How Panjalankurichi Fort Built by Oomaithurai in Six Days?

General James Welsh was an officer in the British East India Army. He served in the British East India Army from 1790 to 1848. His book military Reminiscences’ is considered one of the most important in Indian historical studies.

In his book ‘Military Reminiscences’ published in 1830, he said that Umaithurai was one of the most extraordinary mortals I ever knew.

Moreover, Umaithurai was a tall, thin young man. He always stood out in critical situations by demonstrating his thinking ability. Muslims called him Mooka. Hindus called him Umaithurai. We had a series of defeats in his case. People called Umaithurai Siam and worshipped him as a god. Even his small gestures were considered the voice of God.

No assembly was convened without his leadership. Whatever order he gave, everyone immediately went and carried it out. No heroic deed was done without his leadership.

He (Umaithurai) himself led all the plans to eliminate us (the British). Revolutions broke out wherever he appeared. Umaithurai's pure patriotism, which did not consider himself at all, sent him to the gallows.

"He was at last doomed to grace a gallows, in reward for the most disinterested and purest patriotism". Our soldiers took it upon themselves to kill that famous commander somehow. Still, he miraculously escaped at every moment, says General James Welsh, an officer in the British East India Army.

In the book "Kayathatharuil Kattabomman," written by Tamil scholar M.P. Sivagnanam, it is stated, "Umaithurai fought more against the British than Veerapandia Kattabomman."

Veerapandia Kattabomman was arrested by the British government on charges including not paying taxes properly, refusing to meet the collector when summoned, sending troops in support of Sivagiriyar's son, resisting Major Bannerman's authority and, not surrendering. He was hanged from a banyan tree in Gayathar on October 16, 1799.

After that, important people from Panjalankurichi, including his younger brother Oomaithurai and Sivathaya, were imprisoned in Palayankottai jail.

1800Ām āṇṭiṉ toṭakkattil, kaṭṭapom'maṉai tūkkiliṭṭa mējar pēṉarmēṉ airōppāvukku tirumpiṉār. Ataṉ piṉṉar mējar rāparṭ ṭūriṅ vantār. Piṟaku anta iṭattiṟku mējar kāliṉ mekkālē vantār. Inta mējar mekkālē tāṉ, ūmaitturai maṟṟum avaratu paṭaikaḷukku etirāka iraṇṭām pāñcālaṅkuṟicci pōriṉ mutalkaṭṭa tākkutalil āṅkilēyap paṭaikaḷai vaḻi naṭattiṉār. Ūmaitturai maṟṟum avaratu cakākkaḷ pāḷaiyaṅkōṭṭai ciṟaiyil iruntu tappiyatu kuṟittu taṉatu nūlil vivarikkum jeṉaral jēms velṣ, 1801ām āṇṭu pipravari mātam 2m tēti, pāḷaiyaṅkōṭṭaiyiliruntu cumār muppatu mail tolaivil uḷḷa caṅkaranāyaṉārkōvilil eṅkaḷ paṭai mukāmiṭṭiruntatu. Cumār irupatu āṅkilēya peṇkaḷ maṟṟum āṇkaḷ, mējar mekkālē vīṭṭu viruntil iruntaṉar. Atumaṭṭumallātu appōtu ciṉṉam'mai paraval iruntatāl, apāyakaramāṉa kaitikaḷiṉ irumpu kai vilaṅkukaḷai akaṟṟiyiruntōm. Inta cūḻnilaiyaip payaṉpaṭutti pāḷaiyaṅkaḷaic cērnta kaitikaḷ, taṅkaḷatu paṭaiyiṉarai varavaittu, kāvalarkaḷait tākki tappiṉar. Pala nāṭkaḷ tīṭṭappaṭṭa tiṭṭam itu. Viṭivataṟku muṉ avarkaḷ pāñcālaṅkuṟicciyai aṭaintuviṭṭaṉar eṉṟu kuṟippiṭṭuḷḷār. Read more at: Https://Www.Vilasalnews.Com/news/essay-literature/4999-panjalankurichi-fort-built-by-oomaithurai-in-six-days-the-english-military-officer-who-was-shocked-and-amazed/

In the early 1800s, Major Bannerman, who had executed Kattabomman, returned to Europe. After him came Major Robert Turing. Then came Major Colin Macaulay. It was this Major Macaulay who led the British forces in the first phase of the Second Panchalankurichi Battle against Umaithurai and his forces. General James Welsh, who describes in his book the escape of Umaithurai and his comrades from Palayankottai prison, says that on 2nd February 1801, our force was encamped at Sankaranayanarkovil, about thirty miles from Palayankottai. About twenty English women and men were at the feast at Major Macaulay's house. In addition, since there was an outbreak of smallpox at that time, we had removed the iron chains from the dangerous prisoners. Taking advantage of this situation, the prisoners from the camps brought their soldiers and attacked the guards and escaped. This was a plan that had been planned for several days. He mentioned that they reached Panjalankurichi before dawn.

After escaping from Palayamkottai, Umaithurai's army captured the British-controlled areas of Azhwar Thirunagari, Srivaikundam, Kadalgudi, Nagalapuram, Kolarpatti, and Thoothukudi. Later, under his leadership, the Panchalankurichi Fort was rebuilt in just 6 days with 5000 soldiers. The British government itself says that.
General James Welsh says in his book ‘Military Reminiscences’ that it seemed like a miracle to us that a very strong fort was built at Panchalankurichi in six days.

Umaithurai played a major role in uniting the Palaiyakars in South India, including Thoothukudi, Manamadurai, Kamudi Manapacheri, Thirukattur, Sivaganga, Siruvayal, Kalaiyar Kovil, Dindigul, Kannivadi, Chatrapatti, Pranamalai, Vripachchi, Wattalakundu, Anaimalai, Tarapuram, Udumalaipettai, Ottanchathiram, Nagapattinam, Velankanni, and Kumbakonam, and in showing their strong opposition by attacking and burning the camps of the British.

Umaithurai, a Palaiyakar of Panchalankurichi, who fought against the British for many days, was finally hanged in Panchalankurichi on November 16, 1801. Today is his memorial day.