Polygar Wars facts for kids

The Polygar Wars (also known as the Palayakarar Wars) were a series of fights between local leaders called Polygars (or Palayakarrars) and the British army. These wars happened in what is now Tamil Nadu, India, from March 1799 to May 1802. The British eventually won after tough battles in the jungles. Many people died on both sides. The British victory helped them take control of a large part of Tamil Nadu, making their power in India much stronger.

The First Polygar War: 1799

The first Polygar War started in 1799. It was mainly a fight between the British and Kattabomman Nayak, a Polygar from Panchalankurichi. The trouble began during a meeting about unpaid taxes. This meeting turned violent, and a British commander was killed. Because of this, the British offered a reward for Kattabomman, which led many other Polygars to rebel openly.

After several battles at the Panchalankurichi fort, Kattabomman was defeated. He managed to escape into the jungles near Pudukkottai. However, the Rajah (ruler) of Pudukkottai captured him after making a deal with the British. Kattabomman was then hanged in public near Kayattar Fort. This was done to scare other Polygars and the local people.

Other rebel leaders also faced harsh punishments. Subramania Pillai, who was close to Kattabomman, was also hanged in public. His head was put on a pole in Panchalankurichi for everyone to see. Another leader, Soundra Pandian Nayak, was killed by having his head smashed against a wall. Kattabomman’s brother, Oomaidurai, was sent to prison. The British also destroyed the fort and took all of Kattabomman's wealth.

The Second Polygar War: 1800-1805

Even after the first war ended in 1799, the rebellion started again in 1800. This second war was more secret and organized. The Polygar leaders worked together better. People from Kerala and Mysore also joined the fight. This war included areas like west Tamil Nadu, Malabar, and south Mysore, which were under British rule after the death of Tipu Sultan.

Dheeran Chinnamalai led a large army during this time. He built a fort at Odanilai to continue fighting the British. He defeated them in battles at Cauvery in 1801, Odanilai in 1802, and Arachalur in 1804. Later, Dheeran Chinnamalai left his fort to avoid cannon attacks. He then fought using guerrilla warfare (surprise attacks) from Karumalai in the Palani region.

Sadly, Dheeran Chinnamalai was betrayed by his cook. The British captured him and hanged him at Sankari Fort on July 31, 1805.

Why the British Won

The British finally won after a long and costly campaign that lasted more than a year. The British military was very strong. They had recently defeated the powerful Tipu Sultan of Mysore. The British had much better artillery (big guns) compared to the Polygar troops. The Polygars mostly had locally made guns, except for a few good ones they got from Tipu Sultan's old army.

Since the war was regional, the British could easily bring in more soldiers from other parts of India. The fighting was so fierce and destructive that the entire region was left in a state of fear. After Dheeran Chinnamalai's death, the British gained full control over the entire region of Tamil Nadu.

Later Day Folklore

The government of Tamil Nadu has built a "mani mandapam" (a memorial hall) for Chinnamalai in Arachalur, Erode district. They also placed a statue of Chinnamalai in Chennai to honor him.

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  Polygar Wars

See also

In Spanish: Guerras poligar para niños