It has been operatonalised as the need and availability of machinery equipment

required for the present enterprise, started by Dalit entrepreneurs.

2.2.14 RAW –MATERIAL

It has been conceptualized as the extent of availability of raw materials needed for

Dalit entrepreneurs.

2.2.15 INTRA-FAMILY DECISION MAKING

Intra-family-decision-making pattern has been operatonalised as the extent of

involvement of Dailit entrepreneurs in decision-making with the family.

The about reviews and concepts here should that the various research had been

done in various dimensions.

CHAPTER –III

PROFILE OF THE STUDY AREA

3.1 HISTORY

Sivaganga District is an administrative district of Tamil Nadu state in

southern India. The city of Sivaganga is the district headquarters. It is bounded

by Pudukkottai district on the Northeast, Tiruchirapalli district on the North,

Ramanathapuram district on South East, Virudhunagar district on South West and

Madurai District on the West. Sivaganga District has been carved out fro m composite

Ramnad District as per G.O. MS. No. 1122 Rev. Dept. Dated. 6.7.84 and the District was

functioning from 15.3.85 as per G.O Ms.No. 346 Rev. dept. Dated: 8.3.85.
3.2 DEMOGRAPHICS

Before the inception of Sivagangai district, it was a part of composite

Ramanathapuram District played a dominant role in the history of south India. In the

early centuries Ramanathapuram District formed part of Pandiyan kingdom till the end of

the 15th century. Finally during the 16th and 17th century Ramanathapuram came under

the rule of Nayak Kings. During the Nayak rules, the Chief Tains viz., Sethupathy ruled

this part having their head quarter at Ramanathapuram. After the fall of Nayak, two of the

Palayakarara viz., Sethupathy of Ramanathapuram and Raja of Sivaganga become

prominent rulers of this part. The Sethupathy of Ramanathapuram lost his personal

freedom and the British took control of the administration of Ramanathapuram in 1795. It

was converted into a Zamindari in 1803 and Mangaleshwari Natchiar became the first

Zamindar.

During the period, the Raja of Sivagangai also revolted against the British. The

famous Maruthu and Chinna Maruthu assisted the Raja of Sivagangai also revolted agaist

the British, the famous Maruthu brothers. Periya Maruthu and China Maruthu assited the

Raja of Sivagangai (Muthu Vaduganathar) the queen passed on the sovereignty to

Maruthu brothers who ruled Sivagangai peacefully and developed on payment of regular

revenue to the east India Company in 1901, the Maruthu brother of Sivagangai revolved

agaist the British in collaboration with Kattabomman of Panchalamkurchi. However, the

two brothers were captured by the British and were hanged in Kalaiyarkovil on

0.10.1801. The British installed Gowri Vallabha Priya Udayar as Zamindar of

Sivagangain. Finally in 1792, 9 British collectors were appointed to administer the

territory of Tamanathapuram district by carving out portions from Madurai and

Tirunelveli district and Madurai as the head quarter of this district till 1985, when it was

trifurcated. Perhaps the old Ramanathapuram was the biggets district in Tamilnadu.

Sivagangai district came into existence on 15.03.1985 consequent on the

trifurcation of composite Ramathapuram district. This district is a backward region from

the pint of view of agriculture, industry and general economic conditions of the people.

Mainly due to the feudalistic and rural background of the area several parts of this district

are frequently by drought. However, there is a gradual improvement in this district in the

sphere of industry.

3.3 LOCATION

This district is bounded on the north by Tiruchirapalli and Pudukottai district, and

than east and south Ramanathapuram district and on the west by Virudhunagar district.

3.4 CHAPTER I GEOGRAPHIC POSITION

North latitude between 9.43’ and 10.42.

East longitude between 77.47’ and 78.49’.

The district had a population of 1,150,753 with male population 565,594 and

female 585,159 (as of 2001). The rural population is 826,427 and the urban population is

324,326. It is 28.22% urbanised. It has a population density of 274.7. The district has a
literacy of 52.5%, below the average for the state. Tamil is the principal language spoken

in the district. Hindus formed the majority of the population.

3.5 ADMINISTRATION

Sivaganga is the district headquarters. The district has 6 taluks in 2 revenue

division.

TABLE 3.1

ADMINISTRATION OF SIVAGANGAI

Revenue Taluks No. of revenue

Division villages
Sivaganga 4(Sivaganga, 267
Manamadurai, Ilayankudi,
Tiruppuvanam)
Devakottai 3(Devakottai, Karaikudi, 255
Tiruppattur)
Total 7 522

3.6 ECONOMY

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Sivaganga one of the country's

250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640). It is one of the six districts in Tamil
Nadu currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme

(BRGF).

3.7 AGRICULTURE

The vast majority of the workforce is dependent on agriculture (72.8%). The

principal crop of Sivaganga district is paddy. A majority of the district has red soil. The

other crops that are grown are sugarcane, groundnut, pulses, millets and cereals. Tamil

Nadu Agricultural University plans to set up the State's first Red Soil Dryland Research

Centre in Sivaganga district soon.

The Spices Board will setting up a new spices park at Sivaganga on an invest of

Rs.18 crores. As of December 2010 this park is expected to be operational by March

2011. It would be immensely helpful to farmers of chilli, turmeric, medicinal plants and

tamarind, as the focus would be to export their products. The proposed spices park would

establish machinery for cleaning, sorting, grading, packaging, storing, sterilising and

other work. The focus would be to encourage chilli, a leading crop in Ramanathapuram,

Sivaganga and nearby districts, and turmeric crops. Medicinal plants, being raised in and

around Madurai district, would also get a boost, as it was planned to patronise farmers of

medicinal plants.
3.8 SUGAR INDUSTRY

The Sakthi sugar factory is also located in Sivaganga. It has capability of produce

more than 5,000 tons of sugar per day. It provides employment to more than 1,000

labourers directly and indirectly.

3.9 SOLAR POWER FARM

Moser Baer Clean Energy Limited has commissioned a 5 MW grid connected

solar PV project at Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu. The project was awarded to Sapphire

Industrial Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of MBCEL, through a

competitive bidding process conducted by the Tamil Nadu Renewable Development

Agency. The project is implemented under the 50 MWp generation based incentive

scheme of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India.

3.10 TELEVISION PLANT

Videocon is setting up a Rs.1,600-crore plant for colour television sets and other

electronic consumer durables at Manamadurai.

3.11 PLACES OF INTEREST

3.11.1 VETTANGUDI BIRD SANCTUARY

Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary is near to Tirupattur. This sanctuary attracts a number

of migratory birds such as white ibis, asian openbill stork and night heron. Besides,

endangered species such as painted stork, gray heron, darter, little cormorant, little
egret, intermediate egret, cattle egret, common teal, spotbill, pintail and flamingos flock

here. The best season to visit is November to February.

3.11.2 CHETTINAD

Chettinad is the homeland of the Nattukottai Chettiars (Nagarathar), a prosperous

banking and business community. It is well known for itsChettinad cuisine which is very

hot and spicy. It is one of the south Indian cuisines that has a large number of specialty

restaurants. A typical meal will have meat, served on a banana leaf, with a large number

of courses.

Also, the old Chettiar mansions are rich in heritage, art and

architecture. Kanadukathan has one such beautiful palatial house. The affluence of the

chettiars are shown off in their palatial houses. Carved teak wood doors and

frames, marblefloors, granite pillars, Belgian mirrors and Italian tiles are the norms.

There are also a few pandiya temples. The Karpaka Vinayakar Temple and Sri

Sowmiyanarayana Perumal Kovil in Thirukoshtiyur attracts large number of pilgrims.

3.11.3 OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST

· Anjanamaar Panch Shaheedh Waliyullah dargah, Kannaar Street, Manamadurai.

· Hazrat Syed Salaar Sha Shaheed Waliyullah, Raziyallah ta'ala anhu dargah,

Pallichandai.
· Ariyakudi the south tirupathi is just 3 km from karaikudi.it is 400 years old,must visit

and worth to visit temple.you can offer the tonsure,anga pradakshana,kalyana utsav

prayed to thirupathi venkateswara swamy

· Koviloor Temple, Karaikudi, Kandadevi Temple, Idaikattur Church, Kollangudi

Vettudaiyar Kaliamman Temple, Kaleeswarar Temple, Nagarasivan Temple,

Kundrakudi Temple

· Kallal Somasundaram Soundara Nayagi Temple and its Masimaham Festival mostly

in the month of February every year.

· Panchabhutheswaram, known as Vedhiyanendal vilakku, 5 km from Manamadurai is

on the way to Paramakudi via Elaiyankudi, the route in which Lord Rama went to

Srilanka to confront Ravanan. This place is known for its hard cut-rock (granite)

temple dedicated to Shri Maha Panchamukha Prathyangira Devi. It houses the big

deity of shri Maha Panchamukha Prathyangira Devi. There are two more sannidhies

for Lakshmi Ganapathi and Sornagarshna Bhairavar. It has come in a total area of

about 5.5 acres (22,000 m2). Soon within the temple premises, ten more sannidhies

are going to come for Dasamaha Vidya. Non-stop annadharmam right from 2000

since inception.

· Madapuram Badrakali amman temple, Madapuram

3.12 RULES OF SIVAGANGAI

 The Kingdom of Ramnad originally comprised the territories of Ramnad,

Sivaganga and Pudukottai of today. Regunatha Sethupathy alias Kilavan Sethupathy, the

7th King of Ramnad reigned between 1674 and 1710. Kilavan Sethupathy, came to know

of the bravery and valour of Peria Oodaya Thevar of Nalukottai, 4 Kilometres from

Sholapuram near Sivaganga.

The King assigned to Peria Oodaya Thevar of Nalukottai a portion of land

sufficient to maintain 1,000 armed men. Vijaya Regunatha Sethupathy became the 8th

King of Ramnad in 1710 after the death of Kilavan Sethupathy. The King gave in

marriage his daughter Akilandeswari Nachiar, to Sasivarna Thevar, the son of Nalukottai

Peria Oodaya Thevar. The King gave Sasivarna Thevar lands as dowry, free of taxation,

sufficient to maintain 1,000 men. He placed him in charge of the fortresses of Piranmalai,

Tiruppathur, Sholapuram and Tiruppuvanam as well as the harbour of Thondi.

Meanwhile Bhavani Sankaran, the son of Kilavan Sethupathy conquered Ramnad

territory and arrested Sundareswara Regunatha Sethupathy, the 9th King of Ramnad.

Bhavani Sankaran proclaimed himself as the Rajah of Ramnad. He became the 10th king

of Ramnad and he reigned from 1726 to 1729. He quarrelled with Sasivarna Peria

Oodaya Thevar of Nalukottai and drove him out of his Nalukottai Palayam. Kattaya

Thevan, the brother of the late Sundareswara Regunatha Sethupathy fled from Ramnad

and sought refuge with the Rajah of Tanjore Tuljaji. While Sasivarna Thevar was passing

through the jungles of Kalayarkoi, he met a gnani (sage) named Sattappiah, who was

performing Thapas (meditation) under a jambool tree near a spring called 'Sivaganga'.
The deposed king prostrated himself before him and narrated all the previous incidents of

his life.

The Gnani whispered a certain mantra in his ears (Mantra Opadesam) and advised

him to go to Tanjore and kill a ferocious tiger which was kept by the Rajah especially to

test the bravery of men. Sasivarna Thevar went to Tanjore. There he became acquainted

with Kattaya Thevan a refugee like himself. Satisfied with the good behaviour of

Sasivarma Thevar and Kattaya Thevan, the Rajah of Tanjore wanted to help them to

regain the States again, ordered his Dalavoy to go with a large army to invade Bhavani

Sankaran. Sasivarna Thevar and Kattaya Thevan at once proceeded to Ramnad with a

large army furnished by the king of Tanjore. They defeated Bhavani Sankaran at the

battle of Uraiyur and captured Ramnad in 1730. Thus Kattaya Thevan became the 11th

King of Ramnad.

3.12.1 1st RAJAH SASIVARNA THEVAR (1730–1750)

Kattaya Thevan divided Ramnad into five parts and retained three for himself. He

granted the two parts to Sasivarna Thevar of Nalukottai conferring on him the title of

"Rajah Muthu Vijaya Regunatha Peria Oodaya Thevar".

3.12.2 2nd RAJAH — MUTHU VADUGANATHA PERIA OODAYA THEVAR

(1750–1772)
 Sasivarna Peria Oodaya Thevar died in or about the year 1750. He was succeeded

by his only son, Muthu Vaduganatha Peria Oodaya Thevar. He was the second Rajah of

Sivaganga. His wife Rani Velu Nachiar acted as "friend, Philosopher and guide" to him.

Tandavaraya Pillai was the able minister of Sivaganga country. Muthu Vaduganatha

Peria Oodaya Thevar granted commercial facilities to the Dutch only after the English

rejected a similar offer, made to Colonel Heron. Further the aim of the English was to

oblige the ruler of Sivaganga to serve the Nawab or to pay tribute to him or to dissuade

them from establishing relations with foreign powers like the Dutch. A two pronged

offensive was made by the English. Joseph Smith from the east and Benjour from the

west invaded Sivaganga Palayam in June 1772. The country was full of bushes of

cockspur thorn, though there were villages and open spaces here and there. Rajah Muthu

Vaduganatha Thevar, in anticipation of the invasion, erected barriers on the roads, dug

trenches and established posts in the woods of Kalayarkoil.

On the 21 June 1772, the detachment of Smith and Benjour effected a junction and

occupied the town of Sivaganga. The next day, the English forces marched to Kalayarkoil

and captured the posts of Keeranoor and Sholapuram. Now, Benjour continuing the

operations came into conflict with the main body of the troops of Sivaganga on the 25

June 1772. Muthu Vaduganatha Rajah with many of his followers fell dead in that heroic

battle. The heroic activities shown in the battle field by Velu Nachiar is praised by the

Historians. The widow queen Velu Nachiar and daughter Vellachi Nachiar with
Tandavaraya Pillai fled to Virupakshi in Dindigul. Later they were joined by the two able

Servaigarars Periya Marudu and Chinna Marudhu.

3.12.3 3rd RANI VELU NACHIAR (1772–1780)

Rani Velu Nachiar and her daughter Vellachi Nachiar lived under the protection of

Hyder Ali at Virupakshi near Dindigul. Frustrated by the joining of forces against him,

the Nawab ordered that Velu Nachiar and Marudhu Brothers were permitted to return to

Sivaganga and rule the country subject to payment of Kist to the Nawab. Abiding by this

Order, Rani Velu Nachiar accompanied by Marudu brothers and Vellachi Nachiar entered

Sivaganga. An agreement was reached whereby Rani Velu Nachiar was permitted to

govern the Sivaganga Country and Chinna Marudu, the younger was appointed her

minister and the elder Vellai Marudu as the Commander-in-chief. Thus the widow Queen

Velu Nachiar succeeded her husband in 1780.

The Queen Velu Nachiar granted powers to Marudhu Brothers to administer the

country in 1780. Velu Nachiar died a few years later, but the exact date of her death is not

known (it was about 1790). Marudu brothers are the sons of Udayar Servai alias Mookiah

Palaniappan Servai and Anandayer alias Ponnathal. They are native of Kongulu street of

Ramnad. They belonged neither to the family of the ancient poligars nor to their division

of the caste.

Servaikaran was the caste title and Marudu the family name. The Marudu Brothers

served under Muthu Vaduganatha Thevar. Later they were elevated to the position of

Commanders. Boomerangs are peculiar to India. Two forms of this weapons are used in
India. These weapons are commonly made of wood. It is crescent-shaped on end being

heavier than the other and the outer edge is sharpened. Their name in Tamil is Valari

stick. It is said that Marudu Brothers were experts in the art of throwing the valari stick. It

is said that Marudus used Valari in the Poligar wars against the English. The Marudu

brothers with 12,000 armed men surrounded Sivaganga and plundered the Nawab's

territories. The Nawab on the 10th March 1789 appealed to the Madras Council for aid.

On 29th April 1789, the British forces attacked Kollangudi. It was defeated by a large

body of Marudu's troops. He was in close association with Veera Pandiya Kattabomman

of Panchalankurichi. Kattabomman held frequent consultations with Marudhus.

After the execution of Kattabomman in 17 October 1799 at Kayattar, Chinna

Marudhu gave asylum to Kattabomman's brother Oomadurai (dumb brother). He issued

an epoch-making Jumboo Deweepa proclamation to the people in the island of Jamboo

the peninsular South India to fight against the English whether they were Hindus,

Mussalamans or Christians. At last the Marudhu Pandiyars fell a victim to the cause of

liberating the motherland from the English supremacy. Marudu Pandiyan the popular

leader of the rebels, together with his gallant brother Vellai Marudu were executed on the

ruins of fort at Tiruppathur in Sivaganga District on 24 October 1801. They showed their

determination and spirit at the outset of the final struggle of 1801 by setting their

handsome village Siruvayal on fire to prevent its being made use of by the English forces.

Marudu brothers were not only warriers and noted for bravery, but they were very

great Administrators. During the period from 1783 to 1801, they worked for the welfare
of the people and the Sivaganga Seemai was reported as fertile. They constructed many

notable temples (i.e. Kalayarkoil) Ooranis and Tanks.

After, so many successions of legal heirs ruled the estate, lastly, Sri D.S.

Karthikeya Venkatachalapathy Rajah succeeded to the estate of late Sri. D. Shanmuga

Rajah and he was the Hereditary Trustee of Sivaganga. Devasthanam and Chatrams

consisting of 108 temples, 22 Kattalais and 20 Chatrams. Sri. D.S. Karthikeya

Venkatachalapathy Rajah died on 30 August 1986, leaving a daughter named Tmt.

Maduranthagi Nachiyar as his heir. At present, Tmt. Maduranthagi Nachiyar is

administering the Sivaganga Estate, Sivaganga Devasthanam and Chatram of Sivaganga

Royal Family now. Based on the "District Gazette" 1990 of Ramanathapuram, and the

history of Sivaganga maintained by Samasthanam, Sivaganga District has been formed

mostly with an area of entire Sivaganga Zamin and part of Ramnad Zamin.

3.13 GEOGRAPHY

Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu spreads over 4,189 km². The geographical

position of Sivaganga district is between 9° 43′ and 10° 2′ North Latitude and between

77° 47′ and 78° 49′ East Longitude. It is bounded on the north and northeast

by Pudukkottai District, on the southeast and south by Ramanathapuram District, on the

southwest by Virudhunagar District, and on the west by Madurai District, and on the

northwest by Tiruchirappalli District.

MAP-3.1