Thread by @shacindananthan

#SavioursOfBharat(1)- Rani Velu Nachiyar of Sivaganga

Thread: While we all know of the brave Rani Lakshmibai, most are mistaken and are quick to coin her as the first queen to revolt against the British. That honour goes to Rani Velu Nachiyar of Sivaganga, whose name is alien to

the average Indian.

Known affectionately to Tamils as “Veeramangai” (brave woman), she fought the British as early as 1780. She was not only the first queen to revolt, but also the first Indian ruler to emerge victorious against the British. Not just that, she also devised the

earliest known suicide bombing in history! Begs the question as to why this is not being highlighted in bold in textbooks across India.

Born a royal herself in 1730, she was married off to the king of Sivaganga fully equipped with the knowledge of martial arts (silambatam and

valari), horse riding and being highly trained in war. She was also fluent in French, English and Urdu which is ironic as tamils then were clearly not as hostile to learning other languages as today😉(I am a tamilian myself).

The turning point in her life was when the British

invaded Sivaganga with the son of the Nawab of Arcot and ruthlessly killed her husband, the king. This was called the ‘Kalaiyar Koil War’ and she managed to flee with her daughter to a town in Dindigul under the care of a freedom fighter Gopala Nayakar. For 8 years she waited

patiently to take back what was rightfully hers, until she was introduced to Hyder Ali of Mysore.

He was so impressed with her Urdu and her courage, that he forged an alliance with her, pledging to support her to reclaim her throne. Hyder Ali provided her with 5000 infantry and

cavalry each to lead her revolt. In 1780, she cleverly choreographed a highly successful coup that banished the British off Sivaganga. She got a bunch of loyal warriors who gathered intelligence on where the British kept their ammunition.

A woman named Kuyili (sometimes regarded her adopted daughter) then valiantly doused herself in ghee and set herself on fire and jumped into the pile of ammunition, destroying the stockpile of the British.

Rani Nachiyar then reigned for another astonishing decade before giving up the throne in favour of her daughter. She then died in 1796, leaving the world as the epitome of valour and courage etched in the minds of every Indian.

Now that we’re all living relatively comfortable lives, the least we could do is spread the message on these individuals who gave up all for their motherland. Please RT this thread and follow for more, as I will be posting more on #SavioursOfBharat!