Velunachiyar (1730–1796)

· Born in 1730 to
the Raja Sellamuthu Sethupathy of Ramanathapuram, Velunachiyar was the only
daughter of this royal family.

· The king had no
male heir. The royal family brought up the princess Velunachiyar, training her
in martial arts like valari, stick fighting and to wield weapons.

· She was also
adept in horse riding and archery, apart from her proficiency in English,
French and Urdu.

· At the age of 16,
Velunachiyar was married to Muthu Vadugar, the Raja of Sivagangai, and had a
daughter by name Vellachinachiar.

· In 1772, the
Nawab of Arcot and the Company troops under the command of Lt. Col. Bon Jour
stormed the Kalaiyar Kovil Palace.

· In the ensuing
battle Muthu Vadugar was killed. Velunachiyar escaped with her daughter and
lived under the protection of Gopala Nayakar at Virupachi near Dindigul for
eight years.

· During her period
in hiding, Velunachiyar organised an army and succeeded in securing an alliance
with not only Gopala Nayakar but Hyder Ali as well.

· Dalavay (military
chief) Thandavarayanar wrote a letter to Sultan Hyder Ali on behalf of
Velunachiyar asking for 5000 infantry and 5000 cavalry to defeat the English.

· Velunachiyar
explained in detail in Urdu all the problems she had with East India Company.
She conveyed her strong determination to fight the English.

· Impressed by her
courage, Hyder Ali ordered his Commandant Syed in Dindigul fort to provide the
required military assistance.

· Velunachiyar
employed agents for gathering intelligence to find where the British had stored
their ammunition.

· With military
assistance from Gopala Nayakar and Hyder Ali she recaptured Sivagangai. She was
crowned as Queen with the help of Marudhu brothers.

· She was the first
female ruler or queen to resist the British colonial power in India.