Veerapandiya Kattabomman was the 47th generation of Kattabommu dynasity. Veerapandiyan was born to Jagaveera Kattabomman and Arumugattammal on 3 January 1760. Veerapandiyan was called ‘Karuthaiah’. the eldest son of the Family with two brothers named Oomathurai and Thuraisingam, two sisters named Easuvaravadivy and Thuraikannu.
Veerapandiya Kattabomman was crowned in his thirtieth year on 2nd February 1790 and effectively ruled the area which encompassed 96 villages divided into 6 Divisions. He ruled the state with great ability of good administration, justice and welfare. He maintained good relationship with his neighbor rulers. Kattabomman had able Generals called "Vellaiathevan" and "Sundaralingam".
He was a great devotee of Lord Muruga of Tiruchendur and Goddess Jakkamma. He had constructed 45 bell towers between Panchalamkurichi and Tiruchendur which were used to convey the ritual pooja time of Tiruchendur in a relay system. Kattabomman was a great lover of music and art. He quite often organized dances and music for entertainment.
The British as East India Company came to India for conducting business and constructed a fort at Chennai beach. They conducted their business with the aim of occupying the entire territory by adopting the policy of divide and rule. They were successful in their attempt and brought many Indian rulers under their command and control by their pleasing approaches and fascinating talks and with their might. They lured them to great business and made them debtors.
One among them was, the Nawab of Arcot who dominated the rulers of the Southern States. In the year 1781, having no way to settle his debts, the British demanded the right to collect taxes from areas of his domain. The Nawab yielded to the British request and agreed to their demand of right to collect taxes. Though the agreement ended in 1785, the British demanded to retain the right to collect taxes from the southern states. The Nawab of Arcot did not agree to the demand, but the British announced themselves that they had the right to collect taxes from southern states. The Nawab of Arcot also became helpless as he could not manage to pay the salary for his forces at Tirunelveli. The British were successful in meeting the forces need and attached them with their British army. Having found no means, the Nawab of Arcot once again offered the British the right to collect taxes from all.
Having obtained the right, the British started their activities of bringing the rulers of the southern states under their umbrella in 1795. The British of East India Company pronounced that the Nawab of Arcot had no authority over the rulers of southern states and ordered them to be under their direct command and control. They imposed restriction on construction of Forts, formation of Armed forces and announced that the rulers were just ordinary contractors and were liable for disciplinary action like any other citizen, if they failed to follow their commands.When Kattbomman came to know this, his blood boiled and he refused to accept the notice and said that this was a conspiracy of the British to deny the rights of the state and to take the Indians into slavery.
Kattabomman took the pledge to oppose the British move. He gathered all his neighbouring rulers and formed a union to fight against the British move to rule over the southern territories. However, the British were very successful in influencing most of the petty rulers and gained their confidence who in turn supported the British and started advising Kattabomman to give up his ideas of opposing the British. The British carefully conspired and created enmity between the territorial rulers
At this time, Mr Jackson took over the charge as Collector of Tirunelveli. All the local Zamindars called on him and became friendly with him except Kattabomman. Kattabomman expected a formal invitation from the Cllector Jackson to call on him. The attitude of Kattabomman of not calling on him and not paying taxes irritated the new Collector Jackson. He wrote two letters to Kattabomman in February 1798 and in April 1798 and warned that Kattabomman's territory would be seized if he did not call on him and pay the taxes. Kattabomman ignored his letter. Jackson got annoyed and requested the British higher administration to send the troops to arrest Kattabomman. However, the British higher authority suggested to Jackson to call Kattabomman for a formal talk.
Jackson asked Kattabomman to meet him at Ramanathapuram indicating that it was at the directive of the British higher administration. Kattabomman accepted the invitation and proceeded to Ramanathapuram with his forces in a mood of celebration. Jackson did not like it. He expected Kattabomman to come alone. He conspired to arrest Kattabomman if the talks failed. He selected Ramanathapuram palace for talks and indicated that he would meet Kattabomman alone in person.
Even after knowing the tactful conspiracy of the Jackson, Kattabomman left his guards and aides outside Ramanathapuram fort and proceeded to meet Jackson. Jackson did not treat Kattabomman with due respect and courtesy. The talk was not fruitful. Heated words were exchanged and led to clashes between Kattabomman and the forces of Jackson who were kept hidden during the talk. The situation led to fight between the forces of Kattabomman and the British. During the encounter ,a British officer named Clarke was killed and Kattabommans minister Thanapathi Pillai was captured by the British.
On their return to Panchalamkurichi Kattabomman wrote a letter to the British administration about the incident at Ramanathapuram and asked them to release his minister Thanapathi Pillai. The British administration ordered a board of Inquiry and found that Mr. Jackson's ill attitude, incorrect approach and behavior had lead to the clashes between the two and ordered the release of Kattabomman's minister Thanapathi Pillai. Jackson was dismissed from service and sent back to his country.
In January 1799, Mr. Lousington took charge as Collector of Tirunelveli. He too invited Kattabomman to call on him. Whereas, Kattabomman laid down conditions as to the return of his belongs seized during the clashes with Jackson and indicated his intention to call on him with his guards. Lousington in turn permitted 30 guards to accompany Kattabomman while he called on Lousington. Kattabomman did not agree to his proposal, but proceeded to Ramanathapuram with his full force. He stayed at Ramanathapuram, but did not call on the Collector. The Collector ordered him to meet him at a stipulated time. Kattabomman did not yield to his order. He insisted that he should be received with his forces and should send a formal invitation to meet him with his full forces and should be received with a guard of honour. Lousington indicated that even if Kattabomman did not call on him , he should pay his taxes through his revenue officer. Kattabomman flatly refused and stood stubborn stating that he would not be right if he paid taxes to the British. He returned to Panchalamkurichi without meeting the collector and without paying any tax. Lousington wrote to the British higher administration about Kattabomman's attitude and activities and recommended war against Kattabomman.
On 5th September 1799, the British invaded Panchalamkurichi surprisingly when the whole of Panchalamkurichi subjects were at Tiruchendur on a festival celebration. The British Army was led by Major Banerman. Kattabomman got to know the plans about the surprise attack well in advance by his well managed informers. He kept his forces ready to meet the British invasion. Prior to commencement of the attack, Major Banerman through his messenger asked Kattabomman to surrender unconditionally. The brave Kattabomman said, *" We are the sons of this soil. We live with prestige, honour and dignity and we let our soul die for the prestige, honour and dignity of our land. We don't bow down to the foreigners. We will fight until death."*
The war started. Both the armies fought heavily. The British army faced strong resistance from the Kattabomman army and had to with draw its forces. Major Banerman judged the use of cannons to break the clay fort and awaited the arrival of cannons from Palayamkottai. When the cannons arrived and bombarded the fort, the clay fort could not withstand the attack. During the war Kattabomman lost his able General "Vellaiyathevan". Kattabomman killed many officers of the British army. On the last day of war Kattabomman was injured and he was taken away by his aides from Panchalamkurichi. Anticipating defeat to Kattabomman's force they took shelter in the palace of Kolarpatti Zamindar. The forces of his friendly enemy Ettappa Naicker surrounded the palace and once again Kattabomman and his aides made an escape. But his minister Thanapathi Pillai was arrested and killed at Nagalapuram and his head was placed at Panchalamkurichi.
After the escape, Kattabomman and his men took shelter in Thirukalampur forest which was under the domain of King of Pudukottai. When the British got the information about their hide out, they ordered the king of Pudukottai to trace them and hand them over to the British, else face the similar consequences as Kattabomman. Fearing death, the King of Pudukottai ordered his men to search for Kattabomman and hand him over to the British. On 24 September 1799, Kattabomman was arrested by the army of King of Pudukottai and was handed over to the British.
Kattabomman was sent to the Kayathar jail for custody. Court of trial against Kattabomman was ordered and was held on 16 October 1799. The British invited all the local Zamindars to witness the trial proceedings. The trial proceedings were fully fabricated in favour of the British. Kattabomman did not give up his honour, self respect, dignity and prestige. He boldly argued for the right of his country and accused the British for their immoral and illegal occupation of our land. The British asked Kattabomman to request for a Pardon to set him free. Kattabomman did not yield but said "Do what you want to do, you cowards".
Kattabomman was awarded punishment "Hang until death". Kattabomman's end came on 16th October 1799, when he was hung on a tamarind tree at Kaythar.
"Our salute to Veerapandiya Kattabomman for his Patriotism, Courage and Sacrifice".
To commemorate the bicentenary of Kattabomman’s hanging, India Post brought out a postal stamp in his honour
Issued Date:16-10-1999
Denomination : 500 Paise
