V.Venkatraman, Retd
Head, PG and Research Centre in History Rajapalayam Raju’s College, Rajapalayam, Tamilnadu

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Role of Panangudi in the Quit India Movement in Tamilnadu, 1942-1943 T. Balasubramanian; V.Venkatraman, Retd
HISTORICAL: Journal of History and Social Sciences Vol. 5 No. 3 (2026): History and Cultural Innovation
Publisher : Perkumpulan Dosen Fakultas Agama Islam Indramayu

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Abstract

The history of India's freedom struggle has generally focused on major political leaders and well-known centres of nationalist activity, while the contributions of numerous rural communities have remained largely unexplored. The Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919), Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22), Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34), Individual Satyagraha (1940), and Quit India Movement (1942) were major events in the history of India’s freedom struggle. These non-violent movements played a significant role in India’s struggle for independence. The failure of the Cripps Mission in April 1942 further intensified nationalist discontent and contributed to the launch of the Quit India Movement.  Panangudi, a small village situated approximately 18 kilometres from Sivaganga in Tamil Nadu, represents one such neglected site of anti-colonial resistance. During the Quit India Movement of 1942, the villagers actively challenged British authority by participating in nationalist demonstrations, attacking colonial railway property, and enduring imprisonment, collective punishment, and economic penalties. Remarkably, Panangudi produced twenty-nine freedom fighters, including fifteen participants in the Quit India Movement and fourteen members of the Indian National Army (INA). This study examines Panangudi's contribution to the Indian freedom struggle by reconstructing local events through archival records, court proceedings, government documents, and oral traditions. It argues that the history of India's independence movement cannot be fully understood without recognising the sacrifices made by rural communities whose contributions have remained outside mainstream historical narratives.
The Rebel Deeran Chiinnamalai's Armed Resistance Against the British Supramacy in Kongunadu T. Balasubramanian; V.Venkatraman, Retd
Demagogi: Journal of Social Sciences, Economics and Education Vol. 4 No. 4 (2026)
Publisher : Penerbit Hellow Pustaka

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.61166/demagogi.v4i4.210

Abstract

The history of the Indian freedom struggle extends beyond the major political movements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Before organized nationalism emerged, several regional leaders resisted the expansion of the British East India Company. Among them, Dheeran Chinnamalai played a significant role in the early resistance to British rule in Kongu Nadu and South India. Born as Theerthagiri in 1756, he opposed colonial taxation and political control and later led an armed struggle. His association with Tipu Sultan, military experience, mobilization of Kongu forces, and establishment of Odanilai strengthened his resistance. This study examines the political conditions of Kongu Nadu, Chinnamalai’s connection with Mysore, military campaigns, guerrilla warfare, defence of Odanilai, and his capture and execution in 1805. It also places his activities within the broader context of the Palayakkarar and South Indian rebellions. The study argues that his resistance reflected the defence of regional autonomy and opposition to colonial expansion. His career demonstrates the presence of organized regional resistance in South India well before the rise of nationalist politics. His legacy remains significant in the history of Kongu Nadu and early Indian resistance to colonial rule.