Short Story from History - Veerapandya Kattabomman
As we celebrate the 75th Independence , we thought of remembering some of the brave men and women who selflessly sacrificed themselves for their country. Panchalankurichi is a small village located in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district . Veerapandya Kattabomman ( Kattabommu) was from this village.
His ancestors originally belonged to Andhra Pradesh, and migrated to a village in Tamil Nadu called Salikulam during the time of Vijayanaga Empire. During this time, the land was ruled by a Pandya king named Jagaveera Pandyan .Kattabommu, was a Chief Guard to him.With no male heir to succeed him, Jagaveera Pandyan, crowned Kattabommu as his succesor, who named himself as Jagaveera Pandya Kattabommu, and later founded the town of Panchalamkruchi.
In this town Kattabommu built an almost impregnable fort. He ruled his people in a capable and just manner.During that time the East India Company had established itself at Fort St. George in Chennai,. They were slowly establishing their rule over Bharat. They ensured that the Indian kings were in debt to them, and had to act as per their bidding. One such ruler was the Nawab of Arcot, who ruled over a larger amount of territory in Tamil Nadu. Because of his debt, he could not resist when the British decided to collect taxes from his territory
The company announced that the Nawab had no authority and all the rulers, Zamindaars, Payakarars were under their control.. Kattabomman was furious at this and took a pledge to oppose it till his end. Kattaboman built alliances with the neighboring rulers to stand against the British. But the British successfully broke this alliance through various tactics .In spite of all this, Kattabomman stuck to his stand and refused to pay any tax to them.
Various Encounters with British:
Around the same time in 1798, Jackson took over charge as Collector of Tirunelveli. All local chieftains supported him except Kattaboman.
Jackson and Kattabomman met in Ramanathapuram and a war of words broke out between them about paying taxes.
“WHY DO WE NEED TO PAY TAX TO YOU? HAVE YOU PLANTED THE CROPS, HAVE YOU WATERED THEM? DID YOU SOW THEM?”
A battle followed, in which a British officer Clarke was killed and Kattabomman’s minister Thanapathi Pillai was captured by the British. Kattabomman wrote a letter to the higher authorities asking them to release Pilla. An inquiry was conducted and Jackson was dismissed.
In January 1799, Lousington took charge as the new Collector. Lousington also wanted tax to be paid and Kattabomman kept his stand . Left with no option, Lousington, wrote to the authorities and recommended war as the only option against Kattabomman.
The War Begins
5th Sept, 1799, the British under Major Bannerman invaded Panchalamkurichi . An intense battle was fought. Facing strong resistance from Kattabomman, the British were forced to retreat.
Bannerman then ordered cannons from Palayamkottai to break the fort in Panchalankuruchi down.
Once the cannons arrived, the fort could not withstand the assault and broke down. Kattabomman lost his able general Vellaiyathevan
On the last day, an injured Kattabomman was escorted from the battlefield by his aides, and took shelter in the home of the Kolarpatti Zamindar. However, the forces of Etappa Naicker ( a chieftain who supported the British) surrounded it, and once again Kattabomman had to escape. Kattabomman's minister Thanapathi Pillai was captured and killed.
For some time Kattabomman and his men took refuge in the Thirukalampur forest, which came under the Rajah of Pudukottai. British put the Raja under duress to handover Kattaboman. on Sept 24, 1799 Katabomman was traced out and arrested. Handed to the British, he was sent to Kayathar prison for custody.A trial began on on October 16, 1799. Kattabomman, refused to surrender, give up on his self respect, and accused the British of illegal, immoral occupation. When the British offered him amnesty, if he asked for a pardon, Kattabomman shot back :
“Do what you want to do, you cowards”.
Finally on October 16th, 1799, from a tamarind tree at Kayathar, Veerapandya Kattabomman was hanged to death. A memorial for this great son of India still stands at Kayathar. He is immortal in the hearts of the people of India .
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