Dheeran Chinnamalai (Aged 49) born on 17 April 17 1756 as Theerthagiri Manradiar, was born in the Palayakottai Zamindari family in present-day Kangeyam District, Tamil Nadu, India. He was a Palayakkarar and Pattakarar who fought against the British East India Company.
Chinnamalai was one of the commanders in the Polygar Wars, particularly during the Second Polygar War that took place in 1801–1802. After the deaths of Kattabomman and Tipu Sultan in 1799, Chinnamalai sought the help of Dhondia Wagh and Maruthu Pandiyar. He led the local Pattakarars, including Varanavasi Gounder and Vella Gounder of Erode, Kumara Vellai of Perundurai (Chinnamalai’s sister’s husband), Somandurai Muchadayandi Vanaraya Gounder of Pollachi, Vettuva Gounder Pattakarars Appachi Gounder of Paramathi-Velur and Aravakurichi Periya Thambi, and the Naicker Polygars of Dhali, Virupakshi, and Ramagiri, among others, to attack the British at Coimbatore in 1800.
The British forces managed to stop the armies of the allies, and therefore, Chinnamalai was forced to attack Coimbatore along with the above Polygars of Kongu Nadu. His army was defeated, and he escaped from the British forces. Chinnamalai engaged in guerrilla warfare and defeated the British in battles at Cauvery in 1801, Odanilai Kangeyam in 1802, and Arachalur in 1804.
Some sources say he was hanged at Sankagiri Fort on 2 August 1805, along with his two brothers. Other sources give the date as 31 July.
Dheeran Chinnamalai
(1756 – 1805) – (Tamilnadu)
Dheeran Chinnamalai (Aged 49) born on 17 April 17 1756 as Theerthagiri Manradiar, was born in the Palayakottai Zamindari family in present-day Kangeyam District, Tamil Nadu, India. He was a Palayakkarar and Pattakarar who fought against the British East India Company.
Chinnamalai was one of the commanders in the Polygar Wars, particularly during the Second Polygar War that took place in 1801–1802. After the deaths of Kattabomman and Tipu Sultan in 1799, Chinnamalai sought the help of Dhondia Wagh and Maruthu Pandiyar. He led the local Pattakarars, including Varanavasi Gounder and Vella Gounder of Erode, Kumara Vellai of Perundurai (Chinnamalai’s sister’s husband), Somandurai Muchadayandi Vanaraya Gounder of Pollachi, Vettuva Gounder Pattakarars Appachi Gounder of Paramathi-Velur and Aravakurichi Periya Thambi, and the Naicker Polygars of Dhali, Virupakshi, and Ramagiri, among others, to attack the British at Coimbatore in 1800.
The British forces managed to stop the armies of the allies, and therefore, Chinnamalai was forced to attack Coimbatore along with the above Polygars of Kongu Nadu. His army was defeated, and he escaped from the British forces. Chinnamalai engaged in guerrilla warfare and defeated the British in battles at Cauvery in 1801, Odanilai Kangeyam in 1802, and Arachalur in 1804.
Some sources say he was hanged at Sankagiri Fort on 2 August 1805, along with his two brothers. Other sources give the date as 31 July.
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