Never get carried away by what you see in Cinema, especially Puranic /Historic content – never interpret Ithihasa purana from what you saw on silver screen – from the likes of Karnan movie. Yet, Budaguru Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu, Ma Po Si, Sivaji Ganesan, Sakthi TK Krishnasamy – needs greater appreciation for their popularizing folk-lore of Kattabommu, the Poligar, who fought the British. Incidentally do you know or remember CR Parthiban, immortalized in the scene, every aspirant to acting would try to redo !!
In schools, we read only of British history characterised as kind and benevolent . .. .. their cruel acts and suppression instincts carefully buried – and the role of the real heroes who fought against the oppression, never truly appreciated. In 1498 the Portuguese vessels reached Kozhikode on the Malabar Coast. Not long after this momentous event, they discovered the possibility of exploiting the conflicts among the local rajahs to their advantage. The Portuguese acquisitions started the dark period of India – abject colonization and amassment of wealth. Empires crumbled, princes yielded, the fight of commoners were hidden as sepoy mutiny. The localized revolts were violently dispelled by the abhorrent clever strategies of the British East India Company.
கயத்தாறுதமிழ்நாடுமாநிலத்தில் தூத்துக்குடிமாவட்டத்தில்உள்ளஓர்பேரூராட்சிஆகும். கோவில்பட்டி, திருநெல்வேலி, தூத்துக்குடிஅருகில்அமைந்துள்ளஇந்நகரம்சரித்திரமுக்கியத்துவம்வாய்ந்தது. இங்கேதான்போராட்டசிங்கம்வீரபாண்டியகட்டபொம்மன்தூக்கிலிடப்பட்டார். அவர்பிறந்தஇடம்பாஞ்சாலங்குறிச்சி.
There is an interesting legend associated with this place – one of valour ~ that several dogs chased a hare, which had to run for its life. However, suddenly, the hare stopped, turned back and in a daring incident, gave the hounds a chase. The hero of folklore – Kattabomman – was stunned by this event, thought of the mystic powers of the place to inspire its people to lead a brave life decided to build the fort in this very same area and named it Panchalankuruchi, after his grand father. Today, 3rd Jan marks 262nd birth anniversary of Veerapandia Kattabomman.
Panchalankurichi lies situated closer to Ottapidaram, the birth place of VO Chidambaranar and less then 20 km from Tuticorin, is a small village but has history associated with it. Veerapandiya Kattabomman lived here in the 18th century, was a Palayakkarar (Poligar); a local chieftain, one of the earliest to oppose British rule. Bommu refused to accept the soverignity of East India Company; history has it that he was hanged at Kayatharu in Tirunelveli District in 1799. His brother Oomai Thurai was also caught, but could escape and returned to fight the British, though eventually he was also hanged. In subsequent years, great deal of legend and folklore came to be associated with Kattabomman, Marudu brothers and the place of his execution became place of attendance. Folk songs recalling the heroism of the bommu leaders remain alive in Tamilnadu. The popular Tamil slang for a traitor or committing treason ‘Ettappan’ originated from a person by name Ettappan who was instrumental in the arrest of Kattabomman.
Kattabomman, a Nayakar was born in 1760 rose to become the King of Panchalankurichi and hanged in 1799. The meeting of Bomman with Jackson representing British is legendary, more because of the film which is ranked high in Tamil tinseldom. Kattabommu was a Poligar – who at times were Rajahs and Zamindars, occupying a key position in the political structure between Princes and their subjects – they were involved in collecting taxes. Among those who played an important role would include Puli Thevar of Nelkattansevval, Varaguna of Sivagiri and Kattabomman of Panchalankurichi.
“எனதுதாய்மண்ணைக்காப்பதற்காக, வெள்ளைத்தோல்களுக்குஎதிராகபாளையக்காரர்களைத்திரட்டினேன், போர்நடத்தினேன்”ன்னுவீரமுழக்கமிட்டுதூக்குமேடையேறினார்வீரபாண்டியகட்டபொம்மன்
கிஸ்தி, திரை, வட்டி, வேடிக்கை! வானம்பொழிகிறது, பூமிவிளைகிறது! உனக்கேன்கொடுப்பதுகிஸ்தி! எங்களோடுவயலுக்குவந்தாயா? ஏற்றம்இறைத்தாயா? நீர்பாய்ச்சிநெடுவயல்நிறையக்கண்டாயா? நாற்றுநட்டாயா? களைபறித்தாயா? கழினிவாழ்உழவருக்குகஞ்சிகலயம்சுமந்தாயா? அங்குகொஞ்சிவிளையாடும்எம்குலப்பெண்களுக்குமஞ்சள்அரைத்துப்பணிபுரிந்தாயா? அல்லதுமாமனா? மச்சானா? மானங்கெட்டவனே! எதற்குகேட்கிறாய்வரி, யாரைகேட்கிறாய்திரை?
~ powerful dialogues of Sakthi TK Krishnasamy, film’s screen play by Ma Po Sigagnanam - 1959 Tamil film “Veerapandiya Kattabomman” directed by B. R. Panthulu. Everybody aspiring to become an actor would try to repeat those immortal dialogues uttered by Sivaji Ganesan. It was released in Telegu Veerapandiya Kattabrahmanna and in Hindi as Amar Shaheed ..
Those of us, no great followers of Cinema would have had a feeling that it was perhaps some hype about a local chieftain .. .. .. .. remember, whatever we read as Indian history is that written by Britishers, at time their version of what they saw and at times what they wanted the Nation to be ! - here is something excerpted from a book published at Government Press in 1879 as also from another book South Indian Rebellion, the 1st war of Independence 1800-1801.
Tinnevelly may be considered as an epitome, or facsimile on a miniature scale, of the whole Madras Presidency, almost every feature of which is repeated on a smaller scale within this little area. In the last century (reference to 1700s) the plains of Tinnevelly are represented as covered with woods and jungle ; these have disappeared with the advance of agriculture to so great an extent, that beyond avenues on the main roads…… the village system of India is one of the most remarkable features of Indian civilization. Grenerally the civilization of the Hindus is inferior to our own, but in some particulars it is in advance of ours ; and one which it claims the advantage is the fact that every Hindu village is an organized municipality.
There have been many rulers in this part of land, around the 15th century it was Pandyan dynasty, then Nayakas, as the Vijayanagara Telugus were called. Madura was fortified Nayakas; the constitution of the Poligars, ancestors of present Zemindars of Tinnevelly and Madura, is assigned by tradition to Visvanatha Nayaka, and was by far the most important political event of the time. The rulers of Nayaka race are enumerated by Nelson in his Manual of Madura as having borne sway over Madura and Tinnevelly between 1559 and 1736. There was Thirumala Naika engaged in exhausting wars. Then came Queen regent Mangammal (from 1689 to 1704), who ruled as regent during the minority of her grandson.
The regions were to witness wars and bloodshed. In 1755, at the request of the Nawab a force of 500 Europeans and 2,000 sepoys was ordered to proceed to the countries of Madura and Tinnevelly. The whole force was commanded by Colonel Heron. The renters, both of the capital and of the open country, acknowledged the Nawab without hesitation, but many of the neighbouring Poligars made pretences to evade the payment of tribute due, The most considerable of these was Kattaboma Nayakan, Poligar of Panjalamkurichi, near the present town of Ootapidaram. An expedition was sent to reduce him, but had to be recalled as the whole force was obliged to return to Trichinopoly. On the way back a Poligar fort at Nelikotah is said to have been stormed and taken, and almost all tho garrison put to the sword in the heat of the attack.
While returning, Colonel Heron was induced to turn aside and attack the fort of Nellitangaville, now Nikkatansewal, a small estate, but held by a chief known as the Puli Devar, whose influence over all the western Poligars was great, and who gave the English much trouble. For want of cannon and of supplies and pay, the attack had to be abandoned. Colonel Heron, who had himself accepted large presents, was recalled to Madras, tried by court-martial, and dismissed !
Years later, British by means of cessions of territory, persuaded the Poligar of Ettiapuram and Kattaboma Nayakan of Panjalamkurichi to assist him, and a great battle was fought about seven miles north of Tinnevelly, where the Puli Devar and his allies were completely defeated and fled each to his stronghold. Encouraged by the Dutch, who were at this time in possession of Colonel Colombo and Tuticorin, and with whom Kattaboma Nayaka had made a treaty, all the Poligars of Tinnevelly were now in rebellion, in 1783, ravaging the Grovernment lands as well as fighting one with another. Colonel Fidlarton, to whom the command of the expedition was entrusted, determined to strike a sudden blow, and marched over seventy miles, from Shivaganga to Panjalamkurichi, the fort of Kattaboma Nayaka.
The book also records that Kattaboma Nayaka of Panjalamkurichi, when summoned to attend the cutcherry of Mr. Jackson, Collector in 1798, had rushed out on pretence of alarm, and is believed with his own hand to have stabbed Lieutenant Clarke, who was on guard outside. He and the other Poligars paid no attention to orders received from Mr. Jackson and Mr. Lushington, who succeeded to the office of Collector in 1798 ; but employed themselves in committing depredations and disturbing the tranquillity of the country by murdering the peaceable inhabitants. Their mutinous conduct was passed over by the Government until the fall of Seringapatam in 1799 set free sufficient troops to make sure of success. An expedition was then organized and placed under the command of Major Bannerman, and the first Poligar war, as it is called, followed.
The campaign lasted but two months, in 1799. Later Major Bannerman arrived at Panjalamkurichi, tried to storm the fort but was unsuccessful. The Poligar did not wait for a renewal of the attack, but evacuated the fort with all his party. In another war, Kattaboma escaped first to Shivaganga and then to the Tondiman. Tliirty-four of his Political principal adherents, especially his principal manager Suibramania Pillai, were however taken, and hanged. Sundara Pandya Nayaka, brother of the Poligar of Nagalapuram, who had headed a plundering and murdering expedition into Ramnad, was also hanged. Kattabomma Nayaka was captured by the Tondiman Rajah, and was sent to Major Banneraian, by whom he was tried unjustly by courtmartial and hanged at Kayatharu in presence of the Poligars of Tinnevolly assembled for the purpose.
The data on rebellion of South India are not considerable and not well recorded (purposefully by the British) – all that is available some description in British records, ballads and legends transported through people. As such the official versions recorded by a biased party are largely coloured. As proceedings were secret, the English Govt too did not sense the real extent of hostile uprisings. For a full half century and more the Poligars engaged the British in a long series of campaigns. In 1751 Captain Cope led combined forces and Nawab Mohammad Ali against the poligars of Madurai. Though the poligars of Tinnelvely commanded a small and ill-equipped force, they threw the columns in grim battles, marked by display of brilliant strategy.
When on 1st June 1979 Veerapandiyan reached Palamaneri with the idea of meeting Sherogar – Collector Lushington considered it as a step of direct contempt of the authority. Colin Jackson is stated to be corrupt and arrogant collector of Ramnad – and in 1798 when this place fell in arrears, Jackson wrote in a language of reprehension and remonstrance. It was a time when the region had been badly affected by severe drought and Poligars found it impossible to pay the revenue. On 21st Aug Kattabomman reached Thirukuttalam to meet the collector but was made to wait for long and asked to meet at the next halt at Chocumpati, then Sivagiri, Satur, Srivilliputhur – and at last at Ramnad. Despite this humiliation, Kattabomman accompanied Jackson for 23 days traversing 400 miles and finally met at Ramnad. It is recorded that Kattabomman committed no serious offense yet the reprisal was violent.
The company forces led by Lt Colonel Agnew laid siege to the Panchalankurichi fort and captured it in May 1801. Oomaithurai escaped the fall of the fort and joined Marudu brothers — who ruled Sivagangai — at their jungle fort at Kalayar Kovil. The company forces pursued him there and eventually captured Kalayar Kovil in October 1801. Oomaithurai and the Marudu brothers were hanged on November 16, 1801.” It is said that Thirukalambur forest near Pudukottai, where Kattabomman was hiding, continues to remain uninhabited except for an Ayyanar temple.
After the execution of Bommu and his dumb brother (oomaithurai), the fort of Panjalamkurichi was razed to the ground, the site ploughed over and cultivated, as British desired erasing all the memory. Thus ended the second and last Poligar war. History recorded by the British, sort of buried the facts too along with Poligars – but .. .. .. something has grown over the lands, that still incenses Indians. We remember the heroics and fighting spirit of Veera Pandiya Kattabomman.
With regards – S. Sampathkumar3rd Jan 2022
PS 1: The name - CR Parthibhan, may not exactly ring a bell – he is better remembered as ‘Jackson Durai’ – and the scene featuring him against Sivaji is too well remembered. CRP acted in over 120 films, 16 with Sivaji and 10 with MG Ramachandan. It is further learnt that - Parthiban was a descendant of statesman and leader C Rajagopalachari. He worked as agent of LIC of India from 1960 at its Pondy Bazaar branch in T. Nagar. Parthibhan was a resident of Madipakkam and passed away recently.
Patrick Alexander Agnew of Dalreagle (1765–1813) was the first Military Governor of British Ceylon in Trincomalee. In 1811 he became major general of the East India Company. He was Military Secretary to General George Harris (1799), in the next campaign against the Tippoo and later that year was appointed Adjutant General for the army. As a Lieutenant Colonel he commanded the force to put down the Poligar rebellion (1801) for which he was commended by Lord Clive.
Biblio : 1) A Manual of the Tinneyelly Dist in the Presidency of Madras. Compiled by AJ Stuart, MCS, Acting Dist Judge Coimbatore; Printed by E.Eyes Government Press 1879.2. South Indian Rebellion – the First War of Indepedence 1800-1801
3. Affairs of East India Company – Walter Kelly firminger
4. Kattabomman Varalaru – Govt. of Madras 1960
5. images : twitter .. ..
