A poet and his patrons: Tamil Nadu’s Ettayapuram honors Subramania Bharati

The disputed heritage of Ettayapuram, one of the palayams in southern Tamil Nadu, is drawing mixed reactions. For all its contribution to the patronage of music and the Tamil language, palayam, also known as zamindari, remains tainted by its role during the period when the British East India Company expanded its presence in the region.

Ettappan, the ruler of Ettayapuram, was accused of colluding with the British against Veerapandiya Kattabomman, the Poligar of Panchalankurichi. His name has since become synonymous with betrayal. Zamindari patronage of art, music and Tamil did little to erase this notoriety.

Ettayapuram Palace | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Now Jagaveera Muthu Thanga Kumara Rama Venkateswara Ettappa Naicker Iyen Chandra Chaitanya, the present zamindar of Ettayapuram, has published a book on Subramania Bharati, the national poet who received the patronage of his ancestors. Bharathi Porchitiram: Mahakavi Bharathiyin Sarithira Pugaipad Aavana Thoguppu, written by Kadarkarai, throws light on various aspects of Bharati’s personality, the places he lived, the cases he faced and the magazines and newspapers he worked for. It also traces the history of the Ettayapuram zamindari from its inception. Photographs and facsimiles of original documents add to the appeal of this coffee table book.

The book traces how Ilasai Subramanian came to be known as Ettayapuram Bharati. Ilasai is another name for Ettayapuram, while the title ‘Bharati’ was conferred on Subramanian by the zamindar of Ettayapuram. Bharati’s earliest known piece of writing, dated 24 January 1897, was an appeal to the Ettayapuram Poligar. It begins: “Thennilasai Nannagari Singam Venkatesuretta Kannan Samuagathirku.”

Bharati and Ettayapuram

British records refer to the rulers of Ettayapuram as Poligars. The title “Rajah” was conferred on the 37th ruler who became known as Rajah Jagaveera Rama Venkateswara Ettappa Nayakka Iyen and ruled from 1899 to 1915. The book contains portraits of the 32nd poligar and successive rulers up to the present day zamindar.

The present zamindar | Photo credit: Special arrangement

During his lifetime, from 1882 to 1921, Bharati witnessed the rule of three rulers of Ettayapuram. The 36th ruler accompanied King Edward VII to Kovilpatti along the newly laid railway line.

Ettayapuram had a population of 1.5 lakh and included 349 villages. His lands included 9,000 acres of wetlands and another 2,90,000 acres of other lands. Zamindars had an annual income of ₹ 3.5 lakh.

Bharathi was close to Rajah Jagaveera Rama Venkateswara Ettappa Nayakka Iyen, the 37th ruler. “But they did not have a photograph together. It is a great loss. Yet Ettayapuram lives on in Bharati’s writings,” Kadarkarai writes.

The main historical account of Ettayapuram palayam is Vamsamani Deepikai written by Pandithar Kavikesari Sri Sami Dikshitar. It chronicles the events from 13 November 1868 to 1 August 1878. Its first edition was published in 1879, three years before Bharata’s birth.

37th Ruler, Rajah Jagaveera Rama Venkateswara Ettappa Nayakka Iyen | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Written at a time when Tamil prose had not yet fully developed, the work was composed in manipravalam, a mixture of Tamil and Sanskrit. Bharati wanted to convert it into chaste Tamil and expressed his desire to do so in a letter to the then ruler, Sriman Maharaja Poojith Maharaja Raja Sri Ettappa Naicaka Iyen.

In a letter written from Kadayam, his wife Chellammal’s village, on 6 August 1919, Bharati said that he could render the work in “good, sweet, clear Tamil prose” and that it could be prescribed as a textbook in palayam schools. He also expressed his willingness to settle in Ettayapuram if the ruler would allow him.

“But it remained a dream. Had Bharati rewritten it, we could have had a great history of Ettayapuram,” says Kadarkarai.

38th Raja of Ettayapuram | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Documenting Ettayapuram

Of the 72 palayams in Tamil Nadu, Panchalankurichi became famous for the exploits of its ruler Veerapandiya Kattabomman and his brother Oomathurai. Ettayapuram was another palayam that gained importance, albeit for a different set of reasons.

The territory that came under Ettayapuram is said to have been granted as a “blood gift” to Muthukrishnappa Naicker, one of the generals of the Madurai Nayak king. He was killed by an arrow during the war against Eraniel, in present day Kanniyakumari district. In recognition of his service, his family was granted Kazhugumalai and adjoining areas in the western parts of present-day Thoothukudi district. Subsequently, villages within a radius of 37 km from Ettayapuram came under its control.

Another account of the history of the region appeared in 1890 when Ganapathi Pillai published Ettayapuram Past and Present. The new book reproduces photocopies of the cover of this publication.

During a period of financial distress, Bharati wrote to the king of Ettayapuram for help. His challenges included Olai Thooku, Seetukavi and letters.

“Pannalavu Uyarnthathu En Pan, Paavalavu Uyarnthathu En Paa,” he wrote in his Seetukavi, referring to the value of his poetry.

Bharati also urged the king to listen to his songs and rewarded him with shawls, a bag of gold, a jathi pallakku (ceremonial litter) and other gifts. However, the king refused to comply with his requests, as this would antagonize the British.

“But the present zamindar fulfilled Bharati’s expectations. He carried Bharati’s idol in a ceremonial litter to the palace and installed a separate statue in his honour,” says Kadarkarai.

According to Kadarkarai, Bharati also made indirect references to Ettayapuram in his writings. “There is less water and less money; paddy rice is not grown; banana, coconut, mango and jackfruit are rare. There are no flowers, but plenty of poets,” quips Bharati.

The last observation was not without foundation. One of the trinity of Carnatic music, Muthuswami Dikshitar received the patronage of the ruler of Ettayapuram, spent his last days there and is commemorated by a monument that still stands in the town. Ettayapuram was also home to several Tamil scholars, reflecting the zamindari’s contribution to regional literary and musical traditions.