VALARI (BOOMERANG)

The VALARIs (a variety of boomerang) on display, which are over 100 years old, were acquired from Ramanathapuram. They are made out of Ivory and Iron. Valari is a variety of Boomerang used by the ancient warrior clans of south Tamilnadu, specifically of Pandya country. It is especially popular among the Maravar and Kallar people and the later kingdoms like Ramnad, Shivaganga, Pudukottai and Tirunelveli Poligars.

Valari is used for protecting cattle from predators, hunting and war. In general, wooden boomerangs were used for hunting and the iron ones had their usage in warfare. The wooden Valari was normally used to hunt down hare, deer, pig and large birds.

Valaris come in both returning and non-returning varieties. There are various sizes and shapes. The shape of the Valari differs based on region of their origin and the ethnic background of the people who made and used them.

Thrown in the air at a dizzying speed, the lethal weapon knocked down the enemies or prey in one stroke.

Gold, Silver and Ivory Valaris were used in royal weddings. It was also exchanged between the bride and bridegroom. Raja Marthanda Bairava Tondaiman of Pudukottai married an Australian socialite Molly Fink by exchanging Valari.

A 400-year-old old hero stone, which shows the hero holding a Valari in his hand, has been found near Usilampatti in Madurai district. The hero's stone, which measures 3 feet x 3 feet, depicts the hero with his wife at his side.

Apart from the ancient Pandya country (i.e., present day’s Madurai region), various ethnic groups of Africa and Australia also used the boomerangs.

During the colonial rule, the British forbade its use and even offered incentives to those who handed over arms. The British in the name of confiscation acquired more than 15,000 Valaris. They were eventually destroyed and some remain in the museums.

The British Museum has a collection of Valaris from India and especially the ones from Marava country. The Victoria & Albert Museum in London has Valaris of wood, iron, ivory and silver from Madurai and Tirunelveli areas of Tamil Nadu. The royal collection Trust, London, displays Valaris of wood, silver, gold and ivory gifted by Sivaganga Queen Kathamma Nachiyar and King Ramachandra Thondaiman of Pudukkottai princely state. These were presented to King Edward VII, during Prince of Wales’ tour to India in 1875.

Colonel Welsh, a friend of Marudu Brothers, was full of praise for the weapon. He learnt how to handle the weapon from Chinna Marudu; “It was he who first taught me to throw the spear and hurl the ‘Collery Stick’ (one of the different names of Valari), a weapon scarcely known elsewhere, but in a skilful hand, capable of being thrown to a certainty to any distance within one hundred yards,” recalled Welsh in his reminiscences.

Today, it reposes peacefully in the households of the descendents of the ancient warriors who plied it with such deadly effect.