Nerkattumseval
Encyclopedia
Nerkattumseval is traditionally recognized as one of the 72 palaiyams of Madura, already in existence in the days of Nagama Nayaka and his son Visvanatha Nayaka. It falls under the Sivagiri
Taluk in Tirunelveli
District of TamilNadu.
province of the Nayak kingdom of Madurai.
belonged to the Kondayam-Kottai subcaste of the Maravar
. He is known to be the First Freedom Fighter of India. His territories were of small extent, but his influence throughout the whole of the western part of Tinnevelly (Tirunelveli) was immense.
was appointed to lead the troops that would establish his rule in Tirulneveli. Many polygars paid their arrears and acknowledged the nawab’s suzerainty, but the Maravas’ Western Bloc of polygars, led by the Puli Thevar of Nerkattumseval, refused to do so. No amount of British force could make them submit and, having tasted independence, … were averse to the idea of being dependent once again. All the Marava polygars in the West (except Sivagiri) formed a coalition to defend their independence. Other Madurai polygars supported the coalition. But no attempt was made to include Marava kaval chiefs who had also become independent, and the Nayak polegars of the Eastern Bloc refused until 1759 to join the coalition as the result of old animosities between the two groups. Puli Thevar enlisted the aid of Hyder Ali and the Raja of Travancore and for seven years led the war against the Anglo-Nawabi forces. He was finally forced to submit in 1761 and allowed to retire to Ramnad. “It is possible that after the death of Yusuf Khan, Puli Thevar might have returned to his Palayam. However, he was not the Puli Thevar of 1761, and Campbell captured Nerkattumseval in 1767.” For many years he had stood as the leader of the Marava confederacy against the troops of the Nawab and the Company. “To the courage of the Marava warrior he added the wiliness of the Maratha. He had a shrewd insight into the political situation of the time and was a veritable thorn in the side of the Nawab’s agents.”
Sivagiri
Jawaharlal Nehru"I am happy and privileged to come here and pay my tribute to a great man whose message is as vital and essential today as it was when he gave it"...
Taluk in Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
District of TamilNadu.
Palayam location
This Marava palaiyam was located in the Sankarankovil taluk, in the former TirunelveliTirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
province of the Nayak kingdom of Madurai.
Puli Thevar
Its polygar, known by the hereditary title of the Puli ThevarPuli Thevar
Puli Thevar was a poligar who ruled Nerkattumseval situated in the Sankarankoil taluk of Tamil Nadu. Puli Thevar who belongs to the warrior Maravar community was one of the earliest Indian Kings to have fought and defeated the British in India.-History:He is one of the earliest opponents of the...
belonged to the Kondayam-Kottai subcaste of the Maravar
Maravar
Maravar are a Tamil community of the state of Tamil Nadu, southern India, and are one of the three branches of the Mukkulathor confederacy.Maravars are found predominantly in the Southern districts of Tamilnadu viz., Madurai, Theni, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Thirunelveli,...
. He is known to be the First Freedom Fighter of India. His territories were of small extent, but his influence throughout the whole of the western part of Tinnevelly (Tirunelveli) was immense.
History and Resistance towards the English
In 1754, after Muhammed Ali had finally established himself as the Nawab of Arcot, Col. Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
was appointed to lead the troops that would establish his rule in Tirulneveli. Many polygars paid their arrears and acknowledged the nawab’s suzerainty, but the Maravas’ Western Bloc of polygars, led by the Puli Thevar of Nerkattumseval, refused to do so. No amount of British force could make them submit and, having tasted independence, … were averse to the idea of being dependent once again. All the Marava polygars in the West (except Sivagiri) formed a coalition to defend their independence. Other Madurai polygars supported the coalition. But no attempt was made to include Marava kaval chiefs who had also become independent, and the Nayak polegars of the Eastern Bloc refused until 1759 to join the coalition as the result of old animosities between the two groups. Puli Thevar enlisted the aid of Hyder Ali and the Raja of Travancore and for seven years led the war against the Anglo-Nawabi forces. He was finally forced to submit in 1761 and allowed to retire to Ramnad. “It is possible that after the death of Yusuf Khan, Puli Thevar might have returned to his Palayam. However, he was not the Puli Thevar of 1761, and Campbell captured Nerkattumseval in 1767.” For many years he had stood as the leader of the Marava confederacy against the troops of the Nawab and the Company. “To the courage of the Marava warrior he added the wiliness of the Maratha. He had a shrewd insight into the political situation of the time and was a veritable thorn in the side of the Nawab’s agents.”