Commemoration of Veerapandiya Kattabomman-17.10.1799
Veerapandiya Kattabomman was from Panchalankurichi.
He was born in 1760. Father: Jegaveerapandian; Mother: Aarumugathammal; Wife: Jakkammal.
Siblings: Sevathaiya, Oomathurai (real name: Kumaraswami).
Veerapandiya Kattabomman was a Palaiyakkarar (chieftain) from Panchalankurichi, Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu (then part of Tirunelveli).
He was also called Kattabomman Nayakar of the Palaiyam. He was born to Jegaveerapandiya Kattabomman and Aarumugathammal. His reign began on February 2, 1790.
In some parts of South India during the Vijayanagar Empire, local chieftains (Palaiyakkarars) were appointed as military leaders and administrative governors. They were responsible for a Palaiyam
(territorial unit), hence called Palaiyakkarar (or the anglicized version, Polygar).
Palaiyakkarars collected taxes from farmers and over time functioned as semi-independent rulers.
Conflict began with the East India Company when they sought to control the Palaiyakkarars, collect taxes, and dominate the region.
Kattabomman resisted the British and led a fight against them, which is known as the Polygar Wars, starting from 1799.
