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CHAPTER – II
EMERGENCE OF PALAYAMS
The term “poligar” derives from Palayakaran in Tamil
indicating the holder of a palayam which usually meant an armed
camp.1 In Kannada it was called as ‘Peleyara’, in Telugu as
“Palegadu” and in Marathi “Palagar” conveyed the same meaning
as the holder of camp or barony on military tenure. They had
collected the revenues mainly for the maintenance of the military
force. The poligars of Tamilnadu controlled their pollams as that of
the feudal barons of Medieval Europe during the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries and represented an important institution in the
history of southern part of the Indian peninsula.2
Before the advent of the Nayaks of Madurai, the old system of
Desakaval, Sthalamkaval were in vogue. But the Nayak rulers of
Madurai had modified and corrected the system and introduced in
such a way, so as to establish their hold over the territory since the
pancha pandyas were spearheading their struggle for independence
from Tenkasi and other Mavali chiefs such as from Manamadurai,
the Chola Princes, the local Chieftains, the Sethupathis of Ramnad
and others causing troubles, Narks maintained this institution. 1 K. Rajayyan, “Indian in the Eighteenth Century”, Prof. A.P. Ibrahim, Kunju’s Felicitatin Volume, Trivandrum, 1982, pp.1-3.2 R. Sobhanan, “Origin of Poligar Systems” Poligars and Pattagars, p.53.
Guided by these Viswanatha Nayak saw the wisdom of effecting a
settlement which would pacify the chieftains and serve the needs of
the times. The result was the acceptance of the Poligari system. K.
Rajayyan too conformed this view and points out that “the collapse
of the established order, the constant presence of the threat of
foreign invasions the independent spirit of the inhabitants and the
inability of the new sovereigns to assert their authority in
overwhelming strength created a situation favourable for the rise of
the poligari system”.3
With these end in view, Viswanatha and Ariyanatha allowed
the Poligari system in the areas with slight modifications. Hence
the palayams were not an invention of the Nayak rules but a
development of existing set up.4
As a result of these, Naik Viswanatha gave recognition to 72
palayams and entrusted the defence of each of the 72 bastions of
the Madurai fort with a poligar. Either through their inheritance
from the ruling houses of the past or by their military might or in
recognition of their distinguished service to the state, the poligars
gained possession of their territory.5 Out of the 72 palayams
created, by that time, most of them were functioned under 3 K. Rajayyan, Rise and Fall of the Poligars of Tamilnadu, University of Madras, Madras, 174, p.4 R. Sathianathaier, The History of the Navaks of Madurai, rpt., Asian Educational Service, New Delhi, pp.58-62.5 Ibid., p.6.
2
Kambalattar as chieftains and were made poligars of the territory.
They rose to high position by sheer dint of their merit and devotion
to duty. S. Kadhirvel also says that it seems probable that a few
Nayak Palayams might have been created by the Nayaks to
maintain balance of power had paid good dividends.6 The
establishment of Kambalattar palayams might have accelerated the
Kambalattars to move in groups and to settle in those places where
their kith and kin were living in neighbouring parts of Tamil land.
Naturally it led to the migration of men and women of the
community from the Vijayanagar Empire resulted the rise of
Kambalattar population. Since they could not rely on local
inhabitants they were living with their own people. T.V. Mahalingam
points out that with the expansion of the Empire in the south, a
large class of dependents and fortune seekers migrated to
provincial courts.7 Telugu dynasty got the support of Telugu army
too resulted their expansion into every quarters of the empire.8
Viswanath also encouraged their immigration into particular place of
Tamil region with the intention of getting the tacit help of his own
men in resisting the native opposition.
6 S. Kadhirvel, A History of Maravas 1700-1802, Madurai Publishing House, Madurai, 1979, p.29.7 T.V. Mahalingam, op.cit., p.10.8 LA, Vol.XLIII, 1914, p.113.
3
Koil Olugu records that Viswanatha built many houses and
encouraged their rehabilitation. Further, Poligar memoris states
that numerous adventurous chieftains migrated to the Tamil
Country accepting grants of lands. The availability of the large
tracts of uninhabited lands was also one of the factors which
attracted Kambalattars to penetrate into the various parts of Tamil
land. K. Rajayyan in his History of Madurai remarks that there were
31 palayams in the district of Tirunelveli. But Guruguhadasa Pillai in
his work Tirunelveli Seemai Charitram says that there were 32
palayams in the Tinneveli district. The following Palayams in the
Tirunelveli region and settlement with the East Indian Company for
Fasli 1199/1200 i.e. 1979-90.9
Madurai district records also confirm the list except one
palayam, namely Kolarpatty.10
From Nelson’s “The Madura Country” A Manual, we come to
know that there were 24 Palayams in Dindigul region.11 But
9 Revenue Settlement Record Fazli 1199/1200, i.e., 1979-90, p.39.10 The following are the thirty one palayam – 1. Sivagiri 2. Ettayapuram 3. Uthumalai 4. Naduvakurichi 5. Thalaivancottai 6. Surandai 7. Kadumbur 8. Singampatty 9. Urkad 10. Maniachi 11. Panchalamkurichi 12. Melmandai 13. Elayirampannai 14. Nagalapuram 15. Kadalkudi 16. Attankarai 17. Mannarkottai 18. Pavali 19. Alagapuri 20. Kollapatty 21. Kolarpatty 22. Chokampatty 23. Saptur 24. Sandaiyur 25. Elumalai 26. Sennelgudi 27. Kulathur 28. Peraiyur 29. Seithur 30. Avudaipuram 31. Kollamkondan.11 They were as follows: 1. Kombai 2. Erassakkanaickanur 3. Thevaram 4. Bodinaickanur 5. Gundappanaickanur 6. Vadakarai 7. Devathanapatty 8. Thottiankottai 9. Nilakkottai 10. Ammaiyanaickanur 11. Ambathurai 12. Thavasimadai 13. Emmakkalapuram 14. Maranoot 15. Sukkampatty 16. Madur 17. Eriodu 18. ulliappanaickanur 19. Idaiyakottai 20. Mambarai 21. Ayakudi 22.Palani 23. Virupakshi and 24. Kannivadi.
4
Cumbum and Gudalur were under Amani or direct collectorial
management.
R. Gowri in her work points out that there were 10 palayams
in Madurai district and 6 palayams in Manaparai taluk.12
Among the Palayams of Madurai, the places like
pulliappanaickanur and Nilakkottai are repeated. The two palayams
included in the list of palayams of Dindigul region. Lingamanaick of
Natham was also one of the leading Palayams. Another hurdle is
whether Manapparai was a palayam or not? From the records
Manapparai was also treated as a palayam. From these factors we
can also include Natham in the list. If we take into consideration of
the above places as palayams the number arrives at 73. But the
popular and widely accepted notion is that there existed 72
palayams only.
Regarding the existence of 72 palayams there were different
accounts by different scholars. The poem quoted in the book
“Kathir Kamam”, by Kulasabanathan gives names of the different
Palayams. The details of Palayams as gleaned from the poem is as
follows:
12 Madurai Palayams – 1. Valayapatti 2. Pulliappa Naickanur 3. Valeakunrum 4. Sirupalai 5. Nilakottai 6. Nadukkottai 7. Kilakkottai 8. Jothilnaickanur 9. Utthappa Naickanur 10. Doddappa Naickanur. Manapparai Palayams – 1. Kumaravadi 2. Marungapuri 3. Veeramalai 4. Cadavoor 5. Ramagiri 6. Togaimalai
5
Of the above 72 palayams nearly 47 were the Kamabalattar
Palayams and were under the control of the Kambalattu Poliagars.
They were Panchalamkurichi, Ettayapuram, Melmandai,
Nagalapuram, Kadalkudi, Attankarai, Mannarkottai, Pavali,
Kollapatty, Saptur, Sandaiyur, Peraiyur, Elumalai, Senelgudi and
Kulattur in Tirunelveli region. Errasakanaickanur, Thevaram,
Bodinaickanur, Gundappanaickanur, Devadhanapatty,
Thottiankottai, Nilakottai, Ammaiyanaickanur, Ambathurai,
Thavasimadai, Emmakkalapuram, Maranootu, Sukkampatty, Madur,
Eriodu, Pulliappa Naickanur, Idaiyakottai, Mambarai, Ayakudi,
Virupakshi and Kannivadi in Dindigul region. Kumaravadi,
Marungapuri, Veeramalai, Cadavoor, Ramagiri and Togaimalai in the
Manapparai region and Nattam, Jothilnaickanur, Uttappanaickanur
and Doddappa Naickanur in Madurai district.
WARFARING ACTIVITIES OF KAMBALATTU POLIGARS
The Kambalattu poligars, according to Mackenizie
Manuscripts, were noted for their heroism, honesty, devotion to
duty, and aptitude for sacrificing themselves for the cause of their
sovereigns, the Nayaks of Madurai. Due to their valour and
unflinching loyalty they rose to the highest position and respect.
6
The Kambalttu Cheiftains, afterwards Poligars of the
respective Palayams, accompanied Kotiam Nagama Nayak during
his southern expeditions and did an exemplary service for the
success of Nayak Chief. The noted among them were the Poligars
of Virupakshi, Idaiyakottai, Eriodu, Panchama Naick of
Ammayanaickanur. Kulappa Naick of Nilakottai and Sakara
Thammaya Nayak of Mambarai.13 The Poligar of Sukkampatty
accompanied Viswanatha when he was commanding the army to
the south so as to punish his disobedient father. Some of the
poligars of the community rendered their loyal support to
Viswanatha during his southern expeditions against the Pancha
Pandyas in the battle of Kayattar. Dhandu Kulappa Nayak of
Nilakkottai. Bala Muthaiah of Sukkampatty, Thoppula Naick of
Reddiambadi,14 Somayanaick of Ramagiri, Jothilnaick of Chensuvadi
and the poligar of Thottainkottai took a leading part in the battle.15
During the succession dispute between Ragunatha Thevan
and Thambi (illegitimate son of Kuttan) the Raya issued the
instruction forthwith to several poligars to furnish large bodies of
troops for the chastisement of the rebel Sethupathi Ragunatha
Thevan. Ramppayan, the commander-in-chief and prime minister,
13 Mackenzie Mauscript, D 3846.14 Ibid., D 3161.15 Ibid., D 3004.
7
was directed to march against Ramnad and bring the Dalavay to
Madurai dead or alive.
The gallant Ranghana Nayakkar was sent with him as his
second in command and every precaution was taken to ensure
speedy and decisive success.16 Poligars of Nilakkottai,
Sukkampatty, Chensuvadi, Ayakudi, Reddiambadi, Thottiankottai
and Virupakshi played a leading role towards the cause of their
sovereign in the struggle. When there was a ‘struggle between
Chokkanatha of Madurai and Vijayaragunatha of Tanjore, Kampanna
Kondammanaick of Ayakudi Thirumalai’ pappala Chinnappa Nayak
of Virupakshi and Somayya Naick of Ramagiri accompanied him and
proved their honesty in all possible ways.17
CLASHES AGAINST BRITISH
After the death of the Emperor Aurangazeb in 1707 and
Queen Meenakshi in 1737, a power vaccum arose as far as the
southern part of India was concerned. Both the indigenous and
foreign powers interfered in the power struggle relentlessly so as to
establish authority over others. The indigenous powers like the
Marathas, Nizam and Nawab of Arcot played a key role, the other
local rulers sohas Hyder and Tippu of Mysore, the Raja of Tanjore,
16 Ibid., D 3161.17 Ibid., D 011.
8
the Tondaiman of Pudukkottai, the Sethupathis of Ramnad, etc. had
their own aspirations. So, southern province was a battle ground for
the foreign and auxiliary powers of the land. Between 1747 and
1792 (the treaty of Carnatic between the English and the Nawab of
Arcot) there were Kalaidoscopic political change and battles galore.
Eventually the English by having superior arms and tactics
succeeded. The Kambalattu poligars were freedom loving people
and hence they opposed the foreign domination whenever they
faced. As General Welsh points out the poligars of this community,
Thottia Naicker were “a race of rude warriors habitated to arms and
independence had been but lately sub-dued and those of
panchlamkurichy, were the hardiest and bravest of the whole”.18
The Board of Revenue urged the necessity of adopting
coercive measures for curbing the spirit of disobedience evinced by
the poligars in the Dindigul region, especially Vellaia Naick of Palani,
Gopia Naick of Devadhanapatty and Gopala Naick of Viruppakshi.19
The Devedhanapatty poligar was dispossessed of his palayam due
to his disobedience.20
The Poligars of Kannivadi gave protection to Gopia Naick of
Devadhanapatty and therefore warned seriously. 21 The collector 18 General Welsh, “Military Reminiscences”, p.57.19 Madurai District Records, Vol.1106, dated 2295 of 1796.20 Ibid., Vol.1113, dt. 30.6.95.21 Ibid., Vol.1111, dt. 28.7.95.
9
also warned the Poligar of Kannivadi for oppressing his ryots and
protecting those who were disobedient to the East India Company
contrary to his promises. 22 Kamiah Nayak, the Poligar of Saptur had
been overthrown when he failed to pay tribute, was caught and
executed. 23
After 1763, the British interfered in the affairs of the native
rulers in collusion with one power against the other and accelerated
the rate of its sphere of interest in the southern parts slowly but
surely. The conclusion of company’s treaty with the Nawab of Arcot
in 1787, formulated and established a dual system of administration
in the southern region of Tamilnadu. The English excercised
military authority and controlled foreign affairs while the Nawab
administered revenue and justice in the territory. The British East
India Company had got also the right to collect the customary
tribute from the poligars. As K.Rajayyan points out that finally the
civil authority succumbed to the authority which wielded the power
of sword. The co-existence gave way to British hegemony.24
Hence the Poligars were required to serve two masters both
the Nawab and the East India Company. Since the Poligars were
permitted to retain their armed forces, intrigues, interferences, 22 Ibid., Vol.1113, dt. 30.6.95.23 M.Wilks, Historical Sketches of the South India in an attempt to trace the History of Mysore, rpt., Asian Educational Publishers, New Delhi, 1989, Vol.1, p.389.24 K.Rajayyan, History of Madurai, Madurai University, Madurai, 1973, p.322.
10
commotion, and conflicts were common between themselves and
seldom hesitated to defy the company’s authority.25 Mean while the
agents of the Nawab also instigated the Poligars to withhold their
tribute to the company.26 The earnest attempt of the company to
modify the provisions of the Treaty of 1792 bore no fruit till the
death of Nawab Mohammed Ali in October 1795. The company
directed the Poligars not to obey the orders of the new Nawab
Umdut-Al-Umra unless it was proceeded through the company’s
direction.27
There were many factors for the insurrections of the poligars
against the authority of the East India Company. The hereditary
rulers were treated in a humiliating way; the sons of the soil were
treated like dogs; scant respect was paid to the age old inherited
customs of the land; peasants were deprived of their right to due
share of their crops and what remained to them was “Vellum,
water”. The company had also deprived rulers of Carnatic and
Tanjore of their political rights.28 The company set aside the rulers
of the succession of Poligars in their pollams concerned and
nominated persons according to their whims and fancies. As a part
of its global struggle the French Directory sent its emissaries to the
25 Political dispatches to England, Vol.2, p.316.26 Ibid., Vol.2, p.318.27 Political dispatches to England, Vol.5, pp.83-84..28 K.Rajayyan, op.cit., p.342.
11
southern province for propagating revolutionary principles and
kindling nationalist risings. The Sultan of Mysore also promised help
to the rebels. Bribery and corruption crept into every department of
the revenue administration. Inefficient administration and natural
calamities too intensified the unrest among the inhabitants.29
The company officials terrorized the inhibition and flourished
on the extracted wealth and the spoils of the artificial famine. In
1748 the monsoon also failed. Despite the starvation and mass
exodus, the evil forces combined together in oppressing the
people.30 The renters and assignees increased the prices of their
articles. The dual system also created ill-feelings between the
Company and Poligars. The Poligars paid tribute to the company on
the condition of protection from the latter, but the English refused
to defend Poligar’s interest as the sovereign rights of the Nawab
came in the way. At the same time the poligars could not appeal to
arms as the English undertook to enforce obedience of the chiefs to
sircar. So the poligars held that the English were responsible for
this predicament, and so their subsequent resistance to authority
assumed anti-British characters.31
VEERAPANDYA KATTABOMMAN AND POLIGAR WAR29 Ibid., p.344.
30 R.C.Vol.91, p.4729.31 K.Rajayyan, op.cit., p.325.
12
The discontented people had made up their mind to support
the Poligars who were not in good terms with the Company. The
rebel Poligars of Panchalamkurichy, Virupakshi, Yelayirampannai
and Kulattur formed a confederacy besides the rebels of Sivaganga
and Ramnad.32 They had refused not only kist but also made
frequent incursions into the Sarkar village.33
William Collins Jackson, the Collector of Peiscush, Tirunelveli
was a rude man had insulted Kattabomman, the poligar of
Panchalamkurichy led to the Poligar rebellion of 1799.34 The
poligars refused to meet even the Collector Stephen Rumbold
Lushington despite his repeated requests in this regard. Hence Lord
Wellesly sent a large army to the south for the suppression of
Polligar rebellion.35
Maj. John Bannerman, the Cammander of the British forces
assumed its command in June 1799 and started his military
operations against the rebel poligars. Bannerman’s ultimatum to
Kattabomman to meet him at Palayamkottai on 4th September
ended in vain.36 So the British forces marched towards
Panchalamlkurichy “The Gibralter of the East” on the 5 th September.
32 Revenue Sundries, n.d., Vol.26, pp.450-451.33 R.C.Vol.96, pp.1562-70.34 Military Consultations, Vol.253, pp.50-51.35 K.Rajayyan, op.cit., p.350.36 R.C.Vol.98, p.2904.
13
Again the attempt of Bannerman for negotiation through Ramalinga
Mudaliar had also ended in failure.37 Therefore Bannerman ordered
his troops to advance so as to breach the walls of the mud fort and
seize it. The British thought that the fort was not a vulnerable one
for their attack. Now, to their surprise, the disappointed
commander of the forces recorded his feelings. Thus: “the attempt
was preserved in so long as there was a shadow of success and
never was European energy more gallantly displayed than the
officers on this unfortunate occasion”.38 The reverses of te
besiegers were partly due to the heroic resistance of the rebels and
partly the calculated indifference of the Indian troops in the
Company’s service.39
Despite the set back, the British forces under Bannerman
continued the siege and reinforcements came from different places
for further attack. At last the Company’s forces faced the
resistance of the rebels with great tenacity of purpose and dexterity
of skill. The poligars had no other way than to evacuate the
“Dreaded Fort”.
By that time the rebel forces at Nagalapuram, Kollarpatty and
Kovilpatty were defeated and several other poligars surrendered
37 R.C.Vol.98, pp.2706-11, Major Bannerman’s Letter dated 5th September, 1799..38 K.Rajayyan, op.cit., p.354..39 R.C.Vol.98, pp.2715-18..
14
and pledged their loyalty to the company. They captured
Sivasubramaniapillai, Minister of Kattabomman and Soundara
Pandya Nayak, brother of the poligar of Nagalapuram as prisoners
and hanged them publicly at Nagalapuram and Gopalapuram
respectively.40 Meanwhile Kattabomman and his supporters were
arrested from the jungles of Kalapore in Pudukottai and handed
over to the English by Raja Ragunatha Tondaiman. On the 16 th
October 1799, Bannerman brought the rebel chief to an assembly of
the poligars at Kayattar and sentenced him to capital punishment
while the numerous chiefs witnessed the whole scene in awe and
astonishment. Kattabomman behaved like a rebel leader. Being
“undaunted, supercilious in the course of mock trial, he walked
with a firm and daring air and cast looks of sullen contempt on the
Poligars to his right and left. He was taken to a conscipicuous spot
and executed”.41
The Madras Council condemned the relatives of Kattabomman
to perpetual imprisonment and shut them in the fort of
Palayamkottai.42 They blocked the pollams of Panchalamkurichy,
Yelayirampannai, Nagalapuram, Kollarpatty, Kadalkudi and
40 M.C Vol. 296, p.2918.41 R.C. Vol.98, pp.2877-84..42 Lord Clive in Council, 8th November 1799, R.C.98, p.2879, Major Bannerman’s Letter dated 17.10.1799.
15
Kulattoor.43 Parts of the territory of Panchalamkurichy were ceded
to the Poligars; the fort was razed to the ground and their armed
men disbanded.44 In 1799 the Company assumed the
administration of the village watch from the Poligars and entered
into a settlement with the Nawab.
END OF UMATHURAI
After the hanging of Kattabomman, the British Government
imprisoned his brothers Umathurai and Sevathaih with some
relatives into prison at Palayamkottai.45 The Poligars of Kollarpatti,
Kulathur, Nagalapuram and Ezhayirampannai were captured and
imprisoned at other places.46 Despite these retaliatory measures,
the company had also resorted to enforce repressive measures,
against poligars and the common people. All the forts of the
poligars were razed down and forbidden. The company had also
ordered that all the inhabitants of pollams to surrender their fire
arms and prohibited them from manufacturing such weapons.47 The
company rewarded its allied poligars of Ettayapuram, Maniazhi and
Melmandai with honours.48 The British drastic measures against the
poligars has aimed to annihilate their spirit of independence and
43 R.C.Vol.98, p.2948..44 Secret Sundries, 24th June 1800, Vol.21, pp.1080-81.45 T.Welsh Military Reminiscences, Vol-I, p.51.46 R.C.Vol.98, p.2797-2804..47 Madras Council 8, November 1799.48 A.C. Vol.110, p.1579-80.
16
power of resistance, but it had produced disastrous consequences.
However the repressive policy in consequence prepared the minds
of the people for more determined struggle against the English.
Of the seventeen persons imprisoned at Palayamkottai, after
the fall of Panchalamkurichi in 1799,two of them had been died
within fifteen months due to the unhygienic conditions prevailed in
the prison and the inhuman treatment meted out by them.49
Gopalnaick the poligar of Virupatchi and the organizers of
Dindigul league, were not only sympathetic towards the rebels of
Panchalamkurichi shut into the prison of Palayamkottai. Hence
planned a diplomacy to liberate them from their perpectual
imprisonment. Meanwhile the rebels in the prison had secretly
established communication with their outside leaders and planned a
scheme to liberate themselves from the clutches of the company.
In 1801 rebellion started in various parts of South India. The
rebel leaders held secret meetings at Kombadi Sillankulam and
Oddanatham and chalked out of secret plan to free the imprisoned
leaders kept in the prison of Palayamkottai.50 In January 1801, the
insurgents 336 in number led by Kaduvetti Naicker and Pandian
Sherogar started from Panchalamkurichi, in groups towards
49 Bishop Caldwell, Tirunelveli, p.172.50 Jagavira Pandyanar-Panchalamkurichi Veera Charitram Vol-II, p.46-47..
17
Palayamkottai. In order to avoid suspicion with the enemy of its
agents, they disguised themselves as pilgrims going to the sacred
temple of Tiruchendure. Clad in yellow clothes, playing kavadi,
chanting man thrans, blowing the conch shells, distributing the holy
ash and securing offerings from the votaries, the rebels reached
Palayamkottai. The procession went through the streets around the
fort and the prisoners inferred that the relieving party had arrived.
A few days later they reappeared in the town as hawkers, carrying
loads of fire wood, plantain leaves and fruits. The local inhabitants
could not purchase from these people because of the exorbitant
prices they demanded from the buyers, finally the hawkers moved
to the street of the govt and shouted “Plantain leaves”, “Fire wood”
and “Fruits”. The sepoys of the fort wanted to make purchases, but
turned away on learning the high prices. Everything proceeded
according to the predetermined plan.
ESCAPE AND RENEWAL OF WAR
However, amidst the support of outsiders, and by the clever
strategy of rebel prisoners in the Palayamkottai for they escaped on
2nd February 1801 and renewed Poligar wars against the British.
The chief rebels escaped from the prison were Umathurai, Sevatiah
and Duraisingam, the brothers of Kattabomman and few others.51
51 M.C.Vol.281, p.217.
18
The fugitives joined by large groups of armed men at Palayamkottai
and on the way, rushed to the Walnaad hills, a rugged area of
difficult access situated on the borders of Panchalamkurichy.
Though the forces of the Company pursued the rebels in quick
succession they could not capture the fugitives.52 Despite the
situation the insurrections spread from the Walnaad Hills to other
parts. The rebels had taken the military posts in various parts of
the Panchalamkurichy surprisingly and established their authority.
Umathurai was declared as the chief Poligar of Panchalamkurichy
and all the inhabitants had been summoned to join their ranks.53
Responding cheerfully, the people revolted against the British
and reconstructed the demolished fort of Panchalamkurichy with
mud, sand and husk and put it in a defensible state within six days.
When large sectionof people belonging to various communities
rallied to the support of the rebel leaders, the rebellion became a
most popular movement. The inhabitants of the circar territory and
the servants of the Nawab had also joined the rebellion. Within a
short span of time, the rebels occupied all the territories extending
from Panchalamkurichy to Srivaikundam and Alwarthirunagari and
52 Ibid., Vol.289, p.2671.53 Ibid.,Vol.296, pp.2504-06.
19
released the prisoners who were under the company’s military
custody.54
Subsequently the rebels rebuilt the demolished forts of
Nagalapuram, Kolarpatty, Cadalkudi, Kulattur and
Yezhayirampannai and converted them as their stronghold.55 The
insurgents overpowered the Company’s garrisions at Tuticorin
easily and made all preparations to capture Tirunelveli and
Palayamkottai.56
However, Colin Macaulay, the Company’s commanding officer
on knowing at Tirunelveli deployed the company’s forces in the
strategic places and then marched their forces towards
Sankarankoil, then to Kayatar and reached Kadayanallur, six miles
short of Panchalamkurichy. Loyal Poligars to the company like
those of Ettayapuram and Sivagiri furnished information about the
rebel movements.57 Then the company’s forces encamped near
Panchalamkurichy on the next. To their astonishment they found
the demolished fort “raised as it were by magic in six days” and
every part of it well manned by thousands of armed men.58 The
rebel forces defended the pagoda of Ottapidaram and compelled
54 Ibid., Vol.279, p.988.55 Ibid., Vol.279, p.728.56 Ibid., Vol.279, p.880.57 Ibid.,Vol.285, pp.881-882.58 M.C.Vol.279, pp.886-887.
20
the alien army to retreat. They were also successful in repulsing
the attack of Captain Hazard over Kadalkudi. The rebels directed all
their efforts to reduce the Company’s military post at Srivaikuntam
under Maj. Sheppard and overwhelmed it.59
While the rebels were gaining victory the company sent
reinforcements into Tirunelveli. Macaulay assembled with the
forces at Kayattar on the 30th March 1801 and advanced towards
Panchalamkurichy to meet the challenges of the rebels. Despite the
heavy preparations, the English army could’nt overpower the
rebels. During the struggle, this was the fifth reverse of the British
forces at Panchalarnkurichi.60
The complete failure of the British forces in this savagous
battle appeared to them perfectly inexplicable as the success of the
insurgents in their defence of the breach seemed miraculous. The
rebels appearing on any part of the wall were instantly shot though
quickly replaced by others. But it was in the immediate defence of
the breach that the defenders wrought havoc on the hostile
columns.
The British could never reach the rebels and could seldom
imagine from where the blow was struck. Behind lines of the spikes
59 Ibid., Vol.280, pp.1781-83.60On previous occasions, Alexander Heron, Willam Fullarton John Bannerman, Colin Macaulay, sought to storm the fort but miserably failed.
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men the insurgents standing on an elevated spot kept up a heavy
fire, while others posted on the bastions engaged the advancing
troops in a deadly contest. The gallantry and devotion that
endowed them with what they lacked in discipline and striking
power, enabled them to repulse the successive assaults. Therefore
James Welsh declared “the system of defence adopted by these
savages would have done credit to any engineers.
Having failed to surmount the rebels, the English instituted a
blockade of the fort of Panchalamkurichi and waited for the arrival
of reinforcements from Madras, Arcot, Malabar etc. Hence the
grand army under the command of Agnew marched from Kovilpatti
to Panchalamkurichi on the 23rd of May. On the 26th May the British
forces advanced to the fort with a heavy cannon fire but the rebels
repulsed the enemy’s on slaught heroically. In the arduous contest
that ensued both the combating parties suffered equally heavy
loses. Yet the British fired heavily without interruption; made
breaches on the fort and was finally it was taken by strom. The
insurgents left the fort with a thousand of their compatriots dead.
The vanguished rebels led to the Marava states of Sivaganga,
Ramnad and also took shelter under Gopala Nayak of Virupakshi in
the Dindigul region.
22
The leader of the rebellion was Umathurai, a deaf and dumb
brother of Kattabomman. He was called in different appellation by
different people like Dumby or Oomee among the English, as
Mookah by the Muslims and Swamy among his followers. As a man
of sickly appearance, he possessed a masterful mind and
commanded tremendous influence on the rebels. Colonel James
Welsh who had taken part in the second poligar war, describes, “the
Oomee was adored, his slight sign was an oracle and every man
flew to execute whatever he commanded. No council assembled at
which he did not preside, no daring adventure was undertaken
which he did not lead”.
Being a man of action mathurai executed all the schemes
which aimed at the annihilation of the Company’s administration.
He pursued the guerilla tactics against the enemy’s forces as he
was well aware of the inferiority of the Poligars in arms, ammunition
and strength of troops. He believed in the mass movement against
the English and sought the co-operation of the different sections of
the people but could not succeed in that endeavour. He took no
retailiatory measures on individuals, for they permitted the English
officer at Tutukudi to go off in safety and generously granted full
liberty to Macaulay’s troops after the discomfiture at
23
Panchalamkurichi. In general Umathurai was a brave, god-fearing
and a intelligent man.
As a dreadful enemy of the English, he master minded the
formulation and execution of the plans which were aimed at the
annihilation of imperialism. Together with his brother
Kattabomamn, he engineered the organization of the Tirunelveli
league against the company in 1789. He accompanied his brother
to Ramnad and when the sepoys appeared to arrest his brother,
alerted his followers and manoeus to escape. He method of
representing the English was extremely simple by which he
collected a few little pieces of straw and arranged them on the palm
of his left hand to represent the British force then with other signs
characteristic of a man and a whizzing sound, drew the other hand
across and swept them off. This was the signal for the attack.
After the fall of Panchalamkurichi the rebels headed by
Umathurai fled towards north. They were driven by the English and
Ettayapuram troops from pillar to post and the captured prisoners
were executed by Agnew himself on the 28th of May. Umathurai
with his wounds still unhealed joined in hands with the rebels of the
Maravas at Kamudi.61
61 K.Rajayyan, History of Madurai, Madurai, 1981, p.362.
24
When Umathurai reached Kamudhi, Chinnamarudhu took him
to Siruvayal, his capital and attended solicitously to his welfare.
Anxious to relieve the hard pressed rebels of the east, Marudu
Pandyan sent a body of 3000 armed men under the command of
Umathurai, but as the threat to Kalayarkovil assumed serious
dimensions, he recalled him. The villagers came from the remote
places visited the rebel leader Umathurai and gave him with rich
presents. The women of the town collected sundry articles, and
distributed them to the poor and made offerings for the recovery of
the affected rebels.62 The women of Maruthu too distributed sundry
articles in charity seeking the mercy of the god for the safety of
Umathurai.
CONCLUSION
He was very considerate to the weak and helpless. His
qualities made James Welsh to pay a glowing tribute that “he was
one of the most extraordinary mortally I ever knew”.63
The role of palayam was quite considerable for the effective
administration of Naikhs in the beginning was transformed into
rebel activities in the later days with the emergence of poligars
systems. Being very strong, the poligars soon raised their arms and
62 Madras Council-1801 military 285-pp.5051-52..63 James Welsh, op.cit.,p.33..
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made insurgence when the English rulers interfered their affairs in
the form of collecting “Kisthi” tax. Kattabomman, being a victim,
became martyr saved the seed for the annihilation of British and
their upon all the neighbouring and successive poligars rallied under
their leaders such as Umathurai, GopalaNaik, Marudhu and others
and took consertive and continuous effort for their annihilations.
26