“The role of South Indian freedom fighters has not been chronicled properly in the history. Leaders like Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Pulithevan and Veeran Azhagu Muthu Kone were pioneers in the freedom struggle from South India”, said Union Minister P. Chidambaram, on Sunday here after releasing a documentary on freedom fighter Azhagu Muthu Kone
“But for leaders like Azhagu Muhtu Kone, Veerapandiya Kattabomman and Pulithevan we would not have got freedom. We no more have to take weapons to fight for anything like what Azhagu Muthu Kone and others had to do. The young people from Yadhava Community should take up science and education as tools to improve themselves and for the betterment of the community”, Mr Chidambaram said.
“Even textbooks mention the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny as the first freedom struggle against the British. But, Azhagu Muthu Kone led a fight against the British 100 years before the Sepoy Mutiny”, he added. “The leaders who led the freedom struggle were united and had no differences over their community. We should take pride in them and learn to live the same way. I am very happy to honour a great leader like Azhagu Muthu Kone”, the union minister said.
President of Yadhava Maha Sabha T. Devanathan while speaking on the occasion said people belonging to Yadhava community in the State are deprived of the government privileges. “Yadhava community should be classified under MBC category”, he said. Congress MP K.S. Alagiri and former DMK minister K.R. Periyakaruppan were also present.
The film starts with a brief history on Yadhava Community and then narrates the historical background of the 1750s when leader Azhagu Muthu Kone, the commander in chief of Ettayapuram belonging to Yadhava Community led the fight against the British.
In 1756, in a bid to oppress the revolution, the British took over the kingdom and the king and Azhagu Muthu Kone went hiding in the forest.
Due to the betrayal of locals in Pethanayakanur, Azhagu Muthu Kone and his seven close aides were killed in a place called ‘Beerangimedu’ when they tried to fight against the British.
The right hands of 248 persons who were with the leader were cut off, said the documentary.
Azhagu Muthu Kone‘s heir Sevathasamy Yadav was honoured by the Union Minister at the function.
