Main Imgae Via Feminism In India
Kingdoms rise and fall and they take with them their cultures, practices and traditions that they fought to uphold during their glory days. The Tamizh language and culture, however, has withstood the waves of time. Wonder how? It is all thanks to the sacrifice made by our forefathers and sometimes, fore-mothers.
Rani Velu Nachiyar is among the unsung heroines that fought to preserve not only her land, but also the continuity of the Tamizh people and culture. Queen of the Kingdom of Sivagangai (presently a part of Tamil Nadu), Velu Nachiyar was the first queen in Indian history to have waged a successful war against the British.
Born in 1730 to King Chellamuthu Sethupathy and Queen Sakandhimuthal of Ramnad kingdom, Velu Nachiyar was an only child. A scholar of numerous languages, she was proficient in French, English and Urdu. Velu Nachiyar was also trained in martial arts, use of war weapons, archery, and horse riding. She became an expert in the use of Tamizh martial art Silambam (fighting using stick) and Valari (a boomerang-shaped weapon; it can be hurled in the air at breakneck speed during hunting and war).
She was married off to Muthuvaduganathaperiya Udaiyathevar, the king of Sivagangai. The couple was blessed with a daughter. Velu Nachiyar’s husband was killed at war against the combined forces of the British and Nawab of Arcot at Kalaiyar Koil. The invading British army plundered Kalaiyar Koil and collected jewels worth 50,000 pagodas.
Fleeing with her daughter Vellacchi to Virupachi, she was all determined to take vengeance against the British. On her way to Virupachi, she met with a servant girl named Udayal who quenched the Queen’s thirst with water. Shortly after she left, the British forces followed her track and found Udayal who refused to oust her queen. The British killed Udayal for her refusal.
Velu Nachiyar learned of Udayal’s sacrifice while she remained in hiding at Virupachi for eight years. In that time, she managed to amass a huge army that included a big contingent of women warriors under the banner of Udayal Padai in memory of Udayal. Kuyili, Velu Nachiyaar’s right hand maiden commandeered the Udayal Padai while the Queen herself trained them to perfection. Kuyili was a beauty with brains and was one of the ablest of the queen’s commanders.
In 1780, Velu Nacchiyar formed an alliance with few neighboring kingdoms and marched with her allies and army towards Sivagangai.
The Queen and her army encountered and defeated the forces of Nawab of Arcot and the British who were commandeered by Captain Martines at Maanaamadurai, on their way to Kalaiyar Koil where Velu Nachiyaar’s husband was slain. At Kalaiyar Koil she defeated the British forces and killed Captain Joseph Smith who had slaughtered her husband.
Having been alerted by her spies stationed at Sivagangai that the British forces there were ready to attack the incoming battalion with heavy guns and ammunition that included cannon barrels, the Queen and her troops had to devise a new plan. They also learnt that the ammunition and guns were being stored at the Raja Rajeswari temple in Sivagangai palace.
In ancient times, women devotees would walk several miles to visit the Raja Rajeswari temple on Vijayadashami. It was the only day the British allowed the entry of only women into the temple to perform their worship. Kuyili, commander of the Udayal Padai devised a plan to divide the Udayal Padai into groups. They disguised as worshipers and walked with the group of pilgrims with weapons tucked into their sarees. Velu Naachiyar was also a part of the group.
As the worshipers began to leave, Velu Naachiyar and her women attacked the British. In a short while, many British soldiers were slain. British sepoys rushed to the warehouse where the ammunition was stored for reinforcement. They encountered Kuyili drenched in ghee, heading in the same direction. Realising her intention, they shot at her. However, Kuyili managed to enter the warehouse and lit herself in a suicide-bombing attempt and the warehouse blew up!
A face-to-face fierce battle ensued where the British were defeated and their leader, Captain Benjour surrendered. He pleaded for his life, promising that the British would never interfere with the affairs of Sivagangai in the future. Velu Nachiyar showed mercy and spared the captain’s life and set him free.
Queen Velu Nachiyar regained her kingdom. She ruled for 10 years and built a temple in the name of Udayal at Ariyakuruchi, known as Vettu Udayal Khali temple. Velu Nacchiyar died on 25 December 1796 after anointing her daughter Vellacchi as her successor.
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Source: Tamizharmedia