Thousands bid adieu to Singampatti Zamindar

He was the last royal heir crowned zamindar of one of the recognised palaiyams of Tamil Nadu. He was 89 years old and leaves behind two sons and three daughters.

Mourning his death, several people thronged the Durbar Hall, where his mortal remains was kept to pay last respects. The cremation was held at 4.30 pm, on the banks of Tamirabarani at Singampatti, sources said.

The legendary icon was the ruler of Singampatti Samasthanam, which came into existence in the 12th century. Thirthapathi was born on September 29 in 1931. He was the 32nd crowned king and earned the royal title as ‘Zamindar of Singampatti’ during 1936 and was India’s last prince. Thirthapathi was one of the prominent zamindars before the Zamindari system was abolished in 1956.

The late Zamindar was a veteran scholar fluent in English, which he learnt while at Kandy in Sri Lanka, Ilasai Manian, secretary, Raghunathan Library, Bharati Research Centre, Ettayapuram, said on Monday.

Thirthapathi earlier served as Trustee for long years together at Sorimuthu Ayyanar Temple in Karayar. He also offered one of his palatial buildings to a government aided school. Recalling the Zamindar’s history, sources added that Thirthapathi remitted a sum of Rs 8,000 as tax, otherwise known as ‘kist’ in those days to the East India Company during the British era. After the Zamindari Abolition Act was passed post-Independence, the government took possession of 78,000 acres of Thirthapathi’s lands, sources said.