A poster of the film on Uri and Nanje Gowda, which was scrapped later.
The images used by BJP leaders to characterize the Vokkaliga chieftains seem like replicas of Marudhu Pandiyars.
News
- Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu – known as the Marudhu Pandiyars – had been brothers and diarchal kings
- Historians say that the two brothers had led a struggle against the British 50 years earlier than the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny
- At a time when there is not a readability on the historical background, it’s not right to make a cinema: Vokkaliga Seer
Bengaluru: As the state Assembly elections inch closer, a controversy took the centre-stage in Karnataka prior to now few weeks surrounding the death of Tipu Sultan, the ruler of the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore. Leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have claimed that Tipu was killed by two chieftains belonging to the Vokkaliga caste, Uri and Nanje Gowda, a story rubbished by historians and, in the latest, a outstanding Vokkaliga seer.
Now, netizens have claimed that the BJP used the images of two Tamil rulers and depicted them as the purported Vokkaliga chieftains.
Mohammed Zubair, a fact-checker with the Alt News website, shared images of the Marudhu Pandiyars. The images used by BJP leaders to characterize the Vokkaliga chieftains appear to be replicas of the Tamil kings.
“Interestingly, the pics used within the flex banner and within the film poster by Karnataka BJP leaders are of Maruthu Brothers (Maruthu Pandiyar), Rulers of Sivaganga kingdom who fought in opposition to the British & have been publicly hanged to demise at Tirupputhur fort by British in 1801,” Zubair tweeted.
The fact-checker also shared an previous tweet of BJP state president K Annamalai, who was seen bowing down and paying tribute to the Marudhu Pandiyars. The portrait seen in Annamalai’s tweet is similar one utilized by the Karnataka BJP to showcase Uri and Nanje Gowda.
Interestingly, The pics used in the flex banner and in the movie poster by Karnataka BJP leaders are of Maruthu Brothers (Maruthu Pandiyar), Rulers of Sivaganga kingdom who fought against the British & were publicly hanged to death at Tirupputhur fort by British in 1801. 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/poVCR7L6fJ
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) March 20, 2023
“In an try to woo Vokkaliga voters in Karnataka, BJP leaders tried to rewrite historical past by utilizing images/paintings of Maruthu Pandiyar brothers from Tamil Nadu and with claims that they had been Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda (fictitious characters) who killed Tipu Sultan,” Zubair tweeted.
Sudheendra MG, a member of the Congress celebration in Karnataka, additionally shared the tweet of Annamalai and took a jibe at the BJP.
“TN BJP chief @annamalai_k bowing down to Urigowda & Nanje gowda who’re disguised as Madurai pandiyan. They turn into pandiyan in TN #urigowdananjegowda in Karnataka. It is not surprising if they turn into something else in other states particularly when elections are not far away,” Sudheendra tweeted.
TN BJP chief @annamalai_k bowing down to Urigowda & Nanje gowda who are disguised as
Madurai pandiyan
They turn into pandiyan in TN#urigowdananjegowda in Karnataka
It is not surprising if they turn out to be one thing else in other states particularly when elections are not far away pic.twitter.com/y5LBeXsbK4
— Sudheendra M.G (@sudheemagadi) March 21, 2023
In 2020, Sridhar, an advocate shared the identical portrait on Twitter paying tributes to the 2 Tamil rulers.
#MaruthuPandiyars
Remembering the Maruthu Pandiyar brothers, the leaders of the South Indian Rebellion of 1801. Who fought against the British and martyred on this day!#1801திருப்பத்தூர்படுகொலை#1801ThiruppathurMassacre#மருது_சகோதரர்கள்#மருதுபாண்டியர் #MarudhuBrothers pic.twitter.com/vK72sJatbq
— Sridhar (@sridharpk1) October 24, 2020
Who are the Marudhu Pandiyars?
Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu – often recognized as the Marudhu Pandiyars – have been brothers and diarchal kings. They dominated Sivagangai in Tamil Nadu close to the end of the 18th century.
Historians say that the two brothers had led a wrestle in opposition to the British 50 years earlier than the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny, also called the First War of Indian Independence, and a few years earlier than the Amara Sullia Uprising, an armed revolt in opposition to the East India Company, within the coastal Karnataka region.
In 1801, their rebellion was crushed by the British, who hanged the two brothers to demise at the Tirupputhur fort.
A report on Scroll mentioned that months before the Marudhu Pandiyars have been killed, they issued a proclamation of independence from the Tiruchi fort.
“An all-Indian concept impressed the proclamation, for it not solely made a direct enchantment to the complete nation however expressed an nervousness that if the political illness endured, India would fall under alien rule,” K Rajayyan, creator of the book South Indian Rebellion: The First War of Independence 1800-1801, was quoted as saying by the web site.
Who are Uri and Nanje Gowda and what’s the controversy?
Uri and Nanje Gowda had been first talked about in Kannada play Tippu Nijakanasugalu (Real Dreams of Tipu) by Addanda Cariappa. The play by Cariappa, who was the director of Rangayana, was additionally staged at Bhoomigeeta in Mysuru and subsequently, a e-book was additionally released on the identical.
Following the play and the discharge of the e-book, the 2 characters served as fodder for the state BJP to assault Tipu and the Congress celebration, during whose rule when Siddaramaiah was the Chief Minister, the Tipu Jayanti was resurrected. The celebrations had been scrapped in 2019 after Yediyurappa returned because the Chief Minister.
While the BJP claims Uri and Nanje Gowda killed Tipu for “betraying Wodeyars of Mysore”, historic records say the ‘Tiger of Mysore’ was killed by the British through the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1798-99.
As the controversy raged, a distinguished seer of the Vokkaliga group urged placing an end to the difficulty, citing an absence of historic proof.
Nirmalanandanatha Mahaswamiji, the chief pontiff of Sri Adichunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Math which is extremely regarded by the dominant Vokkaligas, has referred to as for a gathering of data, edicts and historic data about the duo, before arriving at any decision.
On Monday, he additionally summoned Horticulture Minister Munirathna, a producer-turned-politician, whose studio has deliberate to make a film by registering a title ‘Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda’, and directed him to not go ahead with the challenge. The minister paid heed to the pontiff’s direction.
A section of people within the old Mysuru belt declare Tipu Sultan didn’t die preventing the British, but was killed by the 2 Vokkaliga chieftains, which has been contested by some historians.
“At a time when there is no readability on the historical background, it’s not proper to make a cinema on the 2 personalities who characterize a group. I even have also informed him (Munirathna) why it isn’t proper. After realising things, he mentioned he has no intention to harm anyone and assured he would not make any effort on this course, not only for now but by no means sooner or later,” the Swamiji told reporters here.
He mentioned, as BJP leaders from the Vokkaliga group including national General Secretary C T Ravi, and Ministers Ashwath Narayan and Gopalaiah have been made aware of the historic background and facts, he expects them to maintain quiet on the problem.
“They will be quiet. That which is written primarily based on imagination becomes ‘kadambari’ (novel), that which is written based on shasana (edicts) and historic background will turn out to be a strength for the longer term technology; as nothing of that sort has been found until now on the issue, no statements should be made that can create confusion among folks and the contemporary world, will deliver down the energy of personalities, and can trigger disrepute the community,” the seer added.
If any historical evidence or edicts are found regarding Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda, they want to be handed over to the Adichunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Math, the seer stated, adding “there are scholars, there’s carbon dating technology, there are nice critics, the matters gathered shall be positioned earlier than them to arrive at a decision”.
“The current confusion is causing hurt to the sentiments of a community, and I urge it ought to be stopped immediately”, he said.
While, Congress and JD(S) leaders have maintained that Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda did not even exist, and may simply be fictional characters, the BJP, which is trying to make inroads into the Vokkaliga-dominated ‘Old Mysuru’ area forward of polls, seems to be using the duo as their newest mascots.
After meeting the seer, Munirathna stated he has assured the Swamiji he will drop the plan to make a movie on the chieftains.
“I have mentioned I won’t damage anybody’s feelings, after seer’s advice I will drop the plan to do this film, and will neither do that transfer nor speak about it here on,” he stated.
Clarifying he was not engaged on the film as he was part of the BJP, Munirathna said he is a producer and has been making motion pictures for the past 25 years, and can discover a new story.
Congress and JD(S) leaders together with Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar and HD Kumaraswamy have charged the BJP with ‘misleading’ the folks, particularly the Vokkaligas, through the use of fictional characters and saying they killed Tipu Sultan.
BJP leaders like Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje, CT Ravi, and Ashwath Narayan amongst others have maintained that there is historic evidence about Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda, that their names are mentioned in performs and ballads, and so they fought Tipu to safeguard the household of Mysuru Maharajas and to protect the state.
(With further inputs from PTI)
