VEERAMANGAI: BRAVE WOMAN

 

During the festival of vijaydashmi, women from all over the country came to visit the Rajarajeshwari temple in Sivagangai. Velu nachiyar, previously the queen of sivangai along with Kuyili, the commander of an all women army, “udaiyaal” decided to take this as an opportunity to win their kingdom back.

Nachiyar was the first person in history to introduce the concept of suicide bombing to the world.

Her plan was to destroy ammunitions, that were stored close to the fort they planned to break into.

On the day of Vijayadashami, Kuyili and the rest of the army entered the fort disguised as rural women hiding weapons in their flower garlands and fruit baskets.

Using the ghee that was supposed to be used for the lamps, Kuyili lights herself on fire making one of the biggest sacrifices for one’s motherland, destroying the storehouse filled with weapons like planned.

Kuiliys patriotic act, helped Nachiyar win her war against the British in the same year. Nachiyar went on to rule the kingdom for 8 more years, her throne was later inherited by her daughter Vellacci who continued her mother’s legacy.

Velu nachiyar the only child of king Chellamuthu Sethupathy of the Ramnad kingdom was born on January 3^rd 1730. The royal couple raised her like they would a male heir. She was trained in horse riding, archery and martial arts like valari and shilabham. She was also well versed in languages including Urdu, English and French.

In the war known as the “kalaiyar koil war” of 1772, her husband Udaiya Thevar was killed in the battlefield by the soldiers of the East India Company. She was forced to flee her kingdom with her infant daughter. She found safety at Virupachi in Dindigul and went on to live there for 8 years with the help of Gopala Nayaker.

Velu Nachiyar, 1730-1796

During her stay, she formed an alliance with Haider Ali, the sultan of Mysore. He was impressed by her courage and determination and promised to provide enduring support in her war to re-inherit her throne.

Velu nachiyar is now popularly referred to as “Veeramangai” meaning brave woman. She and Kuyili were the first women to wage war against the east India company and take their stance against colonialism almost 80 years before the first war of independence in 1857 while simultaneously breaking gender roles in the early 18^th century.