Justice G R Swaminathan observed that if a memorial for Stan Swamy didn’t require permission, then certainly one for these war heroes shouldn’t either. The court highlighted the importance
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NewsLegalMadras High Court allows stupa for 1755 war heroes: ‘If Stan Swamy can have memorial, why not them?’
Madras High Court allows stupa for 1755 war heroes: ‘If Stan Swamy can have memorial, why not them?’
Justice G R Swaminathan was hearing a plea filed by a practising lawyer seeking permission to install a memorial stupa commemorating the Natham Kanavai battle.
Written by Richa Sahay
New Delhi | Updated: January 1, 2026 01:52 PM IST
4 min read
The Madras High Court observed that celebrating success motivate, instil inspiration and trigger transformation while talking about the battles and chess grandmasters. (Image is created using AI)
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In a recent ruling that bridges the gap between 18th-century warfare and modern-day chess champions, the Madras High Court has cleared the way for installing a memorial stupa in honour of a 1755 “Natham Kanavai War” waged against the British.
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Justice G R Swaminathan was hearing a writ petition filed by Siva Kalaimani Ambalam, a practising lawyer, after the Tahsildar of Natham rejected his request to install a memorial stupa commemorating the historic Natham Kanavai battle.
Justice G R Swaminathan expressed concern that many in the present generation are unaware of the battles and struggles waged by Indian society to free itself from colonial rule. (Image is enhanced using AI)
“If for erecting a stone pillar in memory of Stan Swamy, permission is not required, certainly, no permission is required for erecting a stupa in memory of the Natham Kanavai battle,” the court observed.
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It was placed on record that Natham Kanavai witnessed a “bloody confrontation” in 1755 between the Melur Kallars and the British forces, in which the Kallars emerged victorious. The petitioner submitted that British troops, led by Colonel Alexander Heron, had looted brass idols from the Thirumogur (Koilkudi) Temple, which were later successfully retrieved by the Kallar community after the battle.
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Here are the reasons the court considered for granting permission to install the memorial stupa.
‘Salad bowl’: India has “civilizational unity”. When the USA is said to be a “melting pot”, India is metaphorically termed as a “salad bowl” since India has a “collection of communities and sub-communities” that speak different languages, belong to different regions, and therefore, historical memories associated with such identities can be harnessed for higher purposes.
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‘Kallar Community’: The Kallar community has a martial background and can be compared to Gurkhas and Rajputs, and was branded as “criminal tribes” by the British. The community languished for decades and faced untold hardships till the legendary leader Shri Pon Muthuramalinga Thevar redeemed the community.
‘Tamil soil’: It was pointed out that after the British started ruling the nation, there was resistance and struggle, with some scholars holding the view that the first war of Indian independence was not waged in 1857, but much before, and it was waged from the Tamil soil. Taking judicial notice, it was observed that the British “met their match” in the Madurai region, recalling figures such as Velu Nachiyar, the Marudu brothers, Puli Thevar, Kattabomman and Oomaithurai.
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[01/01, 15:47] Meta AI: The Madras High Court has allowed the installation of a memorial stupa for 1755 war heroes who fought against the British in the Natham Kanavai battle. Justice G R Swaminathan observed that if a memorial for Stan Swamy didn’t require permission, then certainly one for these war heroes shouldn’t either. The court highlighted the importance of celebrating successes and struggles of Indian society to free itself from colonial rule, drawing parallels with chess grandmasters and India’s “civilizational unity” like a “salad bowl” of communities [1].
Would you like to know more about the Natham Kanavai battle or the court’s reasoning?
