History Of Singampatti Samasthanam & 31st Crowned King T. N. S. Murugadoss Theerthapathi, Raja Of Singampatti

HISTORY OF SINGAMPATTI SAMASTHANAM

Known to be Descendents of Ancient Tamil King Pandya, Singampatti Samasthanam has records from 1100A.D.,

In the reign of Oograhapandya,about the year 1100 A.D., one Apadodharana Thevar of the country of Sethupathees left his native place and sought fortune in the South. Apadpdharana Thevar formed kingdom with the help of Rajah Kalitha Pandya.

This principality been an independent kingdom which was transformed in the 1530s into a Palayam/Poligar by the Nayaks and then converted to Zamindari in 1806 by the British.

SINGAMPATTI PALACE TERRACE VIEW

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OF SINGAMPATTI ZAMIN:

·         The Fifth King of Singampatti helped Raja kalitha Pandya to succeed War should be between 1200-1300

·         During 1750 Singampatti king supported Puli Thevan the first freedom fighter to fight against British East India company

·         Singampatti sent battalion of 1000 horses and elephants to help Travancore king Marthanda varman in Ettuvitu pillai rebellion also called Maravar padai

·         Singampatti Zamindar presided over the 1920 Madras Provincial Conference's comity

·         Singampatii Zamindar Sponsored the visit of Mahathma Gandhi to Thirunelveli, When Mahathma toured against untouchability in 1934

·         Singampatti Zamin is always generous towards its people, the 30th King during his period 1903-1930, Have built Theerthapathy Primary school at Singampatti and Theerthapathy High School and hospital in Ambasamuthram and provided service free of cost. This schools and hospital still exist

VIEW FROM THE COURTYARD GARDEN

AFTER INDEPENDENCE:

After independence, Government abolished Zamindaris under Zamindari Abolishment Act, and Land Sealing Acts

At that time of abolishment Singampatti Zamin had 80,000acres of land, which is approximately 340 Sq kms of vast frontier.

Government always respected the rich heritage of the Singampatti Zamin and have given special prestigious status, one of it is exemption from Arms Act.

T. N. S. Murugadoss Theerthapathi, Raja of Singampatti

AT PRESENT : THE ONLY SURVIVING CROWNED RULER IN INDIA

And Fortunately this oldest petty kingdom still exist in Zamin Singampatti ,Tirunelveli.

And still the 31st crowned King T. N. S. Murugadoss Theerthapathi, Raja of Singampatti(89)  - live in the palace located in Zamin Singampatti, which is one of the heritage site, included in Tamil Nadu tourism. T. N. S. Murugadoss Theerthapathi, Raja of Singampatti  was crowned at his early age  of 4 years  and 3 months on 14.01.1936 AT SINGAMPATTI PALACE, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India on 18th May, 2019 at Kamarajar Auditorium, Teynampet, Chennai.

We were very fortunate to meet him on 4th Oct 2019. He is brilliant in English & Tamil literature with knowledge of impeccable language skills. He is also a great philosopher and devotional visionary. I would like to quote a small event for the same, Raja’s wrote a letter to Andrew Fowler-Watt, principal of Trinity college, Kandy, Sri Lanka, pointing out that a caption for a picture of his nomination as principal called it an installation ceremony . “Only materials could be installed and not humans. It should have been termed properly as ‘investiture ceremony,” Raja pointed out in his letter. “I am writing this letter plucking up sufficient courage as you are a British national. In olden days Trinity used to be an institution noted for being a stickler for language,” he added. Fowler-Watt’s reply was prompt with a wry acknowledgement of the error.  Apart from literature, Rajah’ talents range from dance, silambam, ambidextrous, tennis, shooting (sharp-shooter, can shoot a cigarette out of man’s mouth – also blindfolded 😉)….

Surprisingly, he is very active for his age and spends quality time for the welfare of the people. We have also noticed him to be very simple & humble human being. From what I have observed, he is a true scholar and a person who leads by example.

There are few reminders of the glorious rule of the Zamin-the 150-year-old crockery with which he serves a meal for guests and a small museum which not only holds history of Singampatti Samasthanam that also holds the tomb of the two palace pets-Scotch Collies Jenny and Paddy who died in 1931 and 1932.

People who know him would want him to continue as their King/Leader/Mentor forever. In this era of Kings without Kingdom and Kingdoms without Kings , still the love of Singampatti people towards the Ex-Zamindar and rich heritage is still intact , which can be seen in singampatti palace and Kings Dharbar Event of Aadi festival of Sorimuthu Ayyanar temple. I wish him all the good health and fame for the decades to come.

With Love & Respect,

Balakumaran B