Early Revolts Against British Rule In Tamilnadu Online Test 10th Social Science Lesson 12 Questions

The Local kings and feudal chieftains resisted the consolidated power and influence of the East India Company. The first resistance to Company's territorial aggrandisement was from Puli Thevar of Nerkattumseval in the Tirunelveli region.

After defeating the French and their Indian allies in the three Carnatic Wars, the East India Company began to consolidate and extend its power and influence.

In early Tamil country the chieftains like Velunachiyar, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, the Marudhu brothers, and Dheeran Chinnamalai was against the East India Company’s territorial advancement. These are known as the Palayakkarars Wars, the culmination of which was Vellore Revolt of 1806, this early resistance to British rule in Tamil Nadu.

The word “Palayam” means a domain, a military camp, or a little kingdom. The Palayakkarars was referred as Poligar by the British.

The Palayakkarar system was in practice during the rule of Prataba Rudhra of Warangal in the Kakatiya kingdom.

The Palayakkarar system was put in place in Tamil Nadu by Viswanatha Nayaka. He became the Nayak ruler of Madurai in 1529, with the support of his minister Ariyanathar.

Palayakkarars in Tamil refers to the holder of a little kingdom as a feudatory to a greater sovereign. Under this system, Palayam was given for valuable military services rendered by any individual.

Among the 72 Palayakkarars, created by the Nayak rulers there were two blocs namely the prominent eastern and the western Palayam.

The prominent western Palayam of the Nayak rulers in Tamil country were Uthumalai, Thalaivankottai, Naduvakurichi, Singampatti, and Seithur.

The Palayakkarars were free to collect revenue, administer the territory, settle disputes and maintain law and order. Their police duties were known as Padikaval or Arasu Kaval. On many occasions the Palayakkarars helped the Nayaka rulers to restore the kingdom to them.

During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the Palayakkars dominated the politics of Tamil country. They functioned as independent, sovereign authorities within their respective Palayams.

The Nawab of Arcot had borrowed money from the East India Company to meet the expenses he had incurred during the Carnatic Wars. When his debts exceeded his capacity to pay, the power of collecting the land revenue dues from southern Palayakkarars was given to the East India Company.

In March 1755 Mahfuzkhan, brother of the Nawab of Arcot was sent with a contingent of the Company army under Colonel Heron to Tirunelveli. Madurai easily fell into their hands.

Three Pathan officers, Nawab Chanda Sahib’s agents, named Mianah, Mudimiah and Nabikhan Kattak commanded the Madurai and Tirunelveli regions. They supported the Tamil Palayakkarars against Arcot Nawab Mohamed Ali.

Puli Thevar formed a confederacy of the Palayakkars to fight the British. With the exception of the Palayakkarars of Sivagiri, all other Maravar Palayams supported him. Ettayapuram and Panchalamkurichi also did not join this confederacy.

The English succeeded in getting the support of the Rajas of Ramanathapuram and Pudhukottai. Puli Thevar tried to get the support of Hyder Ali of Mysore and the French. Hyder Ali could not help Puli Thevar as he was already locked in a serious conflict with the Marathas.

The Nawab sent an additional contingent of sepoy’s to Mahfuzkhan and the reinforced army proceeded to Tirunelveli. Besides the 1000 sepoy’s of the Company, Mahfuzkhan received 600 more sent by the Nawab. In the battle at Kalakadu Mahfuzkhan troops were routed.

Mahfuzkhan received 600 more sent by the Nawab. He also had the support of cavalry and foot soldiers from the Carnatic. Before Mahfuzkhan could station his troops near Kalakadu, 2000 soldiers from Travancore joined the forces of Puli Thevar.

Aided by the Raja of Travancore, from 1756 to 1763, the Palayakkarars of Tirunelveli led by Puli Thevar were in a constant state of rebellion against the Nawab’s authority.

The Palayakkarars of Tirunelveli led by Puli Thevar were in a constant state of rebellion against the Nawab’s authority. Yusuf Khan also known as Khan Sahib or, before his conversion to Islam, Marudhanayagam was sent by the Company to oppose Puli Thevar.

The English were at war with the French, as well as with Hyder Ali and Marathas, the artillery arrived only in September 1760 at Tirunelveli.

Yusuf Khan who had been sent by the Company was not prepared to attack Puli Thevar unless the big guns and ammunition from Tiruchirappalli arrived .As the English were at war with the French, as well as with Hyder Ali and Marathas, the artillery arrived only in September 1760.

Yusuf Khan began to batter the Nerkattumseval fort and this attack continued for about two months. On 16 May 1761 Puli Thevar’s three major forts Nerkattumseval, Vasudevanallur and Panayur came under the control of Yusuf Khan.

In the meantime of Yusuf Khan War against Puli Thevar, Pondicherry was taken by the English which eliminated the French from the picture. As a result of this the unity of Palayakkarars began to break up as French support was not forthcoming.

Yusuf Khan was negotiating with the Palayakkarars without informing the Company administration. He was charged with treachery and hanged in 1764.

Yusuf Khan was also known as Khan Sahib or, before his conversion to Islam, Marudhanayagam.

After the death of Khan Sahib, Puli Thevar returned from exile and recaptured Nerkattumseval in 1764.

Puli Thevar was defeated by Captain Campbell in 1767. He escaped and died in exile.

Ondiveeran led one of the army units of Puli Thevar. Fighting by the side of Puli Thevar, he caused much damage to the Company’s army.

Velunachiyar was born in 1730 to the Raja Sellamuthu Sethupathy of Ramanathapuram. She was the only daughter of this royal family. The king had no male heir. The royal family brought up the princess Velunachiyar, training her in martial arts like valari, sticks fighting and to wield weapons. She was also adept in horse riding and archery, apart from her proficiency in English, French and Urdu.

In 1772, the Nawab of Arcot and the Company troops under the command of Lt. Col. Bon Jour stormed the Kalaiyar Kovil Palace.

In the ensuing battle of Kalaiyar Kovil Muthu Vadugar was killed. Velunachiyar escaped with her daughter and lived under the protection of Gopala Nayakar at Virupachi near Dindugal for eight years.

During her period in hiding, Velunachiyar organized an army and succeeded in securing an alliance with not only Gopala Nayakar but Hyder Ali as well. Dalavay (military chief) Thandavarayanar wrote a letter to Sultan Hyder Ali on behalf of Velunachiyar asking for 5000 infantry and 5000 cavalry to defeat the English.

Velunachiyar explained in detailed letter in Urdu all the problems she had with East India Company. She conveyed her strong determination to fight the English. Impressed by her courage, Hyder Ali ordered his Commandant Syed in Dindugal fort to provide the required military assistance.

Gopala Nayak, the Palayakkarar of Virupachi Gopala Nayak spearheaded the famous Dindugal League, which was formed with Lakshmi Nayak of Manaparai and Poojai Nayak of Devadanapatti.

Gopala Nayakar led the resistance against the British from Coimbatore and later joined Oomaidurai, Kattabomman brother. He put up a fierce fight at Aanamalai hills where the local peasants gave him full support. But Gopala Nayak was overpowered by the British forces in 1801.

Gopala Nayakar drew inspiration from Tipu Sultan who sent a deputation to show his camaraderie and he led the resistance against the British from Coimbatore.

Velunachiyar employed agents for gathering intelligence to find where the British had stored their ammunition. With military assistance from Gopala Nayakar and Hyder Ali she recaptured Sivagangai.

Velunachiyar was crowned as Queen with the help of Marudhu brothers. She was the first female ruler or queen to resist the British colonial power in India.

Kuyili, a faithful friend of Velunachiyar, is said to have led the unit of women soldiers named after Udaiyaal. Udaiyaal was a shepherd girl who was killed for not divulging information on Kuyili.

Kuyili, a faithful friend of Velunachiyar, is said to have led the unit of women soldiers named after Udaiyaal. Udaiyaal was a shepherd girl who was killed for not divulging information on Kuyili. Kuyili is said to have walked into the British arsenal (1780) after setting herself on fire, thus destroying all the ammunition.

Veerapandiya Kattabomman became the Palayakkarar of Panchalamkurichi at the age of thirty on the death of his father Jagavira Pandya Kattabomman.

The Nawab, under the provisions of a treaty signed in 1781, had assigned the revenue of the Carnatic to the Company to be entirely under their management and control during the war with Mysore Sultan.

The Company’s administrators, James London and Colin Jackson, had considered him Kattabomman man of peaceful disposition. The Nawab, signed a treaty in 1781, had assigned the revenue of the Carnatic to the Company to be entirely under the management of Company. One-sixth of the revenue was to be allowed to meet the expenses of Nawab and his family. The Company appointed its Collectors to collect taxes from all the Palayams. The Collectors Humiliated the Palayakkarars and adopted force to collect the taxes. This was the bone of contention between the English and Kattabomman.

The land revenue arrear from Kattabomman was 3310 pagodas in 1798. Collector Jackson an English officer, wanted to send an army to collect the revenue dues but the Madras Government did not give him permission. On 18 August 1798, he ordered Kattabomman to meet him in Ramanathapuram.

The Kattabomman met Jackson in Ramanathapuram on 19 September 1798. It is said that Kattabomman had to stand for three hours before the haughty Collector Jackson. Sensing danger, Kattabomman tried to escape, along with his minister Sivasubramaniar. At the gate of the Ramanathapuram fort there was a clash, in which some people including Lieutenant Clarke were killed. Sivasubramaniar was taken prisoner.

After returning to Panchalamkurichi, Kattabomman represented to the Madras Council about how he was ill-treated by the collector Jackson. The Council asked Kattabomman to appear before a committee with William Brown, William Oram and John Casamajor as members. Meanwhile, Governor Edward Clive ordered the release of Sivasubramaniar and the suspension of the Collector Jackson.

Kattabomman appeared before the Committee that sat on 15 December 1798 and reported on what transpired in Ramanathapuram. The Committee found Kattabomman was not guilty. Jackson was dismissed from service and a new Collector S.R. Lushington appointed. Kattabomman cleared almost all the revenue arrears leaving only a balance of 1080 pagodas.

Marudhu Pandiyar of Sivagangai formed the South Indian Confederacy of rebels against the British with the neighboring Palayakkars.

Marudhu Brothers and Kattabomman jointly decided on a confrontation with the English. Kattabomman tried to influence Sivagiri Palayakkarars, who refused to join. Kattabomman advanced towards Sivagiri. But the Palayakkarars of Sivagiri was a tributary to the Company.

In May 1799, Lord Wellesley issued orders from Madras for the advance of forces from Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur and Madurai to Tirunelveli.

Marudhu Pandiyar of Sivagangai formed the South Indian Confederacy of rebels against the British with the neighboring Palayakkars like Gopala Nayak of Dindugal and Yadul Nayak of Aanamalai. Kattabomman tried to influence Sivagiri Palayakkarars who refused to join.

Major Bannerman commanded the troops against Panchalamkurichi. On 1 September 1799, an ultimatum was served on Kattabomman to surrender. Kattabomman “evasive reply” prompted Bannerman to attack his fort. Bannerman moved his entire army to Panchalamkurichi on 5 September.

Major Bannerman deputed Ramalinganar to convey a message asking Kattabomman to surrender. Kattabomman refused. Ramalinganar gathered all the secrets of the Fort and on the basis of his report; Bannerman decided the strategy of the operation.

Kattabomman escaped to Pudhukottai after the Panchalamkurichi clash. The British put a prize on his head. Kattabomman was finally captured by the betrayal of the rajas of Ettayapuram and Pudhukottai.

Sivasubramanianar was executed at Nagalapuram on the 13 September by the British Company.

Kattabomman escaped to Pudhukottai after the Panchalamkurichi clash. Major Bannerman made a mockery of a trial for Kattabomman in front of the Palayakkarars on 16 October. During the trial Kattabomman bravely admitted all the charges leveled against him. Kattabomman was hanged from a tamarind tree in the old fort of Kayathar, close to Tirunelveli, in front of the fellow Palayakkars.

Despite the suppression of Kattabomman revolt in 1799 a rebellion broke out again in 1800. In the British records it is referred to as the Second Palayakkarar War.

Marudhu Pandyan of Sivagangai directed a confederacy consisting of Gopala Nayak of Dindugal, Kerala Verma of Malabar and Krishnaappa Nayak and Dhoondaji of Mysore. In April 1800 they meet at Virupachi and decided to organize an uprising against the Company. The uprising broke out in Coimbatore in June 1800.

Marudhu Pandyan of Sivagangai directed a confederacy consisting of Gopala Nayak of Dindugal, Kerala Verma of Malabar and Krishnaappa Nayak and Dhoondaji of Mysore.

In June 1801 Marudhu Pandiyar issued a proclamation of Independence which is called asTiruchirappalli Proclamation.

The English demanded that the Marudhu Pandyars to hand over the fugitives Oomathurai and Sevathaiah but they refused. Colonel Agnew and Colonel Innes marched on Sivagangai.

In February 1801 the two brothers of Kattabomman, Oomathurai and Sevathaiah escaped from the Palayamkottai prison to Kamudhi, from where Chinna Marudhu took them to Siruvayal his capital.

Explanation The Proclamation of Marudhu brothers, 1801 was an early call to the Indians to unite against the British. Many Palayakkars of Tamil country rallied together to fight against the English. Chinna Marudhu collected nearly 20,000 men to challenge the English army. British reinforcements were rushed from Bengal, Ceylon and Malaya. The rajas of Pudhukottai, Ettayapuram and Thanjavur stood by the British. Divide and rule policy followed by the English spilt the forces of the Palayakkarars soon.

In May 1801, the English attacked the rebels in Thanjavur and Tiruchirappalli. The rebels went to Piranmalai and Kalayarkoil. They were again defeated by the forces of the English. In the end the superior military strength and the able commanders of the English Company prevailed. The rebellion failed and Sivagangai was annexed in 1801.

The Marudhu brothers were executed in the Fort of Tirupathur near Ramanathapuram on 24 October 1801. Oomathurai and Sevathaiah were captured and beheaded at Panchalamkurichi on 16 November 1801.

Though the Palayakkarars fell to the English, their exploits and sacrifices inspired later generations. Thus the rebellion of Marudhu brothers, which is called South Indian Rebellion, is a landmark event in the history of Tamil Nadu.

Under the terms of the Carnatic Treaty of 31 July 1801 the British assumed direct control over Tamilagam and the Palayakkarar system came to an end with the demolition of all forts and disbandment of their army.

Dheeran Chinnamalai Was Born as Theerthagiri in 1756 in the Mandradiar royal family. Dheeran was well trained in silambu, archery, horse riding and modern warfare. He was involved in resolving family and land disputes in the Kongu region.

The Kongu region was under the control of the Mysore Sultan, tax was collected by Tipu’s Diwan Mohammed Ali. Once, when the Diwan was returning to Mysore with the tax money Theerthagiri blocked his way and confiscated all the tax money.

The offended Diwan of Mysore Sultan sent a contingent to attack Chinnamalai and both the forces met and fought at the Noyyal river bed. Chinnamalai emerged victorious.

After Tipu’s death Dheeran Chinnamalai built a fort and fought the British without leaving the place. Hence the place is called Odanilai.

Finally the English captured Dheeran Chinnamalai and his brothers and kept them in prison in Sankagiri. When they were asked to accept the rule of the British, they refused. So they were hanged at the top of the Sankagiri Fort on 31 July 1805.

Dheeran Chinnamalai launched guerrilla attacks and evaded capture. Finally the English captured him and his brothers and kept them in prison in Sankagiri.

Before reducing all Palayakkarars of south Tamil Nadu into submission the East India Company had acquired the revenue districts of Salem, Dindigul at the conclusion of the war with Tipu in 1792.

Coimbatore was annexed with the East India Company Administration at the end of the Anglo-Mysore War in 1799.

Yusuf Khan had been sent by the Company to attack Puli Thevar. Impressed by the courage of Velunachiyar, Hyder Ali ordered his Commandant Syed in Dindigul fort to provide the required military assistance. The Second Palayakkarar War was directed by a confederacy consisting of Marudhu Pandyan of Sivagangai, Gopala Nayak of Dindugal, Kerala Verma of Malabar and Krishnaappa Nayak and Dhoondaji of Mysore. The British troops under Colin Macaulay retook the Panchalamkurichi fort and the Marudhu brothers sought shelter in Sivagangai.

The Raja of Thanjavur status had been reduced to that of a vassal in 1798 and he gave up his sovereign rights over that region to the English.

After the suppression of resistance of Kattabomman and Marudhu Brothers the British charged the Nawab of Arcot with disloyalty and forced a treaty on him. According to this Treaty of 1801, the Nawab was to cede the districts of North Arcot, South Arcot, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai and Tirunelveli to the Company and transfer all the administrative powers to it.

The dispossessed little kings and feudal chieftains continued to deliberate on the future course of action against the Company Government. The English army officers’ scant respect for the social and religious sentiments of the Indian sepoy’s also angered them. With new experiments in land tenures causing unsettled conditions and famine breaking out in 1805 many of the sepoy’s families were in dire economic straits. The sons and the family members of Tipu being Interned in Vellore Fort.

The trigger for the Vellore revolt came in the form of a new military regulation notified by the Commander-in-Chief Sir John Cradock.

According to the new regulations, the Indian soldiers were asked not to wear caste marks or ear rings when in uniform. They were to be cleanly shaven on the chin and maintain uniformity about how their moustache looked. The new turban added fuel to fire. The most objectionable addition was the leather cockade made of animal skin.

On 10 July 1806, in the early hours guns were booming and the Indian sepoy’s of the 1st and 23rd regiments raised their standard of revolt. Colonel Fan court who commanded the garrison was the first victim.

On 10 July 1806, in the early hours, guns were booming and the Indian sepoy’s of the 1st and 23rd regiments raised their standard of revolt. Colonel Fan court, who commanded the garrison, was the first victim. Colonel MeKerras of the 23rd regiment was killed next.

About a dozen other officers were killed within an hour on 10th July, 1806. Among them Lt. Elly and Lt. Popham belonged to His Majesty’s battalion.

Major Cootes who was outside the Fort, informed Colonel Gillespie about the Sepoy’s revolt in Vellore fort.

Colonel Gillespie the cavalry commandant in Arcot. Gillespie reached the fort along with a squadron of cavalry to the Vellore Fort.

Colonel Gillespie reached the fort along with a squadron of cavalry under the command of Captain Young at 9.00 am. In the meantime the rebels proclaimed Fateh Hyder, Tipu’s eldest son as their new ruler and hoisted the tiger flag of Mysore sultans in the Fort.

As the result of the Vellore sepoy revolt the Tipu’s sons were ordered to be sent to Calcutta. The officers and men engaged in the suppression of the revolt were rewarded with prize money and promotion. Colonel Gillespie was given 7,000 pagodas. However, the commander–in- Chief Sir John Cradock the Adjutant General Agnew and Governor William Bentinck were held responsible for the revolt removed from their office and recalled to England. The military regulations were treated as withdrawn.

The Vellore Revolt failed because there was no immediate help from outside and there was no civil rebellion following the mutiny.

On 10 July 1806, in the early hours, guns were booming and the Indian sepoy’s of the 1st and 23rd regiments raised their standard of the Vellore Sepoy revolt inside the fort.

The trigger for the sepoy’s revolt in Vellore came in the form of a new military regulation notified by the Commander-in-Chief Sir John Cradock.

The organizing part of the revolt was done perfectly by Subedars Sheik Adam and Sheik Hamid and Jamedar Sheik Hussain of the 2nd battalion of 23rd regiment and two Subedars and the Jamedar Sheik Kasim of the 1st battalion of the 1st regiment.

The Vellore Revolt had all the forebodings of the Great Rebellion of 1857. The 1806 revolt was not confined to Vellore Fort. It had its echoes in Bellary, Walajabad, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Nandydurg, and Sankaridurg.

The commander–in- Chief Sir John Cradock the Adjutant General Agnew and Governor William Bentinck were held responsible for the revolt removed from their office and recalled to England. The military regulations were treated as withdrawn.