Question

What do you know about the Puli Thevar?

Answer 1

• Pulithevar was the pioneer in Tamil Nadu, to protest against the English rule in India.
• He was the Palayakkarar of the Nerkattumseval, near Tirunelveli.
• During his tenure, he refused to pay the tribute neither to Mohammed Ali, the nawab of Arcot nor to the English.
• The forces of the Nawab of the Arcot and the English attacked Pulithevar at Tirunelveli.
• Puli Thevar was the first Indian king to have fought and defeated the British in India.
• After this victory, Pulithevar attempted to form a league of the Palayakkars to oppose the British and the Nawab.
• In 1759 Nerkattumseval was attacked by Yusuf Khan (Nawab of Arcot). Pulithervar was defeated in 1764.
• Later he was defeated by Captain Campell in 1767. Pulithevar escaped and died in exile without fulfilling his purpose, although his struggle for independence in the history of South India is a courageous trial.