On the fateful day of 17 June 1911, history was forever altered by a courageous act of defiance in the heartland of Tamil Nadu. The stage was set at the Maniyachi Railway Junction, a bustling hub of activity, where a train briefly paused, unaware of the impending tragedy that awaited one of its passengers.
In a swift and audacious move, a young revolutionary from Tamil Nadu seized the moment. Armed with unwavering determination and a resolute belief in the cause he championed, 26-year-old Vanchinathan emerged as a symbol of courage and defiance against British colonial rule. Today, he is hailed as Veera Vanchinathan or Veera Vanchi, an embodiment of valour and sacrifice.
His target was none other than Robert Ashe, the British collector of Tirunelveli District, who represented the oppressive regime that had gripped the land. With unwavering conviction, Vanchinathan aimed his weapon and fired, ending Ashe’s life in an act of revolutionary retribution.
Veera Vanchinathan’s actions reverberated throughout the nation, sending shockwaves through the British establishment and emboldening countless others in the fight for independence. His act of defiance was not simply an act of revenge, but a powerful statement that resistance was alive and thriving in the hearts of the oppressed.
For years, organisations such as Vanchinathan Peravai or Veera Vanchi Iyakkam have been honouring the memory of Vanchinathan by placing floral tributes and adorning his statue in Senkottai. Over the past five to six years, certain fringe groups and individuals have made it an annual tradition to exploit this occasion in order to promote their divisive agenda within the Hindu community.
A lesser-known group called Athi Tamilar Peravai, which purports to be a Dalit organisation, held a memorial ceremony at the tomb of Robert William d’Escourt Ashe. This tomb is situated within the grounds of the English Church, directly opposite St. John’s College in Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli. It is worth mentioning that Ashe was assassinated by Vanchinathan.
Robert William d’Escourt Ashe, commonly referred to as Collector Ashe, held the position of Acting Collector and District Magistrate of Tirunelveli. He played a prominent role in suppressing the freedom movement by employing harsh police measures against patriots. It is believed that he took it upon himself to dismantle the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company, which was established by V O Chidambaram Pillai, a renowned freedom fighter who dedicated his wealth to promote the company. The British Raj, concerned about its impact on their commercial interests, resorted to both legal and unethical means to undermine the Swadeshi shipping initiatives, leading to financial losses and the eventual closure of the company.
Vanchi enjoyed a contented family life and held a well-paying government position when he became aware of V O Chidambaram Pillai, commonly known as V O C, who was actively opposing the British colonialists. In 1906, V O C initiated the establishment of the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company, an Indian shipping enterprise aimed at challenging the British monopoly in the shipping industry within the region. Additionally, V O C organised workers and led a strike against the management firm A&F Harvey, which was notorious for providing inadequate wages to its labourers. It is worth noting that Ashe provided unwavering support to the said management firm.
Likewise, Ashe displayed a particular interest in accusing Chidambaranar and his associate Subramania Siva of sedition. Consequently, Chidambaranar was convicted and sentenced to double life imprisonment as a punishment. This development ignited strong sentiments among freedom fighters in the area. Ashe, determined to dismantle the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company, went to great lengths to achieve his objective. Furthermore, he authorised the use of lethal force during protests against VOC’s arrest by issuing shoot-on-sight orders.
These events deeply saddened the freedom fighters and numerous young individuals. Filled with a desire to seek vengeance for these atrocities, they patiently awaited the opportune moment. Taking inspiration from movements like Abhinava Bharat, they united under the banner of Bharata Mata Sangam. Guided by figures such as Va Ve Su Aiyar, who had provided assistance to Veer Savarkar in England, and Neelakanta Brahmachari, the youth received guidance and direction. Among them, Vanchinathan was chosen to undertake a significant mission. At that time, Vanchinathan held a temporary job in Senkottai within the princely state of Travancore. He had been married for less than a year, and his teenage wife was visiting her family during this period.
On 17 June 1911, Collector Ashe and his wife were travelling to Kodaikanal, a hill station, for a period of rest and recuperation. They were occupying a special saloon cabin, which had been stationed at Maniyachi Junction in anticipation of their onward journey to Kodaikanal. Unexpectedly, Vanchinathan entered the cabin and fired two shots at close range, instantly ending Ashe’s life. In response, Ashe’s wife raised an alarm, prompting Vanchinathan to flee along the platform and lock himself in a restroom. Tragically, Vanchinathan took his own life while inside the restroom. Accompanying Vanchinathan was another young individual named Sankara Krishnan Aiyar, who had been standing outside the cabin.
The Letter
The assassination was triggered by an unambiguous message found in a letter discovered in Vanchinathan’s shirt pocket at the scene. The letter read as follows:
“I dedicate my life as a small contribution to my motherland. I am solely responsible for this act. The English invaders have occupied our country, trampling upon the eternal principles of Hinduism and seeking to destroy them. Every Indian is striving to drive out the English, establish self-rule (swarajyam), and restore the principles of Hinduism. Our great figures such as Raman, Sivaji, Krishnan, Guru Govindan, and Arjuna ruled our land, protecting all aspects of righteousness. However, in our land, arrangements are being made to crown George V, a foreigner (mleccha) who consumes beef.
Three thousand individuals from Madras have taken a vow to kill George V as soon as he sets foot in our country. To make our intentions known, I, being the least among them, have carried out this deed today. This is a duty that every individual in Hindustan should consider.
I will kill Ashe, whose presence here is to celebrate the crowning of George V, a king who consumes the flesh of cows, in this glorious land that was once governed by great emperors. I do this to make them understand the fate that awaits those who seek to enslave this sacred land.
As the least among them, I wish to send a warning to George by killing Ashe.
Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram.”
Controversies And Alternative Narratives: Debunking Misconceptions Surrounding The Event
In recent years, a new narrative has emerged surrounding the assassination of Collector Ashe, more than a century after the event took place. This narrative presents a twist in the tale, challenging the straightforward facts. It is intriguing to delve into the details of this alternative perspective. Certain individuals, masquerading as historians, and organisations like ATP have begun projecting Ashe as a “crusader of social justice” and painting Vanchinathan as a casteist Brahmin. They offer two reasons that supposedly led to the “martyrdom” of Collector Ashe:
1) According to this claim, Ashe made Courtallam Falls accessible to all, including common people, despite it allegedly being reserved for upper castes. This so-called “noble” action by Ashe is said to have angered the upper castes, who supposedly “commissioned” Vanchinathan to eliminate Ashe. However, this claim is easily refuted as no concrete evidence or government order supports the notion that Ashe opened the falls to all castes. When nationalists challenged these assertions, the so-called champions of Dalits failed to provide any proof of such a “noble” action.
Another press report provides an interesting and historically plausible perspective. A press report from October 2, 2019, reveals that Mahatma Gandhi refused to bathe at Kutralam Falls during his visit in 1934 due to the prevalence of untouchability there. It is strange to discover that twenty-three years after Ashe’s assassination, the same status quo of untouchability persisted. This information undermines the claims made about Ashe’s actions against untouchability at the falls.
When this theory was debunked, the proponents of the alternative narrative resorted to wild imagination and presented a sentimental story.
2) K G Kalaikannan, the Tirunelveli district secretary of the Aadhi Tamilar Peravai, put forth a version stating that Vanchinatha Iyer was provoked by Ashe’s wife, Mary Lillian Patterson, who assisted a pregnant outcast woman in need of immediate medical treatment to pass through the agraharam. According to this claim, Vanchinathan killed Ashe to protect the Brahminical establishment. However, there is no evidence to prove the occurrence of this incident.
In the face of these conflicting accounts, it becomes crucial to critically analyse the evidence presented and seek a clearer understanding of the true events surrounding the assassination of Collector Ashe.
Amid the concerted efforts by Dravidian outfits to tarnish the legacy of our freedom fighters and distort their sacrifices, it is an opportune moment to reflect on the words of Bharathiyar’s poignant poem: “This crop called freedom is not nurtured by water. It has flourished amidst tears. Do we possess the audacity to ruin it?”.
The targeting of Tamil Brahmins by Dravidian outfits is not a recent phenomenon, but the intensity of their hate propaganda has reached its peak, sparing not even the revered freedom fighters.
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.