Colonial Resistance

Second Polygar War

One year after Kattabomman was executed, a broad coalition of Tamil palayakkarars and their allies revolted against the East India Company.

Jambudweep proclamation of the Maruthu brothers

The Maruthu brothers issued a proclamation calling on all people of the peninsula, whatever their religion, to fight the British.

Fall of Panchalankurichi fort

After a lengthy siege and heavy shelling, Colonel Agnew's Company troops took the rebuilt fort of Panchalankurichi.

Execution of the Maruthu brothers

Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu, rulers of Sivaganga and leaders of the 1800-01 rising, were hanged at Tiruppathur fort.

Execution of Oomaithurai

Oomaithurai, brother of Kattabomman, was captured and hanged at Panchalankurichi with Sevathaiah, ending the Second Polygar War.

Execution of Dheeran Chinnamalai

Dheeran Chinnamalai, a Kongu chieftain who fought the Company for several years, was hanged at Sankagiri Fort.

Vellore Mutiny

Indian sepoys of the Madras Army rose against the East India Company at Vellore Fort over new dress regulations.

Madras Native Association founded

One of India's earliest Indian political bodies, the Madras Native Association, was set up by Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty.

Madras Native Association petition read in the House of Lords

The Earl of Ellenborough read the Madras Native Association's catalogue of grievances in the House of Lords.

Birth of V. O. Chidambaram Pillai

V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, later the founder of the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company, was born at Ottapidaram in Tirunelveli district.

V. O. Chidambaram Pillai founds the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company

To compete with British lines on the Tuticorin-Colombo route, V. O. Chidambaram Pillai registered an Indian-owned shipping firm.

Arrest of V. O. Chidambaram Pillai and Tirunelveli unrest

The arrest of V. O. Chidambaram Pillai and Subramania Siva on sedition charges set off unrest in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin.

Sri Aurobindo settles in Pondicherry

Facing continued British repression, Bengali nationalist Aurobindo Ghose moved to French Pondicherry in April 1910.

Assassination of Collector Robert Ashe

Vanchinathan shot dead Robert Ashe, Collector of Tinnevelly, at Maniyachchi railway station and then killed himself.

Perungamanallur police firing

Police fired on Piramalai Kallar villagers at Perungamanallur near Madurai who resisted registration under the Criminal Tribes Act.

Neill Statue Satyagraha

Nationalists in Madras campaigned for the removal of the statue of Colonel James Neill from Mount Road.

Lakshmi Swaminathan leads Rani of Jhansi Regiment

Madras-born doctor Lakshmi Swaminathan was appointed to lead the women's Rani of Jhansi Regiment of Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army.

Royal Indian Navy mutiny reaches Madras

A revolt by Indian ratings of the Royal Indian Navy that began in Bombay spread to ships and shore establishments including Madras.

Veerapandiya Kattabomman released

Sivaji Ganesan's historical film opened in cinemas and went on to earn him Best Actor at Cairo's Afro-Asian Film Festival in 1960.