Chennai: The mortal remains of Murugadas Tirthapathi of Singampatti, the last Zamin of India, were cremated on the banks of the Thamirabarani river. Earlier, hundreds of people and popular personalities paid tributes to him.
The 92-year-old died at his palace in Singampatti village on Sunday night. He was 92 and survived by two sons and three daughters.
Murugadas was crowned the Zamindar of Singampatti at the age of three-and-a-half years when his father died and was sent to Sri Lanka for education. He was adminstering the famous Sorimuthu Ayyanar Temple inside the Kalakkadu – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.
Though Singampatti Zamin had given thousands of acres of land in the Western Ghats for tea plantation, the Zamin lost its ownership of the land following the abolishment of Zamindari system in the country.
Though a sharp shooter, Murugadoss is well known in wildlife circles as a renowned conservationist. He was also a great orator in English and Tamil.
Paying tributes to him, actor Sivakarthikeyan, who had played the heir of Singampatti in “Seema Raja”, tweeted: “I will always be proud to have played the role of Sigampatti Seemaraja. My heartfelt condolences to the people of Singampetti and the family members of Singampatti Raja.”
Ponram, the film’s director, posted: “#RIPSingampattiRaja. He wasn’t just a king, but was very humble and was also a renowned scholar in Tamil literature. I offer my condolences to his family members and to the people of Singampatti.”