Palaiyakkarar
Encyclopedia
Palaiyakkarar, Poligar, Polygar or Palegar or Polegar was the feudal title for a class of territorial administrative and military
chiefs (Knights and Barons) appointed by the Naicker rulers of South India
(notably Vijayanagar Empire, Madurai Nayaks and the Kakatiya dynasty) during 16th - 18th centuries. The word is an English
corruption of Palaiyakkarar (Tamil
) or Palegaadu (Telugu
) or Paaleyagaara (Kannada
). The Polygars of Madurai Country were instrumental in establishing administrative reforms by building irrigation projects, forts and religious institutions. Their wars with the British
after the demise of Madurai Nayaks is often regarded as one the earliest Indian Independence struggles. Many were hanged and some banished forever to Andaman Islands
by the British. Puli Thevar
, Veerapandya Kattabomman, Dheeran Chinnamalai
, Marudu brothers were some of the most notable Polygars who rose up in revolt against the British rule in South India
. The war against the British forces predates the Sepoy Mutiny in Northern India by many decades but still largely given less importance by historians.
) or Paalem (Telugu
), a fortified district or military camp devised by the famous general Ariyanatha Mudaliar
of the Madurai Kingdom. Some historians say that the Palaiyakkarar system might have originated from the Kakatiya
dynasty's model by Prataparudra, who similarly divided his kingdom among 77 Padmanayakas. Kongatiya now the family members lives in TUMKUR DISTRICT Kora village (kongatiya Thimmanna nayaka)
The formation was in 1336 AD. By 1378 AD, Kumara Kampana, the prince of Vijayanagaram had conquered the Madurai country. After that the whole of Tamil Nadu and then KeraLa followed.
By the end of the century, the whole of South India, south of the Krishna-Tungabadra rivers were under its rule.
Vijayanagaram was a military state.
The country was divided into small territories under military governors called AmaraNayakkars. The territorial divisions were called 'Amara Nayakka Thaanam's.
Later on this system gave place to the Palayam system.
Dalavaay Ariyanatha Mudhaliar, the minister/general of Visvanatha Nayakkar of Madurai established 72 PaaLayams in the Madurai country.
They were placed under the care of the PaaLayakkaarars.
This system outlasted the Madurai Nayakkars. PaLayams like Sethu Nadu became kingdoms.
In the Vijayanagara
empire, local chieftains called "palegar's" were allowed to rule with limited autonomy by their overlords. They had powers to collect revenue, maintain a small army and impose punishments. They numbered up to 200 during this period. However, they are supposed to have refused to come to the rescue of the empire at the Battle of Tallikota in 1565 CE, which marked the downfall of the Vijayanagara empire.
When the Vijayanagara Empire
of southern India
weakened after the mid-16th century, the Vijayanagara Nayaks, or governors, became the independent rulers of large tracts of southern India. Of the prominent Nayaks were the Nayaks of Madurai (1549 – 1736), ruling from Madurai
and Tiruchirapalli
. The Tanjore Naickers opted for a conventional system of administration, while the other Vijaynagar offshoots, namely the Nayaks of Gingee
, and other territories under the Aravidu line of later Vijayanagara
Kings based in Chandragiri
- Vellore Fort
, followed the Palayam or Palegallu system of administration,.
The Madurai kingdoms consisted of present day Western Tamil Nadu with Coimbatore
, Salem and Kollidam river forming the northern boundary barring Tanjore Kingdom and Western Ghats
forming the western border and Kanniyakumari
in the South. To make the territorial administration more efficient, Viswanatha Naicker and Ariyanatha Mudaliar apportioned the country into 72 palaiyams to 72 chieftains, some of them locals and the rest Telugu
leaders of detachments who had accompanied Viswanatha Naicker from Vijayanagar
. Most Palaiyams were dry tracts of land with scanty rainfall found in the western parts of Tamil Nadu.
, run the local judiciary
, and maintain a battalion of troops for the king.
They served as regional military and civil administrators. In turn they were to retain ¼ of the revenue collected as tax
, and submit the remaining to the king's treasury
. The Poligars also at times founded villages, built dams
, constructed tanks and built temples. Also the rulers taxed regions according to the cultivable and fertility of the land. Often several new rainwater tanks were erected in the Semi-Arid
tracts of western and south Tamil Nadu
.
Their armed status was also to protect the civilians from robbers and dacoits who were rampant in those regions and from invading armies which often resorted to pillaging the villages and countryside.
, built a double-walled fortress encompassing Meenakshi temple and Madurai town with giant moats filled with water. He also built 72 double-storied structures around the perimeter of the fort wall to serve as offices for each Palaiyakkarar.
In 1841, a British Collector
Black Burn demolished all 71 bastions to extend the City and filled the deep moats to form the Veli streets. One of the surviving bastions still functions as a corporation office near Periyar
Bus stand in Madurai
.
In Palaiyakkarar’s local region, they built forts usually on a hill. Since cannon
and gunfire artillery came into existence, when establishing the Naicker Empire most of them were fortified to withstand cannon shot of the enemy troops. Sankagiri
fort on the Coimbatore
-Salem highway of Deeran Chinnamalai is one that remains in its original state.
Notable Palaiyakkarars
communities and part of South Tamil Nadu.
The number of Palayams and the Palayakkar were not fixed. New Palayams were created and older palayams were merged with other Palayams. The number of Palayams ranged to over 200. The Kongu Nadu had the maximum number of "Palayams" in the whole of South India.
Chandragiri -
pulicherla -pulicherla venkata chandrappa nayunivaru
mogarala-
Chittoor
Nagari - palegar vakkala chengamma Nayannuvaru
Bangarupalyam - muddu bangaru seshachalapathi Nayannuvaru
Puttur—chenna Ankama Naidu
Veeraballi (sanipai-Padamatanagiri)-Yaramalanayuni Thathama Naidu (R/o Sivaramappa naidu) .
Katineni erragudi- chakrayapet mandal - katineni Venkatapathi Nayunivaru (1529- 1542, Achyuta deva Raya )
Pudukottai
Chengalpattu - Seshadri Pillai, the Poligar
Some Palayakkars are Maddikayala Teppalraj, Kuppum Venkatachala Naicker, Damerla Venkatapati Naicker, Strirama Singama Naicker, Rayalu Naicker, Vadamaraja Tanappa Naicker, Rangappa Naicker, Anapambattu Harikrishna Raj, Nakka Venaktarama Naicker, Adavi, Venaktapati Raj, Kulur Venkata Raj, Itambi Subburoya Pillai (the only Tamil of the group), Mul Raj, and Madupakam Ramachandra Naicker in Madras region.
katineni yerragudi, katineni Venkatapathi Nayunivaru(1529-1545 , Achyuta Rayal).
Turayur - vyri chetti(vyrichetti palayam)
Puchiya Nayakkan
Lakkaya Nayakkan
Kammaya Nayakkan
Kamakshi Nayakkan
Lingama Nayakkan
Muttaya Nayakkan
VallaKondama Nayakkan
Samaya Nayakkan
Ammaya Nayakkan
Kulappa Nayakkan
Appayya Nayakkan
Palani Hills - Sennava Nayakkan
Virupakshi - Ramabhadra Nayakkan,
. Some of them are:
Pollachi
(Puravipalayam) - The Gopanna Mandradiars were Palayakkarars and later became a Zamindari of Pollachi and Puravipalayam during the British rule.
Samuthur - The Vanavarayars of Samathur were Palayakkarars and later became a Zamindari of Samathur and Kottampatti during the British rule.
Uthukuli
- The Kalingarayars of Uthukuli where Palayakkarars and later became a Zamindari of Uthukuli and Tirupur during the British rule.
Kangeyam
(Palaya Kottai or Palayamkottai) - The Sarkarai Mandradiars of Kangeyam were the traditional chieftains and Palayakkarars of the Kongu Nadu.
Konganapuram
- Sri Rangasamy Gounder, Sri Sengotuvellappa Gounder and Sri Nachiappa Gounder - The descendants of Zamindari of Konganapuram.
Pokkampalayam - Dr.P. Subbarayan
- The descendant of Zamindari of Kumaramangalam and Sri Rathanasabapathy Gounder - The descendant of the Zamindari of Pudupalayam
Tharamangalam
- Gatti Mudalis
of Salem and Dharmapuri
Surapura Samsthana - founded by the Bedars and ruled between 1650 and 1858 AD in Sagara-nadu or Shorapur Doab (Gulbarga dist. Karnataka)
Gummanayakanapalya palegars(bagepalli,chickballapur dist)
Sivagiri Vanniyan
Irattaikudai Vanniyan
Alagapuri Vanniyan
Settur - Tiruvana Thevan
Kollangondan Thevan
Annichi Nayakkan
Tumbichi Nayakkan
Kama Nayakkan
Kalanga Nayakkan
Kandama Nayakkan
Elumadai Nayakkan
chokkanpatti - Chokkathalavan
Thadiaythalavan
Tali Veli
Suttala Thevan
Saluva Thevan
Seturayan
Nallakutti of Singampatti
Nambithalavan
Ananjathalavan
Ramabhadra Reddi
Ramaswami Reddi
Kumaraswami Reddi
Venkatachala Reddi
Kechalapa Nayakkan
Pethana Nayakkan
Kadalakkudi Nayakkan
Nagalapuram Nayakkan
Melamandai - Sirumalai Nayakkan
Indrathalavan
Kumarathalavan
Eravappa Nayakkan
Panchalankurichi - Veera Paandiya Katta Pomman
Ettayapuram - Ettappan
Ramnad
Sivagangai - Marudu brothers
Nelkattamsevval - Puli Thevar
The Madura Country: A Manua By James Henry Nelson
Indrathalaivan ( Thalaivan Kottai )
The Carnatic Nawab’s tax collection efforts often ended in small wars with the polygars, who refused to recogonise his authority and considered him as a usurper. The Nawabs often expensive tax collection campaigns and lavish spending drove him to bankruptcy, resorting to huge borrowings from the British. In 1752 the old Madurai Kingdom was leased to a savage warrior Mohammed Yusuf Khan, and was backed with troops from the British and Carnatic Nawab to bring the Polygars into control. He immediately went around pillaging and damaging the country-side to subdue the Polygars, till he himself got killed his overlords. But by the end of Yusuf Khan’s life he bought many polygars under control with several of them killed.
Later in late 18th century to compensate loans borrowed from British, the Nawab ceded his tax collection rights to the former, who in turn raised the taxes, irrespective of a regions agrian produce, enraging several Polygars.The Polygars saw the British as an unwanted intruder, still refusing to accept the weak Nawab
.
, a polygar of Nerkattumseval
in mid 18th century. Nerkattumseval
is Palaiyam near the Western Ghats of Madurai region. Puli Thevar
Puli Thevar, initially a good ally of Carnatic Nawab, came into conflict with Muhammed Yusuf Khan
, over payment of dues, erupting into a war. After a prolonged campaign of three years, Muhammed Yusuf Khan
defeated and captured Puli Thevar
and the later's end is uncertain.
.
.
Polygar War
is a series of wars fought by a combine of Palaiyakkarar's against the British troops, between 1798 and 1805. The war between the British and Kattabomman Nayak (Veerapandiya Kattabomman
) is often classified as First Polygar war (1799), while Second Polygar War 1800-1805 against the British was fought by a much bigger combine over entire western Tamil Nadu headed by Dheeran Chinnamalai
and Marudhu Pandiyan brothers of the Sivaganga
.
The Polygars often had artillery and resisted stubbornly and the storming of their hill forts proved on several occasions’ sanguinary work. The British columns were exposed throughout the operations to constant harassing attacks; and had usually to cut their way through almost impenetrable jungles fired on from under cover on all sides. It took more than a year to suppress the rebellion completely, resulting in the abolition of the Polygar system.
. Of the Polygars who submitted to the British some of them were granted Zamindari status, which has only tax collection rights and disarmed them completely. (The Zamindari system originated in Bengal, but was adopted by the British.)
today).
Incidents do point towards some disorderly polygars, who took things in their hand, becoming mini tyrants and corrupt, earning the wrath of their citizens. Some accounts were often exaggerated by the chroniclers of English East India Company to justify their occupation over these regions. But such were the nature, often found in any administration including the administrative officers in English East India Company officers, the Deccan Sultans and the Jahirs of the Mughals
.
The region after the downfall of Madurai Kingdom was marked by a complete confusion, mayhem and disruption of general life, exacerbated by severe droughts in 1782, 1783,1807,1823,1833 and 1854.
The revision and collection of the tax by the British East India Company
, who were ill-suited or inexperienced for the purpose (as they were British traders and Military officers rather than administrators), resulted in growing resentment between the Polygars and the British.
When the districts of Rayalaseema
were ceded to British rule
, the local palegars refused to share the revenue with the British. The British collector in Rayalaseema, Thomas Monroe, ordered the arrest of the palegar of Koikuntla, Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy
, who was hanged publicly. After that, however, the British allowed the palegars to remain. They numbered around 80 in the region and were permitted to conduct their own courts. For example, Dosakayala Venkata Subba Reddy would hold court every day at 10 a.m. and judgments delivered by him had no appeal. In some areas palegars encouraged their private armies to indulge in dacoit activities and took a share of the booty.
Palegars vanished after independence, but the culture survived in the form of factionists.
Chieftain and Palayakkar, Dheeran Chinnamalai and his revolt against the tryanny of the British forces in the South India
Today Puli Thevar
, Veerapandiya Kattabomman
, Dheeran Chinnamalai
, Marudu brothers all are honored with monuments by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The movie Veerapandiya Kattabomman stands out as one of the best movies in Shivaji Ganesan’s long illustrious movie career, winning him many international fame and accolades.
In school texts Tamil and government text books covers the major leaders and Palaiyakkarar's role in administration and war, the Indian English textbooks based loosely on British accounts simply state the period as polygars, with no mention of their role in the development and the freedom struggle.
2009 in kannada film industry "veera madhakari " film is released it is the name of madhakari nayaka
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
chiefs (Knights and Barons) appointed by the Naicker rulers of South India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(notably Vijayanagar Empire, Madurai Nayaks and the Kakatiya dynasty) during 16th - 18th centuries. The word is an English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
corruption of Palaiyakkarar (Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
) or Palegaadu (Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
) or Paaleyagaara (Kannada
Kannada language
Kannada or , is a language spoken in India predominantly in the state of Karnataka. Kannada, whose native speakers are called Kannadigas and number roughly 50 million, is one of the 30 most spoken languages in the world...
). The Polygars of Madurai Country were instrumental in establishing administrative reforms by building irrigation projects, forts and religious institutions. Their wars with the British
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
after the demise of Madurai Nayaks is often regarded as one the earliest Indian Independence struggles. Many were hanged and some banished forever to Andaman Islands
Andaman Islands
The Andaman Islands are a group of Indian Ocean archipelagic islands in the Bay of Bengal between India to the west, and Burma , to the north and east...
by the British. Puli Thevar
Puli 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...
, Veerapandya Kattabomman, Dheeran Chinnamalai
Dheeran Chinnamalai
Dheeran Chinnamalai was a Kongu chieftain and Palayakkarar from Tamil Nadu who rose up in revolt against the British East India Company in the Kongu Nadu, Southern India...
, Marudu brothers were some of the most notable Polygars who rose up in revolt against the British rule in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. The war against the British forces predates the Sepoy Mutiny in Northern India by many decades but still largely given less importance by historians.
Name and origins
Palaiyakkarar was the head of Palayam (TamilTamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
) or Paalem (Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
), a fortified district or military camp devised by the famous general Ariyanatha Mudaliar
Ariyanatha Mudaliar
Ariyanatha Mudaliar was the Vellala Delavoy and the able Chief Minister of the greatest of the Nayaka domains established by the Vijayanagar viceroy and later ruler of Madurai, Viswanatha Nayak...
of the Madurai Kingdom. Some historians say that the Palaiyakkarar system might have originated from the Kakatiya
Kakatiya
The Kakatiya dynasty was an Indian dynasty that ruled most parts of what is now Andhra Pradesh, India from 1083 CE to 1323 CE, with Orugallu , now Warangal , as its capital. Orugallu is also called 'Eka Sila Nagaram'...
dynasty's model by Prataparudra, who similarly divided his kingdom among 77 Padmanayakas. Kongatiya now the family members lives in TUMKUR DISTRICT Kora village (kongatiya Thimmanna nayaka)
Background
Soon after the Vijayanagara kingdom was formed, it started expanding.The formation was in 1336 AD. By 1378 AD, Kumara Kampana, the prince of Vijayanagaram had conquered the Madurai country. After that the whole of Tamil Nadu and then KeraLa followed.
By the end of the century, the whole of South India, south of the Krishna-Tungabadra rivers were under its rule.
Vijayanagaram was a military state.
The country was divided into small territories under military governors called AmaraNayakkars. The territorial divisions were called 'Amara Nayakka Thaanam's.
Later on this system gave place to the Palayam system.
Dalavaay Ariyanatha Mudhaliar, the minister/general of Visvanatha Nayakkar of Madurai established 72 PaaLayams in the Madurai country.
They were placed under the care of the PaaLayakkaarars.
This system outlasted the Madurai Nayakkars. PaLayams like Sethu Nadu became kingdoms.
In the Vijayanagara
Vijayanagara
Vijayanagara is in Bellary District, northern Karnataka. It is the name of the now-ruined capital city "which was regarded as the second Rome" that surrounds modern-day Hampi, of the historic Vijayanagara empire which extended over the southern part of India....
empire, local chieftains called "palegar's" were allowed to rule with limited autonomy by their overlords. They had powers to collect revenue, maintain a small army and impose punishments. They numbered up to 200 during this period. However, they are supposed to have refused to come to the rescue of the empire at the Battle of Tallikota in 1565 CE, which marked the downfall of the Vijayanagara empire.
When the Vijayanagara Empire
Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
of southern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
weakened after the mid-16th century, the Vijayanagara Nayaks, or governors, became the independent rulers of large tracts of southern India. Of the prominent Nayaks were the Nayaks of Madurai (1549 – 1736), ruling from Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
and Tiruchirapalli
Tiruchirapalli
Tiruchirappalli ) , also called Tiruchi or Trichy , is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli District. It is the fourth largest municipal corporation in Tamil Nadu and also the fourth largest urban agglomeration in the state...
. The Tanjore Naickers opted for a conventional system of administration, while the other Vijaynagar offshoots, namely the Nayaks of Gingee
Gingee
Gingee is a panchayat town in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The nearest town with a railway station is Tindivanam, 28 km away....
, and other territories under the Aravidu line of later Vijayanagara
Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
Kings based in Chandragiri
Chandragiri
Chandragiri , is a suburb of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, India. Recently it is included under Municipal Corporation limits of Tirupati...
- Vellore Fort
Vellore Fort
Vellore Fort is a large 16th-century fort situated in Vellore city near Chennai, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The Fort was at one point of time the headquarters of the Vijayanagara Empire...
, followed the Palayam or Palegallu system of administration,.
Beginnings
The first Naicker king of Madurai Viswanatha Nayak (1559—1563); a shrewd administrator, assisted by his famous Dalavoy (Governor General) cum Pradhani (first citizen) Ariyanatha Mudaliar are credited with establishing "the polygar (palaiyakkarar) system” in Madurai Kingdom.The Madurai kingdoms consisted of present day Western Tamil Nadu with Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
, Salem and Kollidam river forming the northern boundary barring Tanjore Kingdom and Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
forming the western border and Kanniyakumari
Kanyakumari District
Kanyakumari District ) is a district of Tamil Nadu state, India and is the southernmost land area of mainland India.The district is the second most urbanised district in Tamilnadu, next only to Chennai and ahead of Coimbatore. It also has the highest literacy and education levels in the...
in the South. To make the territorial administration more efficient, Viswanatha Naicker and Ariyanatha Mudaliar apportioned the country into 72 palaiyams to 72 chieftains, some of them locals and the rest Telugu
Telugu people
The Telugu people or Telugu Prajalu are an ethnic group of India. They are the native speakers of the Telugu language, the most commonly spoken language in India after Hindi and Bengali...
leaders of detachments who had accompanied Viswanatha Naicker from Vijayanagar
Vijayanagara
Vijayanagara is in Bellary District, northern Karnataka. It is the name of the now-ruined capital city "which was regarded as the second Rome" that surrounds modern-day Hampi, of the historic Vijayanagara empire which extended over the southern part of India....
. Most Palaiyams were dry tracts of land with scanty rainfall found in the western parts of Tamil Nadu.
Role of a Poligar
The Poligar's role was to administer their Palaiyams (territories) from their fortified centers. Their chief functions were to collect taxes, maintain law and orderLaw and order (politics)
In politics, law and order refers to demands for a strict criminal justice system, especially in relation to violent and property crime, through harsher criminal penalties...
, run the local judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
, and maintain a battalion of troops for the king.
They served as regional military and civil administrators. In turn they were to retain ¼ of the revenue collected as tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
, and submit the remaining to the king's treasury
Treasury
A treasury is either*A government department related to finance and taxation.*A place where currency or precious items is/are kept....
. The Poligars also at times founded villages, built dams
DAMS
Driot-Arnoux Motorsport is a racing team from France, involved in many areas of motorsports. DAMS was founded in 1988 by Jean-Paul Driot and former Formula One driver René Arnoux. It is headquartered near Le Mans, only 2 km from the Bugatti Circuit.- History :The year after its foundation,...
, constructed tanks and built temples. Also the rulers taxed regions according to the cultivable and fertility of the land. Often several new rainwater tanks were erected in the Semi-Arid
Semi-arid
A semi-arid climate or steppe climate describes climatic regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not extremely...
tracts of western and south Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
.
Their armed status was also to protect the civilians from robbers and dacoits who were rampant in those regions and from invading armies which often resorted to pillaging the villages and countryside.
Poligar landmarks
Viswanatha Naicker, the Madurai Nayak king, when rebuilding MaduraiMadurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
, built a double-walled fortress encompassing Meenakshi temple and Madurai town with giant moats filled with water. He also built 72 double-storied structures around the perimeter of the fort wall to serve as offices for each Palaiyakkarar.
In 1841, a British Collector
District collector
The District Collector is the district head of administration of the bureaucracy in a state of India. Though he/she is appointed and is under general supervision of the state government, he/she has to be a member of the elite IAS recruited by the Central Government...
Black Burn demolished all 71 bastions to extend the City and filled the deep moats to form the Veli streets. One of the surviving bastions still functions as a corporation office near Periyar
Erode District
Erode District is a western district of the state of Tamil Nadu, India, with Erode as its headquarters. Until the year 1996, Erode district was called as Periyar District....
Bus stand in Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
.
In Palaiyakkarar’s local region, they built forts usually on a hill. Since cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
and gunfire artillery came into existence, when establishing the Naicker Empire most of them were fortified to withstand cannon shot of the enemy troops. Sankagiri
Sankagiri
Sankagiri Fort is a historical fort maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. It is located 22 km from the city of Erode and 38 km from Salem.- SANKAGIRI FORT :...
fort on the Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
-Salem highway of Deeran Chinnamalai is one that remains in its original state.
Notable Palaiyakkarars
- Puli ThevarPuli ThevarPuli 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...
(NerkattumsevalNerkattumsevalNerkattumseval 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...
– Tirunelveli DistrictTirunelveli DistrictTirunelveli District is a district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The city of Tirunelveli is the district headquarters. A unique feature of this district is that it encompasses all five geographical traditions of Tamil Literature; kurinji , mullai , marudham , neithal and palai...
) - Dheeran ChinnamalaiDheeran ChinnamalaiDheeran Chinnamalai was a Kongu chieftain and Palayakkarar from Tamil Nadu who rose up in revolt against the British East India Company in the Kongu Nadu, Southern India...
(Theerthagiri Gounder) - (olden CoimbatoreCoimbatoreCoimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
and Salem DistrictSalem DistrictSalem District is a district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The city of Salem is the district headquarters. Other major towns in the district are Mettur, Omalur and Attur...
) - Veerapandya Kattabomman (PanchalankurichiPanchalankurichiPanchalankurichi is a small but historic village, 3 km from Ottapidaram and 18 km from Thoothukudi in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, India. Panchalankurichi was once a Palayam and is best known as the birth place of Veerapandiya Kattabomman, a 17th century Palayakarrar , who opposed the British...
- Tuticorin District) - Koneti Naidu (PenukondaPenukondaPenukonda or Penu Konda is a small town in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is 70 km away from Anantapur town.-Geography:Penukonda is located at...
, Rayadurgam and KundurpiKundurpiKundurpi is a village and a mandal in Anantapur district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.-Geography:Kundurpi is located at . It has an average elevation of 610 metres .-Demographics:...
- Anantapur DistrictAnantapur districtAnantapur District , ) is one of the 23 districts in Andhra Pradesh, India. The district headquarters is Anantapur City. It is currently a part of the Red Corridor.- Geography :...
) - Virupachi Gopal Naicker - (Virupakshi)
- Venkatapathi Naidu (KalyandurgKalyandurgKalyandurg or Kalyandurgam is a census town located in the Anantapur district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.-Geography:Kalyandurg is located at . It has an average elevation of 591 metres .-History:...
- Anantapur DistrictAnantapur districtAnantapur District , ) is one of the 23 districts in Andhra Pradesh, India. The district headquarters is Anantapur City. It is currently a part of the Red Corridor.- Geography :...
) - Ramabhadra Naicker (adakarai - DindigulDindigulDindigul is a town and municipality in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India. The name Dindigul comes from the Portmanteau of “Thindu” meaning pillow and “kal” meaning Rock and refers to the bare hill dominating the city’s both land and skyscape...
District) - Madakari NayakaMadakari NayakaMadakari Nayaka was the last ruler of Chitradurga, India. Nayaka lost Chitradurga in a siege of Mysore by Hyder Ali, and was slain by Ali's son Tipu Sultan....
- (ChitradurgaChitradurgaChitradurga is a town in the southern part of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is also the headquarters of Chitradurga district. Chitradurga was also known by the names Chitradurg, Chitrakaladurga, Chittaldurg. Chittaldrug was the name officially used by the British Govt.-Geography:Chitradurga is...
) - Raja Venkatappa NayakaRaja Venkatappa NayakaSurapur in the present Gulbarga district was ruled by Beda Nayakas who had given tough resistance to Aurangzeb. The British appointed Philip Meadows Taylor as its Resident and Regent when the ruler there died, leaving a young prince Venkatappa...
- (Surapura) - Uyyalawada Narasimha ReddyUyyalawada Narasimha ReddyUyyalawada Narasimha Reddy is credited to be one of the first freedom fighters in India. He led one of the first revolts in India against British occupation, 10 years earlier than the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857.-Early life:...
- (KurnoolKurnoolKurnool is located at . It has an average elevation of 273 metres .Kurnool lies on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The Handry and Neeva rivers also flow through the city. The K.C...
) - kadirappa nayaka,aggithimappa nayaka, vasantha nayaka gn narasimha nayaka(gummanayakanapalya,bagepalli)
List of various Palaiyams and their Palayakkars
- 1. Panchalankurichi (Tirunelveli Dist.)
- 2. Ettaiyapuram (Tirunelveli Dist.)
- 3. Nagalapuram (Tirunelveli Dist.)
- 4. Yezhairam Pannai
- 5. Kadalkudi (Tirunelveli Dist.)
- 6. Kuzhattur (Tirunelveli Dist.)
- 7. Melmaandai
- 8. Aartrankarai (Tirunelveli Dist.)
- 9. Kollapatti
- 10.Kolarpatti
- 11.Kadambur (Tirunelveli Dist.)
- 12.Maniyachi (Tirunelveli Dist.)
- 13.Thalaivankottai (Tirunelveli Dist.)
- 14.Nerkatanjseval
- 15.Sokkampatti (Tirunelveli Dist.)
- 16.Uttrumalai (Tirunelveli Dist.)
- 17.Sethur
- 18.Sivagiri (Tirunelveli Dist.)
- 19.Singampatti (Tirunelveli Dist.)
- 20.Azhagapuri (Tirunelveli Dist.)
- 21.Uurkadu
- 22.Surandai (Tirunelveli Dist.)
- 23.Sandaiyur (Madurai Dist.)
- 24.Elumalai (Madurai Dist.)
- 25.Erasakkanayakkanur(Theni Dist.)
- 26.Kottaiyur
- 27.Marungapuri
- 28.Mannarkottai
- 29.Pavali
- 30.Ilakkaiyanur
- 31.Mullaiyur
- 32.Kadavur
- 33.Idayakottai (Madurai Dist.)
- 34.Nilakkottai (Madurai Dist.)
- 35.Thevaram (Theni Dist.)
- 36.Ramapattinam
- 37.Kalpodu
- 38.Kannivadi (Madurai Dist.)
- 39.Doddappanayakkanur (Madurai Dist.)
- 40.Kambum (Theni Dist.)
- 41.Kasaiyur
- 42.Varappur
- 43.Thokaimalai
- 44.Padathur
- 45.Aayakudi
- 46.Samuththur
- 47.Viruppachi
- 48.Padamaththur
- 49.Kandamanayakkanur
- 50.Thumbichinayakkanur
- 51.Nattham (Madurai Dist.)
- 52.Vellikundram (Madurai Dist.)
- 53.Malaiyapatti
- 54.Vadakarai
- 55.Ammayanayakkanur (Madurai Dist.)
- 56.Bodinayakkanur (Theni Dist.)
- 57.Sakkandhi
- 58.Madavanaiyur
- 59.Rosalpatti
- 60.Veeramalai
- 61.Periyakulam (Theni Dist.)
- 62.Kuruvikulam
- 63.Aatthipatti
- 64.Ezhasai
- 65.Maduvaarpatti
- 66.Kombai(Theni Dist.)
- 67.Kudaloor
- 68.Gaudanpatti
- 69.Kumaravadi
- 70.Udaiyappanayakkanur
- 71.Kollankondan
- 72.Kamayanayakkanur
Nayakkar Palayams
Palayams ruled by Nayakkar communities and part of South Tamil Nadu.- SapturSapturSaptur is one of the palayams of ancient Madurai. Now its a village in Madurai district in Indian state of Tamilnadu.-History:Saptur, traditionally recognized as one of the 72 palaiyams of Madura, was situated about 10 km from T.Kallupatti...
(Madurai Dist) - PanchalankurichiPanchalankurichiPanchalankurichi is a small but historic village, 3 km from Ottapidaram and 18 km from Thoothukudi in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, India. Panchalankurichi was once a Palayam and is best known as the birth place of Veerapandiya Kattabomman, a 17th century Palayakarrar , who opposed the British...
(Madurai Dist) - Ammayanayakkanur (Madurai Dist)
- ElumalaiElumalaiElumalai is a panchayat town between Mallapuram to Usilampatti road in Madurai district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is located in around the huge mountain.-Geography:...
(Madurai Dist) - BodinayakkanurBodinayakkanurBodinayakanur is a city and a municipality in Theni district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.-Demographics:...
(Theni Dist)
Maravar Palayam
Palayams ruled by MaravarMaravar
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,...
communities and part of South Tamil Nadu.
- NerkattumsevalNerkattumsevalNerkattumseval 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...
(Madurai- Tirunelveli) - ruled by Puli ThevarPuli ThevarPuli 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...
. - KollamkondanKollamkondanKollamkondan was a territory in the former Tirunelveli province of Madurai Nayak Dynasty ruled by Polygar. Post Independence of India it split into as 2 villages Ayan Kollan Kondan and Zamin Kollan Kondan and come under Virudhunagar District in the southern Indian State of TamilNadu in...
(Madurai- Tirunelveli) - SingampattiSingampattiSingampatti is traditionally recognized as one of the 72 palaiyams of Madurai. This Maravar palaiyam was located in the Ambasamudram taluk, two miles from the spurs of the Western Ghats, in the former Tirunelveli province of the Nayak kingdom of Madurai....
(Madurai- Tirunelveli) - Sethur, Tirunelveli (Madurai- Tirunelveli)
- Thalaivan Kottai (Indrathalavan Thirunelveli)
- ChokkampattiChokkampattiChokkampatti is traditionally recognized as one of the 72 palaiyams of Madura. This Palayam is also referred to in the early records as Vadagarai or Vadhagerri.-Earlier location:...
Other Palayams
- Kongu NaduKongu NaduKongu Nadu is a region comprising the western part of the Tamil Nadu India. The region is bounded on the west and north-west by the Karnataka state, on the west by the Kerala state, on the east by Tondai Nadu, on the south-east by Chola Nadu and on the south by Madurai regions of...
- maximum number of Palayams in the whole of South IndiaSouth IndiaSouth India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area... - EttayapuramEttayapuramEttayapuram is a panchayat town in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, India. It is notable for being the birth place of the great Tamil Poet Mahakavi Bharathiar. Muthuswami Dikshitar, one of the triad of Carnatic music also was patronised in his final years by the ruler of Ettayapuram...
(Madurai-Tirunelveli) - KannivadiKannivadi, DindigulKannivadi is a panchayat town in Dindigul District, which is in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Demographics: India census, Kannivadi had a population of 10,397. Males constituted 50% of the population and females 50%. Kannivadi has an average literacy rate of 65%, higher than the national average...
(Madurai - Dindigul) - Virupachi (Madurai - Dindigul)
- Kalahasti (Chandragiri)
- Madurantagam (Chandragiri-Vellore)
- Nagari (Karvetinagaram)
- BangarupalemBangarupalemBangarupalem or Bangarupalyam is a is a town on national highway 4 and a mandal head quarters in Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is a well known business center for mango, coconut and tomatoes and is the market-yard for four mandals in Chittoor district. Bangarupalyam is prolific...
(Bangarupalem, Chittoor District) - Katineni Yerragudi(kadapa)
The number of Palayams and the Palayakkar were not fixed. New Palayams were created and older palayams were merged with other Palayams. The number of Palayams ranged to over 200. The Kongu Nadu had the maximum number of "Palayams" in the whole of South India.
North Region
Kalahasti - Chenappa NaiduChandragiri -
pulicherla -pulicherla venkata chandrappa nayunivaru
mogarala-
Chittoor
Nagari - palegar vakkala chengamma Nayannuvaru
Bangarupalyam - muddu bangaru seshachalapathi Nayannuvaru
Puttur—chenna Ankama Naidu
Veeraballi (sanipai-Padamatanagiri)-Yaramalanayuni Thathama Naidu (R/o Sivaramappa naidu) .
Katineni erragudi- chakrayapet mandal - katineni Venkatapathi Nayunivaru (1529- 1542, Achyuta deva Raya )
Central Region
MadurantagamPudukottai
Chengalpattu - Seshadri Pillai, the Poligar
Some Palayakkars are Maddikayala Teppalraj, Kuppum Venkatachala Naicker, Damerla Venkatapati Naicker, Strirama Singama Naicker, Rayalu Naicker, Vadamaraja Tanappa Naicker, Rangappa Naicker, Anapambattu Harikrishna Raj, Nakka Venaktarama Naicker, Adavi, Venaktapati Raj, Kulur Venkata Raj, Itambi Subburoya Pillai (the only Tamil of the group), Mul Raj, and Madupakam Ramachandra Naicker in Madras region.
katineni yerragudi, katineni Venkatapathi Nayunivaru(1529-1545 , Achyuta Rayal).
East Region
Ariyalur - MalavarayanTurayur - vyri chetti(vyrichetti palayam)
Puchiya Nayakkan
Lakkaya Nayakkan
Kammaya Nayakkan
Kamakshi Nayakkan
Lingama Nayakkan
Muttaya Nayakkan
VallaKondama Nayakkan
Samaya Nayakkan
Ammaya Nayakkan
Kulappa Nayakkan
Appayya Nayakkan
Palani Hills - Sennava Nayakkan
Virupakshi - Ramabhadra Nayakkan,
Western Region (Kongu Nadu)
There were ten Gounder Palayakkarars from the Kongu NaduKongu Nadu
Kongu Nadu is a region comprising the western part of the Tamil Nadu India. The region is bounded on the west and north-west by the Karnataka state, on the west by the Kerala state, on the east by Tondai Nadu, on the south-east by Chola Nadu and on the south by Madurai regions of...
. Some of them are:
Pollachi
Pollachi
Pollachi is a taluk of Coimbatore Rural district of the Tamil Nadu state of India. It lies in the southern part of the Coimbatore city around 40 kilometres from downtown Coimbatore. This is the second largest town in the District after Corporation of Coimbatore. Owing to the proximity to the...
(Puravipalayam) - The Gopanna Mandradiars were Palayakkarars and later became a Zamindari of Pollachi and Puravipalayam during the British rule.
Samuthur - The Vanavarayars of Samathur were Palayakkarars and later became a Zamindari of Samathur and Kottampatti during the British rule.
Uthukuli
Uthukuli
Uthukuli is a panchayat town in Tirupur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Demographics: India census, Uthukuli had a population of 7929. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Uthukuli has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male...
- The Kalingarayars of Uthukuli where Palayakkarars and later became a Zamindari of Uthukuli and Tirupur during the British rule.
Kangeyam
Kangeyam
Kangeyam is a Municipality in Tirupur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Kangeyam was the capital of Kongu Nadu for many centuries. Kangeyam is situated in the heart of the Tirupur district. Kangayam is situated in the meeting point of NH 67, SH 37 and SH 205-Member of Parliament:Mr.A...
(Palaya Kottai or Palayamkottai) - The Sarkarai Mandradiars of Kangeyam were the traditional chieftains and Palayakkarars of the Kongu Nadu.
Konganapuram
Konganapuram
Konganapuram is a panchayat town in Salem district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Geography:Konganapuram is located at . It has an average elevation of 300 metres .-Demographics:...
- Sri Rangasamy Gounder, Sri Sengotuvellappa Gounder and Sri Nachiappa Gounder - The descendants of Zamindari of Konganapuram.
Pokkampalayam - Dr.P. Subbarayan
P. Subbarayan
Paramasiva Subbarayan was an Indian politician, freedom fighter and diplomat and was the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency, India's ambassador to Indonesia and Union Minister of Transport and Communications in Jawaharlal Nehru's government. He is the father of General P. P...
- The descendant of Zamindari of Kumaramangalam and Sri Rathanasabapathy Gounder - The descendant of the Zamindari of Pudupalayam
Tharamangalam
Tharamangalam
Tharamangalam is a panchayat town in Salem district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Geography:...
- Gatti Mudalis
Gatti Mudalis
The Gatti Mudalis were in charge of the most dangerously exposed province of the Nayak Kingdom with Kaveripuram on the right bank of the Cauvery as their strategic capital commencing one of the principal passes to the Mysore Plateau. The centre of their power seems, however, to have been...
of Salem and Dharmapuri
Karnataka region
Mysore - Somanna DanayakaSurapura Samsthana - founded by the Bedars and ruled between 1650 and 1858 AD in Sagara-nadu or Shorapur Doab (Gulbarga dist. Karnataka)
Gummanayakanapalya palegars(bagepalli,chickballapur dist)
South Region
Sinnanajan ThevanSivagiri Vanniyan
Irattaikudai Vanniyan
Alagapuri Vanniyan
Settur - Tiruvana Thevan
Kollangondan Thevan
Annichi Nayakkan
Tumbichi Nayakkan
Kama Nayakkan
Kalanga Nayakkan
Kandama Nayakkan
Elumadai Nayakkan
chokkanpatti - Chokkathalavan
Thadiaythalavan
Tali Veli
Suttala Thevan
Saluva Thevan
Seturayan
Nallakutti of Singampatti
Nambithalavan
Ananjathalavan
Ramabhadra Reddi
Ramaswami Reddi
Kumaraswami Reddi
Venkatachala Reddi
Kechalapa Nayakkan
Pethana Nayakkan
Kadalakkudi Nayakkan
Nagalapuram Nayakkan
Melamandai - Sirumalai Nayakkan
Indrathalavan
Kumarathalavan
Eravappa Nayakkan
Panchalankurichi - Veera Paandiya Katta Pomman
Ettayapuram - Ettappan
Ramnad
Sivagangai - Marudu brothers
Nelkattamsevval - Puli Thevar
Mini Palayams and their rulers
Local Agrarian Societies in Colonial India: Japanese Perspectives By Peter G. Robb, Kaoru Sugihara, Haruka YanagisawaThe Madura Country: A Manua By James Henry Nelson
Indrathalaivan ( Thalaivan Kottai )
Rebellions against British
With the downfall of Madurai Kingdom in 1736 anarchy prevailed in those regions. Starting 1690’s the Madurai Kingdom became a feudatory under the Mughals, represented by the Nawab of Carnatic (The Nawab of Arcot) and after 1750s the region came under the complete control of the Carnatic Nawab, who was the new overlord of the Polygars.The Carnatic Nawab’s tax collection efforts often ended in small wars with the polygars, who refused to recogonise his authority and considered him as a usurper. The Nawabs often expensive tax collection campaigns and lavish spending drove him to bankruptcy, resorting to huge borrowings from the British. In 1752 the old Madurai Kingdom was leased to a savage warrior Mohammed Yusuf Khan, and was backed with troops from the British and Carnatic Nawab to bring the Polygars into control. He immediately went around pillaging and damaging the country-side to subdue the Polygars, till he himself got killed his overlords. But by the end of Yusuf Khan’s life he bought many polygars under control with several of them killed.
Later in late 18th century to compensate loans borrowed from British, the Nawab ceded his tax collection rights to the former, who in turn raised the taxes, irrespective of a regions agrian produce, enraging several Polygars.The Polygars saw the British as an unwanted intruder, still refusing to accept the weak Nawab
Nawab
A Nawab or Nawaab is an honorific title given to Muslim rulers of princely states in South Asia. It is the Muslim equivalent of the term "maharaja" that was granted to Hindu rulers....
.
Puli Thevar
One of the earliest to rebel against the British -Carnatic Nawab combine was 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...
, a polygar of Nerkattumseval
Nerkattumseval
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...
in mid 18th century. Nerkattumseval
Nerkattumseval
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...
is Palaiyam near the Western Ghats of Madurai region. Puli Thevar
Puli 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...
Puli Thevar, initially a good ally of Carnatic Nawab, came into conflict with Muhammed Yusuf Khan
Muhammed Yusuf Khan
Muhammad Yusuf Khan or Maruthanayagam Pillai was born in Pannaiyur, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu, India in 1725. From humble beginnings, he became a warrior in the Arcot troops, later Commandant for the British East India Company troops...
, over payment of dues, erupting into a war. After a prolonged campaign of three years, Muhammed Yusuf Khan
Muhammed Yusuf Khan
Muhammad Yusuf Khan or Maruthanayagam Pillai was born in Pannaiyur, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu, India in 1725. From humble beginnings, he became a warrior in the Arcot troops, later Commandant for the British East India Company troops...
defeated and captured Puli Thevar
Puli 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...
and the later's end is uncertain.
Veerapandiya Kattabomman
The most famous of all Polygars, was Veerapandiya Kattabomman, ruler of Panchalankurichi in present day Tuticorin district in late 18th century. Veerapandiya Kattabomman came into conflict with the British who now posted a Tax collector.Kattabomman’s war against the British is often classified as the First Polygar War, later he was captured in an act of betrayal and hanged by the British in 1799. See the separate page of Veerapandiya KattabommanVeerapandiya Kattabomman
Veerapandiya Kattabomman also known as Kattabomman was an 18th century Palayakarrar chieftain from Panchalankurichi of Tamil Nadu, India and the 47th King of Panchalankurichi who fought the British. His ancestors migrated to Tamil Nadu from areas in present day Andhra Pradesh during the...
.
Dheeran Chinnamalai
One of the first and popular Palaiyakkarar, was the Kongu Chieftain Theerthagiri Gounder widely known as "Dheeran Chinnamalai". He was the main leader in the Poligar Wars and commanded a vast army made up of mostly Kongu youths, notabely in the second Poligar War between 1800-1805. Maveeran Dheeran Chinnamalai rose up in revolt against the British East India Company. He was captured in an act of betrayal and hanged by the British. See the separate page of Dheeran ChinnamalaiDheeran Chinnamalai
Dheeran Chinnamalai was a Kongu chieftain and Palayakkarar from Tamil Nadu who rose up in revolt against the British East India Company in the Kongu Nadu, Southern India...
.
Polygar Wars
See Polygar WarsPolygar War
Polygar War
Polygar War or Palayakarar Wars refers to the wars fought between the Polygars of former Madurai Kingdom in Tamil Nadu, India and the British East India Company forces between March 1799 to May 1802. The British finally won after carrying out long and difficult protracted jungle campaigns against...
is a series of wars fought by a combine of Palaiyakkarar's against the British troops, between 1798 and 1805. The war between the British and Kattabomman Nayak (Veerapandiya Kattabomman
Veerapandiya Kattabomman
Veerapandiya Kattabomman also known as Kattabomman was an 18th century Palayakarrar chieftain from Panchalankurichi of Tamil Nadu, India and the 47th King of Panchalankurichi who fought the British. His ancestors migrated to Tamil Nadu from areas in present day Andhra Pradesh during the...
) is often classified as First Polygar war (1799), while Second Polygar War 1800-1805 against the British was fought by a much bigger combine over entire western Tamil Nadu headed by Dheeran Chinnamalai
Dheeran Chinnamalai
Dheeran Chinnamalai was a Kongu chieftain and Palayakkarar from Tamil Nadu who rose up in revolt against the British East India Company in the Kongu Nadu, Southern India...
and Marudhu Pandiyan brothers of the Sivaganga
Sivaganga
Sivaganga, also known as Sivagangai, is a town and a municipality in Sivaganga district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Sivaganga district.-Geography:...
.
The Polygars often had artillery and resisted stubbornly and the storming of their hill forts proved on several occasions’ sanguinary work. The British columns were exposed throughout the operations to constant harassing attacks; and had usually to cut their way through almost impenetrable jungles fired on from under cover on all sides. It took more than a year to suppress the rebellion completely, resulting in the abolition of the Polygar system.
End of the Polygar system
After a long and expensive campaign the British finally defeated the revolting Polygars, of whom many were beheaded and hanged while others were deported to the Andaman IslandsAndaman Islands
The Andaman Islands are a group of Indian Ocean archipelagic islands in the Bay of Bengal between India to the west, and Burma , to the north and east...
. Of the Polygars who submitted to the British some of them were granted Zamindari status, which has only tax collection rights and disarmed them completely. (The Zamindari system originated in Bengal, but was adopted by the British.)
General view
Modern historians credit the Polygars for their massive re-structuring work (following the 14th century mayhem), which provided a massive fillip to economic and agricultural growth and helping in restoring order, leading to formation of many new towns and villages (pettai and palaiyam suffixes found in Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
today).
Incidents do point towards some disorderly polygars, who took things in their hand, becoming mini tyrants and corrupt, earning the wrath of their citizens. Some accounts were often exaggerated by the chroniclers of English East India Company to justify their occupation over these regions. But such were the nature, often found in any administration including the administrative officers in English East India Company officers, the Deccan Sultans and the Jahirs of the Mughals
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
.
The region after the downfall of Madurai Kingdom was marked by a complete confusion, mayhem and disruption of general life, exacerbated by severe droughts in 1782, 1783,1807,1823,1833 and 1854.
The revision and collection of the tax by the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
, who were ill-suited or inexperienced for the purpose (as they were British traders and Military officers rather than administrators), resulted in growing resentment between the Polygars and the British.
When the districts of Rayalaseema
Rayalaseema
Rayalaseema is a geographic region in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It includes the districts of Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool. These Telugu speaking districts were part of Madras Presidency until 1953 when Telugu speaking districts of Madras presidency were carved out to form...
were ceded to British rule
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
, the local palegars refused to share the revenue with the British. The British collector in Rayalaseema, Thomas Monroe, ordered the arrest of the palegar of Koikuntla, Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy
Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy
Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy is credited to be one of the first freedom fighters in India. He led one of the first revolts in India against British occupation, 10 years earlier than the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857.-Early life:...
, who was hanged publicly. After that, however, the British allowed the palegars to remain. They numbered around 80 in the region and were permitted to conduct their own courts. For example, Dosakayala Venkata Subba Reddy would hold court every day at 10 a.m. and judgments delivered by him had no appeal. In some areas palegars encouraged their private armies to indulge in dacoit activities and took a share of the booty.
Palegars vanished after independence, but the culture survived in the form of factionists.
Recognition today
It was not until 1960, when a movie released on Veerapandya Kattabomman did the public take notice of the Palaiyakkarar's, who were till then simply termed as “local chieftains”. Till then their acts in the war was kept alive in the Folk songs and ballads in the western Tamil Nadu country side, often ignored by the rest. One of the famous legend is that of the great KonguKongu
Kongu may refer to:* Kongu , a region in Tamil Nadu* Kongu Engineering College, an engineering college in Tamil Nadu* Toa Kongu, a fictional hero from the BIONICLE series.* Kongu Arts and Science College, an Arts college in Tamil Nadu...
Chieftain and Palayakkar, Dheeran Chinnamalai and his revolt against the tryanny of the British forces in the South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
Today Puli Thevar
Puli 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...
, Veerapandiya Kattabomman
Veerapandiya Kattabomman
Veerapandiya Kattabomman also known as Kattabomman was an 18th century Palayakarrar chieftain from Panchalankurichi of Tamil Nadu, India and the 47th King of Panchalankurichi who fought the British. His ancestors migrated to Tamil Nadu from areas in present day Andhra Pradesh during the...
, Dheeran Chinnamalai
Dheeran Chinnamalai
Dheeran Chinnamalai was a Kongu chieftain and Palayakkarar from Tamil Nadu who rose up in revolt against the British East India Company in the Kongu Nadu, Southern India...
, Marudu brothers all are honored with monuments by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The movie Veerapandiya Kattabomman stands out as one of the best movies in Shivaji Ganesan’s long illustrious movie career, winning him many international fame and accolades.
Academics and books
A number of Tamil Publications cover Puli Thevar, Marudhu Pandiyan Brothers and Veerapandiya Kattabomman’s role in the struggle against the British. Their administrative efforts are mentioned in the books covering the Madurai Nayaks and 17th- 19th century regional history, while most of the British chronicles paint them in a very bad light. Otherwise no exclusive compilations of study material exist.In school texts Tamil and government text books covers the major leaders and Palaiyakkarar's role in administration and war, the Indian English textbooks based loosely on British accounts simply state the period as polygars, with no mention of their role in the development and the freedom struggle.
2009 in kannada film industry "veera madhakari " film is released it is the name of madhakari nayaka
Historic sites and landmarks
- MaduraiMaduraiMadurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
Bastion office - The remaining structure of the Polygar Bastion near Periyar Bustand in Madurai is one of the remaining 72 structures. - Kayattar – the monument, where Kattabomman was hanged in Madurai Tirunelveli highway
- PanchalankurichiPanchalankurichiPanchalankurichi is a small but historic village, 3 km from Ottapidaram and 18 km from Thoothukudi in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, India. Panchalankurichi was once a Palayam and is best known as the birth place of Veerapandiya Kattabomman, a 17th century Palayakarrar , who opposed the British...
– Kattabomman’s re-erected fort reproduction in Tutucorin district. - Sankagiri Fort – Deeran Chinnamalais’ fort in Coimbatore Salem highway
- Sivagangai – Marudhu Brothers Monument in Sivaganga town
- Dindigul FortDindigul FortThe Dindigul Fort is a 17th-century hill fort situated in the town of Dindigul in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. The fort was built by the Madurai Nayak kings in 1605 and was later passed on to Kingdom of Mysore in the early 18th century. Later it became an important fort during Hyder Ali and...
– Fort built by Nayak but later strengthened by the Mysore ruler Hyder Ali, served as a prison for all captured Polygars.