Vanchinathan (1886 – June 17, 1911), popularly known as
Vanchi, was an Indian Tamil independence activist. He is best remembered for
having shot dead Ashe, the Collector of Thirunelveli and having later committed
suicide in order to evade arrest.
Personal life
Vanchinathan was born in 1886 in Shenkottai to Raghupathy
Iyer and Rukmani Ammal. His actual name was Shankaran. He did his schooling in
Shenkottai and graduated in M.A. from Moolam Thirunal Maharaja College in
Thiruvananthapuram. Even while in college, he married Ponnammal and got into a
lucrative Government job.
Freedom Movement
On June 17, 1911, Vanchi assassinated Ashe, the district
collector of Tirunelveli, who was also known as Collector Dorai. He shot Ashe
at point-blank range when Ashe's train had stopped at the Maniyachi station, en
route to Madras. He committed suicide thereafter. The railway station has since
been renamed Vanchi Maniyachi.
On that day, Ashe boarded the 9-30 a.m. Maniyachi Mail at
Tirunelveli junction. With him was his wife, Mary Lillian Patterson, who had
arrived from Ireland only a few days earlier. They had married on April 6,
1898, in Berhampore; Mary was about a year older than Ashe. They were on their
way to Kodaikanal where their four children, Molly, Arthur, Sheila, and
Herbert, lived in a rented bungalow. At 10-38 the train pulled in at Maniyachi.
The Ceylon Boat Mail was due to arrive at 10-48. As the Ashes sat facing each
other in the first class carriage, waiting for the Boat Mail to arrive, a
neatly dressed man with tufted hair and another young man wearing a dhoti
approached the carriage. The former boarded the carriage and pulled out a
Belgian-made Browning automatic pistol. The bullet hit Ashe in the chest and he
collapsed. The sound of the pistol shot was absorbed by the howling wind.
After the shooting the assassin ran along the platform and
hid in the latrine. Some time later he was found dead, having shot himself in
the mouth. In his pocket was found following letter:
"The mlechas of England having captured our country,
tread over the sanathana dharma of the Hindus and destroy them. Every Indian is
trying to drive out the English and get swarajyam and restore sanathana dharma.
Our Raman, Sivaji, Krishnan, Guru Govindan, Arjuna ruled our land protecting
all dharmas and in this land they are making arrangements to crown George V, a
mlecha, and one who eats the flesh of cows. Three thousand Madrasees have taken
a vow to kill George V as soon as he lands in our country. In order to make
others know our intention, I who am the least in the company, have done this
deed this day. This is what everyone in Hindustan should consider it as his
duty.
The contents of the letter indicated that the murder was
political and caused great apprehension. The timing of the assassination
indicated a protest against the impending coronation.
Vanchi was a close collaborator of Varahaneri Venkatesa
Subrahmanya Iyer (normally shortened to V.V.S.Aiyar or Va.Ve.Su Iyer), another
freedom fighter who sought arms to defeat the British. He trained Vanchinathan
to execute the plan in all perfection.They belonged to Bharatha matha
Association.
The Tamil Nadu Government has decided to build a memorial in
Shenkottai the birthplace of this martyr.
