Padamathur Zamindar's descendant runs eatery to make ends meet

Padamathur province was one of the 72 poligars in Sivaganga that formed part of Madurai ruled by the Nayaks. The province was formed in 1529 by Viswanatha Nayak, the first Vijayanagara Viceroy for Madurai. 

S Pandithurai, the descendant of Padamathur Zamin, said the Zamin was formed over 200 years and boasted many famous kings. One among them was GowriVallavaThevar. He along with his brother, OyyaThevar, fought with British and won against them. 

On seeing the bravery of Gowri Vallava Thevar, Velu Nachiyar, the renowned Sivaganga queen beckoned him to her palace and asked him to stay on as her adopted son. However, in 1801, after the rule of Gowri Vallava Thevar, their powers were stripped and they became mere Zamins. 

In the beginning of 20th century, the rulers had mortgaged their palace to a Chettiyar but failed to retrieve it. After Independence, all their powers were stripped and they were pushed to a state of poverty. 

Pandithurai, the eighth generation Gowri Vallava Thevar, said the Padamathur palace still exists, but is under the control of  the government. After the death of Gowri Vallava Thevar, a temple was constructed for him. A gigantic statue of him astride a horse is hard to miss. 

The brave ruler is worshiped as a local God. The Zamindar may be flirting with poverty, but he is rich when it comes to social acknowledgement. 

Pandithurai commands the first respect in the temple festival. However, for the rest of the year, he, along with his daughter and two sons struggle to make a profit out of their eatery business. Pandithruai is hoping that state government would grant him a monthly pension, similar to what is granted to the descendants of other polygars.