Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-6, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

The Dark Man of Kongu Region – Theeran Chinnamalai

S. Shabir Ahamed MA., M.Phil., DCA.,1 & Dr. A. Manimekalai., Ph.D.2 1Research Scholar, 2Associate Professor 1,2Department of History, Government Arts and Science College, – 18.

Kongu Kaviyarasu the name region. The reble mission led by hteeran originated from the term Kongu meaning nector or Chinnamalai to get the support of Dhoondaji honey in sangam tamil metamorphically referring Waugh was called the First Mission of Kannada to the honey or nector like landscape and people Rebels”. living in the western region of . Theeran chinnamalai was born in 1756 in Kongu region. He gathered Virupachi Gopalanaicker, Theerathagiri was the name kept to theeran thali Ethuluappa Naicker, dindugal Lakkma chinnamalai by his parents. He belonged to the Naicker, Paramathi appachi Gownder, noble family Palaiya Kottai pattakarar. Theeran Chinnamaruthu, Madurai Muthu Karupadevar, chinnamalai took charge of administration and Thanjai Gnanamuthu, Malabar Varma and safety of the kongu region under his control. formed dingudal Warrior Troop. Theeran Theeran cnhinnamalai along with his two brothers Chinnamalai was the head of the troop. The learnt martial arts, life archery, silambum etc. He Coimbatore troop was under the control of British. RD formed Kongu Youth Organisation and trained IN 1800 JUNE 3 ON MOHARAM DAY, martial arts to the Village Youths. During the hyder Theeran Chinnamalai decided to destroy the fifth ali period, the land tax of Koongu region was sent regiment of british cavalary that garrisoned the fort to him, to the . Theeran Chinnamalai of the Coimbatore revolution. The dindugal rescued all the taxes and told that Chinnamalai worriors troops hiden in and around the present between Sivan Malai and Chennaimalai took away Coimbatore region. the tax. People of Kongu region named as Theeran chinnamalai after that incident. Coimbatore fort was spied. On receiving secret information from tahisildar, british smelt the Theeran chinnamalai had many disputes rebels activities and forty two rebels were captured with the Mysore King Hyder ali. But after the death , put to trail and were publicly executed. Despite of Hyder ali in 1782, His son tippu regined the initial setback at Coimbatore the patriots carried as the Mysore King. Theeran Chinnalamai and his on the struggle unabated. In the first war Kongu Troops joined Tippu’s army against British theeran chinnamalai defeated with his small troops Troops. Theeran Chinnamalai become the caption the cornel Maxwell . Many british battalions were of the infantary in tippu’s army. He looked like the died in that war. pioneer of the good leader. After becoming the caption of the kongu region Theeran Chinnamalai In the second polygar war , British propagated the patriotism, courage, valor to the collected more than ten thousand soldiers and faced soldiers. the theeran Chinnamalai troop at the bank of river Noyyal. It was held for two days and at the end of The courageous fight of the Kongu troop the war Theeran Chinnmalai cut the head of the was the main reason for the triumph in war against British leader and kept in a plate and showed to all the british troop with more than forty thousand the houses in the Kongu region not to worry about soldiers in the mavalli region. In 1799, Tippu the British anymore. sultan died in the Srirangapattinam war. Many soldiers were caought and arrested by the British. In the third polygar war Carnal Harris Theeran Chinnalamalai gathered his entire Kongu marched towards River Caugery to face the troop and went towards the river Cauvery in the Theeran Chinnamalai like a blot from the blue. South. The british troops followed them to a long Theeran Chinnamalai had no time to gather his distance but couldn’t trace them. After returning troops. Theeran Chinnalamai shot Harris horse in from Mysore Theeran Chinnamalai was more its chest. In great agony the horse returned back active and more vigorous in the politics of Kongu started to run uncontrol. Other horses also followed

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-6, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in d the same and theeran chinnamalai chased them Reference upto . That was the brilliant trick of Theeran Chinnamalai that without killing the horse he shoot 1. ’s struggle for Independence., Bipan it and watched the horse running. Chandra, Penguine, Publications, ., 1989. 2. History, Religious and culture of India, Vol - Theeran chinnamalai ruled the kongu 2., Gajrani S, Gyann Pupublication., 2004 region for more than five years. British planned to 3. Kongudesisarajakkal., Government Manuscript attack Theeran Chinnamalai in odanalai fort. On Library., . getting the secret information that he and his fort 4. Hyder Ali and Tippu sultan and Struggle with were to be attacked by the , Theeran the musalman Powers of the south., Boring Chinnamalai along with his brothers and cook Bentham Lewis., 1989. Nallappan hid in Karumalai near the malai. 5. Kongu Nattu Lion., Kavingar Magudam The cook Nallappan betrayed them and had a hand Manikam., Sakunthalam Publications, in glove with british in catching the Theeran ,2001 chinnamalai and his brothers in Karumalai. 6. Emergance of the Indian National Congress., Theeran chinnamalai and his brothers were hanged Mehrotra., Delhi., 1971. on 31st July 1805. 7. Theeran Chinnamalai., Pulavar Kulanthai., Saratha Publication, chennai., 2006. 8. Eighteen fifty seven., Sen. S.N., Delhi.,1957.Kongu mandala Satakam., Valasundrakaviyan Deivasikhamani., coimbatore.,1971.

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