Today is the Memorial Day of the great warrior Bandaravanniyan.31.10.1803
Today is the Memorial Day of the great warrior Bandaravanniyan.31.10.1803
Full name Kulasekaram Vairamuthu Bandaravanniyan. He had two brothers, Periya Meiyanar and Kayalavanniyan.
According to the Yarlpanam Vaibhavamalai records, he was a descendant of the Vanniyakulam commanders of northern Tamil Nadu who were sent to rule Sri Lanka during the Chola Empire. Vanniyar can be translated as the strong.
Even when the Portuguese captured Yarlpanam in 1621, they were unable to set foot in the Vanni region. Portuguese rule in Sri Lanka ended without being able to gain a foothold in the Vanni. In fact, the Vanni is an uninhabited land, and the Vanni are brave and fearless.
The first to successfully enter the Vanni were the Dutch. Writing about their war to capture the Vanni in 1782, historian Louis mentioned the following: “The Dutch have fought in so many countries. But they have never seen anyone who fought so bravely anywhere in the world. During the Dutch period and later against the British rule, the Vanni fought relentless guerrilla warfare in the Vanni forests of Mannar and Thiriconamali. Among them, the shining gem was Bandaravanniyan.
There is another important message in the historical account of Bandaravanniyan standing in Mullaithivu. The peak of Bandaravanniyan’s rebellion against British rule was his complete destruction of the Mullaithivu fort of the British whites. At a time when all the military resources of the Tamils, which had been achieved in the thirty-year struggle in Mullaithivu, were in ruins, there would certainly have been reason to hold Bandaravanniyan’s bravery as a symbol of contemporary comradeship. Bandaravanniyan ruled an area of 2000 square miles from Mullaithivu to the Vattarappalai Amman Temple. He formed a council of ministers, with his younger brother Kailayavanniyan as his minister and his last brother Periya Minor as his commander, to maintain the state.
His only sister was named Nalla Nachiyal. She fell in love with Avy Bulavan, who taught her the arts. At the same time, another small kingdom king, Kakkai Vanniyan, who ruled in Vanniland, wanted to marry her. Although he sent several letters to Bandaravanniyan for this, he did not agree. Once, when Kakkai Vanniyan saw Nachiyal in love with Bulava in Nandavanam, he challenged Bulava to a sword fight and the poet was wounded. Through this incident, he came to know that Bulava came from a royal lineage. Thus, he gave the green light to their love. This is an side..
The whites turned their backs on the whites after they invaded the Vanni region due to the refusal of the Bandaravanniyan to pay tribute. Due to personal reasons, the Kakkai Vanniyan, who was angry with the Bandaravanniyan, joined forces with the white ruler. The whites were defeated by invading several times. At that time, the Kakkai Vanniyan advised Bandaravanniyan to be defeated by cunning. As part of that plan, he came to the Bandaravanniyan pretending that he had corrected his mistake. Despite the advice of his younger brothers, the minister and the commander, not to include Kakkai Vanniyan, he included him based on forgetting and forgiving him.
But this Kakkai Vanniyan waited for the right moment and convinced him that the right moment would come, gathered him alone and placed him in a place called Adusuttan, where he was cunningly trapped by the white forces. Even today, there is a case in Eelam where people who trust and deceive are asked if they are of the Kakai Vanniyan lineage.
Let us look at a couple of incidents in this story.
Brother Periyaminar – “Brother, it does not seem that the white mob has the intention of taking over our Vanni country. But our brothers, the Sinhalese, have gathered large forces to capture the Kandy region. On this occasion, it would be beneficial to send our troops, who are rising up to support the Sinhalese people and oppose the British.”
Bandara Vanniyan: “Yes, brother Kailaya, your idea is good, my brother Kailayavanniyan.” “Brother, there are two advantages in sending our troops to Kandy. One is that it will help protect the Sinhalese people. The second is that on this occasion, we will be able to show our military strength to the whites. It is better to send our troops to Kandy without delay.”
Bandaravanniyan: “Brother Periyaminar, we must not give way to the white mob who plunder the cashew nuts, cinnamon, etc. grown in our country and feed their stomachs. We must protect our brothers and sisters, the Sinhalese people and the country of Kandy. Therefore, do not hesitate to arm our forces for Kandy.”
An excerpt from the meeting with the Governor in the style of Kattapomman:
Governor: Vanniyar, we wish to celebrate mutual love and walk with you as friends.
Bandaravanniyan: There is no obstacle to that.
Governor: We received Karikattumoolai and Mullaithivu from Kakkaivanniyan.
Bandaravanniyan: Kakkaivanniyan is giving away gifts. He is a Tharmabhupathi. That is amazing.
Governor: There is something amazing about the idea that Yarlpanam and a part of Vanni area are under our British rule. There is no point in you living alone.
Bandaravanniyan: So, did you invite me to explain the meaning of that?
Governor: No, it is not right, if you live obediently, it will be beneficial.
Bandaravanniyan: Living obediently is not our heritage.
Governor: If you speak arrogantly, you will face danger.
Bandaravanniyan: Danger is coming for you, not me.
Governor: Shut up.
Bandaravanniyan: Bandara, who does not fear the Lord, is either going to fear the English.
Governor: You are going to seek great destruction with your mouth.
Bandaravanniyan: Why are you shedding crocodile tears for that? You say destruction, I am not afraid of that.
Governor: You are playing with a snake, Bandara. I will not be a guest unless I am a hawk for the snake.
Today is the Memorial Day of the great warrior Bandaravanniyan.
During the late Dutch rule and the early British rule. The king of the Vanni kingdom was Kulasekaram Vairamuthu Bandaravanniyan. He ruled the Vanni kingdom without submitting to the whites. The first king to capture the British from the whites at the Mullaithivu fort, Bandaravanniyan is a historical hero who killed 60 people in a single battle at Karpurapul.
Today is the Memorial Day of the defeat of the British commander Captain Rebeck by the betrayal of Kakkaivanniyan, who was an undefeated king in the Vanni kingdom. Bandaravanniyan was defeated by the whites at a place called Kathsilaimadu in Ottusuttan in the Vanni. In memory of this, a memorial was built to Bandaravanniyan at the Kathsilaimadu area. It was later destroyed by the Sri Lankan army.
(Translated by Tamilpriya)
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