Early Revolts against British Rule in Tamil Nadu

Early Revolts against British Rule in Tamil Nadu

Learning Objectives

To acquaint ourselves with

• Palayakkarar system and the revolts of Palayakkarars against the British

• Velunachiyar, Puli Thevar, Kattabomman and Marudhu Brothers in the anti-British uprisings

• Vellore Revolt as a response to British pacification of south India

Introduction

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. However, local kings and feudal chieftains resisted this. The first resistance to East India Company’s territorial aggrandisement was from Puli Thevar of Nerkattumseval in the Tirunelveli region. This was followed by other chieftains in the Tamil country such as Velunachiyar, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, the Marudhu brothers, and Dheeran Chinnamalai. Known as the Palayakkarars Wars, the culmination of which was Vellore Revolt of 1806, this early resistance to British rule in Tamilnadu is dealt with in this lesson.