Question

Explain the events that led to conflict between Dheeran Chinnamalai and the British.

Answer 1

1. Dheeran Chinnamalai was bom at Melapalayam in Chennimalai near Erode. His original name was Theerthagiri. He was a palayakkarar of Kongu country who fought the British East India Company.
2. The Kongu country comprising Salem, Coimbatore, Kamar, and Dindigul formed a part of the Nayak kingdom of Madurai but had been annexed by the Wodayars of Mysore.
3. After the fall of the Wodayars, these territories along with Mysore were controlled by the Mysore Sultans. After the third and fourth Mysore wars, the entire Kongu region passed into the hands of the English.
4. Dheeran Chinnamalai was trained by the French military in modem warfare. He was along the side Tippu Sultan to fight against the British East India Company and got victories against the British.
5. After Tippu Sultan’s death, Chinnamalai settled down at Odanilai and constructed a fort there to continue his struggle against the British. He sought the help of Marathas and Maruthu Pandiyar to attack the British at Coimbatore in 1800.
6. British forces managed to stop the armies of the allies and hence Chinnamalai was forced to attack Coimbatore on his own. His army was defeated and he escaped from the British forces.
7. Chinnamalai engaged in guerrilla warfare and defeated the British in battles at Cauvery, Odanilai, and Arachalur. During the final battle, Chinnamalai was betrayed by his cook Nallapan and was hanged in Sankagiri Fort in 1805.