Seethakathi Vallal
SEETHAKATHI VALLAL[edit]
Seethakathi was a great philanthropist who lived in Kilakarai aka Keezhakarai during the 17th century. He was named Sheik Abdul Kader and was also known as Saighu Abdul Kader,but was popularly called Seethakathi.
History[edit]
He was the second son of Maula Sahib aka Periya Thamby Maraikka and Seyyadhu Ahmed Naachiaar. Mohamed Abdul Cader aka Pattatthu Marikka was his elder sibling and the youngest was Sheik Ibrahim Marikka.
Marikkas were ship owners and seafarers in south India trading in rice, spice, building materials, horses and etc. They are an integrated Tamil Community, principal to maritime link to the Chola and Pandya kingdoms. Their ships regularly traversed across the entire Asian region to ports including Burma, Malaysia, Ceylon, Maldives, Arabia, and Africa. A bell with a Tamil inscription was found off the coast of New Zealand in 1836.
Seethakathi’s maternal grandfather was Wavaali Marikka who passed away on 25th November 1614 AD, as can been seen at the tombstone in Kilakarai today, with inscriptions denoting the Tamil Year Kollam 790, Karthikai Month, 26th Day on Friday. (கொல்லம் 790 ஆம்ஆண்டு ஆனந்தவருடம் கார்த்திகைமாதம் 26 ஆம்தேதி வெள்ளிக்கிழமை).
Birth & Nativity[edit]
Seethakathi’s descendants living both in Kilakarai and Kayalpattinam, claim that he was born in their town. However, he is interred in Kilakarai, which is also known as "Quilicare",[1] kirkari, Sembi Nadu, Korkai, Powthira Manicka Pattinam,[2] "Kelikkarai", "Ninathaan mudithaan pattinam", "Seppi Nadu", "lebba pattan" (pattan mentioned in voyages of Ibn Battuta & map displayed in Ibn Battuta Mall).
Period[edit]
Seethakathi, a great philanthropist and patronized Tamil scholars during the late 17th Century who visited. He was the disciple of the great scholar Mahaan Sadaqathulla Appa. Seethakathi was a contemporary and a courtier of the ruler of Ramanathapuram Raghunatha Deva Kilavan Setupati (r. 1671–1710) first Raja of Ramnad.[1] who established the Ramanathapuram samasthanam in 1692, after breaking off from Madurai. Seethakathi immensely contributed to the fortification of the Ramanathapuram Ramalinga Vilasam. Appreciating his efforts the ruler conferred him with the title Vijaya Raghunatha Periya Thambi. as referred to in Nondi Nadagam நொண்டி நாடகம் “இந்நிலம்புகழ்ப்ர தாபன் விசய/ இரகுநாத பெரிய தம்பி மகீபன், கன்னாவு தாரனையன் புகழ்பாடி நொண்டி/ களரிக்கு ளாடக்கங் கணங்கட்டி னானே.(1)”
Governor of Bengal[edit]
Mahaan Sadaqathulla Appa was a trader and a great scholar of Tamil and Arabic literature, respected by the local rulers and also the Nawabs of the Mughal empire. On recommendation from the Nawabs, Emperor Aurangzeb proposed Mahan Sadaqathulla as the Governor of Bengal. However, Appa recommended Seethakathi instead who was the first Tamil, to be appointed Governor of Bengal. It is claimed that Rajaji, on his appointment as the first Governor of Bengal in 1947, mentioned he was the second Tamil to adorn that post.
Philanthropy[edit]
Being born in a wealthy merchant family, Seethakathi inherited a fortune and expanded his business with his hard work and the patronage of the rulers. His merchant navies traded in rice, spices, and building materials. He was entrusted with the supply of materials and execution of several large building and temple projects, including the Sethupathis’ palace, the Ramalinga Vilasam, the Rameshwaram temple, and the Jumma pallivasal (Masjid) in Kilakarai where he is buried.
The great Deccan famine in 1702 A.D began with a drought that made villages desolate, cultivation failed, that led to mass migration . In 1703 excessive winter showers of rain further brought misery as the Rabῑ crops were damaged. The subsequent plague in 1704, brought forth untold misery to the masses. Millions perished, children were sold for a quarter of a rupee, and still starved due to the unavailability of food.
Seethakathi ordered his ships to ferry rice and pulses from other countries, and freely distributed them to the needy. Renowned poets of that time had written paens in his praise. 'ஒர் தட்டிலே பொன்னும் ஓர் தட்டிலே நெல்லும் ஒக்கவிற்கும் கார் தட்டிய பஞ்ச காலத்திலும்' . .சீதக்காதி பேரில் தனிப்பாடல்கள்.(படிக்காசுப்புலவர், நமச்சிவாயப்புலவர், தாசி முதலியோர் பாடியவை). • Some other odes on Seethakathi were written by Namachivaaya Pulavar, Padikkaasu Pulavar, and Thaasi Mudhaliaar. Umaru Pulavar had written Seythakaathiyin thirumana vaazhthu .செய்தக்காதி மரக்காயர் திருமணவாழ்த்து- ஆசிரியர் உமறு கத்தாப் புலவர். Seythakaathi Nondi Nadagam செய்தக்காதி நொண்டிநாடகம்.
Seethakathi was the patron of the Seera puraanam an ode to the Prophet Muhammad (Sal) written by Umaru Pulavar. Yet his name is not mentioned in it though the names of Sadaqathullah Appa and Abul Kasim. It is believed that he shunned publicity and hence his name was not mentioned in the preface.
References[edit]
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