User:Chempu

The Legend  of  Swayampu  Lingam  Nadar  :  The  King  of  Bandits  - Travancore The country  Robin  Hood  of  the  19th  century [ Swayampu Lingam  Nadar ] alias  Chembu  Lingam  alias Suampu  lingam was a humble  farmer living at the 19th century  Travancore  at the early  1800s. He was born near Kottaram in the Kanyakumari District which was part of the Thiruvidancore kingdom ruled by the Venad  kings. Kottaram had a Palace of the Venad Kings. Swayampuingam as born in the Nadar community which was Kshatriya community descended from the ancient  Pandiyan  kings  who  ruled  Southern  Kerala  and  Tamil Nadu  until  900 AD  from  Madurai. But during   Sempu  Lingams times kerala was ruled by another dynasty and  the  people  from  Nadar  community   were harassed  and  considered  low  by  the  ruling  agricultural communities who were enjoying a preferential treatment under the Travancore kings. The Nadar community was otherwise  called Chanars (Shanar) by  others. One of the professions of  Nadars  other than  agriculture  was  tapping the sweet juice of the Palmyra tree which was rich in sugars and making Jaggery. The fermented juice of  palm  trees  was   also  used  to make  an ineberiating  liquour, the  Palm  Wine. Nadars though poor had maintained perfect military tradition since the time immemorial,since the days of the old Pandiyan kingdom  when they were the Soldiers and Rulers for thousands of years. Nadar were trained in martial arts including Swordmanship, Fencing using sticks,[Varmam]/ [Marmam] an ancient technique of warfare in which the warrior attacks the vital spots of  the  opponent. Adi Murai, an ancient martial art in which the opponent is fought with bare hands. Nadars were  trained  in  the Kalaris (a  place  where martial arts are trained, since  their  childhood.

The Feudal Lords of Travancore Chempu Lingam was living peacefully as a farmer in his home town with his wife. But when one day he found his wife abused and killed by the local feudal lords. This changed the mentality of Chempu Linka Nadar as he was popularly called. Since then he waged a war against the local feudal chieftains who had killed his wife.He avenged his wife's death by killing the people responsible for her death. But he never attacked anybody who did not attack him. On the Hills of Western Ghats In a nearby hill called Maruthuva Malai(Marunthu Vaz Malai other wise known Medicine Hill, which was supposed to have been lifted by Lord  Hanuman himself, Chempulingam and his friends hid themselves and started robbing the caravans passing through that  way. He and  his friends  watched  the  caravans  from  the  high ranges  of  Maruthuvamalai  and other hills of  the Western  Ghats  near the  Southernmost tip of  India  near [Kanyakumari],   attacked  and  robbed the  rich  of  their  gold  and  valuables.  From  the  top  of  the  hills  they  descended along  the slopes  within  minutes some times riding  a horse.   The  wealth  thus  attained  was  distributed  among  the poor  and  the  destitutes   of  the  region.   He  and  his  friends  used  to  visit  the  houses  of  the  poor  people  in  the  night   removed  a  tile  from  the  roof  and  through the  roof  they  dropped  gold  and  money inside the  house. Many people  thus  got  the gift  of  money  and  valuables  in  the  night. He never  waited  there  to  feel  the  gratitude  of  those  persons  whom  he  helped. Chempulingam was  armed   double  barrel  hand  made  gun  and  a  Sword  as  it  was common  among  the  Nadar  warriors  and  soldiers. He travelled  light. He was  fed  by the  grateful  people  who  opposed  the  feudalism  and  oppression of  that  era. In the  nights  he  could  get  refuge  in  the  houses  of  poor. He was  particularly  not  happy  with  the  local  feudal  lords  whose  houses he attacked   with  his  friends. Chempu lingams  fame  spread  throughout  Travancore. He and his  friends  Kasi  Nadar, Duraiyappa  Nadar  were  invincible. The Royal  soldiers of  Travancore  could  not  apprehend him. Chempu Lingam  moved  from one place  to  another  place which made  capturing him  impossible. Chempu Lingam often threw  gold  inside  the  compounds,  sometimes on  the  roofs  of  the  poor people  belonging  to  different  communities  irrrespective of  origins. He was  a  devout  Hindu  who  worshipped   in  a  temple on  the peak of  Maruthuvai malai. He never  attacked  or  killed  any   females  according  to  the  rules  of  ancient  rules of  [Kshatriya  Pandiyan]  kingdom. He and  his  friends  killed  those who threatened him. When he  attacked  a  line  of  bullock  cart  drawn  carriages  which  was  a  common  mode  of   transport,  he  separated  the  females. He often locked  two  ears  long  Pampatam ( an  old  ornament ) wearing  ears  of  females, ( which  had  a big  holes ) with  a  small  mangapootu  ( a kind  of  lock)  to prevent  them  from running  away  or    raising alarm.

The British  Army Thus the  legend of  Chembu  Lingam and  his  indomitable spirit  grew  in  popularity. Still the  police  and  army of  Travancore   could  not  catch  him  for  many years  some  say  more  than  thirty years. Finally the  help  of  the  British  Regiment  from  Trivandrum  was  sought  by the local  police. The British  chased him  from one place  to another. On one  instance  while  he  was  fleeing  from  the  soldiers  a   big  open  well   about  30  foot  blocked  the  way. Chempu Lingam  is  allegedly  jumped  the  whole  width  of  the  well  in  one  leap. On reaching  the  otherside of  the well  he  safely  escaped. Eventually the  Police  and  the  British  army  captured  and  killed  many  of  his  friends. Dohnavur Allegedely he  had  married  once  again  and  had  a  four  year  old  daughter whom  he  carried  along  with  him. At Dohnavur  at  the  present day  Kanyakumari  district  one  lady  Irish missionary  was  living  named  Amy Carmichael. It was through her influence that he gave up arms and surrendered. The End Finally Chempu Linga  Nadan  and  his  friend  Kasi  Nadan  were  chased  by  the  British  regiment. The British  shot  Kasi  Nadan  and  Duraiyappa  Nadar  dead. Seeing Kasi  die  Chempu lingam  is  said  to  have  lost  all  interest  in  living  further. He stood  on  top of  a  hill  threw  his  weapons  including  the  hand gun  away. He called  the  British soldiers  and  requested  them  to  shoot  him. One English  soldier  took  aim  and  shot  Chembu  Linga  Nadan on  the  side of  the  head  killing  him  instanteously. Thus ends  the  story  of  the  Bandit  king  who lived  poor  but  made  many  rich.