HOME | DD

Description
Mohammad Yusuf Khan or Khan Sahib also called Marudhanayagam was a freedom fighter from Tamilnadu in the 18th century. He was the second freedom fighter of India after Pulithevar. Born Marudhanayagam, he was born a hindu to a Vellalar family. From humble beginnings, he became a warrior in the Arcot troops, later Commandant for the British East India Company troops. The British and the Arcot Nawab used him to suppress Polygars (Palayakkarar) in the South Tamilnadu.Each palayam usually consisting of a few villages,was placed under the control of a Palayakkaran.Later he was entrusted to administrating the Madurai country when the Madurai Nayaks rule ended. During that uncertain period he demonstrated his considerable abilities as an administrator.Later a dispute arose with the British and Arcot Nawab, and three of his associates were bribed to capture Yusuf Khan; he was hanged in 1764 in Madurai.By 1760 he had reached the zenith of his career as the 'all-conquering' military commandant.Yusuf Khan was held in very high esteem even after his death by the English and in their opinion he was one of the two great military geniuses India had ever produced; the other being Hyder Ali of Mysore. He captured Puli Thevar.He chased the Dutch to their Ships at Alwarthirunagari.He killed Alagu Muthu Kone, a rebel to the British.He warred with Travancore Maharaja without consent of British,warred with Ramanadapuram Zamin’s general Damodar Pillai and Thandavarayan Pillai.He defeated Travancore Raja.Hoisted French Flag on Madurai Fort.British Army could not win over Yusuf Khan.While doing Namaz in his house, he was numbed by his own deputies, gifted to Arcot Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah, who hanged him at Dabedar Chandai (Shandy) near Sammatti Puram, on Madurai-Dindigul road.Though he supported the British at first he understood the British ideology and became one of the first freedom fighters of India.

Description
Mohammad Yusuf Khan or Khan Sahib also called Marudhanayagam was a freedom fighter from Tamilnadu in the 18th century. He was the second freedom fighter of India after Pulithevar. Born Marudhanayagam, he was born a hindu to a Vellalar family. From humble beginnings, he became a warrior in the Arcot troops, later Commandant for the British East India Company troops. The British and the Arcot Nawab used him to suppress Polygars (Palayakkarar) in the South Tamilnadu.Each palayam usually consisting of a few villages,was placed under the control of a Palayakkaran.Later he was entrusted to administrating the Madurai country when the Madurai Nayaks rule ended. During that uncertain period he demonstrated his considerable abilities as an administrator.Later a dispute arose with the British and Arcot Nawab, and three of his associates were bribed to capture Yusuf Khan; he was hanged in 1764 in Madurai.By 1760 he had reached the zenith of his career as the 'all-conquering' military commandant.Yusuf Khan was held in very high esteem even after his death by the English and in their opinion he was one of the two great military geniuses India had ever produced; the other being Hyder Ali of Mysore. He captured Puli Thevar.He chased the Dutch to their Ships at Alwarthirunagari.He killed Alagu Muthu Kone, a rebel to the British.He warred with Travancore Maharaja without consent of British,warred with Ramanadapuram Zamin’s general Damodar Pillai and Thandavarayan Pillai.He defeated Travancore Raja.Hoisted French Flag on Madurai Fort.British Army could not win over Yusuf Khan.While doing Namaz in his house, he was numbed by his own deputies, gifted to Arcot Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah, who hanged him at Dabedar Chandai (Shandy) near Sammatti Puram, on Madurai-Dindigul road.Though he supported the British at first he understood the British ideology and became one of the first freedom fighters of India.