Thillaiyadi Valliammai (Aged 16) was born on 22 February 1898 in Johannesburg, South Africa to Mangalam and Muthusamy Mudaliar. She was initiated into political struggle by Gandhi.
The colonial State of South Africa declared null and void all marriages forged outside of the South African law or Church law, resulting in the annulment of thousands of marriages. Valliammai marched with her mother from Transvaal to Natal to protest against the unjust laws. She also participated with her mother in protests against exorbitant taxes levied against workers, which led to their arrest and a three-month sentence of hard labor.
After her release, Gandhi visited a fragile and ill Valliammai and she vowed to be arrested any number of times to continue the fight for people’s rights. Despite her mental strength, Valliammai’s physical health was not well, and she died on February 22, 1914, in South Africa at the age of 16.
What is most touching about her struggle and bravery was her strong belief in an independent India despite never having been there herself. Gandhi later designed the Indian flag with the colors saffron, white, and green, which were rumored to be the three colors that made up Valliammai’s sari.
In honor of her memory, the Indian government constructed a public library and Thillaiyadi Valliammai Memorial Hall in 1971 in the village of Thillaiyadi, Nagapattinam, India. Within the public library, a spectacular memorial was built to honor the 16-year-old Tamil girl and her sacrifice in the form of a statue of Valliammai, manuscripts of Gandhi, and several rare photographs. Additionally, the Thillaiyadi Valliammai Nagar and the Thillaiyadi Valliamma High School in Vennanthur were built in her memory. On December 31, 2008, a commemorative stamp featuring her face was released.
Thillaiyadi Valliammai
(1898 – 1914) – (Tamilnadu)
Thillaiyadi Valliammai (Aged 16) was born on 22 February 1898 in Johannesburg, South Africa to Mangalam and Muthusamy Mudaliar. She was initiated into political struggle by Gandhi.
The colonial State of South Africa declared null and void all marriages forged outside of the South African law or Church law, resulting in the annulment of thousands of marriages. Valliammai marched with her mother from Transvaal to Natal to protest against the unjust laws. She also participated with her mother in protests against exorbitant taxes levied against workers, which led to their arrest and a three-month sentence of hard labor.
After her release, Gandhi visited a fragile and ill Valliammai and she vowed to be arrested any number of times to continue the fight for people’s rights. Despite her mental strength, Valliammai’s physical health was not well, and she died on February 22, 1914, in South Africa at the age of 16.
What is most touching about her struggle and bravery was her strong belief in an independent India despite never having been there herself. Gandhi later designed the Indian flag with the colors saffron, white, and green, which were rumored to be the three colors that made up Valliammai’s sari.
In honor of her memory, the Indian government constructed a public library and Thillaiyadi Valliammai Memorial Hall in 1971 in the village of Thillaiyadi, Nagapattinam, India. Within the public library, a spectacular memorial was built to honor the 16-year-old Tamil girl and her sacrifice in the form of a statue of Valliammai, manuscripts of Gandhi, and several rare photographs. Additionally, the Thillaiyadi Valliammai Nagar and the Thillaiyadi Valliamma High School in Vennanthur were built in her memory. On December 31, 2008, a commemorative stamp featuring her face was released.
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