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Maruthu Pandiyar | |
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TheMarudhu Pandiyars[1] (Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu) werede facto rulers ofSivagangai,Tamil Nadu, India, towards the end of the 18th century. They were known for fighting against theEast India Company.[2] They were finally executed by the EIC after being captured by them .[3]
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.
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 inVirupatchi 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 theValari, a variant of theboomerang.
The Marudhu Pandiyars, planned to wage war againstEast India Companyin 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 atCholapuram and were killed at Tiruppattur. The Marudhu Brothers were hanged to death at the fort ofTirupputhur, which is now Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu, on 24 October 1801.[7] The Memorial Square of Maruthu Pandiyars is located at Kalaiyarkoil.
Maruthu Brothers are good in aerodynamics and invented many variants ofspears andValari.[8] They also founded guerilla war tactic in India during the early stages of colonization.
Local Tamilians also worship them and there is a temple dedicated and located at Batu Dua Mariamman Temple,Sungai Petani,Kedah state atMalaysia.
A film calledSivagangai Seemai was made about their lives in 1959 .