Mathanda Appachu
{{family name hatnote|Mathanda|lang=Kodava}}
{{short description|Native military leader in a South Asian battle}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Diwan
| name = Mathanda Appachu
| pronunciation = Maa-thanda Appach'chu
| title =
| image = File:Kodavas.jpeg
| caption = Coorgs: Grandfather, father and sons (Karicha, his son Mathanda Appachu and four sons of Appachu)
| known_for = Coorg War
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Bollumad Village, Beppunaad Kingdom of Coorg (present day Kodagu)
| occupation = military leader
| death_date = 1875
| death_place = Madikeri
| death_cause =
| resting_place = Bollumad (Kodava name for the Kannada Bellumadu)
| monuments =
| father = Karicha
| children = 4 sons (Chengappa, Nanjappa, Belliappa and Poovaiah)
}}
Mathanda Appachu was an Indian warrior and freedom fighter. He was an officer in Chikka Vira Rajendra's army.{{cite book |last1=Richter |first1=G. |title=Manual of Coorg: A Gazetter of the Natural Features of the Country, and the Social and Political Condition of Its Inhabitants |date=1870 |publisher=C. Stolz |pages=338–339 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aadCAAAAIAAJ |access-date=20 December 2022 |language=en}} He was from Bollumad village in Beppunad in Kodagu.{{cite news |last1=Kushalappa |first1=Mookonda |title=Kodagu soldier's tryst with the British |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/spectrum/spectrum-statescan/kodagu-soldier-s-tryst-with-the-british-665032.html |access-date=20 December 2022 |work=Deccan Herald |date=17 April 2018 |language=en}} He was also known as Madanta Appachu. He defeated the British in battle in 1834.
Battle of Somwarpet, 1834
In 1834, the British East India Company invaded Kodagu (then known as Coorg). The British army consisted of more than 6000 men and was divided into four columns who entered Kodagu from different directions.{{cite book |last1=Richter |first1=G. |title=Manual of Coorg: A Gazetter of the Natural Features of the Country, and the Social and Political Condition of Its Inhabitants |date=1870 |publisher=C. Stolz |page=333 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aadCAAAAIAAJ |language=en}}
On third April, one of the four columns entered Kodagu via Kodlipet and marched towards Haringi. They came to a village guarded by a stockade. This village was under the charge of Mathanda Appachu and his men. The Column was led by Major Bird. For four and a half hours, the British tried to pass the village but were unable to.
The British came under heavy firing. Col Mill, Ensign Robertson and Ensign Babington were among the 48 killed in the British force. 118 others were wounded in the invading column.
No casualties were reported from Mathanda Appachu's side. Major Bird led his remaining men and quickly retreated several miles to try another route.{{cite book |last1=Ponnappa |first1=Kongetira Chinnappa |title=A Study of the Origins of Coorgs |date=1999 |publisher=K. C. Ponappa |page=23 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZC9uAAAAMAAJ&q=mathanda+appachu |access-date=20 December 2022 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Muthanna |first1=I. M. |title=A Tiny Model State of South India |date=1953 |publisher=Tiny Spot |page=65 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ux9AAAAAMAAJ&q=mathanda+appachu |access-date=20 December 2022 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Diwan Mathanda Appachu |url=https://kodavaclan.com/kodaguheritage/diwan-mathanda-appachu/ |website=Kodagu Heritage |access-date=20 December 2022 |date=10 March 2020}}{{cite web |title=Mathanda Appachu - First Freedom Fighter to Fight against British Imperialism in Kodagu/Coorg | website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gvGQMMZrkg |access-date=20 December 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Account of an uprising |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/316458/account-uprising.html |access-date=20 December 2022 |work=Deccan Herald |date=4 March 2013 |language=en}}{{cite web |url=http://ainmanes.com/kodavas/M%C4%81than%E1%B8%8Da%20-%201.html |title=Stories related to the okka |access-date=20 December 2022}}
Coorg War, 1834
On behalf of Chikka Vira Rajendra the Raja, Diwan Lakshminarayana and Mahomed Taker Khan made peace with the British on 4th April and Diwan Bopu surrendered on 5th April.
Col Fraser was led into Madikeri fort on 6th April. On 10th April, the Raja and his wives left Nalknad palace and entered Madikeri to surrender to the British.{{cite book |last1=Richter |first1=G. |title=Manual of Coorg: A Gazeteer of the Natural Features of the Country, and the Social and Political Condition of Its Inhabitants |date=1870 |publisher=C. Stolz |pages=334, 341 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aadCAAAAIAAJ |access-date=20 December 2022 |language=en}}