Veera Mangai Velunachiyar
Veera Mangai Velunachiyar the only queen in the 18 th centuary
who raised her sword against the British Empire and fought for the
freedom of India.
Born in 1730 AD to the Mannar Sellamuthu Sethupathy
...and to Rani Sakandhimuthal at Ramnad kingdom. She was
the only daughter of this royal family . The royal couple
had no male heir . Because of this, the royal family
brouht up the Princess , Velunachiyar , like a Prince of Ramnad.
She was trained in weapon fight and also in martial arts like
Valari, stick fighting and so on . She knew horse riding and archery.
The royal couple had taught many languages like French,English and
Urudu.
Thus this young bravery Princess had an immortal training in all war
technics. She was an erudite in all languages and fit to govern the
Ramnad Kingdom .
This vernacular and an indigenous Tamil Princess was also mastered
in English , French and Urudu .
She married to Sivagangai Mannar Muthuvaduganathar at the age of sixteen.
In the year 1772 , the English invaded in to her kingdom . Velu Nachiyar heard that her husband
Raja Muthu Vaduganathar and his young Princess Gowri Nachiyar was killed in Kalaiyar Koil war .
This war was held in Kalaiyar Koil palace. British troops attacked the palace
under the command of Lt.Col. Bon Jour .
She was very much worried and want to take revenge of this tort.
Dalavay Thandavaraya Pillai and Maruthu Brothers sustained her injuries. They promised to recapture
the samasthan to punish the English.
Dalavay Thandavaraya Pillai, an incredible and distinguished person who was the most powerful
administer in Sivagangai samasthanam.He,Thandavaraya Pillai , the loyalist served (1700-1773)
as Dalavay and also as Pirathani under the three rulers of Sivagangai samasthanam .As he was a great
administer he had administered the both at a stretch in good manner . He played many key rolls
for the developments of Sivagangai samasthanam and also render his service to its fortune.
At first he served the King Sasivarna Periya Udaiya Thevar in 1730-1750-
after that to Muthu Vaduganatha Thevar, the King at 1750-1772 . He also served as
*Pirathani to the queen Rani Velu Nachiyar.
Here Dalavay means as military chief and the Pirathani means as chief minister. Pirathani
watch all over the foreign affairs of the country.Thus the two charges were the most important
and also a powerful .These two charges were entrusted to him. The following copper plate was given by the king
which proved his importance in the Sivagangai samasthanam's history....
தாமிரப் பட்டயம்
'' பிரபா வருடம் (28-4-1747) சித்திரை மாதம் 16 ம் தேதி மகா ராஜமானியன் அரசு நிலையிட்ட சசிவர்ண பெரிய உடையத்தேவர் களது
தண்டவராய பிள்ளைக்கு பட்டயம் கொடுத்த்தபடி .
பட்டயமாவது
பாளையப்பட்டு முதலதன் தகப்பன் காத்தவரய பிள்ளை மகன் தாண்டவராய பிள்ளைக்கு நம்முடைய
தகப்பனார் மேற்படி உடையத்தேவர்
நாள் முதல் கணக்கும் எழுதி கார்வாரும் பார்த்து வந்தபடியினாலே இத்தானம் பாளையப்பட்டு முதல் சமஸ்தானம்
உண்டாக்கியவனாகும்
நம்முடைய மனசுக்கு இருக்க அரண்மனை காரியமும் கூடிவரும்படியாய் பலவாக ஆகம சௌஸ்காரியமொடு
உத்திரவாதமங்கள் செய்தபடியினாலே சிவகங்கை சமஸ்தான அதிகாரம் விளங்கச்சொல்லி முத்திரை மோதிரம்
கட்டளையிட்ட படியினாலே சிவகங்கை சமஸ்தானம் உள்ளவரைக்கும் வழிவழி வம்சமாக அதிகாரம் செய்து ,
அரண்மனை காரியமும் பிறவுமாக தானும் நடந்து கொள்ளச் சொல்லி மேற்படி தாமிரப்பட்டயம்
அந்தப்படி அனுபவித்துக் கொள்ளவும்''
(ஒப்பம்) ராஜா முத்துவடுகனாதத் தேவர்
(Thandavaraya Pillai son of Kathavaraya Pillai is an accountant and also as Karvar , (administer)
in this samasthan.He is rendering his service with loyal from the beginning
date of this samasthan. He administered well and help in developments .
Because of this good administration the king Udaiya Thevar have pleased on him and granted his
hereditary mangement.He can serve until the samasthan's end )
The above versions clearly shows the loyalty and importances of Dalavay Thandavaraya Pillai.
Because of this invansion she was advised by him to migrate very often for avoiding this problem .
Meanwhile Dalavay Thandavarayan Pillai wrote a letter to Sultan Hyder Ali on behalf of Velu Nachiyar
to provide 5000 infantry
and 5000 cavalry to defeat the British army.But unfortunately , due to his old age he passed away.
After the demised of Dalavay Thandavarayan Pillai she decided to meet Hyder Ali at Virupachi
and wanted to explain about the British crisis . She had to wait for eight years to meet the Sultan.
Finally, with the help of Sultan's son she met Hyder Ali at Mysore.
Were at the meeting with Hyder Ali , she explained all these East Indian Companies over run and conflicts.
She vehemently showed her opposition of British regime to him.
Because of her well talented conversation in Urudu and also her strong opposition of English ,
Hyder Ali was pleased and promised to help her in this conflict..
He accepted her obligation with sympathy and provided the military assistance.
He orderd Seyad Karki , Dindigul fort gladar to provide the military equipments to Rani Velu Nachiyar.
As an immediate order he released 5000 infantry and 5000 cavalry to Rani Velu Nachiyar.
she went to Dindigul and received the Hyder Ali's infantry.With the guidance of Maruthu brothers
the troops advanced to Sivaganga. Arcot Nawab put so many hindrances to avoid the advancement
of Rani Velu Nahiyar's combined troops.But all hurdles were slashed by the Rani and Maruthu brothers.
They gear up the troops and entered Sivaganga.A rousing sound of the samasthan people welcomed
Rani and her warriors. With this help of huge army and also with her local rebellions
she attacked Sivaganga and defeated Arcot Nawab - as a captivator and the
supporter of English. She re- captured her Sivaganga samasthan with the help of
Hyder Ali and crowned as Rani of Sivagangai seemai.
According to the historians , Velu Nachiyar is only the first queen who raised the sword against the
British emperor.
Prof.Sanjeevi marked in his ' Maruthiruvar' book that ' the bravery queen Velu Nachiyar raised her
sword against English emperor and fought for the freedom prior to the two centuries of Jansi Rani's freedom struggle
in North Venkatam.Further he stated - right to call that Jansi Rani may be the Northern Velu Nachiyar
but it does not right to call Velu Nachiyar as Southern Jansi Rani'.
We can praise Velu Nachiyar as India's Joan of Arc .
by sivashanmugam.
referred books :The Madura country a manual..J.H.Nelson.
The Sivaganga Zamindary..K.Annaswamy Aiyer.
Maruthiruvar ..Prof.Sanjeevi.
Viduthalai porin vidi velligal... M.Balakrishnan..
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