the Sivagangai Country and its famous rulers, the Marudhu Servai Brothers.
The duration of this research lasted for about forty plus years.
I was continuing a part of it even after I came back to Malaysia.
I have been conducting a research about the Marudhu Brothers and Sivagangai. In the course of the research, I have accumulated a huge amount of information. I have manuscripts, books, rare photographs, details about interviews with knowledgeable persons, and palm leaf manuscripts and notes from archives.
About forty years ago, there were very rich sources of information which were available from many people. There were people who were descended from Marudhu supporters, and those against them. Many of the people were non-partisan and they told
stories about the valour, the philanthropy, and the achievements of the Marudhus. The memories about the Marudhus were still very fresh in the minds of the people some forty
years ago.
I became interested in Marudhu history when I read the books written by Dr.Sanjeevi who later became the Professor and Head of the Department of Tamil in the Madras University:
MAANAM KAATHTHA MARUDHU PAANDIYAR
MARUDHIRUVAR
The interest was further kindled by the film, 'SIVAGANGAI SEEMAI'.
The song from that film,
'VEERARGAL VAALZUM DRAAVIDA NAATTAI VENRAVAR KIDAIYAATHU;
VELUM VAALUM THAANGIYA MARAVAR VEELZNDHATHUM KIDAIYAATHU',
remains as a major source of inspiration to my mind whenever I am dejected.
The research picked up momentum when I was working in the Swedish Mission Hospital in Tiruppathur, Sivagangai District.
That was the place where the headless body of Periya Marudhu lies buried.
I am also from Penang, Malaysia. The later part of Marudhu Saga continues
there.
I have delved into some hitherto unknown aspects of this history. I have covered
several places which played a very crucial part in the war of the Marudhus against the
Arcot/British/Poligars alliance.
I have taken part in several seminars.
I have brought up many unknown details and thown new light on the Marudhu Brothers. The late Karthikeya Raja, the Raja of Sivagangai invited me and asked about
the details of my research.
My researches and findings set in motion many initiatives like the memorial
which they have built in Tirupathur where Marudhu was hanged.
I am creating these pages which throw some special light upon certain aspects
of my Sivagangai research.
Here is an introduction about how did my research -
This is just a part of my collection of manuscripts,
photos, etc.
