Sunday, September 4, 2011

The Obelisks of Pullalur

Pullalur, Often called as Pollilur in Indian History lies 10 miles North of Kanchipuram.

In the past, This place had been very often a scene of a bloody battle. Be it the Pallava-Chalukya war, or the wars of the Chola Kings up to the Anglo-Mysore Wars, the sands of Pullalur had seen bloodshed throughout History.

In 1780, While Hyder Ali was laying seige on Arcot, the British has ordered for reinforcements to Colonel William Baillie's Brigade of 5000 troops from Guntur and to Colonel Hector Munro's Army in Madras.

Hyder Ali sent a part of his army under the leadership of Tipu Sultan, to intercept William Baillie, who was on his way to join forces of Sir Hector Munro.

On 10th September 1780, Baillie's British Brigade of 5000 troops encounter Tipu Sultan's Forces. The location of the encounter was Indeed, Pullalur. It was here, Tipu unleashed his ultimate weapon, The War Rockets.

Typical Indian rockets at that time was made of Bamboo. But, Tipu's rockets were made of Iron, which gave longer range (upto 2 km) and higher thrust.

Also, typical rockets will have guidance sticks to keep them stable in flight. But, the guidance sticks on Tipu's Rockets, served another dangerous purpose. There were sword blades, which made the rocket unstable, hence will rotate in flight and tumble, bringing more casualties on the Enemies.


It is estimated that Tipu had around 6000 of these rockets at that time. He would attack in volleys of these rockets on his Enemies.

During Battle, Tipu's rockets set fire to a British Ammunition Cart, which resulted in the defeat and surrender of the British Brigade. On hearing the defeat, Sir Hector Munro retreated back to Madras, after dumping his baggage and Cannons in a Water Tank in Kanchipuram.

This Battle is considered one of the worst defeats for the British Forces.

Tipu's rockets were the inspiration for the British Congreve rockets, which were later effectively put in use by the British in the Napoleonic Wars.

After the battle, Instead of capturing the British forces on Madras, Hyder Ali continued the seige of Arcot and captured Arcot on 3rd November 1780. This short time span was well utilized by the British, that they had dispatched reinforcements under the Command of Sir Eyre Coote to Madras.

After a decisive victory over Hyder's Forces in the Battle of Porto Novo (Parangipettai) on 1st July 1781, Sir Eyre Coote encountered the forces of Hyder Ali again.

In 27th August 1781, Pullalur had seen another bloodbath. Sir Eyre Coote emerged victorious by driving hyder's forces back.

Eventually, after the Seige of Srirangapatnam (Tipu's Capital) in 1799, the British gained indirect control of Mysore.

Two Obelisks were constructed by the British in Pullalur in memory of two British Officers who died in the Battle on 1781.

One for Captain JAMES HISLOP and another for Lieutenant Colonel George Brown.

The Obelisks are called as Ghori by the locals.


The texts on the First Obelisk is as follows:

Sacred to the Memory
Of
Captain JAMES HISLOP,
who was killed by a Cannon Ball
from the Enemy near this Spot,
The field of Battle,
27th August 1781
while serving as Aid de camp to
Lieu, General SIR EYRE COOTE, KB
Commander in Chief
------------
His professional Abilities
And private Virtues,
Were felt and acknowledged by all his
Contemporaries.

The texts on second Obelisk is not as clear as the first one. It reads:

Sacred to the Memory
of
Lieutenant Colonel George Brown
When Lieutenant of Grenadiers
in Drapers Regiment
he lost his Right Arm,
On the storm of Conjeevaram Pagoda occupied by the French
on the 18th of Apri 1759
and fell
in a general Action fought on this Field between the English
Forces and the Troops of Hyder Ali Cain Bahadur
on the 27th of August 1781.

esteemed by every Rank
a gallant Soldier,
an able Officer,
and _____ an Honest
Man ___




Today, Pullalur has no signs of war or blood, except for the two Obelisks standing high amidst the vast paddy fields.

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