Britishers came into India only to do business, trade, but their supremacy over weaponry, divide and rule policy, turning Indians against each other, be it for economic reasons, caste wise, enslaving them for their own purpose, lack of unity amongst us, led our fall.
The first ever voice of proclamation against the atrocities of the Britishers was done by the Marudhu brothers who ruled over Sivagangai part of Southern India. This was owing to Nawab of Arcot, Mohammed Ali who handed over the collection of taxes, ruling rights to the British, which eventually led them to treat Indians literally as dogs, keeping them under their strict rule, domination, impoverished, that they had to take watery intakes than real good food. This was even before the Vellore mutiny in 1807.
At that point of time in southern India, Siva Ganga was one of the divided palayams among 72 of them and each had their own king, rule and subjects. But Britishers ensured that they capture each and every king and kingdom for their own benefit to amass wealth.
Marudhu brothers as they were famously known, inseparable duo, were born to Mokka Palanisamy Thevar and Ponatha, who served the second king of Sivagangai, Muthuvadaganatha Thevar. The brothers were called periya Marudhu (elder) who was born in the year 1748 in Ramnad District and chinna Marudhu (younger) five years later.
Trained in warfare, artillery they had gone to become close aides to the king. When the brothers were in their earlier 20s, the Britishers came to collect taxes and when the king refused to give, he and his queen both were killed one night. They fled the kingdom along with the first queen Vellu Naachiyar to a neighbouring king state, Virupakshi, ruled by Gopal Nayak. They stayed there for seven years honing their warfare skills not conceding defeat, they returned to rule over Sivagangai, with the elder brother as Commander of the Army and the younger one as the Chief Minister.
At that point of time, they strategically mustered all the support they needed to oppose, rebel against the British. This support had come from kings ruling in the other southern parts, who were also ideologically opposed to the British rule. Over the next one year their rebellion gained momentum, leaving the British irksome and rattled.
Chinna Marudhu, also motivated, inspired, lit fire in the hearts of the people for the Jumbo Dwipa proclamation by his speech, “whoever reads this proclamation please read it with utmost care. People living in this jumbu land, whoever they may be, brahmins, kshathriyas, vaishyas, sudhras, and muslims”.
In the proclamation of 1801, the Marudhu Brothers said, “The Europeans violating their faith have deceitfully made the Kingdom their own and considering the inhabitants as dogs, accordingly exercise authority over them. There, existing no unity and friendship among you the above castes, who, not being aware of the duplicity of these Europeans – have not only inconsiderately calumniated each other, but have absolutely surrendered the kingdom to them. In those countries now governed by these low wretches, the inhabitants have become poor and the rice has become water” – South Indian Rebellion, The First War of Independence 1800-1801.
K. Rajayyan, author of the book South Indian Rebellion: The First War of Independence 1800-1801 wrote, “An all-Indian concept inspired the proclamation, for it not only made a direct appeal to the entire country but expressed an anxiety that if the political malady persisted, India would fall under alien rule”.
This proclamation led the Britishers to wage a war against the Marudhu Brothers, with a threat note issued by then British colonel Agneu, that was on June 12th 1801. A fitting reply to the threat was given as a proclamation notice, which was openly displayed on the Sri Rangam Temple and rock fort walls, on June 16th 1801, without any forethought of their lives being endangered, or putting the kingdom into peril. This was thought as the first ever proclamation voice for our independence.
The Marudhu Brothers also challenged the Indians, that every Britisher who is seen anywhere, should be killed then and there, whoever serves the Britishers, after his death shall never see heaven and whoever tears down the posters stuck to the walls, he will be seen as having committed the utmost sin.
Britishers, much angered by the actions of Marudhu Brothers, they sought extreme revenge against them, by setting fire in their territory with the sole intention to bring it down totally. Next to capture and arrest all men and women from their families, then without any enquiry they should be hanged to death. This was reminisced by Gourley a Scot, as narrated to him by an army officer.
This order was executed with immediate effect and even then, the words uttered by Marudhu brothers brought tears to many readers, they were, “You don’t have to be merciful, I have waged a war to protect my country, in the process, I have been defeated. If you think that you have every right to take my life, I don’t have any wish to comment on that, but what wrong have these small children done to you? Have they taken weapons against you or are they even capable of lifting any weapons?
On 24th October 1801, Marudhu brothers and all others, about 500 of them were executed and it is told that even after avenging to their hearts content the Britishers were still hounding with bloodthirst revenge.
According to Rajayyan, the process adopted for their execution was both anomalous and irregular, he wrote in furtherance, “it does not appear that the evidence of any witness was taken and it if were taken, it was definitely upon oath. The 73-year-old rebel diplomat Gopala Nayak and several other leaders of Dindigul were executed even without waiting for the confirmation by the Madras Government”.
But an exception was made in this case, one son of Periya Marudhu named Doraisamy was banished to Malaysia, none of the other sons or grandsons were spared. The Britishers were so troubled by the rebellion that they wanted to eliminate any possibility of another uprising.
People who have fought against the British for our freedom should always be remembered for their sacrifices.
India is one country which has suffered the onslaught from all foreign kings and invaders time and again.
Vijayashree Ramesh, Chennai based Advocate
