Velu Nachiar: The queen who first defeated the British with the help of Hyder Ali

 

Velu Nachiar: The queen who first defeated the British with the help of Hyder Ali

Velu Nachiar met Hyder Ali in Dindigul in the 18th century.

Famous for talas and biryani, Dindigul, a city in the present-day Indian state of Tamil Nadu, was then part of the southern Indian state of Mysore.

Hyder Ali was the ruler of a state bounded by the Krishna River in the north, the Eastern Ghats in the east, and the Arabian Sea in the west, most of which is now in Tamil Nadu and Kerala's neighboring state of Karnataka.

Velu Nachiyar, having lost her husband Muthuvadugunatha Periyavadaya Thevar and their kingdom of Sivagangai to the East India Company in 1773, sought refuge and support with her younger daughter Velachi.

The meeting between Hyder Ali and Velu was the beginning of an era of mutual respect that was continued by Tipu Sultan in the next generation.

Velu got help from Hyder Ali and won an honor that will be remembered forever. What was this honor, leaving this question here, why not first find out in some detail who Velu Nachiar was and what happened to her?

A journey from worthy princess to queen

Velu's parents were rulers of the Ramanda kingdom (now in Tamil Nadu).

After his birth in 1730, he trained his only child in horsemanship, archery, and martial arts such as Valeri (scythe throwing) and lumbar (stick fighting).

She was fluent in many languages including English, French, and Urdu. At the age of 16, Velu was married to a prince of Sivagangai.

This couple ruled Sivagangai for more than two decades from 1750 to 1772.

Killing the husband and seeking shelter and help

The year 1772 was the year when the Nawab of Arcot along with the British attacked Sivagangai and killed Velu Nachiar's husband in the 'Kalyar Koil War'.

Rani Velu and her daughter were in a nearby temple at the time of the attack and survived. The loyal Murthado brothers who had fought with Thevar reached there and took him away. Velu could not even find her husband's body.

Eighteenth- and nineteenth-century military historian Shabindraji writes that to ensure Rani's safe return, her loyal bodyguard Adyal and other women warriors were left behind at Kolingadi.

Nawab's men captured them. Despite torture, Adyal was beheaded if he did not reveal the whereabouts of the queen.

Wandering helplessly through the jungles and from village to village, Rani Velu realized that she needed allies and help to retake Sivagangai from the British.

The Murthado brothers had begun to build an army of loyalists but it was insufficient to compete with the British.

Hyder Ali, the Sultan of Mysore, was not on good terms with the British nor with the Nawab of Arcot. That is why Rani Velu decided to seek their help and made a dangerous journey to Mysore.

Velu Nachiar met Hyder Ali at Dindigul, about a hundred kilometers from Sivagangai.

Velu Nachiar spoke to Hyder Ali in Urdu and impressed him with his courage and perseverance.

He invited Velu to stay in Dindigul Fort where he was treated like a queen. Hyder Ali also built a temple for Velu within his palace as a symbol of friendship.

Victory over the British

According to historian R. Manikandan, 'Villu Nachiar's alliance with Hyder Ali was born out of mutual necessity. Velu needed military support to regain his kingdom, while Hyder Ali saw it as an opportunity to challenge British colonial power in the region.

Hyder Ali pledged to be an ally against the British in the Battle of Velukhi. He also provided Valu with 400 pounds per month and arms as well as 5,000 infantry and cavalry under Syed Kurki.

Shabindraji writes: With this army, Ranivellu began to conquer various regions of Sivagangai. In 1781 she even reached the Thiruchirappalli fort which was occupied by the British.

Because of Hyder Ali, reinforcements could not reach the British, but Rani Velu did not have the equipment to enter the fort.

To commemorate Udyal's sacrifice, Rani Velu formed a women's army in her name. The commander-in-chief of the same army came up with a plan to open the gates of the fort.

The festival of Vijaya Dashmi is just a few days away. All the women from nearby villages will go to the temple. We can blend in with them. I will lead a small group of girls from my ideal army and sneak into the fort with hidden weapons. We will open the doors for you from within, my queen'.

A smile spread across Rani Velu's face.

'You always find a way, Coeli. You have always exalted the name of Udayal.'

When the day of Vijaya Dashmi arrived, the women from the surrounding villages, along with Kovili and their companions, entered and gathered in the central temple.

The rituals began and at the appointed time, the cowherd called out: Get up my sister!

The Udayal women immediately got up and drew their swords and advanced towards the gate, overcoming the English soldiers on guard.

Kweli pointed to the ammunition depot just behind the temple. At the same time, he picked up a pot full of ghee for the puja and poured the ghee on himself.

Picking up the torch placed at the door, she set herself on fire and pushed past the soldiers to enter the ammunition depot.

Suddenly, a loud explosion was heard from the fort. Within minutes, the gates of the fort opened and two UdayalsThe women rode on horseback to where Rani Velu's army was hiding.

'Rani! The doors are open. A British ammunition depot is blown up. This is the right time to strike,' a woman told Velo.

Good, my daughter! Where's the coal?'

Udayal women lowered their eyes.

'Our commander sacrificed himself to destroy the British ammunition.'

Hearing this news, Rani Velu sat down on her horse. But then Syed Karki told them: 'We cannot let their sacrifice go in vain. Now is the time to attack. We are waiting for your order.

Rani Velu recovered his courage and ordered an attack. Inside the fort, the British forces led by Colonel William Fullerton were running low on supplies and ammunition.

Author Suresh Kumar writes that in August 1781, the combined forces of Velu Nachiar and Hyder Ali finally breached the fort's defenses and captured it.

Thus, 77 years before the War of Independence, Velu Nachiar became India's first queen to win a war against the British colonial power.

He ruled Sivagangai for the next 10 years before handing over the kingdom to his daughter Velachi.

Historian R Manikandan says that Velu Nachiyar was an able military leader who was adept at exploiting the weaknesses of her enemies. His alliance with Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan to challenge British colonial power in the region is an example of his strategy.

Despite her reputation as a fierce warrior, Velu Nachiar had compassion for her subjects. According to historian V. Padmavati: 'She was a just and compassionate ruler who loved her people.'

An example of his compassion is seen in his decision to give shelter to Dalits who were persecuted by the ruling caste.

According to R Manikandan: 'She was a natural leader.'

After the war

After the conquest, Velu Nachiyar ruled for a decade. Hard-time associates were given administrative positions in the kingdom. Velu Nachiar built a mosque at Sargani to thank Hyder Ali for his immense and timely help.

JH Rice has written in The Mysore State Gazetteer that in the Second Mysore War against the British, Velu Nachiar supported Hyder Ali and sent his army to help him.

After Hyder Ali's death, Velu also maintained friendly relations with his son Tipu Sultan and loved him like a brother. Velona also sent Tipu Sultan a tiger as a gift.

Muhibul Hasan in his book on Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan writes that Tipu Sultan also provided Velu Nachiar with arms and ammunition to strengthen his army.

Tipu Sultan also sent Velu Nachiar a sword that he used in many of his battles.

Velu Nachiar's daughter Velachi ruled from 1790 to 1793. Velu Nachiyar died in 1796 in Sivagangai.

Hamsadhavani Algarasamy writes that Velu is known as 'Viramangai' (brave woman) in Tamil civilization.

In 2008, a postage stamp was issued in his memory in India. Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu late Jayalalithaa inaugurated the 'Veeramangai Velu Nachiyar Memorial' in Sivagangai in 2014. A six feet bronze statue of Rani was also installed.

It was during Jayalalitha's reign that the construction of a mini-mandapam (monument) in recognition of the bravery of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan was initiated.

The monument has been a tourist attraction in Dindigul for the past five years. The same Dindigul where Hyder Ali and Velu Nachiar began their long alliance.