THE POLIGAR REBELLION OF 1799-1801

Dr. A. Shunmugaiah
Assistant Professor of History, S. T. Hindu College, Nagercoil.

The Period from 1799 to 1801 was the most important one in the history of Kayathar. It was one of anti-British outbreaks to free the land from the British conquests. The growing unrest in Kayathar culminated in the Poligar Rebellion of 1799, and the East India Company suppressed the rebellion with an iron- hand. Though the Company reorganized the Poligar system in 1800, it could not eliminate the sources of trouble. Therefore there was another rebellion which spread far and wide in 1801. But the Company suppressed it with determination and violence. The triumph of the British arms over the rebels contributed to the consolidation of the Company’s power on a strong foundation.

The causes for the anti-British feeling were many. The English reduced the hereditary rulers to the humiliating status of a ‘widow’, and treated the ‘sons of the soil’ like “dogs”1. They showed no honour to the customs of the land and denied due share of the crops to the peasants. The Company not only waged a series of wars against the Poligars, but deposed and at times, executed them. This policy excited much jealousies and created bitter hatred against the English2.

The discontented people decided to liberatre the land from the British domination and restore the old royal instruction to their former glory. Therefore they declared that if the people in different regions would rise up and resist, they (the Eruopeans) would sink and perish3.  As the people of these kingdoms were submissive, they wanted them to do whatever they liked4. Thus the leaders of the rebellion took decision to take united action for attaining their objective, especially the Poligars of the south took initiative in forming a confederacy of the rebel-chiefs against the Company. One among the prominent Poligars was Vira Pandya Kattabomman, the chief of Panchalamkurichi.

By September, 1798 the tribute from Panchalamkurichi fell in arrears and Colin Jackson, the Collector of Ramnad, who was noted for arrogance and rashness, wrote a letter to Vira Pandya Kattabomman, asking him to pay the arrears5 on receipt of the letter. But he never minded the Collector’s demand. Kattamboman questioned thus: “It rains, the land yields, why shoul we pay tax to the English?”. Infuriarated by these words Colin Jackson decided to punish Kattabomman by sending and expedition on him which was considered unnecessary or unlawful by the Madras administration. The Company asked the Collector of Ramnad to summon Kattabomman to his office at Ramnad.

Therefore, Kattabomman was asked to meet the Collector in connection with the arrears of tribute that he had to pay to the company. In the meantime, the Collector started on a tour to Tirunelveli after sending a letter to Kattabomman. The latter went to meet the Collector at Tirukuttalam and waited for an interview. But the interview was refused by the Collector there when Kattabomman came with money for the payment of arrears of tribute. He followed the collector to Chookampatti, Sivagiri, Sattur and Srivilliputhur for about twenty-three days. Eventhen, Jackson did not meet Kattabomman and ordered him to meet only at Ramanathapuram6.

On 19th September, 1798, an interview was granted. Kattabomman and his Minister Sivasubramania Pillai alone were given permission to meet Jackson. However, they were asked to stand before the Collector as the show of insult and humiliation7. At the end of meeting, the Collector decided to arrest the Poligar and his Minister by adopting a trick. Fortunately, Kattabomman escaped from the fort while his minister was taken prisoner. At the gate of fort an English soldier Clarke was killed and some others got wounded. After this incident Kattabomman sent a petition to the Council at Madras and requested for a lawful judgment.

Governor Edward Clive wrote a letter to Vira Pandiya asking him to surrender the Palayam of Panchalamkurichi to the Company’s rule and for that the dismissed the Collector and released Sivasubramania Pillai. As a positive response to this offer Kattabomman decided to submit yet when the attitude of the committee at Ramanathapuram was not favourable to him, he declined the offer8.

In the meantime, Marudu Pandiyan of Sivaganga, the most eminent rebel leader of the time, was closely associated with Gopal Nayak of Dindigul and Yadul Nayak of Anamalai, was engaged in the organization of a South Indian Confederacy. Marudu Pandiyan initiated and assumed the leadership of the league of the patriots. He appealed to all sections of the people to unite and fight till the end of alien rule in India. Rebel leaders of Thanjavur, Ramnad and war-like Kallars of Madurai accepted the leadership of Marudu Pandiyan. In the eastern region of Tirunelvli, Vira Pandya Kattabomman took an active part in the rebellious cause. His meeting with Marudu Pandiyan was prohibited by the next Collector of Ramnad Mr. Lushinghton9. However, the two patriots met and took effective proposals against the alien rule.

The Poligars of Nagalapuram, Mannarkottai, Powally, Kolanpatti and Chennulgudi who had already formed themselves into a combination of Poligars joined Kattabomman and Marudu Pandiya of Sivaganga10. Kattabomman assumed the leadership of this league and he persuaded the chieftains of Saptore, Yezhayiram-pannai, Kadalgudi and Kulattur to join the league in order to strengthen it. He also won the alliance of Kallars and Maravas. He sent Pandiyan Pillai, brother of Sivasubramania Pillai, to Madras to watch the movement of the Company and to know the strength of the British army. He also placed spies at different places to watch the Europeans and their supporters.

In August, 1799, the son of the Poligar of Sivagiri visited Panchalamkurichi and insisted Kattabomman that to bring the Poligar of Sivagiri to the league using his influence11. Therefore, Kattabomman advanced towards Sivagiri. As the Poligar of Sivagiri was an ally of the Company, the Council of Madras considered this as a challenge to the authority and ordered the British forces to suppress the rebels. Though there was no serious offence on the side of Kattabomman, the Madras Council wanted to wreak vengeance on him.

At the orders of Lord Wellesley, the then Governor General sent a large army from Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli and Madurai along with troops of the Raja of Travancore to the far South under Major Bannerman. He commenced military operations against the rebels in June 1799. The rebel chiefs were routed and many of them were executed along the public streets. Seized with terror, the inhabitants fled to different directions. In two months the country was restored to order, but unrest continued to prevail.

On 1st September, 1799, Bannerman issued an ultimatum directing Kattabomman to meet him on 4th at Palayamkottai. But he refused to meet the Collector without his armed followers and he delayed in the discharge of his Peshcush12. Therefore, Major Bannerman had judged that action of the Poligar to assemble sufficient body of troops in the Southern Provinces to assert the authority of the Company’s Government. He was given the power to use even military execution.

On 5th September, Major Bannerman left Palayamkottai and arrived at Panchalamkurichi, where he was joined by the troops stationed at Koilpatti and Kayathar13. The sudden approach of the troops was not looked for Lieutenant Dallas, without much delay surrounded the Fort of Panchalamkurichi with his cavalry14. Then Major Bannerman ordered the Poligar to surrender at discretion of the Company. But the Poligar did not surrender. Then he ordered captains O’Reilly and Bruce to attack the fort. The troops were then posted for the storm. The flank companies of the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Regiment and the four flank companies of the 13th Regiment of Native Infantry were ordered to carry out the assault and to blow open the south gate. At the same time, an attack on the North face of fort was made by two companies of sepoys regulated by Lieutenant Dallas15. During this attack one native officer was wounded and four European officers were killed.

Two days afterwards, the European portion of the force arrived and preparations were made by Major Bannerman for another assault on the fort. However, in the course of night, the fort was completely evacuated. Having obtained the intelligence that Kattabomman escaped from the fort, Major Bannerman lost no time in addressing letters to several Poligars whom he know informing them of the flight of Kattabomman and called upon them to use every exertion in their power to capture Kattabomman.

Instructions were sent to Lieutenant Dallas and captain O’ Reilly to follow in support of the cavalry as fast as possible16. Their forces met the forces of Kattabomman at the fort of Kolarpatti where some skirmishes ensued in which both parties sustained considerable loss. However, the followers of Kattabomman dispersed, but he affected his escape mounted on a horse. But the British forces captured thirty-four of Kattabomman’s principal dependants among whome one was Subramaniya Pillai, his principal manager17.

Subramania Pillai was brought as a prisoner to the tent of Bannerman. He gave directions to pay handsomely to the Ettayapuram party and ordered to hang Subramania Pillai in the most conspicuous part of the village of Nagalapuram and his head afterwards carried and fixed on a pike at Panchalamkurichi. His brother and other prisoners were kept in confinement. Nagalapuram came under the possession of the British18.

In the meantime, Kattabomman was caught at the jungles of Kolapura in Pudukottai and handed over to the English by the Tondaiman. On the 16th October Bannerman brought Kattabomman to an assembly of the Poligars at Kayathar and sentenced him to capital punishment. In the presence of other Poligars, who had become dumb found Kattabomman was taken to an important spot and executed. Thus Kayathar had entered into the history of the martyrdom of the earliest rebel. Bannerman after giving a warning to the other rebels dismissed the assembly19.

Bannerman’s cruetly knew no bounds. He executed the sone of the soil as if he was the master of the land. The inhabitants of Panchalamkurichi took it a great humiliation to them. The ill-treatment of a high spirited people reacted powerfully upon their sentiments20.

Added to the injury, the Madras Council condemned the relatives of Kattabomman to perpetual imprisonment and shut them in the fort of Palayamkottai. It included the Palayams of Panchalamkurichi, Kolarpatti, Kadalkudi, Nagalapuram and Kulattur. This was done as a punishment to the rebel leaders as well as to deter others from hostile activities. Parts of Panchalamkurichi were annexed to the Poligars of Ettayapuram, Melamandai and Maniyachi21.

In 1799, the Company assumed the administration of the village watch from the Poligars and entered into an alliance with the Nawab to that effect. It was now considered as an opportunity for extending their interference to local affairs by the servants of the Company. The deshakaval fee was increased beyond the customary rates22. When the people failed to remit the fees in time the Company servants plundered the little property they possessed. These harsh proceedings of the Company caused a violent reaction.

The rebellion gained strength when large sections of the population rallied to the support of their leaders. Large groups of Maravas, Nadars and Totients joined the rebel ranks. The coastal Paravas assisted the rebels of supplying wall pieces, guns and powder. These developments gave an impetus to the movement.

In the different parts of Tirunelveli the pillaging parties subdued the military posts of the Company and released the prisoners. Before the end of February the rebels occupied all the territories extending from Panchalamkurichi to Alwarthirunangai and Kayathar. They converted their Palayams into their strong holds and rebuilt the demolished forts. The insurgents then marched to Tuticorin, upon which the garrison voluntarily surrendered. However, they permitted Ormsley, the English Commander of the fort, to take away his properties and to go away in safety. After the fall of Tuticorin, the rebels made an attempt to capture Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai23.

On getting intelligence, Colin Macaulay, the Company’s Commanding Officer at Tirunelvli, took all precautionary measures against the threatening menance. A proclamation was issued by him warning the people of exemplary punishment if they were found in arms or giving assistance to rebels. He also sent express orders to his loyal Poligars particularly those of Sivagiri and Ettayapuram to supply immediate information about the rebel movements24. In the meantime, Colin Macaulay took military moves against the insurgents. In February 1801, he mobilized his forces and marched to Sankarankoil then to Kayathar and reached Kadayanallur, sixty miles short of Panchalamkurichi.

The troops pitched a camp and prepared for a hearty meal when they found their camp suddenly attacked on all sides by rebels. Advancing under cover of a deep protection, the insurgents launched a simultaneous attack from different directions. The British troops killed forty of the rebels and then formed into a square with guns at angles and baggage in the centre, remaining in their position the whole night, subjected to repeated alarms. The next day, the forces encamped near Panchalamkurichi. To their surprise they found the demolished fort “raised as it were by magic in six days” and every part of it well manned by thousands of armed men25. The rebels foiled an attempt to capture the pagoda of Ottapidaram and they appeared boldly on the near and flank of the British army. Macaulay retreated under the guise of preparing for an attack. After a severe march, that lasted all the night the British troops arrived at Palayamkottai. Meanwhile Captain Hazard, reinforced by small detachment of troops from Madurai, attacked Kadalkudi, but was repulsed26. Then the rebels directred all their efforts for the reduction of the Company’s post at Srivaikundam. The British army led by Major Sheppard was utterly routed by the rebels.

When the rebels were gaining victories, fresh troops of the Company poured into Tirunelveli. Macaulay assembled the forces at Kayathar. From there they marched on to Panchalamkurichi. At Pasuvantanai, a formidable phalanx attacked, the British camp, but after losing ninety-six of its men made its retreat27. On reaching Panchalamkurichi, they were ready for any attack of the fort. At 3 p.m their heavy guns broke a part of the wall effecting a practicable breach. Ye the rebels with intrepid firmness engaged the assailants in a fierce encounter. All the British troops who pressed their way into the breach were picked or shot dead. Successive attempts made to surmount the breach were repeatedly defeated.  The troops of the Poligars of Ettayapuram attacked the face of the fort, but met the same fate like the Company’s troops28.

During the siege of the rebels put up a most unnatural yell, and it ceased only after they won complete victory29. This was the fifth reverse of British forces at Panchalamkurichi30. While the failure of the Company’s troops seemed unexplicable, the successful defense of the breach by the rebels appeared equally miraculous. Previous to the assault, a grove of pikes presented themselves to the assailants. The rebels climbing on any part of the wall were at once shot, though were quickly replaced by others. But the pikemen, taking their positions in sheltered enclaves, pierced the threatening enemy to death. In the meantime, the gun-men, as in Poligar warfare kept up a heavy fire from elevated spots. In this way the rebels repulsed the British onslaughts31.

After this failure new forces from fort St. George, St. Thomas Mount, Arcot and Malabar reached the spot. The Assistant General, Lieutenant Colonel P.A. Agnew, assumed the command of the operations. He was well qualified for the task by his gallantry, integrity and local knowledge32. Agnew assembled a grand army at Kovilpatti, a village very near Kayathar, and marched on to Panchalamkurichi33. The rebels did not hesitate to face the army. They stubbornly resisted the advancing enemy with musquetry and pikes. In the battle that ensued, both the combating parties suffered equally heavy losses. The rebels continued their heroic resistances until all of them were shot dead. Thus the British troops emerged triumphant. The rebels evacuated all their strong holds in the Tirunelveli province, the Wallanad Hills, Tuticorin and Kadalkudi. Most of them, fled to the north while the rest scattered themselves in different parts of the Tirunelveli province34.

The rebels who fled to Nanguneri in the far south organized a rebellion under Dalawai Pillai, but were hunted down by forces sent by Lushington in October 180135. In May 1801 the rebellion spread from Tirunelveli to the Marava states. The Poligar rebellion of 1799-1801, marked by ups and downs, spread over an extensive region. It was characterized by bitter ferocity and immense slaughter. The proclamations of the rebels indicate that they believed in a mass movement against the British. The rebellion assumed the proportions of a popular outbreak particularly in 1801. Still its defeat was inevitable because of the superior military strength of the Company.

References

1. K. Rajayyan, History of Madurai (1735-1801), Madurai University, 1974 (First Edition), p. 342.
2. Revenue Sundries, Vol. 26, p.447.
3. K. Rajayyan, Op.cit., p. 343.
4. Military Consultations, Vol, 284, p. 4296.
5. H.R. Pate, Op.cit., p. 79..
6. K. Rajayyan, History of Tamilnadu, Madurai, 1981, p. 184.
7. K. Rajayyan, Op.cit., p. 185.
8. Ma. Po. Sivagnanam, Kayattatril Kattabomman, (TI.), Madras, 1950, p.23.
9. Ibid., p.25.
10. K. Rajayyan, South Indian Rebellion, Madurai, 1971, p. 77.
11. S. Jagaveerapandiayanar, Panchalamkurichi Veera Sarithiram, (TI) Vol.2, Madurai, 1954, p.232.
12. R. Cladwell, Tirunelveli District Manual, Madras, 1881, p. 180.
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid., p.182.
15. Ibid., p.183.
16. Ibid., p.184.
17. T.S. Kaliyaperumal, Nattaukku Ulaitha Nallavar, Veera Pandya Kattaboman (TI) Madras, 1980, p.9.
18. Revenue Consultations, Vol. 98, p. 2795.
19. Revenue Consultations, Vol. 98, 8, November 1979, p. 1741.
20. S.M. K. Rajan, Panchalamkurichi Por, (TI.), Madras, 1929, p.12.
21. K. Rajayyan, South Indian Rebellion, Madurai, 1971, pp. 81-82.
22. 22ndJanuary 1800, Revenue Dispatches to England, Vol.7, p.21.
23. Ma. Po. Sivagnanam, Viduthalai Poril Tamilagam (TI.) Madras, 1983, Vol. I, p.59.
24. Ma. Po. Sivagnanam, Kayattatril Kattabomman, (TI.), Madras, 1950. P.14.
25. Military Consultations, Vol. 279, pp. 881-882.
26. Military Consultations, Vol. 280, pp. 1477-1479
27. J. Welsh, Military Reminscences, Vol. I, p. 61.
28. Military Consultations, Vol. 281, pp. 2007-2008
29. Secret Despatches to England, Vol.II, p.81.
30. K. Rajayyan, History of Madurai, Madurai, 1971, p.364.
31. J. Welsh, Op.cit., Vol.I, pp.67,68.
32. Madras Council, 15 October 1801, Military Despatches to England, Vol.34, p.157.
33. H.R. Pate, Op.cit., p.85.
34. Ibid., p.88.