Countless people have given their lives in the struggle for India’s independence. We are all familiar with the histories of King Kattabomman, Oomaithurai, King Gopala Nayakar, Rani Velu Nachiyar, King Muthuvadukanathar, King Marudu Pandyars, King Theeran Chinnamalai, King Shakkanti Venkai Udeenanthevar, and King Muthuramalinga Sethupathi in Tamil Nadu.
During the time when King Muthuramalinga Sethupathi was imprisoned in Chennai by the British, there were other glorious leaders who fought the British in the Ramanathapuram region who rarely find a mention in history.
Rameswaram is considered to be one of the most sacred place for Hindus in the world. Sethupathi kings had been protecting the temples in Rameshwaram for years. One such king who protected Hindu Dharma was Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi alias Rebel Muthuramalingam, who came from that lineage.
On February 8, 1795, the British East India Company (EIC) which was gaining political power and opportunity in Tamil Nadu at the time, entered Ramanathapuram Fort for the second time and arrested the king. He was then sent back to Trichy Fort and imprisoned there.
Enter Jagannatha Iyer
Not much is known about the early life of Jagannatha Iyer. Recorded history tells that Muthu Karupappathevar and Maveerar Mayilappan along with Jagannatha Iyer and his friends Kumarathevar and Kannathevar took it upon themselves to protect the people of Ramanathapuram from foreign imperialism. They were worthy companions of Chithirangudi Mayilappan Servaikkaarar and were very brave and patriotic during the people’s revolt that began on 24 July 1799. Their ancestors were loyal to King Muthuramalinga Sethupathi. The trio of Jagannatha Iyer, Karuppathevar and Maveerar Mayilappan became household names because of their valour.
According to the request of Meenangudi Muthu Karupappathevar, through the efforts of Rajasingha Mangalam, Anju Kottai Oriyur, Khuththagainadu, a hundred carts bought from the money collected from the people of this area, were loaded with medicine (Karu Marunthu) and sent to Panchalankurichi in the South West. Along with the medicines, fifteen thousand Maravars were sent there to fight in the Paanchai War. They used to get their arms and ammunition from the Dutch in Sri Lanka during those times.
Paddy looted by the EIC army from Rajasingha Mangalam and Anumanthakudi areas was worth several lakhs. But Jagannatha Iyer and his friends weren’t spectators to the loot. They ensured that they raided and inflicted damages on the company’s forces. A few records of EIC note that the main reasons for the losses of the company’s forces were Jagannatha Iyer and Kumarathevar.
The Capture Of Jagannatha Iyer
The first task of General Miller, who came from Mudukulathur to Ramanathapuram was to capture Jagannatha Iyer and his associates. They raided the lanes of Rajasinghamangalam to look for the rebels.
After three months, one Vanniyathevan betrayed Jagganatha Iyer and disclosed the latter’s hideout and the British imprisoned him at the Ramanathapuram fort in Kamuthi. He was tied with huge chains and an order was passed to give him a thousand lashes with a whip. Kumaran and Kannanthevar, who were with him, were killed instantly. Despite all the blows, Jagannatha Iyer survived. His house and other properties were confiscated and was ordered to be banished to Penang Island.
British tortured Maravar land revolutionaries like Singam Chetty, Pottur Muthukaruppaillai, Thirukannath Devar, Kanaka Sabapathithevar, and Kumara Devan, and buried them alive.
When the British asked Jagannatha Iyer during the interrogation, ‘Did you try to kill Lusington?’ Jagannatha Iyer arrogantly stated that he had escaped from his hands.
Colonel Agnew recorded that he had no fear of being caught. Jagannath Iyer was imprisoned in the Tirumayam hill fort as a prisoner. After that they took him to Thoothukudi along with 72 others including Periya Udayanathevar, Jagannatha Iyer, and Sheikh Usain.
On 11 February 1802, he was transferred through Tuticorin port with King Maruthupandyar’s son Duraichami and 72 prisoners. Three of the prisoners, Panjalangurichi Chinnapichaithevar, Adanur Subramania Nayakar, and Viruppachi Appa Nayakar, died on the deck during the voyage. After a difficult seventy-five-day voyage, they arrived on the distant island of Penang and were lodged in a prison near the Cornwallis Fort.
Ten people died within a few days of their arrival on Penang Island on 26 April 1802. Jagannatha Iyer, the Amaldar of Ramanathapuram, was the first to die on the day he arrived.
Jagannatha Iyer survived the 1000 lashes he received in Ramanathapuram, as well as a difficult journey in which the freedom fighters were only given one meal a day. He did this for the sake of India’s independence.
Today, Jagannatha Iyer remains buried in the pages of history.