Dheeran Chinnamalai (17 April 1756 – 31 July 1805) was a Palayakkarar and chieftain who ruled the Kongu Nadu region of the present day western Tamil Nadu. He fought against the British East India Company, was later captured and hanged by the British.
| Dheeran Chinnamalai | |
|---|---|
| Palayakkarar | |
 Statue of Dheeran Chinnamalai at Odanilai | |
| Successor | British Rule |
| Born | Theerthagiri Sarkarai Uthama Kaminda Manradiar 17 April 1756 Melapalayam Palayakottai, Kangeyam (present day Tamil Nadu) |
| Died | 31 July 1805 (aged 49) Sankagiri, Madras Presidency (present day Salem district, Tamil Nadu) |
| Burial | July/August 1805 Odanilai, Madras Presidency (present day Erode district, Tamil Nadu) |
| Father | Rathnasamy Gounder |
| Mother | Periyatha |
Early life edit
Dheeran Chinnamalai was born as Theerthagiri Sarkarai Manradiar on 17 April 1756 near present-day Kangeyam, Tiruppur district.[1]
Reign edit
Chinnamalai fought against the Kingdom of Mysore who was collecting taxes in the Kongu region.[2] He later allied himself with Tipu Sultan to fight against the British East India Company. After initial successes in repelling the British at Srirangapatna, he went back to Odanilai and built a fortress.[3] After the deaths of Kattabomman and Tipu Sultan, Chinnamalai became one of the commanders in the Second Polygar War in 1801. He engaged in guerrilla warfare and won battles at Cauvery in 1801, Odanilai in 1802 and Arachalur in 1804.[1] Later, his army was defeated in 1805 and he escaped from the British forces.[4]
Death edit
Chinnamalai was hanged at Sankagiri Fort by the British on 2 August 1805 along with his two brothers. Some sources note the date of his death as July 31.[4]
Legacy edit
Statues and memorials commemorating Chinnamalai exist in Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Erode and Odanilai.[1][5]
On 31 July 2005, a commemorative postage stamp was released by India Post.[6]
Until 1997, Tiruchirapalli division of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation was known as Dheeran Chinnamalai Transport Corporation.[7]
The headquarters of Erode district collectorate and the Erode Municipal Corporation are named after him.[8]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Dheeran Chinnamalai statue to be installed in Odanilai soon". The Hindu. 10 July 2007. Archived from the original on 1 December 2007.
- ^ "Celebrating Dheeran Chinnamalai: Saluting his ideals or inciting casteist passions?". The News Minute. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ "Dheeran Chinnamalai remembered". The Hindu. 3 August 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Chinnamalai, a lesser-known freedom fighter of Kongu soil". The Hindu. 2 August 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
- ^ "Memorial of Dheeran Chinnamalai set for face lift". The Times of India. 18 April 2013.
- ^ "Postage Stamps". India Post. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- ^ P. Jegadish Gandhi (1998). State Transport undertakings. Deep and Deep. p. 143. ISBN 978-8-1762-9084-5.
- ^ "In memory of a valiant Kongu Chieftain". The Times of India. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
