The South Tamil Nadu produced lots of freedom fighhters and patriots through generations and among them the Marudu brothers of Ramnadu worth a mention
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| TN GovernorRavi payin tribute to Marudu brothers, ewindianexpress.com |
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| Marudhu Pandiyar brothers www.quazoo. |
The Marudhu (Marudu) Pandiyar brothers - Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu) were the well-known rulers of Sivagangai, TN in the late 18th century were a collective force to reckon with when dealing with the unjust and cunning East India company rule. They never tolerated their injustice done to the natives and at one stage they made bold proclamation of independence from the colonial British rule on 10 June, 1801. Present generation of youths may not be aware that the brothers were the first ones to have made a clarion call for ''First War of Indian Independence'' far long before the Fiirst Warof Indipedence (Sepoy Mutiny) in1857, that first started off at Meerut Cantonment, UP.
Having been in the service of the Raja of Ramnad Muthu Vaduganadha Thevar, they grew in stature and power. The British as part of their land grabbing binge killed some members of the royal family and forced Queen Velu Nachiar to flee the country to Dindukal,TN where she was in exile in Dindukal. Marudu brothers helped her get back to her land from the British. During the wars between Palayakkarars of Thirunelveli led by Kattabomman and the foreigners, the bothers helped them .
Having been in the service of the Raja of Ramnad Muthu Vaduganadha Thevar, they grew in stature and power. The British as part of their land grabbing binge killed some members of the royal family and forced Queen Velu Nachiar to flee the country to Dindukal,TN where she was in exile in Dindukal. Marudu brothers helped her get back to her land from the British. During the wars between Palayakkarars of Thirunelveli led by Kattabomman and the foreigners, the bothers helped them .
Their patriotic activities made the company official angry and they kept tailing them to trap themat the right time. At last the British captured them and many of his family members at a place called Cholapuram. Chinna Marudu was hanged to death in the Fort of Tiruppathur (now called Oomayan Kottai, near Pudukkotai town), Tamil Nadu) on October 24, 1801.
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| The Sarugani Church.www.thehindu.com |
The Sacred Hearts Church, Sarugani, a village near Kalayarkoil in Sivaganga district, a famous church founded by Rev. Fr. Maria Louis Leveil ( born in France in 1884)is a popular one now. Rev. Fr. Leveil who chose the undivided Ramanathapuram district as his second home had spent the rest of his life as a Jesuit novitiate in 1908 and was so much revered here This historical Church was patronized by Catholic converts from the local dominant community called Marava.
Marudu Brothers, staunch Hindus were secular in their outlook had deep respect for Christian community living there then.The Sacred Hearts Church, Sarugani received funds from rulers Chinna Marudhu Panidyar, and younger of the Marudu Pandiyar brothers.
A rare manuscript records the generosity of the ruler. Standing bravely before the gallows, in the fort of Thrupattur before execution, without any trepidation, Chinna Marudu expressed his last wish to the East India Company officers to ''honor the ‘grants’ he had bequeathed to the Catholic Church. This incident was mentioned in the book titled '' Marutha Pandiyan'' by Rev. Baauche, a French Catholic Priest of 18th century who had lived there during that period. Secularism was the brothers' guiding principle, thus upholding the virtues religious freedom in their kingdom.
Chinna Mardu, being generous, donated the entire village Maraneri, so that from the income religious services in the Church would continue for good including the conduct of annual car festival of the Serugani church. This was a fine gesture by a ruler was an expression of his to a Christian priest of this Church who once saved him from near death when the British troops led by one Martinz were ready to trap him.
A large community of Catholics from the Tanjore region (Tamil Nadu), the Nattambadiyars or Udaiyars had settled down there upon their arrival here (1781-1783). When Chinna Marudu was about to be executed, one thing that was on his mind was his grants to the Church. The thought gallows and the noose round his neck did not scare, Fr.
aauche says.
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Ref:
Navrang.india.blog. Aug.12, 2015 Maruthu Pandyars of Ramnad, TN before going to the gallows offered grants to the local Church Colonial India
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/marudu-
brothers-had-soft-corner-for-catholic-church/article6803734.ece
brothers-had-soft-corner-for-catholic-church/article6803734.ece
