Velu Nachiyar - The first Women Freedom Fighter Of India

Veera Mangai Velu Nachiyar(Rani Velu Nachiyar):

Veera Mangani Velu Nachiyar was the First Women Freedom Fighter who fought with the Britishers 85 years earlier to Rani Lakshmi Bai in India ,Defeated and Ruled over her Kingdom for next Ten years.

Velu Nachiyar

Lesser Known Facts of Velu Nachiyar:

• Velu Nachiyar was born on 3th January 1730 at Ramanathapuram,Tamil Nadu.
• She was born to Raja Chellamuthu Sethupathy and Rani Sakandhimuthal.
• Princess Velu Nachiyar was made to learn all the art forms of war from horse riding to martial war attacks.
• Since king didn't have any male herein ,Nachiyar was bought as the king of Ramnad kingdom.
• She was well versed  seven languages - French,English,Urdu,Telugu ,Malayalam,Kannada.
• Later at the age of sixteen she was married to the king of Sivangagi - Muthuvaduganatha Periya Udaiyathevar. And these couple were blessed with a daughter : “Vellachchi”

Muthuvaduganatha Periya Udaiyathevar :

Sivagangai Aranmannai/Palace,Tamil Nadu

• Muthuvadugantha Udaiyathevar was the son of Sasivarna Periya Udaya
• Sivangangi was the first independent state from Ramnad.
• Since it was the newly created state, it had to undergo many wars with the Tanjore and the Martha's kingdom.
• He was in charge of the Administration of Sivagangi state from 1730 to 1750(though his father was ruling as the king)
• He was the only ruler ,who ruled Sivangangi state for the Longest Period of time(1750 to 1772)
• He was killed in the battle with Col.Smith which took place at KalaiyarKoil Palace in the year 1772.This was recorded as the most Grief Stricken Incident in the History.
• Many women,childrens were mercilessly killed in the war. Only few escaped from the war and those were Velu Nachiyar(as she was in Kollangudi),Thandavaraya Pillai, and the trustworthy Marudhu brothers.
• When Velu Nachiyar heard about the incident ,she rushed to the spot and found his husband dead there.She has never heard or seen this kind of violence,inhuman activity before in her life.

Exile Period and the help of Hyder Ali:

The grief stricken Queen, was in full rage to attack the Britishers and the Nawab who took her kingdom.But then the Minister Thandavarya Pillai who accompanied her as a fatherly figure gave her proper advice/suggestions to be taken.

• Velu Nachiyar along with few people soliders from Sivangangi went to meet Hyder Ali to seek his help.They meeting tool place in Dindugal.
• Velu Nachiyar conversed with him in Udru and Ali was highly impressed by her conversation and also for her bravely and thus promised her that he will surely help her to retrieve her kingdom.
• Hyder Ali granted her permission to stay at Virupakshi or Dindugal Fort and she was respected and treated as a Royal Queen.
• Also Ali supported her Financially by providing her 400 pound(Gold) every month for her expense.
• Under the help of Hyder Ali,Velu Nachiyar formed a Women’s Troop and named it as “Udaiyal Padai”
• The troop followed “Guerrillla Warfare”method to affect their enemies.
• After eight years of patience the women force attacked the Nawab and brought down their flag and placed the Hanuman Flag in Sivangangi Palace.

The First Human Bomb:

Quili was the the Captain of the troop and she was ready to do anything in order to save the queen and capture the kingdom from the Nawab. She was the First Human Bomb in India,who burned herself in order to protect her Queen Velu Nachiyar.This was the first act of war against the Britishers.

The Loyal Friendship :

• Hyder Ali in order to show his indeed friendship constructed a temple inside his palace , and the goddess idol was made up a gold.
• Similarly velu Nachiyar constructed a Mosque and Church at Saragani after restoration of her Kingdom - this showed her gratitude towards Hyder Ali.
• Also she had send Golden Tiger to Tipu Sultan as a gift to show her Gratitude and considered him as her brother.
• She also gave many gifts to the Muslim Soldiers,who had helped her to restort her kingdom.
• Till her last breathe , both Velu Nachiyar and Hyder Ali maintained a Good Relationship.

Queen of Sivangani :

Rani Velu Nachiyar

After 8 years of Exile and constant war pratices the Udaiyal Padai troop attacked the Britishers and retorted the kingdom from the Nawab.Later Velu Nachiyar was crowed as the Queen of Sivagangi Samsthan. She rulered over her kingdom for her 10 years.itis said that Velu Nachiyar was the only women in the Indian History to defeat the Britishers 85 years before the actual freedom fight began.For her bravely she was known as”Veera Mangai" of Sivangani or "Veera Mangai Velu Nachiyar".

Three important Decisions:

Marthu Brothers

She appointed Chinna Marudhu who was trained by Thandavaraya Pillai as her advisor and Periya Marudu who was with her husband when they were young, accompanied him when he went for hunting and also to battle fields as his shadow and was well versed about the intricacies of the usage of weapons as Commander. Further, she adopted Padamathur Gowri Vallaba Thevar who came of the lineage of her husband and who enjoyed the love and affection of her husband, as her son.

Her Final Years:

She was staying in Virupakshi Palayam during her Final Years and died there on 25 December 1796.Her mortal rites were send to Sivangangai with full respect.Her last rites were done by her son-in-law.

It is believed that she was suffering from heart problems during her last few years and was undergoing treatment in France.

Conclusions:

She was indeed a brave lady rite from her birth. She almost lost everything in her life,her husband,her kingdom.But then her rage to defeat the nawab and to regain her kingdom showed her love and concern for her state people. It is often said great people don’t die,its truth and that’s we are speaking about her even now.This may not be the complete history of her,but then i was more proud after reading this much about her. Also feeling very blessed to share this info of her here.