Oomathurai, whose real name was Kumarasamy, was an Indian Poligar (Palaiyakkarar) from Tamil Nadu who fought against the British East India Company in the Polygar Wars. He was the younger brother of Veerapandiya Kattabomman and was hanged by the British in Tirumayam, Pudukottai District.
Oomathurai was born to Adi Kattabomman, the Poligar of Panchalankurichi, and Arumugattammal. His birth name was Kumarasamy, and he was nicknamed Oomathurai (the dumb prince). Different reasons are given for this nickname. While contemporary Tamil accounts say he was named the dumb one as a parody of his oratorical ability, European accounts refer to him as “dumby” or “dumb brother” because of his speech impairment.
Oomathurai was involved in the Polygar Wars against the East India Company. In the first Poligar war, he was captured and imprisoned in Palayamkottai prison. In February 1801, he escaped from Palayamkottai and rebuilt the Panchalankurichi fort, which had been razed in the first war.
In the second Poligar war that followed, he allied himself with the Maruthu brothers (who ruled Sivagangai) and was part of a grand alliance against the Company, which included Dheeran Chinnamalai and Kerala Verma. The Company forces led by Lt. Colonel Agnew laid siege to the Panchalankurichi fort and captured it in May 1801 after a prolonged siege and artillery bombardment.
Oomathurai escaped the fall of the fort and joined the Marudu brothers at their jungle fort at Kalayar Kovil. The Company forces pursued him there and eventually captured Kalayar Kovil in October 1801. Oomathurai, along with the Marudu brothers, was hanged on 16 November 1801.
Oomathurai
(★ – 1801) – (Tamilnadu)
Oomathurai, whose real name was Kumarasamy, was an Indian Poligar (Palaiyakkarar) from Tamil Nadu who fought against the British East India Company in the Polygar Wars. He was the younger brother of Veerapandiya Kattabomman and was hanged by the British in Tirumayam, Pudukottai District.
Oomathurai was born to Adi Kattabomman, the Poligar of Panchalankurichi, and Arumugattammal. His birth name was Kumarasamy, and he was nicknamed Oomathurai (the dumb prince). Different reasons are given for this nickname. While contemporary Tamil accounts say he was named the dumb one as a parody of his oratorical ability, European accounts refer to him as “dumby” or “dumb brother” because of his speech impairment.
Oomathurai was involved in the Polygar Wars against the East India Company. In the first Poligar war, he was captured and imprisoned in Palayamkottai prison. In February 1801, he escaped from Palayamkottai and rebuilt the Panchalankurichi fort, which had been razed in the first war.
In the second Poligar war that followed, he allied himself with the Maruthu brothers (who ruled Sivagangai) and was part of a grand alliance against the Company, which included Dheeran Chinnamalai and Kerala Verma. The Company forces led by Lt. Colonel Agnew laid siege to the Panchalankurichi fort and captured it in May 1801 after a prolonged siege and artillery bombardment.
Oomathurai escaped the fall of the fort and joined the Marudu brothers at their jungle fort at Kalayar Kovil. The Company forces pursued him there and eventually captured Kalayar Kovil in October 1801. Oomathurai, along with the Marudu brothers, was hanged on 16 November 1801.
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