Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi paid tribute to the Marudhu brothers, hailing them as unsung heroes of India’s freedom struggle against British colonial rule, during the celebration of Jambudweep Declaration Day at the Raj Bhavan. The Governor highlighted the historical significance of the Jambudweep Declaration, describing it as the first clarion call to unite all sections of society to drive Europeans out of Bharat.
In a post on social media platform X, the Raj Bhavan stated, “Jambudweep Declaration, a strategic and visionary document to liberate Bharat from colonial control, was made public on this day – June 16, 1801, by Marudhu Pandiars, the great warrior leaders of Tamil Nadu.”
Jambudweep Declaration, a strategic and visionary document to liberate Bharat from colonial control was made public on this day – June 16, 1801 by Marudhu Pandiars, the great warrior leaders of Tamil Nadu. The Raj Bhavan celebrated the Jambudweep Declaration Day and commemorated… pic.twitter.com/SzFlqmHai3
— LOK BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@lokbhavan_tn) June 16, 2024
The Raj Bhavan commemorated the day by honoring numerous martyrs who sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom. Floral tributes were paid to the Marudhu brothers, and several living freedom fighters were felicitated. The event also saw the release of documented lives and works of approximately 100 unsung freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu, compiled by over 90 research scholars from state universities at the initiative of the Raj Bhavan. Governor Ravi felicitated the scholars and their mentor professors for their significant contributions.
Eminent scholars and writers who have researched and published works on the battles for freedom waged by Tamil Nadu’s rulers and people were also honored at the event. In his address, Governor Ravi urged the gathering not to forget the countless freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu, emphasizing that the freedom enjoyed today is the result of their sacrifices and suffering.
Governor Ravi exhorted scholars to publish the true history of India’s Freedom Movement as a tribute to the brave forefathers and an inspiration for the youth. He stated, “Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel too would have been reduced to mere caste leaders if they had been born in Tamil Nadu. The Jambudweep declaration was not only for the freedom of Sivaganga but for the whole of Bharat (Jambudweep).”
Reflecting on his experiences in Nagaland, Governor Ravi noted that the small state has thousands of recognized freedom fighters. He expressed surprise at the initial claim that Tamil Nadu had only about 40 freedom fighters, acknowledging that the state has indeed produced countless martyrs. He cited a study by the Centre for South Indian Studies (CSIS) that identified 5,000 people from Tamil Nadu who were part of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army (INA) and fought for the country.
During the celebration of Jambudweep Declaration Day at Raj Bhavan, Governor Ravi criticized the tendency to glorify colonial figures while neglecting the contributions of those who fought for the country’s freedom.
“Instead of honoring our freedom fighters, we are glorifying those who destroyed us. Some people are glad to say freedom was gifted to us. By this, they are defaming lakhs of people who fought for freedom and gave their blood for the country. Yet, we must do more and more research on these unsung heroes,” Ravi stated.
Governor Ravi recounted the devastating aftermath of the Battle of Panchalankurichi, where the entire city and fort were razed, and salt was spread on the land to make it barren. He lamented the reduction of national heroes to mere caste leaders due to government neglect and stressed the need to revive the sense of unity that marked the freedom movement.
“The sense of oneness during the national freedom movement was bringing everyone together as a Kudumb. In 1905, when Bengal was divided on communal lines, people across Bharat revolted. V.O. Chidambaram Pillai from Tamil Nadu was among those who revolted,” Ravi noted. He highlighted how the Jallianwala Bagh massacre inspired young Kamaraj to join the national freedom movement.
Governor Ravi criticized the continued glorification of colonial figures and the neglect of the true history of the freedom struggle. “We remain so much colonized that those who inflicted the worst atrocities on our people, we keep glorifying them. Unfortunately, the real history of the sacrifices of our forefathers for our national freedom movement is yet to be recorded. Unless we know the heavy cost of freedom, which we enjoy today, we will be made to believe that freedom came as a gift from the British. It will be the worst kind of disrespect to our forefathers,” he said.
To address this gap, Raj Bhavan initiated a research project about a year ago to identify, document, and elaborate on the lives, struggles, and sacrifices of unsung heroes. The project began with 100 freedom fighters, with plans to continue adding more to the list.
Eminent scholars and researchers who have worked on the state’s freedom struggle during the late 18th and early 19th centuries shared their experiences and were felicitated. P. Senthil Kumar, author of “Battle of Panchalankurichi: 1798-1801,” explained how he found extensive documents in British and Madras archives detailing the atrocities of the British Raj and the valiant resistance of Tamil Nadu’s warriors.
Governor Ravi also released a book titled “Contribution of Tamil Lawyers to the Freedom Movement in India,” published by The Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, Chennai. He criticized the Dravidian rulers for focusing on ensuring their leaders’ mention in school and college textbooks with false narratives and claims.
Under the DMK rule, lessons on DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi’s life have been added to 9th and 10th-grade textbooks, amidst opposition. Recently, unrelated questions about Christianity in the TNPSC Group IV exam sparked controversy, raising questions about their relevance for government job aspirants.
Governor Ravi’s remarks and the initiatives taken by Raj Bhavan aim to rectify historical neglect and inspire future generations by honoring the true heroes of Tamil Nadu’s freedom struggle.
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