British political and economic dominance after the Battle of Plassey (1757) stripped many landlords and chieftains of their power and estates, and many of them revolted. In Tamil Nadu the English claimed the right to collect tribute from the Palayakkarars. The first resistance came from Puli Thevar, followed by Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Oomathurai, the Marudu brothers and Dheeran Chinnamalai. This chapter also covers the Vellore Revolt (1806) and the Revolt of 1857.
1. Origin of the Palayakkarar System
- The Vijayanagar rulers appointed Nayaks; the Nayak of Madurai in turn appointed Palayakkarars.
- Viswanatha became Nayak of Madurai in 1529 and, in consultation with his minister Ariyanatha Mudaliyar, instituted the Palayakkarar system in 1529.
- The country was divided into 72 Palayams, held in military tenure.
- Of the taxes collected, one third went to the Nayak of Madurai, one third to the army and the rest was kept by the Palayakkarar.
- There were two blocs: the Eastern Palayams (Nayaks) under Kattabomman and the Western Palayams (Maravas) under Puli Thevar. Both refused to pay the kist (tribute) to the English.
- The Carnatic treaty of 1792 gave the English the right to collect taxes, which led to the revolt of the Palayakkarars.