A commemorative postage stamp on the Death Anniversary of the Maruthu Pandiyar brothers – Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu :

Issued by India

Issued on Oct 24, 2004

Issued for : The Department of Posts honours the memory of the Marudhu Brothers by issuing this commemorative postage stamp.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Sankha Samanta
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

Name : Periya Marudhu Pandiyar

Born on Dec 15, 1748 at Narikkudi, Ramnad State, British India [now Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, India]

Died on Oct 24, 1801 at Fort of Tirupputhur, British India [now Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu, India]

Name : Chinna Marudhu Pandiyar

Born on 1753 at Ramnad State, British India [now Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, India]

Died on Oct 24, 1801 at Fort of Tirupputhur, British India [now Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu, India]

About : 

• The Marudhu Pandiar Brothers of Sivaganga have a special place in the memory of the people of the Tamil Nadu. They spearheaded the South Indian rebellion against the British in 1800-1801. Some historians have hailed this rebellion as the earliest form of freedom struggle in India.
• Periya Marudhu & Chinna Marudhu were born to Udaiyar Servai, a General in the army of the Raja of Ramnad, and to his wife, Ponnathal, in 1748 and 1753 respectively. Trained in the martial arts by their father, the two brothers were conferred the title of “Pandian” in appreciation of their valour by the Raja of Ramnad.
• Subsequently, on the invitation of the Raja of Sivaganga, they became lieutenants in his army. In 1772 Sivaganga was attacked by a strong English army. The Marudhu brothers fought bravely but could not save their king, who died on the battlefield. The brothers devoted themselves to the protection of their queen Velunachiar. They also assisted her in administering her kingdom. She later transferred her authority to rule the kingdom to the Marudhu brothers fully. They ruled Sivaganga from 1780-1801.
• Their rule was marked by secularism & harmony. They promoted employment schemes for the poor & construction of places of worship of different religions. Chinna Marudhu, the younger of the two brothers was the political strategist who spearheaded the task of forming political alliances from Thanjavur to Tirunelveli. He then engineered rebellions against the British at several places, assisted by local leaders. On June 16, 1801, he issued what came to be known as his ‘Rebel Proclamation‘ at Tiruchi & Srirangam. It appealed to people of all sections to take up the patriotic cause and to wage war against the British.
• Several battles were fought under their leadership. But in 1801, the brothers were captured by the British and hanged at Tiruppattur on 24^th October, 1801 along with many of their kinsfolk and allies.
• Text : Based on material provided by proponents.

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