Oomathurai (real name Kumarasamy Naiyakar), was an Indian
Poligar
Palaiyakkarars, or Poligar, (as the British referred to them) in Tamil Nadu refers to the holder of a small kingdom as a feudatory to a greater sovereign. Under this system, ''palayam'' was given for valuable military services rendered by any in ...
(Palaiyakkarar) from
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...
, who fought against the
British East India Company
The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and South ...
in the
Polygar Wars. He was the younger brother of
Veerapandiya Kattabomman
Veerapandiya Kattabomman was an 18th-century Tamil Palayakarrar and king of Panchalankurichi in Tamil Nadu, India. He refused to accept the sovereignty of the British East India Company and waged a war against them. He was captured by the Briti ...
.
He died by hanging by the British in Tirumayam, Pudukottai Dist.
Biography
Oomathurai was born to the Poligar of
Panchalankurichi
Panchalankurichi is a village, 3 km from Ottapidaram and 21 km from Thoothukudi in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, India. Panchalankurichi was once a Palayam and is best known as the birthplace of Veerapandiya Kattabomman, an 18th ...
— Adi Kattabomman and Arumugattammal. His birth name was Kumarasamy Naiyakar. He was nicknamed as Ooomaithurai (lit. ''the dumb prince''). Different reasons are given for this nickname. While contemporary Tamil accounts say he was nicknamed as the dumb one as a parody of his oratorical ability, European accounts refer to him as "dumby" or "dumb brother" because of his speech impairment. His elder brothers were
Veerapandiya Kattabomman
Veerapandiya Kattabomman was an 18th-century Tamil Palayakarrar and king of Panchalankurichi in Tamil Nadu, India. He refused to accept the sovereignty of the British East India Company and waged a war against them. He was captured by the Briti ...
and Dalavai Kumarasami (Sivathiah). Oomaithurai was involved in the
Polygar Wars against the East India Company. In the first Poligar war, he was captured and imprisoned in
Palayamkottai Central Prison
Palayamkottai Central Prison is located in Palayamkottai Tirunelveli District, India. The prison was built during 1880 and was operating as a district jail until 1929. The jail was converted into a Borstal school in 1929, which was later transfer ...
. In February 1801, he escaped from
Palayamkottai Central Prison
Palayamkottai Central Prison is located in Palayamkottai Tirunelveli District, India. The prison was built during 1880 and was operating as a district jail until 1929. The jail was converted into a Borstal school in 1929, which was later transfer ...
and rebuilt the Panchalankurichi fort which had been razed in the first war. In the second Poligar war that followed, he allied himself with
Maruthu brothers (who ruled
Sivagangai) and was part of a grand alliance against the Company which included
Dheeran Chinnamalai
Dheeran Chinnamalai (17 April 1756 – 31 July 1805) was a Palayakkarar and Pattakarar who fought against the British East India Company.
Early life
Dheeran Chinnamalai was born on April 17, 1756 in present-day Kangeyam, to a noble family. Hi ...
and
Kerala Verma. The Company forces led by Lt. Colonel Agnew laid siege to the Panchalankurichi fort and captured it in May 1801 after a prolonged siege and artillery bombardment. Oomaithurai escaped the fall of the fort and joined Marudu brothers at their jungle fort at
Kalayar Kovil
Kalaiyar Kovil is a historic temple in Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu, India.
Location
The temple is in Sivaganga District, east of Sivagangai.
Name of temple
Kalaiyar Kovil derived its name from the Kaleeswarar temple of the place. ...
. The Company forces pursued him there and eventually captured Kalayar Kovil in October 1801. Oomaithurai along with the Marudu brothers was hanged on 16 November 1801.
References
Further reading
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Oomaithurai
1801 deaths
Indian Tamil people
Tamil history
Tamil monarchs
Indian independence movement
18th century in India
Year of birth unknown