Maruthanayagam (Marudhanayagam) Pillai, or Muhammad Yusuf Khan, was born in Pannaiyur, Ramanad District, Tamilnadu, India in 1725. 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. The polygar system had evolved with the extension of Vijayanagar rule to Tamil Nadu by the Nayaks. It was the brain-child of Aryanatha Mudaliar (Thalavaai Mudaliar), the celebrated tamil general and prime minister of Viswanatha Nayak, the first Nayak ruler of Madurai.The country was divided into provinces or Palayams (pronounced Paalayam). Each palayam usually consisting of a few villages,was placed under the control of a Palayakkaran (Polygar or Poligar as mentioned in the English records) who was expected to provide in return, an annual tribute and military service to the Madurai ruler.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. He was the first freedom fighter even before Kattabomman.
Great Warrior
By 1760 he had reached the zenith of his career as the 'all-conquering' military commandant. (A few years earlier he had been given the rank of 'Commandant of Company's sepoys'). His greatest supporter during this period was George Pigot, the English governor in Madras. 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. Yusuf Khan was regarded for his strategy and Hyder Ali for his speed. Major General Sir. John Malcolm said of him almost a fifty years later,"Yusuf Khan was by far the bravest and ablest of all the native soldiers ever to serve the English in India".
Winning Many Wars circa 1755 Packing the French Troops in Madras Fort
circa 1756 Defeated Madurai Ruler Barkadthulla (who wanted to build a Dargah over Madurai Meenakshi Temple after destroying it) & his large army with just 400 troops
Destroyed the hegemony of the Kallars & the Palayakkars & brought order
Captured several of Puli Thevar's (Pooli Thevar) a polygar of Nerkattumseval forts which could not be captured by Britishers alone. Captured Puli Thevar & planned to hang him in Kalugu Malai.
Chased the Dutch to their Ships at Alwarthirunagari
Killed Alagu Muthu Kone, a rebel to the British
Warred with Travancore Maharaja without consent of British
Warred with Ramnad Zamin’s general Damodar Pillai and Thandavarayan Pillai
Defeated Travancore Raja
Joined with French to rebel against the British
Hoisted French Flag on Madura Fort
1763 British Army could not win over Yusuf Khan, retreats at MAdurai
the Arcot Nawab consulted Sivaganga General Thaandavaraaya Pillai
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
