Rani Velu Nachiyar is the one who brought the new meaning of Veera Mangai(Brave woman) to this world despite the many meanings of women as mothers, sisters, and family women. And she proved that women can carry the sword and fight in the battle who thought the women is only worth to do the oven job at home. When men were reluctant to fight for independence against the British in the 1800s, the woman Velu Nachiyar took up the sword and chased away the British.
Early Life of Velu Nachiyar
Rani Velu Nachiyar was born in 1730 in the Sethupathi dynasty as the only daughter of Ramanatha king Muthu Vijayaragunatha Sellamuthu and Muthal Nachiyar. She was born exactly in the village of Sakkandi in Ramanathapuram. After Velu Nachiyar, King Ramanatha had no children and no male heir to rule as the next ruler, so Velu Nachiyar began to be raised as a son. She was taught martial arts such as martial arts, swordsmanship, and battleship techniques such as horsemanship and archery. All the arts taught to a royal family man were taught to Velu Nachiyar.
She also had the ability to speak many languages such as English and French. In 1747 she married Muthu Vaduga Nathan the king of Sivagangai. Muthu Vaduga Nathan was a great warrior and nobody had a gut to fight against him in that region. After this, the two led a wonderful life. As proof of their happiness, they had a daughter named Vellachi. The total town celebrates the birth of Vellachi.
War against British
It was during the heyday of Velu Nachiyar that the British East Indian Company seized power from the Indian kings and began to levy taxes. The British came to Velu Nachiyar's husband Muthuvaduganath to collect taxes on Sivagangai. But Muthuvaduganath refused to pay the tax and decided to oppose them. The General of the East India Company, who knew the heroism of Muthuvaduganath, decided to fight him in a different way without clashing directly with him.
Murder of Muthuvaduganathar
Muthuvaduganathar was a Shiva devotee. He often goes to the Shiva temple and does not carry any weapon with him when he goes to the Shiva temple. In 1772, Muthuvaduganathar went to the temple of the Shiva. Muthu Vaduganathan was worshiping Isan inside the Kalaiyar temple. Then the British general Joseph Smith came with the British troops and Nawab's troops and indirectly shot him. After this, the Kalaiyar temple came under the control of the British.
Velu Nachiyar's Promise
Veeramangai Velu Nachiyar swears on the body of her husband who was cunningly killed to chase away the British and Nawab's troops from this land. Velu Nachiyar then left the fort on the advice of his brothers and began to live in ambush. Velu Nachiyar was training with the ambush soldiers at Chakrapathi Fort, Chiru Vaiil Fort, and Pandian Fort to prepare for battle. She also used the area as an armory. Rani Velu Nachiyar chose these forts as they are all inside the forest and are surrounded by bushes so that no one can penetrate them. Recently, researchers have recovered weapons such as swords and machetes during excavations. Velu Nachiyar was last staying at Virupachi Fort when Gopal Nayak helped Velu Nachiyar. Gopal Naik has been encouraging and helping Indian freedom fighters against the British.
Brave Women Udaiyal
Velu Nachiyar once went to the Kalaiyar temple to worship her husband. Upon learning this, the British paid homage to Velu Nachiyar and followed her when she returned to her fort. On the way to Velu Nachiyar, a woman named Udayal gives water to Velu Nachiyar and his soldiers until they are thirsty. Velu Nachiyar then left, saying that the British were following him and would not tell him the direction she had gone if they asked.
Then when the British came and asked, he said, "I know the direction Velu Nachiyar went but I will not tell you." Even though the British persecuted her, she even lost his life but didn't betray Velu Nachiyar. Knowing this, Velu Nachiyar went to the place where she died and paid homage to her, and built a temple for her.
Hyder Ali's Help
In 1772 Velu Nachiyar wrote a letter of help to Haider Ali from Virupachchi fort. Velu Nachiyar then met Haider Ali at the Dindigul fort with his daughter Vellachi Nachiyar and his brothers. She then took Haider Ali and explained about the British in Urdu. Seeing the bravery and skill of Velu Nachiyar, Hyder Ali offered to help him. He gave 12 artillery pieces, 500 rifles, and some soldiers to help Velu Nachiyar. Velu Nachiyar was involved in training the soldiers with these war materials. During this period the Nawab captured and ruled Sivaganga with the help of the British.
The war
After training well Velu Nachiyar divided his army into three parts and decided to attack three places simultaneously Tirupati, Sivagangai, and Kalaiyaru. During the Navratri celebrations at Sivagangai, Velu Nachiyar and his female soldiers hid their weapons in their clothes and entered the fort with the people, and then defeated the British. Then they captured the fort and hoisted the flag of Sivaganga there. Then in 1780 they went with a large army and fought against the British and captured the Kalaiyar temple.
She fulfilled her vow by killing the Nawab and her husband, Joseph Smith, who had killed her husband in the battle. Velu Nachiyar ascended the throne as the queen of Sivaganga at the age of 50.
End of Legend
Velu Nachiyar, the ruler of Sivaganga, who was ruling well, was struck by the death of his only daughter Vellachi. This caused heart disease for the very depressed Velu Nachiyar. The death of his granddaughter following his daughter caused much distress to Velu Nachiyar. Queen Velu Nachiyar passed away on December 25, 1796. Even though Velu Nachiyar passed away, her heroism is still admired all over the world.
- Velu Nachiyar birthday 1730.
- Velu Nachiyar died on 25 December 1796.
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