Episode 5 – The Fall of an Immortal
Our last episode discussed about the life of Muhammed Yusuf Khan to an extent. This episode will discuss in detail about the rise of Marudhanayagam from a tax collector to the most dreadful warrior the British has ever witnessed in the 18th century.
After beginning his life in Pondicherry under Captain Brunton, Yusuf Khan enrolled himself as a soldier under the Nawab of Arcots. His phenomenal attitude and unflinching commitment gained him huge respect from other soldiers and he became a Subedar. He led his army against Robert Clive in Nellore and fought for the Nawab of Arcot. But, Robert Clive emerged as the winner eventually.
If Captain Brunton taught Yusuf Khan the basic war tactics, another European in the name of Stringer Lawrence made him a complete warrior and utilized his potential to the fullest. He was later appointed as the military commandant of the East India Company. This was a landmark feat for Yusuf Khan and by now, his enemies grew multi-fold. The English considered Yusuf Khan as the greatest military talent in India next to Hyder Ali.
English used Yusuf Khan to suppress the Poligars (Palayakkaarars) in South Tamil Nadu and the locals despised him for the same reason. He waged wars against the poligars in Madurai and Tirunelveli and was declared the unrivalled king of the time.
Later, he reached the zenith of his military career and declared himself the undisputed ruler of Madurai and Tirunelveli kingdoms, which invited the wrath of the British and the Nawab of Arcot. Later, they plotted against him and captured Yusuf Khan thanks to three betrayers who turned against him.
There was no authentic record in history books about the exact happenings during his hanging. Legend has it that he fell down from the rope twice before successfully hanged the third time. He had a two year old son during his death but not even the traces of his whereabouts have been found in history yet. Nawab ordered to truncate Yusus Khan’s body into pieces and bury them in different parts of the state including Madurai, Tanjore, Trichy and Palayamkottai.
That was the end of Yusuf Khan’s life.
Written by Surendhar MK, Design Courtesy: Akilan Nagaraj
Read the introductory episode : Re-imagining Marudhanayagam
Read Episode 1 – The Origin of Marudhanayagam
Read Episode 2 – The Historic Day
Read Episode 3 – Marudhanayagam and the controversies
Read Episode 4 – The Life of Mohammed Yusuf Khan