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2021-08-22T15:39:07Z

Assassination of Ashe

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{{Short description|Indian independence activist}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{more citations needed|date=April 2012}}
{{Disputed|date=August 2019}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox person
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| name = Vanchinathan
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| caption = Vanchinathan
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| birth_name = Shankaran
| birth_date = 1886
| birth_place = [[Sengottai]]
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| known_for = Assassinating [[Robert Ashe (administrator)|Robert Ashe]]
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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
[[File:VanchiManiyachiJunction.JPG|thumb|250px|A railway station in Tamil Nadu named in his remembrance as Vanchi Maniachi]]
'''Vanchinatha Iyer''' (1886 – 17 June 1911), popularly known as Vanchinathan or Vanchi, was an Indian reactionary.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/madras-miscellany-the-ashe-murder/article2233241.ece |title=Madras miscellany: The Ashe murder - The Hindu |newspaper=The Hindu |date=17 July 2011 |last1=Muthiah |first1=S. }}</ref>
He is best remembered for murdering [[Robert Ashe (administrator)|Robert Ashe]], the Tax Collector of [[Thirunelveli]].

== Personal life ==
Vanchinathan was born in 1886 in [[Sengottai]] to Raghupathy Iyer and Rukmani Ammal. His actual name was Shankaran. He did his schooling in [[Sengottai]]. He married Ponnammal and got into a lucrative government job.

== Indian Freedom Movement ==
On 17 June 1911, Vanchi who was 25, assassinated Robert Ashe, the district collector of [[Tirunelveli]], who was also known as Collector Dorai. He shot Ashe at point-blank range when Ashe's train had stopped at the [[Maniyachi]] Station, en route to [[Madras]].<ref>{{cite news|title=History revisited, but this time with love|url=http://www.thesundayindian.com/en/story/history-revisited-but-this-time-with-love/5/16695/|newspaper=The Sunday Indian|date=18 June 2011|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> He committed suicide thereafter. The railway station has since been renamed Vanchi Maniyachi.

== Assassination of Ashe==
The mastermind behind the assassination was Nilakanta Brahmachari who went around the Madras presidency in 1910 recruiting cadres and hatching plots against the British. In this venture, he was accompanied by Shankar Krishna Iyer, Vanchinathan's brother-in-law, who introduced the men to each other. Along with a few other men, Nilakanta Bramhachari, Vaanchinathan, and Shankar Krishna Aiyar found an organisation called Bharatha Matha Sangam which plots the assassination of influential British men.
On 17 June 1911, Ashe boarded the 9:30 am Maniyachi Mail at Tirunelveli Junction. With him was his wife, Mary Lillian Patterson, who had arrived from Ireland only a few days earlier. They had married on 6 April 1898, in Berhampore; Mary was about a year older than Ashe. They were on their way to Kodaikanal where their four children, Molly, Arthur, Sheila, and Herbert, lived in a rented bungalow.
At 10:38 am, the train pulled in at Maniyachi. The Ceylon Boat Mail was due to arrive at 10:48 am. As the Ashes sat facing each other in the first class carriage, waiting for the Boat Mail to arrive, a neatly dressed man with tufted hair and another young man wearing a dhoti approached the carriage. The former boarded the carriage and pulled out a Belgian-made Browning automatic pistol. The bullet hit Ashe in the chest and he collapsed. The sound of the pistol shot was absorbed by the howling wind.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesundayindian.com/en/story/late-british-officer's-kin-sent-letter-to-killer's-kin/5/16690/|title = Late British officer's kin sent letter to killer's kin - Perachi Kannan - the Sunday Indian}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Freedom-fighter-Vanchinathan-remembered/articleshow/47708113.cms|title = Freedom fighter Vanchinathan remembered | Chennai News - Times of India}}</ref>

After the shooting, Vanchinathan ran along the platform and took cover in the latrine. Sometime later he was found dead, having shot himself in the mouth. The pistol recovered from him was empty without any bullets as he just planned to kill himself after killing Ashe and had no intention to hurt anyone other than Ashe<ref>{{cite news|title=Centenary of a historical assassination today |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article2110600.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=17 June 2011|location=India}}</ref> In his pocket was found the following letter:<ref>Venkatachalapathy, A. (2010). In Search of Ashe. Economic and Political Weekly, 45(2), 37-44. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from [http://www.jstor.org/stable/25663988]</ref>

{{Quote frame| I dedicate my life as a small contribution to my motherland. I am alone responsible for this.

The [[Mleccha|mlechas]] of England having captured our country, tread over the sanathana dharma of the Hindus and destroy them. Every Indian is trying to drive out the English and get swarajyam and restore sanathana dharma. Our Raman, Sivaji, Krishnan, Guru Govindan, Arjuna ruled our land protecting all dharmas, but in this land, they are making arrangements to crown George V, a [[Mleccha|mlecha]], and one who eats the flesh of cows.

Three thousand Madrasees have taken a vow to kill George V as soon as he lands in our country. In order to make others know our intention, I who am the least in the company, have done this deed this day. This is what everyone in Hindustan should consider it as his duty.

I will kill Ashe, whose arrival here is to celebrate the crowning of cow-eater King George V in this glorious land which was once ruled by great samrats. This I do to make them understand the fate of those who cherish the thought of enslaving this sacred land.

I, as the least of them, wish to warn George by killing Ashe.

Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram
|sd/-|R. Vanchi Aiyar, Shencottah}}

Vanchi was a close collaborator of [[Varahaneri Venkatesa Subrahmanya Iyer]] (normally shortened to [[V.V.S.Aiyar]] or Va.Ve.Su Iyer), another activist who sought arms to defeat the British. He trained Vanchinathan to execute the plan in all perfection.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nationalist with a revolutionary approach|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/16/stories/2006081605630200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205115511/http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/16/stories/2006081605630200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 December 2007|date=16 August 2006|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Trichy, India}}</ref> They belonged to Bharatha Matha Association.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=2SkbAAAAIAAJ&q=bharatha+matha+association&dq=bharatha+matha+association&hl=en&ei=FMDiTO-UE4XIuAPI6Iz6Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA Madras District Gazetteers]</ref>

The Tamil Nadu Government built a memorial in [[Sengottai]] at his birthplace.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tn.gov.in/budget/budsp_2010_11_3.htm |title=Memorials-Budget speech|date=19 March 2010|publisher=Tamil Nadu government, India|access-date=29 November 2012}}</ref>

===Controversy behind the motive===
The contents of the letter that was retrieved from Vanchi Iyer post his suicide indicates that the murder was religious and caused great apprehension on the Ashe's activities against social evils. The timing of the assassination indicated a protest against the impending coronation.<ref>[http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2619/stories/20090925261908500.htm Frontline-Sep 2009-An Irish link]</ref> Many outfits in Tamil Nadu allege that Vanchi Iyer was a casteist and he killed Ashe because he was interfering with the [[Sanātanī|Brahminism]].<ref>{{Citation|title=பெரியாருக்கு முன் தமிழ்நாடு எப்படி இருந்தது? - சு.அறிவுக்கரசு|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O_wxSN8150|language=en|access-date=2019-08-21}}</ref>

== Dalit view ==
In recent years, the [[Dalit]] (traditionally marginalized groups in India) perception of Ashe has been positive and is considered as a hero. Ashe took action to ensure that all people could take a bath in the [[Coutrallam Falls|Courtallam waterfalls]]{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}, which until then had been reserved exclusively for the upper caste Indians and for the bathing of idols of deities. This action has opened up the waterfalls for the Dalit people. In recent years, Dalit organizations have paid tribute to Ashe on his birthday by offering floral tributes to his memorial and to his grave, which is situated in the English Church, opposite the St. John's College in [[Palayamkottai]].<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news |title=Dalit outfit pays homage to Ashe |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/dalit-outfit-pays-homage-to-ashe/article7327748.ece |access-date=29 April 2020 |agency=The Hindu |date=18 June 2015}}</ref><ref name="Standard">{{cite news |title=Hindu outfit opposes tribute to British Collector |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/hindu-outfit-opposes-tribute-to-british-collector-115062400908_1.html |access-date=29 April 2020 |agency=Press Trust of India |publisher=Business Standard |date=24 June 2015}}</ref><ref name="Chronicle">{{cite news |last1=Arulolo |first1=M |title=Bid to malign Vanchinathan kicks up row in Nellai dt |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/180619/bid-to-malign-vanchinathan-kicks-up-row-in-nellai-dt.html |access-date=29 April 2020 |publisher=Deccan Chronicle |date=18 June 2019}}</ref> According to K. G. Kalaikannan, Tirunelveli district secretary of Athi Tamilar Peravai, they gave floral tributes to Robert Ashe in order to challenge the common view that Vanchinatha Iyer is a freedom fighter and to help other people know the actual reason for Vanchinatha Iyer's murder of Ashe. In Kalaikannan's version, "Vanchinatha Iyer was frustrated by Ashe's wife, Mary Lillian Patterson, who supported a pregnant outcast woman who needed urgent medical attention to move through [[agraharam]]. To secure the Brahminical set-up, he killed Ashe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/180619/bid-to-malign-vanchinathan-kicks-up-row-in-nellai-dt.html|title = Bid to malign Vanchinathan kicks up row in Nellai dt|date = 18 June 2019}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
*In the film [[Kappalottiya Thamizhan]], Actor Balaji played the role of Vanchinathan. Bharathiyar song "Kaattru veliyedai kannamma".. was picturised with [[Gemini Ganesan]] and [[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]]. [[Sivaji Ganesan]] played the role of [[V. O. Chidambaram Pillai]].
*The Maniyachchi Railway Station where Vanchinathan shot Ashe, was renamed to [[Vanchi Maniyachchi Junction railway station|Vanchi Maniyachchi Junction Railway Station]] in remembrance of him.

== Controversy ==
[[The Hindu (Tamil)]] published an article based, what it said, on an interview with Jayakrishnan, who claimed to be the grandson of Vanchinathan. It was said in the article that Jayakrishnan blamed (his grandfather) Vanchinathan for neglecting his wife who was 8 months pregnant at that time. Jayakrishnan has purportedly said "What he (Vanchinathan) did was wrong".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://tamil.thehindu.com/opinion/reporter-page/article19496176.ece | title="Andraikku Thaathaa Seydhathu Thappu Thaane ..!" - Pattikkaaga Varundum Veeran Vanchinathanin Paeran | trans-title="Isn't what grandpa did then wrong..!" - Vanchinathan's grandson sympathizes for grandma | language=ta | work=[[The Hindu (Tamil)]] | date=2017-08-15 | access-date=2017-08-20 | author=Kula. Shanmugasundaram | archive-url=https://archive.today/20170820054724/http://tamil.thehindu.com/opinion/reporter-page/article19496176.ece | archive-date=20 August 2017 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }} (Article was modified)</ref> Writer [[B. Jeyamohan|Jayamohan]] has written an article on his website that the article has given wrong information as there were no descendants to Vanchinathan. The only girl child he had, died as an infant while he was still alive. He has stated in the article that in spite of several representations pointing to the untruths in the article, the paper has not published an apology.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jeyamohan.in/101474#.WZkcmmhLfIW|title=The Hindu – Naalithazh Arathin Chaavu|trans-title=The Hindu - Daily Newspaper, Death of Ethical Code of Conduct|language=ta|date=2017-08-16|author=Jayamohan|author-link=B. Jeyamohan|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170820060056/http://www.jeyamohan.in/101474%23.WZklj9LLfK7#.WZkcmmhLfIW|archive-date=20 August 2017|access-date=20 August 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>[[The Hindu (Tamil)]] published an apology admitting that the contents of the (above-mentioned) article on Vanchinathan contained unverified false information and regretted for its publication.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://tamil.thehindu.com/tamilnadu/article19522884.ece | title="Vanchinathan.. Vaarisu.. Sarchai.. Andha Pertikku Aadhaaram Edhuvumillai!" | trans-title="Vanchinathan .. heir.. Controversy .. No evidence for that interview | work=[[The Hindu (Tamil)]] | date=2017-08-19 | access-date=2017-08-20 | author=Editor | archive-url=https://archive.today/20170820091303/http://tamil.thehindu.com/tamilnadu/article19522884.ece | archive-date=20 August 2017 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

For the first time in the history of independent India, a Dalit group paid floral tributes to Ashe. “Since this great Briton was against untouchability and recognised the Dalits as human beings even when the caste-ridden society took all-out measures to oppress them, we pay floral tributes to the slain Collector,” justified members of Aathi Thamizhar Katchi.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/dalit-outfit-pays-homage-to-ashe/article7327748.ece|title = Dalit outfit pays homage to Ashe|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 18 June 2015}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr98/fe0898/f1808986.html Press Information Bureau]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121104000414/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-16/chennai/28111697_1_memorial-tirunelveli-district-civil-servant Times of India-Nov 2009]
*[http://wikimapia.org/#lat=8.9767112&lon=77.2488615&z=19&l=0&m=b&v=8 Vanchinathan Statue] at [[Sengottai]]
{{Indian independence movement}}
{{Indian Revolutionary Movement}}
[[Category:People from Tirunelveli district]]
[[Category:1911 deaths]]
[[Category:1886 births]]
[[Category:Indian assassins]]
[[Category:Suicides by firearm in India]]

Vanchinathan - Revision history

imported>Tgoodwil: /* Assassination of Ashe */