(Velu Nachiyar on a 2008 stamp)

Velu Nachiyar & Kuyili - The women who defeated the British

Velu Nachiyar (1730-1796) is remembered in India as the first woman freedom fighter to have triumphed against the British.

The daughter of Raja Chellamuthu Vijayaragunatha Sethupathy and Rani Sakandimuthal, she was born in Tamil Nadu. Since she was an only child, she was given the same education as a male heir. Velu Nachiyar mastered horse-riding, archery, and martial arts such as valari (throwing sickle) and silambam (fighting with a stick). She was also fluent in several languages including English, French, and Urdu. 

At the age of 16, she married Muthuvadugananthur Udaiyathevar, the prince of Sivagangai. They had a daughter named Vellachi. In 1772, her husband was caught in a war with the Nawab of Arcot, who was supported by the British army. Her husband was killed and Velu Nachiyar had to flee with her daughter.

She ultimately found refuge with Hyder Ali, the sultan of Mysore, and impressed him with her mastery of Urdu. He thus decided to grant her military help. The queen also trained an all-women army that she named Udaiyal Padal. Udaiyal was, depending on the version, either a herd girl or the queen’s adopted daughter/bodyguard, who had sacrificed her life for Velu Nachiyar. With her army, the queen reconquered her kingdom piece by piece until she arrived to  fort Sivaganga. She had, however, no siege equipment. 

It was in 1780 that Velu Nachiyar dealt the fatal blown to the British. Her commander-in-chief, a Dalit woman named Kuyili, volunteered for a dangerous mission. Kuyili and the members of the Udaiyal Padal infiltrated the fort Sivaganga, taking advantage of a religious festival during which women came from the whole country to pray at the temple.

Kuyili and her troops hid weapons in baskets of flowers and fruits. The women took the advantage of surprise and attacked the British soldiers. Kuyili fought her way to the ammunition store where she doused herself in oil and set herself on fire. This is probably the first recorded instance of a suicide bomber in human history. The queen was thus able to seize the fort with her troops.

(A memorial to Kuyili’s sacrifice)

Velu Nachiyar had regained control of her kingdom. She ruled for a decade until her daughter succeeded her and ruled from 1790 to 1793. Velu Nachiyar died in 1796 and is remembered as “Veeramangai” or “brave woman”. A stamp was issued in her remembrance and a bronze statue of her was also erected.

For other valiant Indian queens who stood up to the British, you can read about Rani Avantibai and Rani Lakshmibai.

References:

Alagarsamy Hamsadhwani, “Velu Nachiyar: The Tamil queen who fought away the British”

Gupta Archana Garodia, The women who ruled India, leaders, warriors, icons

Hallegua Madhur, 100 Desi Stories Series

Jayakumar K., “Sacrifices and sufferings of Velu Nachiyar - First woman freedom fighter of India”, Golden Research Thoughts 

Lekshmi Priya S., “Velu Nachiyar & Kuyili: The women who took down the British 85yrs before 1857″