Uthumalai Uthumalai | |
|---|---|
Village | |
  Uthumalai Location in Tamil Nadu, India  Uthumalai Uthumalai (India) | |
| Coordinates: 8°59′30″N77°31′54″E / 8.9916°N 77.5318°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Tenkasi |
| Taluk | Veerakeralampudur |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 7,737 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
Uthumalai, also known as Uttumalai, is a village in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It lies in Veerakeralampudur taluk, which itself is in Tenkasi district. [1]
The village was once governed by what anthropologist Nicholas Dirks terms "little kings", [lower-alpha 1] who were polygars from the Maravar caste. Theirs was the largest in area, although not in population, of several Maravar-governed lands in what is now Tirunelveli district. [2]
The lands formed a part of the 1803 Permanent Settlement in Madras Presidency and became recognised by the British East India Company (EIC) as a zamindari estate, with its palace at Veerakeralampudur. [3] In 1823, it comprised 123 square miles (320 km2), with a population of 14,612; [2] administratively situated in Tenkasi taluk by 1917, it was the third-largest of all the zamindaris in the district, comprising 63 villages spread over an area of 123 square miles (320 km2), with an estimated population of 51,246. [4]
The zamindari estates of the area arose in the aftermath of the Polygar Wars, when the British conferred the status on those who they deemed not to have been subversive. [5] Uthumalai had sided with them in opposition to Polygar rebels such as Veerapandiya Kattabomman. [6] The little kings were now expected to be landlords who managed local agriculture and paid an annual tribute, although even the British authorities had doubts about their transplanting of the settled property concept from its origins in Bengal Presidency to that of Madras. [5]
Despite its zamindari status, in the first half of the century the British East India Company often imposed direct rule, overarching the position of the zamindar. The family gained a period of relatively independent governance during the regency of Peryanayaki Nachiar, who acted on behalf of her underage son, Irudalaya Marudappa Taver, after the death of his father in 1850. As an adult ruler, Irudalaya married Annapurni Nachiar and Menakshi Sundra Nachiar, although only the latter initially joined him in his palace – Annapurni was around six years old at the time of her marriage and so at first lived with her relatives. Those relatives assisted Irudalaya in opposing the claims of his uncle, who lived and held a title at Chokkampatti. [lower-alpha 2] Irudalaya was succeeded as zamindar upon his death in 1891 by an adopted son, Navanithakrishna Marudappa Taver, but the Court of Wards stepped in to govern on his behalf because he, too, was a minor. When Navanithakrishna died, a few months after his father, a family squabble broke out as Annapurni and Menakshi laid claim to the estate, each arguing that they had the closer relationship to Irudalaya and Navanithakrishna. [3]
A wide range of arguments were put forward during the legal proceedings, such as a claim that Irudalayar had been too ill in his last years to formally adopt Navanithakrishna, that he had divorced Annapurni and she had forced her way into the palace, and that Menakshi could not have taken part in any adoption process – and thus could not be the adoptive mother – because her menstrual cycle made her ritually polluted. The court concentrated on the divorce and ritual arguments and ruled in favour of Menakshi, a decision that was upheld by the Privy Council on appeal. [8]
The 2011 Census of India recorded Uthumalai as having 2,168 households and a population of 7,737, comprising 3,788 males and 3,949 females. A portion of the population was categorised as members of Scheduled Castes; there were no members of Scheduled Tribes. [9]
Since 2012, the village has had a 700-kW wind turbine that feeds into the grid. [10] As of 2011 [update] , the nearest town was Surandai, over 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) distant. The village had several educational facilities at all levels from pre-school to senior secondary; facilities for higher education were some distance away, with the exception of a non-vocational training centre. There were some primary healthcare facilities in the village, but the nearest hospital was over 10 km away. It had a veterinary hospital. [11]
There was a sub-post office in the village, with a more major office less than 10 km away. Internet facilities were available, as was a bus service. The nearest railway station was over 10 km from the village and so too was the nearest market and ATM, although there were other banking facilities. [11] Sankarankovil is a nearby municipality and nearest railway station, 24KM apart from village. The village contains 3 ATMs (1 nationalised bank ATM and 2 white label ATMs) and 2 banks (Central Bank of India and Pandian Grama Bank)
The area of the village in 2011 was 3,443 hectares (8,510 acres), agriculture was the mainstay of the local economy and beedi was the main crop. [11]
Nadar is a Tamil caste of India. Nadars are predominant in the districts of Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar.
Tirunelveli, also known as Nellai and historically as Tinnevelly, is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of the Tirunelveli District. It is the fourth-largest municipal corporation in the state after Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai. Tirunelveli is located 624 km (388 mi) southwest of the state capital Chennai, 58 km (36 mi) away from Thoothukudi, and 73 km (45 mi) from Kanyakumari. The downtown is located on the west bank of the Thamirabarani River; its twin Palayamkottai is on the east bank. Palayamkottai is called the Oxford of South India as it has many schools and colleges. It has several important government offices.
The Polygar Wars or Palaiyakkarar Wars were wars fought between the Polygars (Palaiyakkarars) of the former Tirunelveli Kingdom in Tamil Nadu, India and the British East India Company forces between March 1799 to May 1802 or July 1805. The British finally won after carrying out gruelling protracted jungle campaigns against the Polygar armies. Many people died on both sides and the victory over the Polygars brought large parts of the territories of Tamil Nadu under British control, enabling them to get a strong hold in Southern India.
Ramanathapuram, also known as Ramnad, is a city and a municipality in Ramanathapuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Ramanathapuram district and the second largest town in Ramanathapuram district. Soon the Ramanathapuram Civic body to be upgraded as Municipal Corporation, after merging with nearby panchayats.
Veerapandiya Kattabomman was an 18th-century Palayakarrar and king of Panchalankurichi in Tamil Nadu, India. He fought the British East India Company and was captured by the British with the help of the ruler of the kingdom of Pudukottai, Vijaya Raghunatha Tondaiman, and at the age of 39 he was hanged at Kayathar on 16 October 1799.
Maravar are a Tamil community in the state of Tamil Nadu. These people are one of the three branches of the Mukkulathor confederacy. Members of the Maravar community often use the honorific title Thevar. They are classified as an Other Backward Class or a Denotified Tribe in Tamil Nadu, depending on the district.
Kalakad is a Municipality in Tirunelveli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Kalakad is one of the 3 Municipalities of Tirunelveli District, and is one of the fastest-growing towns in the district.
Tiruvaikuntam, also referred to as Srivaikuntam is a panchayat town in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the river Thamirabarani.
Sivagiri is a panchayat town and a tourist place in Tenkasi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Sivagiri is located at a distance of 50 km north to Tenkasi, 20 km south to Rajapalayam, 95 km north-west to Tirunelveli, 95 km south to Madurai, 540 km south to Bangalore, 150 km north to Thiruvananthapuram and 580 km south to the state capital Chennai.
Palaiyakkarars, or Poligar, Palegara in Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were the holders of a small kingdom as a feudatory to a greater sovereign. Under this system, palayam was given for valuable military services rendered by any individual. The word pālayam means domain, a military camp, or a small kingdom. This type of Palayakkarars system was in practice during the rule of Pratapa Rudhra of Warangal in the Kakatiya kingdom. The system was put in place in Tamil Nadu by Viswanatha Nayak, when he became the Nayak ruler of Madurai in 1529, with the support of his minister Ariyanathar. Traditionally there were supposed to be 72 Palayakkarars. The majority of those Palaiyakkarar, who during the late 17th- and 18th-centuries controlled much of the Telugu region as well as the Tamil area, had themselves come from the Kallar, Maravar and Vatuka communities.
The Kingdom of Ramnad or Ramnad estate was a permanently settled kingdom and later zamindari estate that existed in the Ramnad subdivision of the Madurai district and later Ramnad district of the erstwhile Madras Presidency in British India from 1601. It was ruled by the rajas also had the title of Sethupathi. Madurai Nayaks ruled the Ramnad area with the appointed chieftains between 14th to 16th century CE, and in 17th century CE the appointed governors expanded their power to establish "Ramnad Kingdom" which was also called as "Maravar Kingdom" by the British. In 1795 CE, after an heir dispute, they were reduced to the status of zamidari by the East India Company. After the independence of India in 1947 the estates were merged in the Union of India and in 1949 all rulers lost the ruling rights, privy purse was also finally abolished in 1971.
Kallar is one of the three related castes of southern India which constitute the Mukkulathor confederacy. The Kallar, along with the Maravar and Agamudayar, constitute a united social caste on the basis of parallel professions, though their locations and heritages are wholly separate from one another.
Thalaivankottai is traditionally recognized as one of the 72 Palaiyams of Madurai. This Maravar Palaiyam was located in the Sivagiri Taluk, at the foot of the Western Ghats, in the Tirunelveli province of the Nayak Kingdom of Madurai.
The Sethupathis are a Tamil clan of the Maravar community native to the Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu, India. They were from the 12th century considered independent kings in 16th century who ruled the Ramnad kingdom, also known as Maravar country. The male rulers of Ramnathapuram also bore the title of "Sethupathi" or "protector of the bridge", the bridge here referring to the legendary sacred Rama's Bridge, while female rulers bore the title "Nachiyar". Among the 72 poligars of the region, the Sethupathi stood first. This special position was conferred not based upon the revenue that his kingdom generated but because of his military prowess. Back in the beginning of the 18th century, the Sethupathi ruler could mobilize a considerable army, about 30,000 to 40,000 strong at short notice.
Kollankondan was a territory (Zamin) in the former Tirunelveli province of Madurai Nayak Dynasty ruled by Polygar. Post Independence of India it split into as 2 villages Ayan Kollan Kondan and Zamin Kollan Kondan Kollankondan Pommumma Samy in Thoothukudi district God in Thoothukudi district ayyanar and come under Virudhunagar District in the southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu in India.
Singampatti. This palaiyam headed 24 of 72 palaiyams was located in present day Ambasamudram taluk, two miles from the spurs of the Western Ghats, in Tirunelveli district.
Chokkampatti is traditionally recognized as one of the 72 palaiyams of Madurai. This palaiyam is also referred to in the early records as Vadagarai or Vadhagerri.
The Phulmoni Dasi rape case was a case of child marriage and subsequent marital rape in India in 1889, which resulted in the death of the 10-year-old girl, Phulmoni Dasi. The case led to the conviction of the husband in 1890 and triggered several legal reforms.
Notes
Citations