Puli Thevar

In news– Recently, the Prime Minister of India has paid tributes to Puli Thevar on his birth anniversary.

History of Puli Thevar-

Puli Thevar or Pooli Devar was a Hindu Marava chieftain, who was also known as poligar in English or Palayakkarar in local language.
Thevar was a Tamil Palaiyakkarar who ruled Nerkattumseval, Tamil Nadu.
He notably fought against the East India Company from 1759 – 1761 in India.
Ondiveeran and Venni Kaladi were the generals of Thevar’s army, to fight against the East India company.
He is known for the Polygars revolt against the British. . His most notable achievements were his battles with Marudhanayagam.
Prior to Mangal Pandey’s Revolution of 1857, Puli Thevar had revolted against the oppressive British East India Company.
He had a strained relationship with Mohammed Ali, the Nawab of Arcot.
He refused to pay the Nawab the customary rice tribute, and the area became known as Nelkatumseval, or “place that does not pay rice tribute.
He maintained a good relationship with the Kingdom of Travancore but later the allegiance was broken by one Yusuf Khan.
During the 16th-18th Centuries, the feudal title Palayakkarar was given to a class of territory administrators and military administrators or agents chosen by the Nayaka kings of South India.
They grabbed a quarter of the revenue and put the remainder in the rulers’ coffers.
They originally revolted against the British after the Madurai Nayak kingdom fell apart because they were forced to pay kisti land tax to them.