Pandara Vanniyan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pandara Vanniyan |
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| Tamil Vanniar (Chieftain) of Vannimai 'The Last King of Vanni | |||||
Pandara Vanniyan statue
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| Reign | 1785–1803 | ||||
| Successor | British Rule | ||||
| Born | ~1775 Vanni, Sri Lanka |
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| Died | 31 October, 1810 (Succumbed to injuries from ambush by British forces) Katsilaimadu, Sri Lanka |
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| Dynasty | Vanniar | ||||
| Religion | Hinduism | ||||
Pandara Vanniyan (Tamil: பண்டார வன்னியன், romanized: Paṇṭāra Vaṉṉiyaṉ, Sinhala: වන්නි බණ්ඩාර, romanized: Vanni Baṇḍāra) was a brave Tamil leader. He ruled a region called Vanni Nadu in the 1700s. Some people call him the last Tamil king in Sri Lanka. He fought against both the British and Dutch empires. He died fighting for his people's freedom. In 1982, he was officially named a National Hero of Sri Lanka.
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Who Was Pandara Vanniyan?
Kulasegaram Vairamuthu Pandara Vanniyan was born in Vanni. The name 'Vanniyan' here was a title for a leader, not a family name. We don't know much about his parents. But he had a sister named Nallanachal Vanniyan. He also had two younger brothers. One was Kayilaya Vanniyan, who was a minister. The other was Periya Meynaar, a commander.
Family and Power
Pandara Vanniyan married into the Kumarasinghe Maha Vanniya family. This family was important in the Nuwara Wewa area. Marriages between powerful Vanniar families helped unite different regions. By marrying into this family, Pandara Vanniyan gained more political power. He became strong in both northern and southern Vanni. It is believed he lived in Kumulamunai, which is now in the Mullaitivu District. A statue honoring him stands in Jaffna.
The Vanni Region
Pandara Vanniyan was a Vanniar chieftain. These leaders often paid tribute to stronger rulers nearby. But they kept their own unique culture and language. The Vanni region was like a middle ground. It lay between the northern and southern parts of Sri Lanka. Historically, the Vanni included many areas. These were Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, and more.
Ancient Settlements in Vanni
The exact beginnings of the Vanniar people are not fully clear. But there is proof of people living in the Vanni region for over 2000 years. Old stories also mention sixty Vanniars coming from Madurai in South India. They came with a royal bride for the king at Anuradhapura long ago.
Fighting Colonial Powers
When the Jaffna Kingdom was taken by the Portuguese in 1621, the Vanni was partly under their control. A place called 'Parangichetticulam' in Vanni might have been a Portuguese fort.
Around 1782, the Dutch arrived in Sri Lanka. They eventually defeated the Vanniars. One brave leader was a Vannichi (widow) named Maria Sembatte. She fought hard against the Dutch. But they captured her and held her in the Fort of Colombo.
Battles Against the British
Pandara Vanniyan later fought against the British rulers. His people lived a wild life and attacked the British. They raided areas like Mannar and Trincomalee. They even reached the Jaffna peninsula. The British had to build forts along rivers to stop them.
Pandara Vanniyan teamed up with the Kandy Kingdom. Together, they started a revolt to drive the British out. On August 25, 1803, Pandara Vanniyan attacked the British Government House in Mullaitheevu. He forced the British soldiers to leave and took over the fort.
Guerrilla Warfare and Defeat
Pandara Vanniyan captured British cannons. He took control of the entire northern Vanni region. He even reached Elephant Pass and the Jaffna Peninsula. He was very bold and skilled. After traditional battles, Pandara Vanniyan used guerrilla tactics. This means he used surprise attacks and hid in the jungle.
However, he was finally defeated by Lt. von Driberg. The British launched a three-sided attack in 1803. They came from Jaffna, Mannar, and Trincomalee. In this battle, the British also captured a cannon. This cannon had been given to Pandara Vanniyan by Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe. The British gave the village of Pandara Kulam to Lt. von Driberg as a reward.
After this defeat, Pandara Vanniyan's houses were burned. His people scattered into the jungle. The power of the Vanniar chieftains finally ended. Some stories say that Lt. von Driberg felt shamed by Pandara Vanniyan. He had been defeated by him many times. So, he stayed to fight even after the British took over from the Dutch.
Pandara Vanniyan's Death
Pandara Vanniyan was defeated in battle in October 1803. This happened at Oddusuddan, Katsilaimadu. He was no longer a ruler and went to areas near the Kandy Kingdom. He stayed there until September 1810. Then, British forces ambushed him. He later died from his injuries.
A stone monument was put up in Katsilaimadu village. It honored Vanniyan's defeat. Lt. von Driberg, who fought him, placed it there. The monument says: "Here abouts Captain von Driberg Defeated Pandara Vawniyan Oct 31 st 1803." In 2010, the monument was found broken. Some news outlets said it was damaged by soldiers.
Legacy of a Hero
Pandara Vanniyan was declared a national hero in 1982. This was done by the Prime Minister, Ranasinghe Premadasa. A large statue of him was opened in Vavuniya. It stands at the main road junction. This is where the roads to Jaffna, Kandy, and Mannar meet. Pandara Vanniyan Memorial Day is celebrated every year on August 25.
Today, both Tamils and Sinhalese people respect Pandara Vanniyan. This is especially true in the North Central and North Western provinces. These areas were once part of Vanni. Sinhalese people sometimes ask for the protection of 'Vanni Bandara Deio' when they travel through jungles.
Vanniyan in Modern Stories
Tamil nationalists see Vanniyan as a great hero. His story has been used to represent Tamil patriotism. An Indian writer, Muthuvel Karunanidhi, wrote a novel about him. It's called 'Payum Puli Pandara Vanniyan' (The Leaping Tiger Pandara Vanniyan). The book uses Vanniyan to show Tamil pride.
Pandara Vanniyan is also the main character in a play. It's called 'Pantara Vanniyan' by Mullaimaṇi Ve Cuppiramaṇiyam. The play won an award in 1964.
On August 10, 2014, three statues of Tamil kings were put up. This happened near the Jaffna Clock Tower. Pandara Vanniyan was one of these kings. The others were Ellalan and Pararaja Sekaran.
