South Indian Rebellion (1799 – 1801 A.D.)

When:

• February to November 1801

Who:

• Marudu Pandiar, Oomathurai, Sevathaiah,
• Colin Macaulay, Col. Agnew, Colonel Innes

Where:

• Tamil Nadu, specifically Sivagangai, Panchalamkurichi, Tiruchi, Srirangam, Piranmalai, Kalayarkoil, Tirupathur, Ramanathapuram District

Innovations:

• Tiruchirappalli Proclamation (1801) calling for Indian unity against the British by Marudu Pandyas
• Formation of onfederacy consisting of Marudu Pandiar of Sivaganga, Gopala Nayak of Dindigul, Kerala Varma of Malabar and Krishnappa Nayak and Dhoondaji of Mysore.  The English declared war against the confederacy. 

Why British were able to succeed:

• Superior military strength and skilled commanders
• British reinforcements from Bengal, Ceylon, and Malaya
• Support from local rajas like those of Pudukkottai, Ettayapuram, and Thanjavur
• Divide and rule policy weakening the unity of the Palayakkarars

End treaty and provisions:

• Karnataka Treaty (31 July 1801)
• British assumed direct control over Tamil Nadu
• Abolition of the Palayakkarar system

Detailed Readings

In February 1801, the brothers of Kattabomman, Oomathurai, and Sevathaiah escaped from Palayamkottai prison and reached Kamudhi. Chinna Marudu took them to Siruvayal, his capital, where they reconstructed their ancestral fort at Panchalamkurichi. In April, British troops under Colin Macaulay retook the fort, forcing the Palayakkarar brothers to seek shelter in Sivaganga. When the English demanded that Marudu Pandya hand over the fugitives, he refused, leading Col. Agnew and Colonel Innes to march against them.

The Palayakkarar War assumed a much broader character than its predecessor, being directed by a confederacy consisting of Marudu Pandiar of Sivaganga, Gopala Nayak of Dindigul, Kerala Varma of Malabar, and Krishnappa Nayak and Dhoondaji of Mysore. In response, the English declared war against the confederacy.

The Tiruchirappalli Proclamation (1801) issued by the Marudu Pandyas was a proclamation of independence called the Tiruchirappalli Proclamation in June 1801. It was the first call to the Indians to unite against the British. A copy of the proclamation was pasted on the walls of the Nawab’s palace in the fort of Tiruchi, and another copy was placed on the walls of the Vaishnava temple at Srirangam. The Marudu brothers spread the spirit of opposition against the English everywhere. As a result, many Palayakkarars of Tamil Nadu rallied to fight against the English. Chinna Marudu collected nearly 20,000 men to challenge the English army. British reinforcements were rushed from Bengal, Ceylon, and Malaya (Malaysia). The rajas of Pudukkottai, Ettayapuram, and Thanjavur stood by the British. The divide and rule policy followed by the English split the forces of the Palayakkarars.

In May 1801, the English launched attacks against the rebels in Thanjavur and Tiruchi areas. The rebels retreated to Piranmalai and Kalayarkoil but were ultimately defeated by the superior forces of the British army and their skilled commanders. The rebellion culminated in failure, leading to the English annexation of Sivagangai in 1801. Subsequently, the Marudu brothers were executed in the Fort of Tirupathur in Ramanathapuram District on 24 October 1801. Oomathurai and Sevathaiah were captured and beheaded at Panchalamkuruchi on 16 November 1801. Seventy-three rebels were sentenced to Penang in Malaya, then known as the Prince of Wales Island. Despite their defeat, these rebels played a crucial role in sowing the seeds of nationalism in Tamil Nadu. The South Indian Rebellion thus stands as a landmark in the region's history. The 1800-1801 rebellion is classified in British records as the Second Palayakkarar War. Under the terms of the Karnataka Treaty on 31 July 1801, the British assumed direct control over Tamil Nadu, leading to the abolition of the Palayakkarar system.