This Independence Day, let me tell u all a #KuttiStory (small story) about the First Ever War of Independence! Pls read the post before leaving a reaction!
Did u know that the Sepoy mutiny (aka Indian Mutiny) of 1857 is NOT THE First war of Independence? This 74th Independence Day correct ur history knowledge. And may I pls help ?!
The 1857 revolt was a regimental uprising. Uniform-clad sepoys revolted against their employers. But the uprising of 1801 was a concerted revolt by independent kings. About 55 yrs before the Sepoy Mutiny, Independent kings, the Palayakkarars/Polygars of Ramanathapuram (Ramnad Kingdom), Sivaganga and Pudukottai of today stood up and revolted against the British Rule.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygar_Wars
What's more surprising is the historic suppression of the story of valor of the Queen Velu Nachiyar who fought and won the British even before this 1801 Polygar wars which I will now call a War of
Independence.
*VELU NACHIYAR* was the first queen to fight for the freedom from the British in India in 1780. She was a mother to an infant Vellacci then. Nachiyar was one of the few rulers who regained her kingdom, and ruled it for ten more years. In 1790, the throne was inherited by her daughter Vellacci.
Read about Velu Nachiyar and her lady army commander Kuyili (who did the ultimate Suicide bombing attack on the British - yes u heard that right!!!) here:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thebetterindia.com/157316/news-india-independence-women-fighters-british-raj/amp/
History books will never tell you who Velu Nachiyar was (How similar her story was to a more recent Rani Laxmi Bai), or that she was the first ever queen from India to have bravely rebelled against the British forces. Neither will they mention Kuyili, who was the commander of Velu’s army, and gave the British East India Company a real run for their money! With the exception of Tamil Nadu, both women are relatively unknown across the country despite their epic warfare tactics and historic win against the British in the eighteenth century.
Velu Nachiyar granted powers to her Daughter with the Marudu brothers to help administration the country in 1780. In 1782, the Nawab of Arcot had killed Muthuvaduganatha Thevar over his refusal to pay taxes. However Marudhu Pandiyar and Queen Velunachiyar escaped, and stayed with Gopala Nayak in Virupakshipuram for 7 years. After this time, an alliance of kingdoms led by the Pandiyar attacked Sivagangai and retook it in 1789. Both Maruthu Pandiyar were given high positions in the kingdom.
They were good at aerodynamics and craftsmanship and is said to have invented the Valari, a variant of the boomerang. They were in close association with Veerapandiya Kattabomman of Panchalankurichi Seemai. Kattabomman held frequent consultations with Marudhus. Have you all read about Veerapandiya Kattabomman? Pls read here:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veerapandiya_Kattabomman
The Marudhu Pandiyars, were the first kings who planned to war against British empire for India's independence. They along with the war leaders of Sivagangai and many of their family members, were captured at Cholapuram and were killed at Thirupatur. They were hung in the fort of Tirupputhur, which is now Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu, on 24 October 1801.
It is funny that our school history text books didn't mention most of the above-mentioned REAL history and sadly I have to post links here for further reading. What we can read for further patriotism is about the Greatest Rulers of this sub continent, the Chola Dynasty and their supremacy in Trade and Shipping, Ship Building too! See the attached map to see the regions they ruled.
The Chola Dynasty which lasted 1,500 years in India is mentioned in several historical foreign texts. It’s on one of the Pillars of Ashoka (273 - 232 BCE). It also appears in the Greco-Roman Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (c. 40 - 60 CE), and in Ptolemy's Geography (c. 150 CE). It started before the 3 rd century BC from no one is sure when uptill the 13 th century.
In its 1500 year history, as the empires fortunes wax and waned, the map below indicates the extent of the Chola kingdoms influence at various times. Remember the mysterious presence of African tribes living in villages in India ? It’s not mysterious . Many parts of Africa was India (Chola kingdom) once upon a time
Any country with such a historic spread would have it all over their history books . But were you ever taught a peep about the greatest , oldest and longest kingdom in Indian history ?
Ask yourself which dynasty did you learn the most about? It is not being suggested. What pops in your mind?
Now compare the two dynasties. We’re you or were you not brain washed ?
Happy Independence Day to everyone. Vande Mataram!
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