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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 (Poligar is how the British referred to them) in

Tamil refers to the holder of a little kingdom as
After defeating the French and their
a feudatory to a greater sovereign. Under this
Indian allies in the three Carnatic Wars, the
system, palayam was given for valuable military
East India Company began to consolidate
and extend its power and influence. However, services rendered by any individual. This type
local kings and feudal chieftains resisted this. of Palayakkarars system was in practice during
The first resistance to East India Company’s the rule of Prataba Rudhra of Warangal in the
territorial aggrandisement was from Puli Kakatiya kingdom. The system was put in place
Thevar of Nerkattumseval in the Tirunelveli in Tamilnadu by Viswanatha Nayaka, when he
region. This was followed by other chieftains became the Nayak ruler of Madurai in 1529,
in the Tamil country such as Velunachiyar, with the support of his minister Ariyanathar.
Veerapandiya Kattabomman, the Marudhu Traditionally there were supposed to be 72
brothers, and Dheeran Chinnamalai. Known Palayakkarars.
as the Palayakkarars Wars, the culmination of
The Palayakkarars were free to collect
which was Vellore Revolt of 1806, this early
revenue, administer the territory, settle disputes
resistance to British rule in Tamilnadu is dealt
with in this lesson. and maintain law and order. Their police duties
were known as Padikaval or Arasu Kaval. On
6.1  Resistance of many occasions the Palayakarars helped the
Regional Powers Nayak rulers to restore the kingdom to them.
against the British The personal relationship and an understanding
between the King and the Palayakkarars made
(a) Palayams and Palayakkarars the system to last for about two hundred years
The word “palayam” means a domain, a from the Nayaks of Madurai, until the takeover
military camp, or a little kingdom. Palayakkarars of these territories by the British.
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Eastern and Western Palayams in getting the support of the rajas of

Among the 72 Palayakkarars, created by the Ramanathapuram and Pudukottai. Puli Thevar
Nayak rulers, there were two blocs, namely the tried to get the support of Hyder Ali of Mysore
prominent eastern and the western Palayams. and the French. Hyder Ali could not help Puli
The eastern Palayams were Sattur, Nagalapuram, Thevar as he was already locked in a serious
Ettayapuram, and Panchalamkurichi and the conflict with the Marathas.
prominent western palayams were Uthumalai, Kalakadu Battle
Thalavankottai, Naduvakurichi, Singampatti,
Seithur. The Nawab sent an additional contingent
of sepoys to Mahfuzkhan and the reinforced
6.2  Palayakkarars’ Revolt army proceeded to Tirunelveli. Besides the 1000
1755-1801 sepoys of the Company, Mahfuzkhan received
600 more sent by the Nawab. He also had the
(a) Revolt of Puli Thevar
support of cavalry and foot soldiers from the
1755–1767
Carnatic. Before  Mahfuzkhan  could station
In March 1755 his troops near Kalakadu, 2000 soldiers from
Mahfuzkhan (brother Travancore joined the forces of Puli Thevar.
of the Nawab of In the battle at Kalakadu, Mahfuzkhan's troops
Arcot) was sent with were routed.
a contingent of the
Company army under Yusuf Khan and Puli Thevar
Colonel Heron to The organized resistance of the
Tirunelveli. Madurai palayakkarars under Puli Thevar gave an
Puli Thevar
easily fell into their opportunity to the English to interfere directly
hands. Thereafter Colonel Heron was urged to in the affairs of Tirunelveli. Aided by the
deal with Puli Thevar as he continued to defy the Raja of Travancore, from 1756 to 1763, the
authority of the Company.  Puli Thevar wielded palyakkarars of Tirunelveli led by Puli Thevar
much influence over the western palyakkarars. were in a constant state of rebellion against the
For want of cannon and of supplies and pay to Nawab’s authority. Yusuf Khan (also known
soldiers, Colonel Heron abandoned the plan as Khan Sahib or, before his conversion to
and retired to Madurai. Heron was recalled and Islam, Marudhanayagam) who had been
dismissed from service. sent by the Company was not prepared to
Confederacy and Alliance with attack Puli Thevar unless the big guns and
Enemies of the British ammunition from Tiruchirappalli arrived.
As the English were at war with the French,
Three Pathan officers, Nawab Chanda as well as with Hyder Ali and Marathas, the
Sahib’s agents, named Mianah, Mudimiah and
artillery arrived only in September 1760. Yusuf
Nabikhan Kattak commanded the Madurai
Khan began to batter the Nerkattumseval
and Tirunelveli regions. They supported the
fort and this attack continued for about two
Tamil  playakkarars  against Arcot Nawab
months. On 16 May 1761 Puli Thevar’s three
Mohamed Ali. Puli Thevar had established
major forts (Nerkattumseval, Vasudevanallur
close relationships with them.  Puli Thevar
and Panayur) came under the control of
also formed a confederacy of the Palayakkars
Yusuf Khan.
to fight the British. With the exception of the
Palayakkarars of Sivagiri, all other Maravar In the meantime, after taking Pondicherry
Palayams supported him. Ettayapuram and the English had eliminated the French from
Panchalamkurichi also did not join this the picture. As a result of this the unity of
confederacy. Further, the English succeeded palyakkarars began to break up as French
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support was not forthcoming. Travancore, Gopala Nayak, the Palayakkarar of

Seithur, Uthumalai and Surandai switched their Virupachi: Gopala Nayak spearheaded the
loyalty to the opposite camp. Yusuf Khan who famous Dindigul League, which was formed
was negotiating with the palayakkarars, without with Lakshmi Nayak of Manaparai and Poojai
informing the Company administration, was Nayak of Devadanapatti. He drew inspiration
charged with treachery and hanged in 1764. from Tipu Sultan who sent a deputation to
Fall of Puli Thevar show his camaraderie. He led the resistance
After the death of Khan Sahib, Puli against the British from Coimbatore and
Thevar returned from exile and recaptured later joined Oomaidurai, Kattabomman’s
Nerkattumseval in 1764. However, he was brother. He put up a fierce fight at Aanamalai
defeated by Captain Campbell in 1767. Puli hills where the local peasants gave him full
Thevar escaped and died in exile. support. But Gopala Nayak was overpowered
by the British forces in 1801.
Ondiveeran: Ondiveeran led one of the army daughter and lived under the protection of
units of Puli Thevar. Fighting by the side of Gopala Nayak at Virupachi near Dindigul for
Puli Thevar, he caused much damage to the eight years.
Company’s army. According to oral tradition,
in one battle, Ondiveeran’s hand was During her period in hiding, Velunachiyar
chopped off and Puli Thevar was saddened. organised an army and succeeded in securing
But Ondiveeran said it was a reward for his an alliance with not only Gopala Nayakar
penetration into enemy’s fort causing many but Hyder Ali as well. Dalavay (military
heads to roll. chief) Thandavarayanar wrote a letter to
Sultan Hyder Ali on behalf of Velunachiyar
(b) Velunachiyar (1730–1796) asking for 5000 infantry and 5000 cavalry to
defeat the English. Velunachiyar explained
Born in 1730 to the Raja Sellamuthu
in detail in Urdu all the problems she had
Sethupathy of Ramanathapuram,
with East India Company. She conveyed her
Velunachiyar was the only daughter of this
strong determination to fight the English.
royal family. The king had no male heir. The
Impressed by her courage, Hyder Ali ordered
royal family brought up the princess
his Commandant Syed in Dindigul fort to
Velunachiyar, training her in martial arts like
provide the required military assistance.
valari, stick fighting and to wield weapons.
She was also adept in horse riding and Velunachiyar employed agents for
archery, apart from her proficiency in gathering intelligence to find where the
English, French and Urdu. British had stored their ammunition. With
military assistance from Gopala Nayak and
At the age of 16,
Velunachiyar was married Kuyili, a faithful friend
to Muthu Vadugar, the of Velunachiyar, is said
Raja of Sivagangai, and to have led the unit of
had a daughter by name women soldiers named
Vellachinachiar. In 1772, after Udaiyaal. Udaiyaal
the Nawab of Arcot and was a shepherd girl who
the Company troops was killed for not divulging
under the command of Lt. Velunachiyar Kuyili
information on Kuyili.
Col. Bon Jour stormed the Kalaiyar Kovil Kuyili is said to have walked into the British
Palace. In the ensuing battle Muthu Vadugar arsenal (1780) after setting herself on fire,
was killed. Velunachiyar escaped with her thus destroying all the ammunition.

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Hyder Ali she recaptured Sivagangai. She was attempts to meet him in between proved futile,
crowned as Queen with the help of Marudhu as Jackson refused to give him audience both
brothers. She was the first female ruler or in Courtallam and Srivilliputhur. At last, an
queen to resist the British colonial power in interview was granted and Kattabomman met
India. Jackson in Ramanathapurm on 19 September
1798. It is said that Kattabomman had to stand
(c) Rebellion of Veerapandya
for three hours before the haughty Collector
Kattabomman 1790-1799
Jackson. Sensing danger, Kattabomman
Veerapandya Kattabomman became the tried to escape, along with his minister
Palayakkarar of Panchalamkurichi at the age Sivasubramanianar. Oomaithurai suddenly
of thirty on the death entered the fort with his men and helped the
of his father, Jagavira escape of Kattabomman. At the gate of the
Pandya Kattabomman. Ramanathapuram fort there was a clash, in
The Company’s which some people including Lieutenant
administrators, James Clarke were killed. Sivasubramanianar was
London and Colin Jackson, taken prisoner.
had considered him a man
Appearance before Madras Council
of peaceful disposition. Kattabomman
However, soon several On his return to Panchalamkurichi,
events led to conflicts between Veerapandya Kattabomman represented to the Madras
Kattabomman and the East India Company. Council about how he was ill-treated by
The Nawab, under the provisions of a treaty the collector Jackson. The Council asked
signed in 1781, had assigned the revenue of Kattabomman to appear before a committee
the Carnatic to the Company to be entirely with William Brown, William Oram and
under their management and control during John Casamajor as members. Meanwhile,
the war with Mysore Sultan. One-sixth of the Governor Edward Clive, ordered the release
revenue was to be allowed to meet the expenses of Sivasubramanianar and the suspension of
of Nawab and his family. The Company had the Collector Jackson. Kattabomman appeared
thus gained the right to collect taxes from before the Committee that sat on 15 December
Panchalamkurichi. The Company appointed its 1798 and reported on what transpired in
Collectors to collect taxes from all the palayams. Ramanathapuram. The Committee found
The Collectors humiliated the palayakkarars Kattabomman was not guilty. Jackson was
and adopted force to collect the taxes. This was dismissed from service and a new Collector S.R.
the bone of contention between the English and Lushington appointed. Kattabomman cleared
Kattabomman. almost all the revenue arrears leaving only a
balance of 1080 pagodas.
Confrontation with Jackson
Kattabomman and the
The land revenue arrear
Confederacy of Palayakkarars
from Kattabomman was 3310
pagodas in 1798. Collector In the meantime, Marudhu Pandiyar
Jackson, an arrogant English of Sivagangai formed the South Indian
officer, wanted to send an Confederacy of rebels against the British,
army to collect the revenue with the neighbouring palayakkars like
dues but the Madras Gopala Nayak of Dindigul and Yadul Nayak
Government did not give him permission. On 18 of Aanamalai. Marudhu Pandiyar acted as
August 1798, he ordered Kattabomman to meet its leader. The Tiruchirappalli Proclamation
him in Ramanathapuram. But Kattbomman’s had been made. Kattabomman was interested
in this confederacy. Collector Lushington
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prevented Kattabomman from meeting the Betrayed by the rajas of Ettayapuram and
Marudhu Brothers. But Marudhu Brothers Pudukottai Kattabomman was finally
and Kattabomman jointly decided on a captured. Sivasubramanianar was executed at
confrontation with the English. Kattabomman
Nagalapuram on the 13 September. Bannerman
tried to influence Sivagiri Palayakkarars,
made a mockery of a trial for Kattabomman in
who refused to join. Kattabomman advanced
towards Sivagiri. But the Palayakkarars of front of the palayakarars on 16 October. During
Sivagiri was a tributary to the Company. So the trial Kattabomman bravely admitted all the
the Company considered the expedition of charges levelled against him. Kattabomman
Kattabomman as a challenge to their authority. was hanged from a tamarind tree in the old fort
The Company ordered the army to march on to of Kayathar, close to Tirunelveli, in front of the
Tirunelveli.
fellow Palayakkars. Thus ended the life of the
The Siege of Panchalamkurichi celebrated Palayakkarars of Panchalamkurichi.
In May 1799, Lord Wellesley issued orders Many folk ballads on Kattabomman helped
from Madras for the advance of forces from keep his memory alive among the people.
Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur and Madurai to
Tirunelveli. Major Bannerman commanded the (d) The Marudhu Brothers
troops. The Travancore troops too joined the Periya Marudhu or Vella Marudhu
British. On 1 September 1799, an ultimatum (1748–1801) and his younger brother Chinna
was served on Kattabomman to surrender. Marudhu (1753-1801) were able generals of
Kattabomman’s “evasive reply” prompted
Muthu Vadugar of Sivagangai. After Muthu
Bannerman to attack his fort. Bannerman
moved his entire army to Panchalamkurichi on 5 Vadugar's death in the Kalaiyar Kovil battle
September. They cut off all the communications Marudhu brothers assisted in restoring the
to the fort. Bannerman deputed Ramalinganar throne to Velunachiyar. In the last years of
to convey a message asking Kattabomman the eighteenth century Marudhu Brothers
to surrender. Kattabomman refused. organised resistance against the British. After
Ramalinganar gathered all the secrets of the the death of Kattabomman, they worked along
Fort, and on the basis of his report, Bannerman
with his brother Oomathurai. They plundered
decided the strategy of the operation. In a clash
at Kallarpatti, Sivasubramanianar was taken a the granaries of the Nawab and caused damage
prisoner. and destruction to Company troops.

Panchalamkurichi Fort
Execution of Kattabomman
Kattabomman escaped to Pudukottai.
The British put a prize on his head. Marudhu Brothers
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Rebellion of Marudhu Brothers rushed from Bengal, Ceylon and Malaya.

(1800–1801) The rajas of Pudukkottai, Ettayapuram and
Thanjavur stood by the British. Divide and rule
Despite the suppression of Kattabomman’s
policy followed by the English spilt the forces of
revolt in 1799, rebellion broke out again in 1800.
the palayakkarars soon.
In the British records it is referred to as the
Second Palayakarar War. It was directed by a Fall of Sivagangai
confederacy consisting of Marudhu Pandyan of In May 1801, the English attacked the
Sivagangai, Gopala Nayak of Dindugal, Kerala rebels in Thanjavur and Tiruchirappalli. The
Verma of Malabar and Krishnappa Nayak rebels went to Piranmalai and Kalayarkoil. They
and Dhoondaji of Mysore. In April 1800 they were again defeated by the forces of the English.
meet at Virupachi and decided to organise an In the end the superior military strength and
uprising against the Company. The uprising, the able commanders of the English Company
which broke out in Coimbatore in June 1800, prevailed. The rebellion failed and Sivagangai
soon spread to Ramanathapuram and Madurai. was annexed in 1801. The Marudhu brothers
The Company got wind of it and declared war were executed in the Fort of Tirupathur
on Krishnappa Nayak of Mysore, Kerala Varma near Ramanathapuram on 24 October 1801.
of Malabar and others. The Palayakars of Oomathurai and Sevathaiah were captured and
Coimbatore, Sathyamangalam and Tarapuram beheaded at Panchalamkurichi on 16 November
were caught and hanged. 1801. Seventy-three rebels were exiled to
In February 1801 the two brothers of Penang in Malaya. Though the palayakkarars
Kattabomman, Oomathurai and Sevathaiah, fell to the English, their exploits and sacrifices
escaped from the Palayamkottai prison to inspired later generations. Thus the rebellion of
Kamudhi, from where Chinna Marudhu Marudhu brothers, which is called South Indian
took them to Siruvayal his capital. The fort at Rebellion, is a landmark event in the history of
Panchalamkurichi was reconstructed in record Tamil Nadu.
time. The British troops under Colin Macaulay Carnatic Treaty, 1801
retook the fort in April and the Marudhu
brothers sought shelter in Sivagangai. The The suppression of the Palayakkarars
English demanded that the Marudhu Pandyars rebellions of 1799 and 1800–1801 resulted
hand over the fugitives (Oomathurai and in the liquidation of all the local chieftains of
Sevathaiah). But they refused. Colonel Agnew Tamilnadu. Under the terms of the Carnatic
and Colonel Innes marched on Sivagangai. Treaty of 31 July 1801, the British assumed direct
In June 1801 Marudhu Pandyars issued a control over Tamilagam and the Palayakarar
proclamation of Independence which is called system came to an end with the demolition of
Tiruchirappalli Proclamation. all forts and disbandment of their army.

Proclamation of 1801 (e) Dheeran Chinnamalai

(1756–1805)
The Proclamation of 1801 was an early
call to the Indians to unite against the British, Born as
cutting across region, caste, creed and religion. Theerthagiri in 1756,
The proclamation was pasted on the walls of Dheeran was well
the Nawab’s palace in Tiruchirappalli fort and trained in silambu,
on the walls of the Srirangam temple. Many archery, horse riding
palayakkars of Tamil country rallied together and modern warfare.
to fight against the English. Chinna Marudhu He was involved in
collected nearly 20,000 men to challenge the resolving family and
English army. British reinforcements were land disputes in the
Dheeran Chinnamalai
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Kongu region. As this region was under the (a) Grievances of Indian Soldiers
control of the Mysore Sultan, tax was collected But the resistance did not die down. The
by Tipu’s Diwan Mohammed Ali. Once, dispossessed little kings and feudal chieftains
when the Diwan was returning to Mysore continued to deliberate on the future course
with the tax money, Theerthagiri blocked his of action against the Company Government.
way and confiscated all the tax money. He let The outcome was the Vellore Revolt of 1806.
Mohammed Ali go by instructing him to tell The objective conditions for a last ditch fight
his Sultan that “Chinnamalai”, who is between existed on the eve of the revolt. The sepoys in
Sivamalai and Chennimalai, was the one who the British Indian army nursed a strong sense of
took away taxes. Thus he gained the name resentment over low salary and poor prospects
“Dheeran Chinnamalai”. The offended Diwan of promotion. The English army officers’ scant
respect for the social and religious sentiments
sent a contingent to attack Chinnamalai and
of the Indian sepoys also angered them. The
both the forces met and fought at the Noyyal
state of peasantry from which class the sepoys
river bed. Chinnamalai emerged victorious. had been recruited also bothered them much.
After Tipu’s death Dheeran Chinnamalai With new experiments in land tenures causing
built a fort and fought the British without unsettled conditions and famine breaking out
leaving the place. Hence the place is called in 1805 many of the sepoys’ families were in dire
Odanilai. He launched guerrilla attacks and economic straits. The most opportune situation
evaded capture. Finally the English captured come with the sons and the family members of
Tipu being interned in Vellore Fort. The trigger
him and his brothers and kept them in prison in
for the revolt came in the form of a new military
Sankagiri. When they were asked to accept the
regulation notified by the Commander-in-
rule of the British, they refused. So they were Chief Sir John Cradock.
hanged at the top of the Sankagiri Fort on 31
According to the new regulations, the
July 1805.
Indian soldiers were asked not to wear caste
6.3   Vellore Revolt 1806 marks or ear rings when in uniform. They were
to be cleanly shaven on the chin and maintain
Before reducing all palayakkarars of south
uniformity about how their moustache looked.
Tamilnadu into submission the East India The new turban added fuel to fire. The most
Company had acquired the revenue districts objectionable addition was the leather cockade
of Salem, Dindigul at the conclusion of the war made of animal skin. The sepoys gave enough
with Tipu in 1792. Coimbatore was annexed forewarning by refusing to wear the new turban.
at the end of the Anglo-Mysore War in 1799. Yet the Company administration did not take
In the same year the Raja of Thanjavur whose heed.
status had been reduced to that of a vassal in (b) Outbreak of the Revolt
1798 gave up his sovereign rights over that
On 10 July 1806, in the early hours, guns
region to the English. After the suppression
were booming and the Indian sepoys of the
of resistance of Kattabomman (1799) and
1st and 23rd regiments raised their standard of
Marudhu Brothers (1801), the British charged revolt. Colonel Fancourt, who commanded the
the Nawab of Arcot with disloyalty and forced a garrison, was the first victim. Colonel MeKerras
treaty on him. According to this Treaty of 1801, of the 23rd regiment was killed next. Major
the Nawab was to cede the districts of North Armstrong who was passing the Fort heard the
Arcot, South Arcot, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai sound of firing. When he stopped to enquire
and Tirunelveli to the Company and transfer he was showered with bullets. About a dozen
all the administrative powers to it. other officers were killed within an hour or so.

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Among them Lt. Elly and Lt. Popham belonged and men engaged in the suppression of the
to His Majesty’s battalion. revolt were rewarded with prize money and
Gillespie’s Brutality promotion. Col. Gillespie was given 7,000
pagodas. However, the commander–in-chief
Major Cootes, who was outside the Sir John Cradock, the Adjutant General Agnew
Fort, informed Colonel Gillespie, the cavalry and Governor William Bentinck were held
commandant in Arcot. Gillespie reached the responsible for the revolt, removed from their
fort along with a squadron of cavalry under office, and recalled to England. The military
the command of Captain Young at 9.00 am. regulations were treated as withdrawn.
In the meantime, the rebels proclaimed Fateh
(d) Estimate of Revolt
Hyder, Tipu’s eldest son, as their new ruler
and hoisted the tiger flag of Mysore sultans in The Vellore Revolt failed because there was
the Fort. But the uprising was swiftly crushed no immediate help from outside. Recent studies
by Col. Gillespie, who threw to winds all war show that the organising part of the revolt
ethics. In the course of suppression, according was done perfectly by Subedars Sheik Adam
to an eyewitness account, eight hundred and Sheik Hamid and Jamedar Sheik Hussain
soldiers were found dead in the fort alone. Six of the 2nd battalion of 23rd regiment and two
hundred soldiers were kept in confinement in Subedars and the Jamedar Sheik Kasim of the
Tiruchirappalli and Vellore awaiting Inquiry. 1st battalion of the 1st regiment. Vellore Revolt
had all the forebodings of the Great Rebellion of
(c ) Consequences of Revolt
1857. The only difference was that there was no
Six of the rebels convicted by the Court civil rebellion following the mutiny. The 1806
of Enquiry were blown from the guns; five revolt was not confined to Vellore Fort. It had
were shot dead; eight hanged. Tipu’s sons were its echoes in Bellary, Walajabad, Hyderabad,
ordered to be sent to Calcutta. The officers Bengaluru, Nandydurg, and Sankaridurg.

SUMMARY
Prominent Palayakkarars of Tamil country and their resistance to the rule of East India
„„
Company are discussed.
The wars waged by Puli Thevar, Velunachiyar, Veerapandya Kattabomman, followed
„„
by Marudhu brothers of Sivagangai and Dheeran Chinnamalai against the British are
elaborated.
The reasons for the Vellore Revolt and the ruthless manner in which it was suppressed by
„„
Gillespie are detailed.

GLOSSARY

dependent, a person who receives

protege பிறர் ஆதரவில் இருப்பவர்
support from a patron
the act of elevating or raising one’s செல்வாக்கை வளர்த்தல்,
aggrandizement
wealth, prestige and power ஆக்கிரமிப்பு செய்தல்

defiant resisting, disobedient பணிய மறுக்கும்

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harmony, peace, free from

tranquillity அமைதி
disturbances
treachery disloyalty, betrayal, breach of trust வஞ்சித்தல்

audacious daring, fearless பயமற்ற, துணிவுமிக்க

ultimatum a final dominating demand இறுதி எச்சரிக்கை

payment or reward – something

bounty க�ொடை
given liberally
an ornament, especially a knot of த�ொப்பியை அணிசெய்யும்
cockade
ribbon worn on the hat குஞ்சம்

cognizance notice, having knowledge of கவனம்

trounce crush, defeat த�ோற்கடி

interned imprisoned சிறைப்படுத்தல்

4. Who issued the Tiruchirappalli

proclamation of Independence?
EXERCISE
a) Marudhu brothers
I Choose the correct b) Puli Thevar
answer c) Veerapandya Kattabomman
1. Who was the first d) Gopala Nayak
Palayakkarars to resist 5. When did the Vellore Revolt breakout?
the East India Company’s policy of a) 24 May 1805
territorial aggrandizement? b) 10 July 1805
a) Marudhu brothers c) 10 July 1806
b) Puli Thevar d) 10 September 1806
c) Velunachiyar 6. Who was the Commander-in-Chief
d) Veerapandya Kattabomman responsible for the new military regulations
2. Who had established close relationship with in Vellore fort?
the three agents of Chanda Sahib? a) Col. Fancourt
a) Velunachiyar b) Major Armstrong
b) Kattabomman c) Sir John Cradock
c) Puli Thevar d) Colonel Agnew
d) Oomai thurai 7. Where were the sons of Tipu Sultan sent
3. Where was Sivasubramanianar executed? after the Vellore Revolt?
a) Kayathar a) Calcutta
b) Nagalapuram b) Mumbai
c) Virupachi c) Delhi
d) Panchalamkurichi d) Mysore
  Early Revolts against British Rule in Tamil Nadu 72

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 www.tntextbooks.in

II Fill in the blanks iv) 

In May 1799 Cornwallis ordered
the advance of Company armies to
1. The Palayakkarars system was put in place
Tirunelveli.
in Tamil Nadu by .
a)  (i) and (ii) are correct
2. Velunachiyar and her daughter were
b)  (ii) and (iii) are correct
under the protection of for
eight years. c)  (ii), (iii) and (iv )are correct
3. Bennerman deputed to d)  (i) and (iv) are correct
convey his message, asking Kattabomman 3. Assertion (A):Puli Thevar tried to get the
to surrender. support of Hyder Ali and the French.
4. Kattabomman was hanged to death at Reason (R): Hyder Ali could not help Puli
. Thevar as he was already in a serious conflict
with the Marathas.
5. The Rebellion of Marudhu Brothers was
categorized in the British records as the a) Both (A) and (R) are correct, but (R) is
. not the correct explanation of (A)
6. was declared the new Sultan b) Both (A) and (R) are wrong
by the rebels in Vellore Fort. c) Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is
the correct explanation of (A)
III Choose the correct statement
d)  (A) is wrong and (R) is correct
1. i) Th
 e Palayakkarars system was in practice
in the Kakatiya Kingdom. IV Match the following
ii) P
 uli Thevar recaptured Nerkattumseval 1. Theerthagiri - Vellore Revolt
in 1764 after the death of Khan Sahib.
2. Gopala Nayak - Ramalinganar
iii) Yusuf Khan who was negotiating with
3. Bannerman - Dindigul
the Palayakkarars, without informing
the Company administration was 4. Subedar Sheik Adam - Vellore Fort
charged with treachery and hanged in 5. Col. Fancourt - Odanilai
1764.
V Answer the questions briefly
iv) Ondiveeran led one of the army units of
Kattabomman. 1. What were the duties of the Palayakkarars?
a) (i), (ii) and (iv) are correct 2. Identify the Palayams based on the division
b) (i), (ii) and (iii) are correct of east and west.
c) (iii) and (iv) are correct 3. What was the significance of the Battle of
d) (i) and (iv) are correct Kalakadu?
2. i) 
Under Colonel Campbell, the English 4. What was the bone of contention between
Army went along with Mahfuzkhan’s the Company and Kottabomman?
army.
5. Highlight the essence of the Tiruchirappalli
ii) After Muthu Vadugar’s death in Kalaiyar Procalamation of 1801.
Kovil battle, Marudhu Brothers assisted
Velunachiyar in restoring the throne to VI Answer in detail
her. 1. Attempt an essay of the heroic fight
iii) Gopala Nayak spearheaded the famous Veerapandya Kattabomman conducted
Dindigul League. against the East India Company.
73   Early Revolts against British Rule in Tamil Nadu

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