole British judiciary system.
The situation was similar in 2009 when a boy named
Balachandran was mercilessly killed by the Sri Lankan
military in Sri Lanka. Is this the curse of the Tamil race?
In 1813, Napoleon ruled all over the Europe. The whole
view of the British was on Europe. The alliance formed
against Napoleon was defeated in the Battle of Dresden
in 1813. The coalition lost about 40,000 people. Millions
were killed in the wars from 1805 to 1815. In this
situation it is unlikely that the English government or the
historians would have had time to think of the hundreds
of Tamilians in Sivaganga.
The most famous English author Leigh Hunt stated that,
if this was a true story it would be one of the most
humiliating and horrific events of its time.
There is innumerable historical evidence that enhances
the sacrifices of the Marudhu, but the country refuses to
accept the Marudhu’s heroic war as the first war of
Indian independence. This was an act of expressing
hostility towards Tamil Nadu.
The people of other states in India did not know about
Marudhu brothers who fought valiantly against the
British. Historians who deliberately ignoring their
freedom struggle were also undoubtedly considered as
war criminals. There might be a thousand of reasons to
cover up war crimes. But history never forgive you.
Some historians criticized that the small Kings who
denied to pay tax to Britishers were not liberation
struggles, and that the Marudhu’s struggle against British
dominance was not a part of the liberation struggle. But
Marudhu’s struggle was not only to refuse to pay taxes,
he fought against the whites to leave the country.
Marudhu dared the Britishers by mobilizing the small
kings against the Britishers. Marudhu was the first who
joint hands with all the kings who opposed the British
government. Marudhu and their allies were very
successful that they captured three districts of British.
The British considered it such a serious threat, keeping
in mind about their future in India.
On 16th June 1801 the Marudhu brothers issued a
proclamation of independence from the Trichy fort,
calling for all people of all religions to fight against
British Government. The British government had never
seen such a Patriotic war statement on Indian soil ever
before. The proclamation was also called as
Navalandivu Declaration or the Jambu Island
Declaration. Through the declaration, Marudhu warned
the Britishers that India is not your country, leave
immediately from our Soil. Before Mahatma Gandhi,
Marudhu was the one who raised voice against Britishers
“Quit India”. He also stated that those who help and get
benefits form the Britishers were Cowards.
Do or die is a phrase that was popular in the 1940s. But
Marudhu’s slogan was daring, “Destroy the Britishers
wherever you see. Do so until that the last filthy creature
had exhausted.”
Marudhu brothers were not rebels but they aimed at
overthrowing the British rule from this country. They
clearly understood that Indian liberation is possible only
through armed struggle and acted before Netaji.
Marudhu was a man who paved the way for the
beginning of the Indian freedom struggle. Marudhu
brothers were, without a doubt, the first to fought against
the British invaders. More than 50 years before the sepoy
mutiny in 1857, the Marudhu brothers had led a
concerted struggle against British. It was taught that the
sepoy mutiny was the beginning of the Indian freedom
struggle, but the historical fact that Marudhu was the
beginning of Indian freedom struggle.
Some Ruthless Historians made us to believe that only a
few people as the symbol of India’s freedom struggle,
but in reality, thousands of heroes like Marudhu were
fought for it.
It is past time to remember our patriots who fought for
our country's independence, which was purposefully
concealed by the history of our country who have since
been forgotten by us.
Tamil Nadu played a significant role in the Indian
freedom struggle. Even before the kings of northern
India united and raised the battle flag, the rulers of
southern India, especially in Tamil Nadu, had embarked
on a fierce struggle against the British. Tamil kings who
fought against the British colonial rule such as
Poolithevar, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Umaithurai,
Veeramangai Velu Nachiyar, Marudu brothers were
deliberately hidden in the Indian history.
Britishers destroyed not only the sacrifice of our
forefathers but also their historically, culturally,
politically, significant embodied castles. Almost all the
forts of the vailed heroes of Tamil Nadu were leveled
with the help of artillery. Britishers also declared that
building forts and possessing barracks was against the
British government.
The Kalaiyar koil fort, Durbar Hall, dispensary, artillery,
Andhapuram, and elephant enclosure halls were all made
of earth. The British Gazette has removed the name
Kalaiyarkoil. All documents containing the name were
meticulously removed. This is where the historical error
begins and several Indian historians continue to pursue
it. Do you know what has made in the unforgivable
history?
The names of the English soldiers who died in the battle
of Sivaganga, their monuments and the names of the
Selfish traitors were record deliberately in the history.
Some barbaric historians recorded even amount received
from the Britishers to betray Marudhu.
Despite the history aside, the noble character of
Marudhu brothers and their high thinking were praised
and written by the Conscientious Englishmen, those who
fought against Marudhu.
First is the Chinna Marudhu. Next is the eldest son of the
Chinna Marudhu, the next of kin, the war veterans, the
last, Periya Marudhu. Thus, the entire Marudhu dynasty
was hanged. People could do nothing but cry in gloves.
British guards with guns were stationed around the
place. Finally, when it came time to hang Chinna
Marudhu's youngest son Duraisamy, he was just fifteen
years old. The English men did not hang him because he
was young.
They had another plan in mind for him. Accordingly, the
boy was chained and his legs were tied with iron rods. It
was a historical tragedy that a fourteen years old boy was
seen the horrible scene of hanging his own father,
brothers and relatives.
Along with Duraisamy, another knight was bound with
iron chains, Iron rods were tied to the young warrior's
legs so that he could not walk. They all brought to
Thoothukudi. Totally 72 men and women ordered to be
deported. Of the total 72, only two (Duraisamy and
another warrior Sheik) had tied with Iron chain in their
legs.
A ship called Admiral Nelson, which was hired from
Bombay to Thoothukudi. 72 prisoners, 20 security
guards and many of the ship's crew were taken aboard.
Duraisamy was loaded onto the ship in Thoothukudi
with iron chains bound. The ship moved. He did not
know where the ship is going.
Duraisamy was looking back his homeland with tears
that he could not do anything to his home land. On Dec.
11, 1802, the ship left Thoothukudi. Many days passed at
sea. Normally, a six-week cruise from Thoothukudi to
Penang (prince of wales). But Nelson took almost
seventy-five days to reach Penang. Hungry and thirsty,
the prisoners swarmed like worms. Three of the
prisoners were collapsed and died at the ship's deck
itself.
The Army officers sent a letter to the governor of Penang
Island seeking permission to unload the prisoners.
Governor said, there was no place to put so many
prisoners inside the Cornwallis castle. So, outside the
fort, they temporarily rented a house and then unloaded
the prisoners.
Duraisamy and other who have survived in the ship were
brought to the island. However, they have no idea where
it is and what language the locals spoke.
In Penang, Duraisamy could not walk even a short
distance because of the iron chain attached to both his
legs. British jailors were so cruel to grabbed work
without being fed properly. At one point they began to
torture them even without giving food. There is no
definite information as to whether Duraisamy trampled
his mother soil again or died in Penang.
It was a barbaric and inhumane punishment for an
adolescent boy to spend time with iron chains on hands
and feet without even knowing what country he was in.
He never carried ammunition against the British. He
never even thought of having to fight with British men.
The only mistake he committed was being born the son
of a great warrior Marudhu.
Duraisamy’s perpetual banishment to Penang Island
became known to the world only after British Colonel
Welsh mentioned it in his book, (Military
Reminiscences). Welsh expressed a hope that his
narrative might fall into the hands of some kind-hearted
British Officers and be the means of alleviating, if not
entirely removing the sufferings of an innocent man.
An English army officer who mercilessly involved in the
war crimes was wept over these atrocities for an innocent
boy. The English Army officer, who could not bear it,
wrote in tears about Duraisamy and Marudhu brothers in
his book. Similarly, Gurley, a Scottish writer, who did
not witness the incident, came to know about it through
those who witnessed it had also written about the
Sivaganga massacre. (Mahrudhu- An Indian story of the
beginning of the nineteenth century) Even this Small
kindness and mercy that the English military officer had
was not shown by those who have written the history of
the country. Thus, the real Indian history had shown that
Tamils were the foremost fighters for Indian
independence. But such heroic warriors from Tamilnadu,
were hidden from the History of Indian Independence by
some monster-minded historians.
The heroes who fought for freedom were overthrown
with the accompaniment of treachery. Moreover, they
have been killed by even more horrific historical
distortions.
It is sad that the Tamil poets like Bharathiar, also
ignored the great warrior Marudhu. Not even a single
line had been written by Bharatiyar Who lived 100 years
after the massacre of Sivaganga. If Tamil cinema did not
come about Marudhu, Kattabomman and VOC, were
seems to have no place in people's mind.
It is the duty of every Indian citizen to honor and
recognize the untold warriors in the work of celebrating
the 75th Independence Day as an emblem of awe; a
symbol of sacrifice and bravery.
