
What We Can Learn From The Jambudweepa Proclamation
The key takeaway is the clarion call for unity among all Indians
Mahakavi Bharatiyar has said, 'தண்ணீர் விட்டோ வளர்த்தோம் சர்வேசா. இப்பயிரை கண்ணீரால் காத்தோம்" Lord of the worlds, it wasn't tended by watering; Our tears nourished it (dream of Swarajya).
As the Mahakavi said, 'Our blood, sweat, and tears reinstated Swarajya."
In May 1801, the East India Company forces under Lt Col. Agnew captured Panchalankurichi after a prolonged siege. It was a costly campaign against Kattabomman that lasted more than a year. Kattabomman's capture and subsequent hanging in Kayathar, near Tirunelveli, is a matter of historical record. His brother, Oomathurai, escaped and was given refuge by the Maruthu brothers. How?
'The cavalry of the enemy in pursuit of the fleeing rebels engaged them in more battles. One of the insurgent parties took its stand near a village and fought a pitched battle but was routed. Most of this group fell wounded and dead… In the evening of the day of battle… the women of the village hurried to the blood-stained field… they made a close search for the persons in whom life might not have become extinct… Among the heaps of the slaughtered they discovered the son of one of them still breathing… To their dismay the afflicted young man rallied the energy that still remained at his command, and whispered into the ears of his mother: 'Oh mother let me die, but try to save the life of Swamy who lies near me' – 'Swamy' denoting Oomee."
History records that the mother complied with her dying son's wishes, carried Oomathurai to her village, nursed him like her own son, dramatically saved him from the company army, and played a significant role in Oomathurai reaching Kamuthi on 28 May 1801.
In October 1801, Kalayarkovil fell, and the Maruthu brothers were captured and hanged. While their entire family was exterminated, Chinna Maruthu's favourite son, Doraiswamy, was exiled to Prince of Wales Island, Penang, Malaysia. Doraiswamy was 15 when he boarded 'Admiral Nelson', the ship that transported the rebels. James Welsh, who had military custody of the seventy-three exiled rebels, said this about Doraiswamy, 'With a mild and dignified resignation, this amiable young man bore his cruel fate without a murmur; but such was the melancholy expression in his fine countenance that it was impossible to see and not commiserate him… I still seem to see the combination of affection and despair, which marked the fine countenance of my young friend, Doraiswamy, as I handed him into the boat, and the manly and silent misery, which his companions in affliction displayed, on quitting their dear native land forever."
Source: South Indian Rebellion: The First War of Independence, 1800-1801, Prof. K. Rajayyan
What compelled a mother to leave her dying son and save his commander?
What made a 15-year-old Doraiswamy bear his cruel fate without a murmur?
That feeling, the burning desire for Swarajya that everyone in Jambudveepa (India) held, is perfectly summarised in the famed 'Jambudveepa Proclamation" by the Maruthu Pandiyar brothers.
This is one of the overlooked chapters in Indian history. It is one of the foremost strategic documents advocating for the liberation of Bharat from colonial rule. This proclamation, pasted on the walls of Rockfort in Tiruchi and the Srirangam temple on June 16, 1801, appeals to the entire country, to all sections of Indian society, irrespective of caste, creed, or religion, to unite and rise against the East India Company and colonial oppression. While it emphasises local unity and sustained resistance, making this a national struggle against foreign rule, it also serves as a warning to locals collaborating with the oppressors. This proclamation exemplifies how our forefathers viewed Bharat as one land and how unity is the only way to achieve the vision of a free and great nation.
What can we learn from the Jambudweepa Proclamation?
We understand how our forefathers saw Bharat as one land united by culture. More importantly, the key takeaway is the clarion call for unity among all Indians. Even today, we fail to treat certain people as equals, assuming some are high-born and others low-born. This regressive and divisive thinking, treating some of our brothers and sisters as inferior, is a grave transgression. On the anniversary of the Maruthu Pandiyars' Jambudweepa Proclamation, let us pledge to ensure access to water sources, temples, and cremation grounds for all our fellow citizens.
As the proclamation states, 'It is certain that the man must die—although he may live a thousand years! And it is as certain that his fame will survive him as long as the Sun and Moon (shine)."
What greater acclaim can we achieve than being celebrated for contributing to an egalitarian, harmonious society?
Let us remember what Tiruvalluvar said,
'வசையிலா வண்பயன் குன்றும் இசையிலா
யாக்கை பொறுத்த நிலம்." (239)
Behold the land burdened by an inglorious people: its riches, even once renowned, will diminish – The Kural or The Maxims of Thiruvalluvar by VVS Aiyar.
view comments
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
June 16, 2025, 12:01 IST
News opinion Opinion | What We Can Learn From The Jambudweepa Proclamation
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scroll.in
20 minutes ago
- Scroll.in
‘Atrocious and terrible': TMC expresses shock at detention of Bengali-speaking workers in Gurugram
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she was shocked at reports alleging that several migrant Bengali-speaking workers were being detained in Gurugram in Haryana. 'This is atrocious and terrible,' the Trinamool Congress chief said on X. 'We are not going to tolerate this.' On July 19, the police in Gurugram detained at least 74 migrant workers on the suspicion that they were from Bangladesh, The Wire reported. Of these, 11 were from West Bengal and 63 from Assam. The workers have been detained at a municipal community centre in Gurugram's Sector 10A, Newslaundry reported. Amid the crackdown, hundreds of migrant workers have reportedly fled Gurugram for fear of being detained. Since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Bengali-speaking migrant workers have been rounded up by the police in several states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party and asked to prove that they are Indian citizens. In some cases, individuals who were mistakenly sent to Bangladesh returned to the country after state authorities in India proved that they were Indians. Banerjee on Thursday said she also received reports from other states like Rajasthan about West Bengal residents being 'pushed' into Bangladesh although they had official documentation. 'There are tortures and tortures on hapless poor Bengali workers from West Bengal in these States,' she said. '…Stop this linguistic terror.' Have been increasingly receiving reports of detentions of and atrocities on our Bengali-speaking people from different districts of West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. West Bengal police is receiving these reports from Haryana police in the name of requests for identity searches.… — Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 24, 2025 In a similar vein, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra asked whether the Sector 10A community centre was being used as an illegal detention camp. 'This is illegal,' she asserted, 'This is like living in Nazi Germany, where the Jews were being completely terrorised and [were] living in constant fear of being picked up and put in camps.' Moitra said that migrant workers could not be branded as Bangladeshis merely because they spoke in Bengali. Attention! Migrant workers from Bengal being picked up illegally by @gurgaonpolice, is Sector 10 A community center an illegal detention camp? Maids, cooks, menial workers living in complete terror. #NaziGermany — Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 24, 2025 Commenting on the allegations, Gurugram Police Public Relations Officer Sandeep Kumar was quoted as saying by The Wire that the 'suspected immigrants' were being held as per government guidelines, and claiming that they were not being detained. However, he did not specify what the guidelines were. 'They are not detained,' Kumar was quoted as saying by the news portal. 'As per the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs [MHA], certain holding centres have been created, and suspected Bangladeshis are being kept there. All basic necessities, including medical facilities, are being provided to them at the centres.'


India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
US tries to make an example out of Indian repeat offender, to deport him
Break the rules, face the consequences. That's the message US immigration authorities are sending to repeat offenders from India. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has made it clear that those who repeatedly violate US laws risk arrest and the latest case, a 25-year-old Indian man has been arrested in a joint operation carried out by multiple US authorities, citing his extensive criminal history and repeated evasion of Singh, who is now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), faces deportation, according to the ICE. The joint operation was conducted by ICE, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Seattle, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle, and the US Border Patrol's Blaine in a statement, said that he had been arrested several times before."Manjot Singh, 25, is a citizen of India, and was arrested at least 6 times by local police. Singh's criminal history includes robbery, theft, criminal impersonation, and DUI (Driving Under the Influence). He'll stay in ICE custody pending removal proceedings," ICE said in a post on X on Wednesday (US time).Chief Patrol Agent, US Border Patrol, Blaine Sector Washington, Rosario Pete Vasquez, in a social media post said that Singh was living in the US "illegally".Singh was lodged in the Whatcom County Jail before being in ICE INDIANS ARRESTED LAST MONTHLately, several Indian nationals have been arrested in the US for a slew of this month, a 42-year-old Indian national was arrested in the State of Washington on charges of possession of child pornography, ICE informed on July 11."A citizen of India, Gurjeet Singh Malhi, 42, was arrested during a joint federal law enforcement action in WA. Malhi has been charged by local authorities with possession of CSAM, child sexual assault material, commonly known as child porn," ICE said in a arrest triggered a political uproar in India, with both the BJP and the Congress questioning the AAP government in Punjab after purported photos surfaced allegedly showing the offender with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's family members and other state an 18-minute video of an Indian woman getting detained in the US went viral after she was allegedly caught trying to steal goods worth over $1,300 from a store after spending seven hours incident reportedly occurred in May. Even as the video of the incident went viral, the US Embassy in India released a statement warning visa holders that engaging in crimes like assault, theft, or burglary in the host country could result in visa cancellation and potentially make them ineligible for future to a media query on the shoplifting incident, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged all citizens travelling abroad to respect local laws and uphold the country's image, while confirming that over 1,500 Indians have been deported from the US this year.- Ends


Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
‘We're treated like criminals': Citizenship checks trigger migrant exodus in Gurgaon
For Karimul Islam , 24, the decision was not easy. He had worked in Gurgaon for six years, washing cars in residential colonies, as reported by TOI. But on Wednesday, with a backpack on his shoulder and a one-way flight ticket bought by his family in West Bengal, he left the city. 'I have documents like Aadhaar, voter ID, but they're not listening to anyone. They are rounding up people randomly and detaining them. I had to ask my family for money to buy a flight ticket because trains are not available at such a short notice,' Karimul told TOI. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Design Thinking Artificial Intelligence Leadership Technology CXO MCA Project Management MBA Cybersecurity Data Science Healthcare Management Operations Management Digital Marketing Product Management Public Policy Data Science Others healthcare PGDM Degree Finance Skills you'll gain: Duration: 25 Weeks IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK PCP DTIM Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 22 Weeks IIM Indore CERT-IIMI DTAI Async India Starts on undefined Get Details He is one of several from Palra and other settlements who have begun to pack up and go. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo Detention centres and rising numbers According to TOI sources, nearly 400 people have been picked up in the last six days for document checks . About 250 are still being held in community halls in Sector 10A, Sector 40, Badshapur and Manesar. These spaces have temporarily been converted into detention centres. Locals fear that speaking Bengali has become a reason for suspicion. In Baliawas, Sector 58, about 200 people have already left for Assam in groups. Live Events 'We are Indians, not criminals' Saminul Islam, a resident of Baliawas for 15 years, said his wife and two children live with him in Gurgaon. 'Suddenly, we are being labelled as illegal Bangladeshis. Several of our relatives have been detained in community centres even though they possess identity proofs of their citizenship. We are Indians, not criminals,' he said. Panic is not limited to those leaving. Many who have stayed are living under constant stress. "There's fear because we don't know what's going to happen next," said Panahrul Islam from Palra. 'Every night, we fear someone will come knocking on doors, asking for papers. But even after people show documents, they are taken away. Some have been taken away while returning from work.' Panahrul cleans glass facades in high-rise buildings. 'If my husband was home, he'd be gone too' The anxiety has deeply affected women and children. Sukhi Bibi, 29, works as a domestic helper in Sectors 69 and 70. 'They took away five people from our house. If my husband had been home, he would have been taken too,' she said. 'They are targeting the men first. My husband and children are leaving the city. I haven't gone to work because of constant fear,' she added. Sukhi also questioned the basis of the detentions. 'Agar hum Bengal se hain, aur Bengali bolte hain, to kya hum Bangladeshi ho gaye? West Bengal is desh ka hissa hai.' No answers, just locked doors For 20-year-old Asiman Bibi, the silence from authorities has been unbearable. 'We don't know where he is. He used to clean cars. We have all his documents, but they are not even telling us which centre he's in,' she said, speaking about her husband who was taken six days ago. Outside a locked door in Sector 58, Shabnam Bibi sat holding her two children. 'We have lived here for 12 years, worked hard, paid school fees. Now we are suddenly criminals? My husband was rounded up and I don't know where to go now,' she said. 'People are leaving without tickets' In the absence of proper information or access to legal aid, rumours are doing the rounds. Talks of mass detentions and possible deportations have added to the confusion. Asadul Sayeed, a scrap dealer from Palra, said, 'We have been working in Gurgaon for the last six years but there is no one to stand with us now. So people are just leaving with just a bag, even without tickets.' Labour contractor Taramiya, originally from Assam, said he was picked up in Baliawas four days ago and taken to a police station. 'They wrote our names in the register. When we were being taken to the police station, the cops claimed that we would be released after verification. I was released but some others detained.' He also alleged that 11 people taken from Sector 103 were assaulted and released only after paying Rs 1.2 lakh. 'I am also being forced to leave Gurgaon with my daughters who study in class 2 and 3 at govt school in Behrampur,' he said. Salilur Rehman, 44, also from Assam, backed the allegations, saying he knew others who were assaulted. Police, however, rejected the allegations. As told to TOI, Gurgaon police spokesperson Sandeep Kumar said, 'There are CCTV cameras at police stations where they were taken for verification as well as at the community centres. No such incident of assault or bribery has taken place. We are following the legal process and have already identified eight Bangladeshis who were residing here illegally. Legal proceedings have started to deport them.' Even voluntary checks lead to detention Meanwhile, even those who went willingly for verification are not being spared. A detainee at Sector 10A community centre said, 'After learning about the verification drive, 16 of us went for verification voluntarily. Despite having documents, we were sent to the detention centre last Saturday. We work as contractual sanitation workers with the corporation.' Gurgaon, once a place where many migrants carved out a living, now feels hostile to those very workers. The lines between suspicion and proof have blurred, and many are finding themselves caught in the gap. With no clarity and no voice of reassurance, families are leaving behind everything they've built, unsure if they'll ever return.