Unit - 6 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 Palayakkarars (Poligar is how the British After defeating the French and their referred to them) Indian allies in the three Carnatic Wars, the in Tamil refers to East India Company began to consolidate the holder of a little and extend its power and influence. However, kingdom as a feudatory local kings and feudal chieftains resisted this. to a greater sovereign. The first resistance to East India Company’s Under this system, territorial aggrandisement was from Puli palayam was given Thevar of Nerkattumseval in the Tirunelveli for valuable military Viswanatha Nayaka region. This was followed by other chieftains services rendered by any individual. in the Tamil country such as Velunachiyar, This type of Palayakkarars system was in Veerapandiya Kattabomman, the Marudhu practice during the rule of Prataba Rudhra brothers, and Dheeran Chinnamalai. Known of Warangal in the Kakatiya kingdom. as the Palayakkarars Wars, the culmination The system was put in place in Tamilnadu of which was Vellore Revolt of 1806, this by Viswanatha Nayaka, when he became early resistance to British rule in Tamilnadu the Nayak ruler of Madurai in 1529, with is dealt with in this lesson. the support of his minister Ariyanathar. Traditionally there were supposed to be 72 Resistance of Palayakkarars. 6.1 Regional Powers The Palayakkarars were free to collect against the British revenue, administer the territory, settle disputes and maintain law and order. Their (a) Palayams and Palayakkarars police duties were known as Padikaval The word “palayam” means a domain, or Arasu Kaval. On many occasions the a military camp, or a little kingdom. Palayakarars helped the Nayak rulers to 1 10th_History_Unit_6.indd 1 31-07-2019 16:47:13 restore the kingdom to them. The personal to Tirunelveli. relationship and an understanding between Madurai easily the King and the Palayakkarars made the fell into their system to last for about two hundred years hands. Thereafter from the Nayaks of Madurai, until the Colonel Heron takeover of these territories by the British. was urged to deal Eastern and Western Palayams with Puli Thevar as he continued to Among the 72 Palayakkarars, created Puli Thevar defy the authority by the Nayak rulers, there were two blocs, of the Company. Puli Thevar wielded much namely the prominent eastern and the influence over the western palyakkarars. For western Palayams. The eastern Palayams want of cannon and of supplies and pay to were Sattur, Nagalapuram, Ettayapuram, and soldiers, Colonel Heron abandoned the plan Panchalamkurichi and the prominent western and retired to Madurai. Heron was recalled palayams were Uthumalai, Thalavankottai, and dismissed from service. Naduvakurichi, Singampatti, Seithur. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the Confederacy and Alliance with Palayakkars dominated the politics of Tamil Enemies of the British country. They functioned as independent, Three Pathan officers, Nawab Chanda sovereign authorities within their respective Sahib’s agents, named Mianah, Mudimiah Palayams. and Nabikhan Kattak commanded the Revenue Collection Authority to Madurai and Tirunelveli regions. They the Company Rule supported the Tamil playakkarars against The Nawab of Arcot had borrowed money Arcot Nawab Mohamed Ali. Puli Thevar from the East India Company to meet the had established close relationships with expenses he had incurred during the Carnatic them. Puli Thevar also formed a confederacy Wars. When his debts exceeded his capacity to of the Palayakkars to fight the British. With pay, the power of collecting the land revenue the exception of the Palayakkarars of Sivagiri, dues from southern Palayakkarars was given all other Maravar Palayams supported him. to the East India Company. Claiming that Ettayapuram and Panchalamkurichi also their lands had been handed down to them did not join this confederacy. Further, over sixty generations, many Palayakkarars the English succeeded in getting the refused to pay taxes to the Company support of the rajas of Ramanathapuram officials. The Company branded the defiant and Pudukottai. Puli Thevar tried to get Palayakkarars as rebels and accused them of the support of Hyder Ali of Mysore and trying to disturb the peace and tranquillity the French. Hyder Ali could not help Puli of the country. This led to conflict between Thevar as he was already locked in a serious the East India Company and the Palaykkarars conflict with the Marathas. which are described below. Kalakadu Battle Palayakkarars’ Revolt 6.2 The Nawab sent an additional contingent 1755-1801 of sepoys to Mahfuzkhan and the reinforced (a) Revolt of Puli Thevar army proceeded to Tirunelveli. Besides the 1755–1767 1000 sepoys of the Company, Mahfuzkhan received 600 more sent by the Nawab. He also In March 1755 Mahfuzkhan (brother of had the support of cavalry and foot soldiers the Nawab of Arcot) was sent with a contingent from the Carnatic. Before Mahfuzkhan could of the Company army under Colonel Heron Early Revolts against British Rule in Tamil Nadu 2  10th_History_Unit_6.indd 2 31-07-2019 16:47:13 station his troops near Kalakadu, 2000 Ondiveeran soldiers from Travancore joined the forces of Puli Thevar. In the battle at Kalakadu, Ondiveeran led one of the army units Mahfuzkhan's troops were routed. of Puli Thevar. Fighting by the side of Puli Thevar, he caused much damage to Yusuf Khan and Puli Thevar the Company’s army. According to oral tradition, in one battle, Ondiveeran’s hand The organized resistance of the was chopped off and Puli Thevar was palayakkarars under Puli Thevar gave an saddened. But Ondiveeran said it was a opportunity to the English to interfere directly reward for his penetration into enemy’s fort in the affairs of Tirunelveli. Aided by the causing many heads to roll. Raja of Travancore, from 1756 to 1763, the palyakkarars of Tirunelveli led by Puli Thevar (b) Velunachiyar (1730–1796) were in a constant state of rebellion against the Born in 1730 to the Raja Sellamuthu Nawab’s authority. Yusuf Khan (also known Sethupathy of Ramanathapuram, Velunachiyar as Khan Sahib or, before his conversion to was the only daughter of this royal family. Islam, Marudhanayagam) who had been The king had no male heir. The royal family sent by the Company was not prepared to brought up the princess Velunachiyar, attack Puli Thevar unless the big guns and training her in martial arts like valari, stick ammunition from Tiruchirappalli arrived. fighting and to wield weapons. She was also As the English were at war with the French, adept in horse riding and archery, apart from as well as with Hyder Ali and Marathas, the her proficiency in English, French and Urdu. artillery arrived only in September 1760. Yusuf Khan began to batter the Nerkattumseval At the age of 16, fort and this attack continued for about two Velunachiyar was months. On 16 May 1761 Puli Thevar’s three married to Muthu major forts (Nerkattumseval, Vasudevanallur Vadugar, the Raja of and Panayur) came under the control of Sivagangai, and had Yusuf Khan. a daughter by name Vellachinachiar. In In the meantime, after taking 1772, the Nawab Pondicherry the English had eliminated the of Arcot and the French from the picture. As a result of this Company troops the unity of palyakkarars began to break under the command Velunachiyar up as French support was not forthcoming. of Lt. Col. Bon Jour stormed the Kalaiyar Kovil Travancore, Seithur, Uthumalai and Surandai Palace. In the ensuing battle Muthu Vadugar switched their loyalty to the opposite camp. was killed. Velunachiyar escaped with her Yusuf Khan who was negotiating with daughter and lived under the protection of the palayakkarars, without informing the Gopala Nayakar at Virupachi near Dindigul for Company administration, was charged with eight years. treachery and hanged in 1764. During her period in hiding, Velunachiyar organised an army and succeeded in securing Fall of Puli Thevar an alliance with not only Gopala Nayakar but After the death of Khan Sahib, Puli Hyder Ali as well. Dalavay (military chief) Thevar returned from exile and recaptured Thandavarayanar wrote a letter to Sultan Hyder Nerkattumseval in 1764. However, he was Ali on behalf of Velunachiyar asking for 5000 defeated by Captain Campbell in 1767. Puli infantry and 5000 cavalry to defeat the English. Thevar escaped and died in exile. Velunachiyar explained in detail in Urdu all the Early Revolts against British Rule in Tamil Nadu  3 10th_History_Unit_6.indd 3 31-07-2019 16:47:13 problems she had with East India Company. Jagavira Pandya She conveyed her strong determination to fight Kattabomman. the English. Impressed by her courage, Hyder The Company’s Ali ordered his Commandant Syed in Dindigul administrators, fort to provide the required military assistance. James London and Colin Jackson, had Gopala Nayak, the Palayakkarar of considered him a Virupachi man of peaceful Kattabomman Gopala Nayak spearheaded the famous disposition. However, soon several events Dindigul League, which was formed with led to conflicts between Veerapandya Lakshmi Nayak of Manaparai and Poojai Kattabomman and the East India Company. Nayak of Devadanapatti. He drew inspiration The Nawab, under the provisions of a treaty from Tipu Sultan who sent a deputation to signed in 1781, had assigned the revenue of show his camaraderie. He led the resistance the Carnatic to the Company to be entirely against the British from Coimbatore and under their management and control during later joined Oomaidurai, Kattabomman’s the war with Mysore Sultan. One-sixth of brother. He put up a fierce fight at Aanamalai the revenue was to be allowed to meet the hills where the local peasants gave him full expenses of Nawab and his family.