| Dheeran Chinnamalai | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pattakarar of Palayakottai, Kangayam Nadu | |||||
 Statue of Dheeran Chinnamalai at Odanilai modelled after actor Sivakumar's drawing | |||||
| Predecessor | Kongunaadu region | ||||
| Successor | British Rule | ||||
| Born | 17 April 1756 Melapalayam or Kasbah Palayakottai, Kangeyam, Tamil Nadu | ||||
| Died | 31 July 1805 (aged 49) Sankagiri, Salem district, Tamil Nadu or Karumalai, Oddanchatram, Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu (Madras Presidency) | ||||
| Burial | July/August 1805 Odanilai, Arachalur, Erode district, Tamil Nadu | ||||
| |||||
| Father | Rathnasamy Gounder | ||||
| Mother | Periyatha | ||||
| Religion | Shaivism | ||||
Dheeran Chinnamalai (17 April 1756 – 31 July 1805) was a Palayakkarar Pattakarar who fought against the British East India Company.
Early life[edit | edit source]
Dheeran Chinnamalai was born on April 17, 1756 in present-day Kangeyam, to a noble family.[1] His birth name was Theerthagiri.[2]
Military Victories[edit | edit source]
Noyyal Conflict[edit | edit source]
In the Kongu region, which was under Mysore rule, Tipu Sultan's minister Muhammad Ali was collecting taxes. While returning to Mysore with the collected tax money, Theerthagiri intercepted him and seized the money. Following this, a confrontation took place on the riverbed of the Noyyal between the force sent by Muhammad Ali and Theerthagiri's forces. P. Ramesh states that Theerthagiri's side emerged victorious.[3]
Actions Against the British in Alliance with Tipu[edit | edit source]
Theeran Chinnamalai, who is described as having received French military training, is stated by P. Ramesh to have mobilised Kongu youths and participated in resistance against the British East India Company in alliance with Tipu Sultan.[4]
Operations at Sivasamudram, Malavalli and Srirangapatna[edit | edit source]
According to the Rattibha compilation, during the period when Theeran Chinnamalai was allied with Tipu Sultan, he participated in battles at Sivasamudram, Malavalli and Srirangapatna.[5]
Odanilai Fort and Guerrilla Warfare[edit | edit source]
Following the death of Tipu Sultan, Theeran Chinnamalai is stated to have built a fort at Odanilai and continued fighting against the British forces from there. P. Ramesh records that he later used guerrilla warfare tactics to operate without being captured by the British forces.[6]
Battle of the Kaveri[edit | edit source]
According to the Rattibha compilation, a battle took place in the Kaveri River region in 1801 between the forces of the British East India Company and those of Theeran Chinnamalai. The compilation states that Chinnamalai's forces were victorious. It also states that a British officer, Colonel Makishkan (Col. Makishkan), was killed in the battle.[7]
Battle of Odanilai[edit | edit source]
In 1802, a confrontation between the British forces and Theeran Chinnamalai is reported to have taken place at Odanilai. The Rattibha compilation states that Chinnamalai's forces defeated the British forces.[8]
Battle of Arachalur[edit | edit source]
In 1804, a battle between the British forces and those of Theeran Chinnamalai is reported to have taken place at Arachalur. The Rattibha compilation states that Chinnamalai's forces defeated the British forces.[9]
Continuation of Military Resistance[edit | edit source]
Even after the death of Tipu Sultan, Theeran Chinnamalai continued his armed resistance against British rule in the Kongu region. P. Ramesh states that he operated from Odanilai as a base and used both direct engagements and guerrilla warfare tactics.[10][11][12]
Polygar wars[edit | edit source]
Chinnamalai is said to be one of the commanders in the Polygar Wars, notably during the Second Polygar War that took place in 1801–1802.[citation needed]
After Kattabomman and Tipu Sultan's deaths in 1799, Chinnamalai sought the help of Dhondia Wagh and Maruthu Pandiyar and lead the local Pattakarars Polygars, notably Varanavasi Gounder and Vella Gounder of Erode, Chinnamalai's sister's husband Kumara Vellai of Perundurai, Appachi Gounder of Paramathi-Velur, Aravakurichi Periya Thambi, Somandurai Muchadayandi Vanaraya Gounder of Pollachi and the Naicker Polygars of Dhali, Virupakshi and Ramagiri among others, to attack the British at Coimbatore in 1800.[citation needed]
British forces managed to stop the armies of the allies and hence Chinnamalai was forced to attack Coimbatore along with the above Polygars of Kongu Nadu. His army was defeated and he escaped from the British forces.[13] Chinnamalai engaged in guerrilla warfare and defeated the British in battles at Cauvery in 1801, Odanilai kangeyam in 1802 and Arachalur in 1804.[2]
Death[edit | edit source]
Chinnamalai was betrayed by his cook Nallapan and was captured by the British in 1805. Nallappan usurped the title of Nallasenapthi Sarkarai Manradiar with British support.[citation needed] Some sources say he was hanged at Sankagiri Fort on 2 August 1805, as also were his two brothers; other sources give the date as 31 July.[13][14]
Legacy[edit | edit source]
Statues and memorials commemorating Chinnamalai exist in Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Erode and Odanilai.[2][15]
On 31 July 2005, a commemorative postage stamp commemorating him was released by India Post.[16]
Until 1997, Tiruchirapalli division of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation was known as Dheeran Chinnamalai Transport Corporation.[17][page needed]
The headquarter of Erode Municipal Corporation was named after him.[14]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Celebrating Dheeran Chinnamalai: Saluting his ideals or inciting casteist passions?". The News Minute. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Dheeran Chinnamalai statue to be installed in Odanilai soon". The Hindu. 10 July 2007. Archived from the original on 1 December 2007.
- ↑ Ramesh, P. History of Tamil Nadu Since 1801 CE. Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. p. 12.
- ↑ Ramesh, P. History of Tamil Nadu Since 1801 CE. Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. p. 12.
- ↑ Nandakumar, J. (2022). Swa: Struggle for National Selfhood Past, Present and Future. p. 34.
- ↑ Ramesh, P. History of Tamil Nadu Since 1801 CE. Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. p. 12.
- ↑ Nandakumar, J. (2022). Swa: Struggle for National Selfhood Past, Present and Future. p. 34.
- ↑ Nandakumar, J. (2022). Swa: Struggle for National Selfhood Past, Present and Future. p. 34.
- ↑ Nandakumar, J. (2022). Swa: Struggle for National Selfhood Past, Present and Future. p. 34.
- ↑ Ramesh, P. History of Tamil Nadu Since 1801 CE. Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. p. 12.
- ↑ Vijayabharatham Prasuram (2024). Pride of Tamilnadu Freedom Fighters. pp. 1872–1887.
- ↑ Swaminathan, London. "Dheeran Chinnamalai, a fighter to the last!". Strange Stories About Hindu Saints, Temples And Historical Atrocities.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Chinnamalai, a lesser-known freedom fighter of Kongu soil". The Hindu. 2 August 2008.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "In memory of a valiant Kongu Chieftain". The Times of India. 5 April 2012.
- ↑ "Memorial of Dheeran Chinnamalai set for face lift". The Times of India. 18 April 2013.
- ↑ "Postage Stamps". postagestamps.gov.in. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- ↑ P. Jegadish Gandhi (1998). State Transport undertakings. Deep and Deep. ISBN 9788176290845.