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| {{Short description|Character in Indian fiction}} | |||
| {{POV|Neutrality|date=August 2009}} | |||
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| '''Maaveran''' Dheeran Chinnamalai ({{lang-ta|மாவீரன் தீரன் சின்னமலை}} born as Theerthagiri ] on April 17, 1756) was a<!-- DO NOT ADD NON-NEUTRAL WORDING SUCH AS "LEGENDARY" OR "FREEDOM FIGHTER" – see talk page for discussion --> ] chieftain and ] from ] who rose up in revolt against the ] in the ], Southern India. He was born in Melapalayam, near ] in the ] state of ]. | |||
| {{Infobox royalty | |||
| | Story character name = Dheeran Chinnamalai | |||
| | title = | |||
| | image = Dheeran Chinnamalai1.jpg | |||
| | caption = Statue of Dheeran Chinnamalai at Odanilai | |||
| | birth_name = Theerthagiri Sarkarai Uthama Kaminda Manradiar | |||
| | predecessor = | |||
| | successor = ] | |||
| | father = Rathnasamy/ | |||
| Karuppasami Chakkili (acc. to some sources) | |||
| | mother = Periyatha | |||
| | birth_date = {{birth date|1756|04|17|df=yes}} | |||
| | birth_place = Kangeyam (present day ]) | |||
| | death_date = {{death date and age|1805|07|31|1756|04|17|df=yes}} | |||
| | death_place = ], ] (present day ], ]) | |||
| | date of burial = 03 August 1805 | |||
| | place of burial = Odanilai, ] (present day ], Tamil Nadu) | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Dheeran Chinnamalai''' (17 April 1756 – 3 August 1805) is the protagonist of the "Dheeran Chinnamalai Udukkai Kadhaigal" and Kongu Mandala Sadhagam stories written by Kaarmega Konar, he is depicted as a ] who ruled the Odanilai region of the present day western ]. In the Udukkai Kadhai story he fights against the ], and is later captured and hanged by the British. | |||
| ==Early life== | |||
| He was one of the main leaders in the ] and commanded a vast army made up of ] youths, notably during the ] that took place in 1801-1802. A thousand-strong Kongu army under him took ] training in ] alongside Tipu's Mysore forces to fight against the British East India company. They helped ] in his war against the British and were instrumental in victories at Chitheswaram, Mazahavalli and ]. After Tipu's death, Chinnamalai settled down at Odanilai in ] and constructed a fort there and defeated the British in battles at ] in 1801, Odanilai in 1802 and ] in 1804. Later, Chinnamalai left his fort to avoid ] attack and engaged in ] while he was stationed at Karumalai in the ] region. He was betrayed by his cook and was captured by the British who hanged him at ] on ] day. | |||
| In the Udukkai story popular in the Kongu region, Dheeran Chinnamalai is first born as Theerthagiri Sarkarai Manradiar on 17 April 1756 near present-day ], ] in a ] clan.But some versions of the Udukkai story cite that he was the illegitimate son of an ] cobbler and a ] woman named Periyatha.<ref name="History">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/10/stories/2007071051470300.htm|title=Dheeran Chinnamalai statue to be installed in Odanilai soon|date=10 July 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201093126/http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/10/stories/2007071051470300.htm|archive-date=1 December 2007|url-status=dead|work=]|df=dmy-all}}</ref> | |||
| == |
==Reign== | ||
| In the Udukkai story Chinnamalai then fights against the ] who was collecting taxes in the ].<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 April 2016|title=Celebrating Dheeran Chinnamalai: Saluting his ideals or inciting casteist passions?|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/celebrating-dheeran-chinnamalai-saluting-his-ideals-or-inciting-casteist-passions-41796|access-date=27 June 2021|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref> He later allies himself with ] to fight against the ]. After initial successes in repelling the British at ], he goes back to Odanilai and builds a fortress.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/dheeran-chinnamalai-remembered/article28809609.ece|title=Dheeran Chinnamalai remembered|newspaper=]|date=3 August 2019|access-date=7 September 2023}}</ref> After the deaths of ] and ], Chinnamalai becomes one of the commanders in the ] in 1801 in the story. He then engages in ] and wins battles at ] in 1801, Odanilai in 1802 and ] in 1804.<ref name="History"/> Later, his army gets defeated in 1805 and he escapes from the British forces.In the story, Dheeran Chinnamalai is also revealed to have had a brief illicit romantic relationship with the wife of Jackson Durai, the erstwhile collector of ] district.<ref name="Life"/> | |||
| {{Unreferenced section|date=August 2009}} | |||
| Maveeran Dheeran Chinnamalai comes from the Royal House of Palayakottai Pattakarar family of ]. Dheeran was born into the "Payiran kootam". The Palayakottai Pattakarar family had the title of Mandradiar and controlled large tracts of land from their royal palace at Palayakottai. Dheeran Chinnmalai's grandfather "Kotravel Sarkarai Mandradiar" was issueless. He adopted two sons; the first son, Senapathy, was groomed by his first wife and the second, named Rathnaswamy, was groomed by the second wife. Both the adopted sons were educated at the palace as it was the custom those days for the people of Royal families. In course of time, the brothers got married. As per the tradition, the first son Senapathi took the titles of "Mandradiar" in the year 1731 and continued to control the lands from Palayakottai. The second son Rathnaswamy moved to nearby village named Melapalayam and took care of the farming of the lands that belonged to the Palayakottai Pattakkarar family. | |||
| ==Death of the character== | |||
| Rathanaswamy and his wife Periyathal had six children in all – five sons and one daughter. The first son was Kulandaiswamy, the second was Theerthagiri, the third was Thambi, fourth was Kirlother and the fifth was Kuttiswamy. Their only daughter was named Parvatham. Theerthagiri ] who later became Maveeran Dheeran Chinnamalai was born in the English month of April, 1756. | |||
| At the climax of the Udukkai story Chinnamalai is revealed to be hanged at ] by the British on 2 August 1805 along with his two brothers. Some versions of the story note the date of his death as July 31.<ref name="Life">{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Chinnamalai-a-lesser-known-freedom-fighter-of-Kongu-soil/article15270841.ece|title=Chinnamalai, a lesser-known freedom fighter of Kongu soil|work=]|date=2 August 2008|access-date=7 September 2008}}</ref> | |||
| {{multiple image | |||
| The eldest son Kulandaiswamy and the last son Kuttiswamy mainly attended to farming and took care of the vast tracts of lands of the family. However, the three brothers Theerthagiri, Kilothar and Thambi soon devoted their attention to the administration and safety of the villages they ruled. They always rode on their horses throughout their jurisdiction and dispensed impartial and fair justice to all as ] and ] was the duty of ]s.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} They learnt the native martial arts of ], ] and others from a very young age. They formed Kongu youth organizations for the betterment and welfare of ] region and its people. They also trained the Kongu youth in their native martial arts. They protected their areas from robbers, thieves and other evil doers. They conducted Village Panchayats which were the popular and speedy form of judicial systems in those days to resolve disputes arising out of land and civic nature between individuals and families. | |||
| | header = | |||
| | direction = horizontal | |||
| | image1 = Dheeran Chinnamalai memorial.jpg | |||
| | width1 = 75 | |||
| | caption1 = Dheeran Chinnamalai memorial at Sankagiri | |||
| | image2 = Dheeran Chinnamalai 2005 stamp of India.jpg | |||
| | width2 = 75 | |||
| | caption2 = Postage stamp released by ] | |||
| }} | |||
| ==Legacy== | |||
| In course of time, they got their sister Parvatham married to Ulagapuram Muthi Thirumalai ]. As they were rich, they conducted the marriage lavishly and made their sister happy by giving generous marriage presents in the form of jewellery, ornaments and vessels. | |||
| Despite the fact that Dheeran Chinnamalai was merely an imaginary character and the protagonist of Kongu Mandala Udukkai Kadhaigal - he is considered as a god by the ] caste and is worshipped by them. No evidence of Dheeran Chinnamalai exists in contemporary British records, yet he was glorified by the ] and made into a hero on the likes of ] and ] for the sake of political mileage. | |||
| Statues and memorials commemorating Chinnamalai exist in ], ], ] and ].<ref name="History"/><ref name="Times">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Memorial-of-Dheeran-Chinnamalai-set-for-a-facelift/articleshow/19607361.cms|title=Memorial of Dheeran Chinnamalai set for face lift|date=18 April 2013|work=The Times of India}}</ref> | |||
| == Dispute with Hyder Ali == | |||
| {{Unreferenced section|date=August 2009}} | |||
| When Mysore came under a ] king ], he soon started casting his spell on ] too. Hyder Ali started taxing and troubling the ] people. A Diwan of Hyder Ali, named Mohammed Ali, and a tax collector were troubling the farmers in the collection of the taxes in the Kongu area. They humiliated the farmers by confiscating their land – their only means of livelihood – away from them. Hearing the atrocity committed by the Mysore King's Diwan, Theerthagiri and his two brothers mounted on their horses to stop them and save the farmers from humiliation and get them back their lost rights. As they were searching for the Diwan, the Diwan and his party were returning to their tents with taxes. Theerthagiri met them on a road between Sivan Malai and Chenni Malai. They recovered all the taxes from the Diwan and asked him to go and report to the Mysore King that a "Chinnamalai" between Sivan Malai and Chenni Malai took what rightfully belonged to Kongu. Diwan became envious and said that Theerthagiri would face severe consequences for this action. When Diwan replied him that Kongunadu is under Hyder Ali, Theerthagiri told the Diwan that ]s know how to rule themselves and that they do not need a Mysore King and asked the Diwan to tell Hyder Ali to better look after Mysore. He distributed the land and taxes back to the farmers. The story of this encounter with Mysore King's Diwan spread like wild fire and soon people named him as "Chinnamalai" for his show of bravery. | |||
| On 31 July 2005, a commemorative postage stamp was released by ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://postagestamps.gov.in/Stamps2005.aspx|title=Postage Stamps|publisher=]|access-date=12 September 2015}}</ref> | |||
| Mysore Diwan wanted to take revenge against Chinnamalai for standing up to the Mysore King for Kongu's rights. The Diwan sent a contingent of soldiers from ]. Theerthagiri and his soldiers met them on their way to ] at the ] and defeated them. This was the first battlefield experience for Chinnamalai and his young troop. Knowing that he has to meet Mysore King in the battle sooner or later, Chinnamalai collected an army of soldiers from all the Kongu villages. He gave the young Kongu soldiers training in warfare. Soon Chinnamalai and his young army's daring exploits earned the love and respect of the people in the Kongu region.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} | |||
| Until 1997, ] division of ] was known as Dheeran Chinnamalai Transport Corporation.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8As_ndJ17jcC&pg=PA143|title=State Transport undertakings|author=P. Jegadish Gandhi|publisher=Deep and Deep|year=1998|isbn=978-8-1762-9084-5|page=143}}</ref> | |||
| ==Tippu Sultan joining forces with Dheeran Chinnamalai== | |||
| The headquarters of ] collectorate and the ] are named after him.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/In-memory-of-a-valiant-Kongu-Chieftain/articleshow/12540624.cms|title=In memory of a valiant Kongu Chieftain|date=5 April 2012|work=]|access-date=7 September 2023}}</ref> | |||
| The palatial residence of Palayakottai Mandradiar in ] is popularly known as "அரண்மனை" (Aranmanai - Royal Palace) became a guest house for the all ] freedom and national activities. The ]s are known for their friendliness and hospitality,{{By whom|date=August 2009}} the eldest brother Kulandaiswamy and his wife Kempayammal lived up to their reputation and took good care of the all the guests who visited them by providing food and shelter. | |||
| Hyder Ali died on 12 July 1782 and his son Tippu Sultan became the Mysore King. After Tippu became Mysore King, hostilities broke out between British and Tippu Sultan, as Tippu claimed sovereignty to his kingdom and refused to pay taxes to the British. Tippu Sultan wanted to raise a big army of soldiers to fight the British and invited the Kongus to join him to fight against the British who were left unchecked and unchallenged by the petty Kings who ruled India at that time and the allies of the ]. Chinnamalai, and his brothers Kilother, Thambi decided to join with Tippu Sultan keeping in mind the larger national interest. They also took with them their loyal friend Karuppan and Velappan. Chinnamalai was made chief of Kongu Regiment. About thousand young Kongus joined the Kongu Regiment. They were given military training by French in modern warfare who were ready to help anyone in their global hegemony with the British. The war between Mysore King and the British are known as Mysore Wars. The fourth and crucial battle between Tippu took place in the year 1799. Chinnamalai's soldiers battled against the British at Malavalli front and caused severe damage to the British and their large number of allied forces. The Srirangapatnam war front was led by Tippu himself. In the battle that took place, Tippu was killed on 5 April 1799. | |||
| ==Battles against the British== | |||
| After death of Tippu Sultan, Chinnamalai led all his soldiers through ] into Kongunadu. However, their loyal friend Velappan was captured by the British and remained in their custody. Velappan promised the British that he would act as their agent. Believing his words, they gave him a position in their army. However, Velappan remained loyal to Chinnamalai and sent notes concerning British activities and helped Chinnamalai in many ways. | |||
| After his return from the Mysore War to Kongu, Chinnamalai built a palace in a village called Odanilai. He advocated to all Kongus and the neighboring Palayakarars that they should all unite together and fight the British. At that time, Salem and Malabar areas were under the control of British. But, British could not control the Kongunadu due to opposition by Chinnamalai and his alliance. If the British wanted to travel to Malabar from Salem, they had to take a circuitous route through Mysore. Kongu soldiers were guarding Kongunadu and were preventing the entry of British through Kaveri River. The British wanted to take over the control of Kongunadu without a fight. They sent a messenger to inform Chinnamalai to accept the British Control of Kongunadu and pay the taxes. Chinnamalai refused the offer and challenged the British for the sovereignty of Kongunadu. | |||
| Although Velappan was serving the British, he informed Chinnamalai and warned him in advance of the British activities through some secret messengers. Chinnamalai knew that British would enter Kongunadu in course of time. He made preparations to the eventual fight with the British. During this time he built an ordinance factory at Odanilai to make war preparations to face the British. | |||
| During this time, Theeran Chinnamalai was generous to poets and learned men under his rule.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} He made ] the poet of his kingdom. He also rewarded poet Punthurai Ambikapathi with large sums of gold coins and honored him in his kingdom. He punished the infiltrators sent out by the British into his Kingdom and made his kingdom safer for its subjects. In all, people lived a peaceful and happy life under his rule.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} | |||
| The British were very much annoyed that Theeran Chinnamalai was still being an independent King and soverign monarch in Southern India when most of the petty Indian kings who ruled at that time have sided with the British but him able to run his kingdom independently without yielding and subjugating to the British East India company's demands. The British decided to eliminate him and take the land by force. Initially, they sent out a troop of soldiers under the leadership of Colonel Makiskan to arrest Chinnamalai. Velappan who was in serving the British informed Chinnamalai of the British plan through his informers. As Chinnamalai was forewarned, he met Makiskan and his soldiers on the banks of Noyyal River and defeated them in the battle thoroughly. Makiskan was beheaded in the battle and it is said that this head was paraded in the villages of Kongu.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} | |||
| Hearing what had happened to Makiskan, the British sent a cavalry unit under Captain Harris to capture Chinnamalai. When Harris was approaching Arachalur, he heard the Puja sounds from the Arachalur Amman Temple. Thinking that Chinnmalai might be in the temple, Captain Harris entered the temple in search of Chnnamalai. As he could nor find him, he was greatly disappointed and proceeded to Odanilai where Chinnamalai's palace is located. | |||
| A sentry at the top of the palace noticed the movement of the troop led by Harris and immediately informed Chinnamalai what he saw. Chinnamalai planned to attack them alone with a hand grenade first. He advised his soldiers to attack them after he had a chance to throw the grenade at them. Chinnamalai mounted a horse and sped towards Harris and his troop. As Harris was still wondering why a single person was approaching him, Chinnamalai swiftly threw his grenade at his horse's side. The horse became bewildered and started running away from the bomb and the smoke. Harris lost control of his horse and pandemonium ensued. Meanwhile Chnnamalai's troop joined him. Harris and his troop had to withdraw . Chinnamalai and his troop drove all the way to Kaveri River in the north. This battle took place in the year 1802. | |||
| Hearing what has happened to Harris, the British decided to send in a troop carrying Cannons. As soon as Velappan knew of the British plan, he sent a word through the informers about the impending British attack on Odanilai. Chinnamalai used to wear a new pair of shoes every day. The informer wrote the news in a chit and left it in his shoes. When Chinnamalai was about the wear the shoes, he found the note from Velappan. After reading the note, he left in there by mistake which cost him dear later. | |||
| Chinnamalai consulted with his brothers for a plan of action. They decided to leave Karuppan in Melapalayam in a hiding. Chinnamalai and two of his brothers and the cook Nallappan decided to hide in the Karumalai area that is adjacent to well known Palani Malai. Karumalai area was full of thick forests and provided cover for the brothers to cover from the British attack. | |||
| The British came to Odanilai with their cannons and found that all had vacated the palace. When they were searching the palace area they found the note sent out by Velappan. The moment British came to know that Velappan was still being loyal only to his master Chinnamalai they shot him dead. They demolished the entire palace with cannon shots. They decided to search and eliminate Chinnamalai and his brothers. | |||
| Meanwhile, Chinnamalai and his brothers stayed during the day time in the Karumalai area and returned in the night to a house at the foot of the hills for dinner and little nap. They ate the food prepared by the cook Nallappan. They always carried guns for in the event of ever present danger. | |||
| Cook Nallapan was an informer and traitor.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} He was tempted to accept company's bribe and inform Chinnamalai and his brothers whereabouts. He secretly informed a British agent about Chinnamalai and his brothers and their daily routine of eating food in the house at the foot of the hills. The British dug an underground trench leading to the house and waited for Chinnamalai and his brothers. | |||
| As usual when the brothers were entering the house he served them food. That day, he cunningly asked the brothers to leave their guns on the floor, as there was no danger when they were eating food. The brothers believed his words and left their guns on the floor, as they did not know about his plans nor about who was acting behind the scenes. | |||
| When they were about to eat, Nallapan opened the secret door leading to the underground trench and allowed the British soldiers inside the kitchen. The British soldiers surrounded Chinnamalai and his brothers. With all the fury, Chinnamalai hit the traitor and killed him on the spot. | |||
| The British arrested Chinnamalai and his brothers and kept them in Sankagiri prison. A four person tribunal consisting of Genaman, Marvul, Horse and Backy Hart was formed. Their loyal servant Karuppan who was in hiding at Melapalayam also surrendered to the British. That tribunal asked Chinnamalai to accept the British rule over his Kingdom and pay taxes to the British. They also offered him amnesty if he tendered an apology. Chinnamalai refused the British offer and informed his decision to face the consequences. | |||
| Preparations were made to hang them by rope tied to a Tamarind tree located at the top of the Sankagiri fort. Chinnamalai, his two brothers and Karuppan were brought to the tree on the day of the hanging. They asked the surrounding soldiers to move away from them. Then each one tied the rope around his neck and jumped down. The British saw to that that Chinnamalai name did not become household name by banning books or any literature on Chinnamalai for a long period of time fearing their reputation among the people.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} Theeran Chinnamalai and his brothers was hanged on 31 July 1805. | |||
| The story of Theeran Chinnamalai and his brothers historical battles with the British and the eventual sacrifice would have been completely consigned to oblivion but for the heritage of oral story telling that existed in our culture. The singular credit goes to Puzhavar Kulanthai who heard this story from his grand father during early 1900s. However, during the British rule it was not possible to write about the freedom fighters as the those literature was banned.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} Puzhavar Kulandai could write about Chinnamalai only after independence from the colonial British rule. However, by the time he was about to write, he could not recollect everything his grand father told him. However he was able to create the first account of the story of Theeran Chinnamalai and in course of time not just the Kongus but also people of India understood Theeran Chinnamalai's role in their independence from the British. | |||
| ==Remembering Theeran Chinnamalai== | |||
| The Tamil Nadu government earlier named a Transport corporation in the honour of Dheeran Chinnamalai. A "Mani Mandapam" (memorial) for Dheeran Chinnamalai was constructed in ], ] by the Tamilnadu government at a cost of about 30 lakhs. Tamil Nadu government recently placed a statue of Dheeran Chinnamalai in Chennai city.<ref name="Hindu"> on Hindu newspaper </ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] ] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| Theeran Chinnamalai Gounder by Pulavar S. Rasu, Samba Publications, 152 Peters Road, Chennai, India 600 086, 1996. | |||
| {{Commons}} | |||
| Kongu Nattu Lion - Singham Theeran Chinnamalai by Kavignar Magudam Manickam, Sakunthla Publications, Rangoli Graphics, 329 E.V.N.Road, Erode, TH, India 638 009, year 2001. | |||
| {{Authority control}} | |||
| http://kongu-usa.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=74 | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Chinnamalai, Dheeran}} | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
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Latest revision as of 19:22, 7 January 2025
Character in Indian fiction
 | This article describes a work or element of fiction in a primarily in-universe style. Please help rewrite it to explain the fiction more clearly and provide non-fictional perspective. (January 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Dheeran Chinnamalai | |
|---|---|
 Statue of Dheeran Chinnamalai at Odanilai | |
| Successor | British Rule |
| Born | Theerthagiri Sarkarai Uthama Kaminda Manradiar (1756-04-17)17 April 1756 Kangeyam (present day Tamil Nadu) |
| Died | 31 July 1805(1805-07-31) (aged 49) Sankagiri, Madras Presidency (present day Salem district, Tamil Nadu) |
| Burial | 03 August 1805 Odanilai, Madras Presidency (present day Erode district, Tamil Nadu) |
| Father | Rathnasamy/ Karuppasami Chakkili (acc. to some sources) |
| Mother | Periyatha |
Dheeran Chinnamalai (17 April 1756 – 3 August 1805) is the protagonist of the "Dheeran Chinnamalai Udukkai Kadhaigal" and Kongu Mandala Sadhagam stories written by Kaarmega Konar, he is depicted as a Poligar who ruled the Odanilai region of the present day western Tamil Nadu. In the Udukkai Kadhai story he fights against the British East India Company, and is later captured and hanged by the British.
Early life
In the Udukkai story popular in the Kongu region, Dheeran Chinnamalai is first born as Theerthagiri Sarkarai Manradiar on 17 April 1756 near present-day Kangeyam, Tiruppur district in a Kongu Vellalar clan.But some versions of the Udukkai story cite that he was the illegitimate son of an Arunthathiyar cobbler and a Kongu Vellalar woman named Periyatha.
Reign
In the Udukkai story Chinnamalai then fights against the Kingdom of Mysore who was collecting taxes in the Kongu region. He later allies himself with Tipu Sultan to fight against the British East India Company. After initial successes in repelling the British at Srirangapatna, he goes back to Odanilai and builds a fortress. After the deaths of Kattabomman and Tipu Sultan, Chinnamalai becomes one of the commanders in the Second Polygar War in 1801 in the story. He then engages in guerrilla warfare and wins battles at Cauvery in 1801, Odanilai in 1802 and Arachalur in 1804. Later, his army gets defeated in 1805 and he escapes from the British forces.In the story, Dheeran Chinnamalai is also revealed to have had a brief illicit romantic relationship with the wife of Jackson Durai, the erstwhile collector of Tinnevelly district.
Death of the character
At the climax of the Udukkai story Chinnamalai is revealed to be hanged at Sankagiri Fort by the British on 2 August 1805 along with his two brothers. Some versions of the story note the date of his death as July 31.
Dheeran Chinnamalai memorial at Sankagiri
Postage stamp released by India Post
Legacy
Despite the fact that Dheeran Chinnamalai was merely an imaginary character and the protagonist of Kongu Mandala Udukkai Kadhaigal - he is considered as a god by the Kongu Vellalar caste and is worshipped by them. No evidence of Dheeran Chinnamalai exists in contemporary British records, yet he was glorified by the Kongu Vellalars and made into a hero on the likes of Batman and Spider-Man for the sake of political mileage.
Statues and memorials commemorating Chinnamalai exist in Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Erode and Odanilai.
On 31 July 2005, a commemorative postage stamp was released by India Post.
Until 1997, Tiruchirapalli division of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation was known as Dheeran Chinnamalai Transport Corporation.
The headquarters of Erode district collectorate and the Erode Municipal Corporation are named after him.
References
- ^ "Dheeran Chinnamalai statue to be installed in Odanilai soon". The Hindu. 10 July 2007. Archived from the original on 1 December 2007.
- "Celebrating Dheeran Chinnamalai: Saluting his ideals or inciting casteist passions?". The News Minute. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- "Dheeran Chinnamalai remembered". The Hindu. 3 August 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Chinnamalai, a lesser-known freedom fighter of Kongu soil". The Hindu. 2 August 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
- "Memorial of Dheeran Chinnamalai set for face lift". The Times of India. 18 April 2013.
- "Postage Stamps". India Post. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- P. Jegadish Gandhi (1998). State Transport undertakings. Deep and Deep. p. 143. ISBN 978-8-1762-9084-5.
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