Thevar community recalls freedom fighters of yore

MUMBAI: Members of Tamil Nadu's Thevar community gathered to commemorate the kings and queens of many centuries ago whom they say count among the earliest freedom fighters of India. The ceremony was held at Shanmukhananda Hall in Kings' Circle April 17.
The occasion was the 15th anniversary of the Marathiya Manila Thevar Munnetra Peravai, a community organisation.Around 3,500 people from Pune, Nashik and Pandharpur attended. Around 350 Thevars were felicitated that evening, including actress Madhoo of 'Roja' fame, as well as students, teachers, industrialists, senior citizens, deaf and dumb students and sportspersons.
"A 20-minute documentary showing the contribution of the Thevar community to the Indian freedom movement was also screened,'' said R Varadarajan, founder president of the Peravai.
"Thevars hail from the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. Puli Thevar is recognised as the first South Indian ruler to actively rebel against the British-Carnatic combine in the late 1750s and early 1760s. We were among the first to oppose British Raj well before the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny,'' said PSK Muthuramalingam, executive president of the organisation.
Five warriors including Puli Thevar, Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar, Marudhu Pandiyars, Rani Velu Nachiyar and Rebel Muthuramalinga Thevar were remembered at the event. The Indian government has reportedly released postal stamps in their honour and erected memorials in South India.