T N Governor R N Ravi released a commemorative postal stamp on freedom fighter Ondiveeran, the commander-in-chief of Poolithevan’s army, the first to rebel against the British rule in a function held on 20th August at Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli.
TN Governor Ravi, after paying rich tributes to Ondiveeran in his presidential address and hailed the great son of the soil freedom fighters like him who continue to live in the hearts and minds of the people and glorify our history. He said “ Ondiveeran did not belong just to the Arunthathiyar community but to the whole country. Entire nation is proud of him. British rulers effaced the names of the freedom fighters and wrote India’s history that was anti-thetical. The British rulers have done much to destroy us, our history and our society. They manipulated our history and wrote false versions and removed the true history. Britishers commissioned people including James Mill to write India’s history”.
The Tamil Nadu Governor praised Maaveeran Ondiveeran for his bravery and outstanding leadership towards freedom movement against the British. He was in the Tirunelveli district, a place that produced many freedom fighters including Ondiveeran, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Mahakavi Bharathiyar, Velu Natchiyar, V O Chidambaram Pillai, Pulithevan and Vanchinathan, who fought for India’s independence.
Governor Ravi said “But ultimately, they could not remove them from our memory, from our hearts. India is proudly remembering and paying tributes to the unsung and unforgettable heroes of freedom struggle Prime Minister Narendra Modi ensured that the sacrifices of our freedom fighters were recalled during India’s 75th Independence. Bharat will become world leader in another 25 years when the nation celebrating 100 years of Independence. A deeper study on India’s history from the Indian perspective is required.
“The British attempted to marginalize the people of the country for their benefit of suppressing the people and falsified the glorious past. The untouchability prompted by the British is still found somewhere in the country and it has to be totally eradicated,” Pointed out the Governor.
Telangana Governor and Lt Governor of Puducherry Tamilisai Soundarajan received the first copy of the commemorative stamp at the function held to commemorate the 251st death anniversary of Ondiveeran. She recalled the immense sacrifice and contribution of this Indian commander-in-chief of Poolithevan’s army. She thanked the Prime Minister Modi for extending the celebrations of azadi ka amrit mahotsav for one more year. She recalled the valour of Ondiveeran and other freedom fighters and asked the people to watch the Swaraj TV series consisting of more than 75 episodes of unsung heroes in regional languages in Doordarshan shown every Saturday starting on 20th.
Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying L Murugan said not only did PM Modi honour the legend of Ondiveeran by releasing the commemorative stamp, he gave me a berth in union cabinet. “This is the respect the PM has on our community and its welfare” he said.
