Samacheer Class 8 Social Science - People’s Revolt

The Eastern Palayams were ruled under the control of Kattabomman, a powerful Palayakaar who resisted British colonial rule. Vishwanatha Nayakar instituted the Palayakarar system with the consultation of his minister Ariyanatha Mudaliyar, establishing a feudal administrative structure. The ancestors of Kattabomman belonged to Andhra, though he ruled in Tamil Nadu. Velu Nachiyar was known by Tamils as Veeramangai and is often called the Jhansi Rani of South India, as she was a queen who fought against British colonial rule. Periya Maruthu was called as the Lion of Sivagangai, a title reflecting his courage and leadership in resisting colonial forces. V.D. Savarkar was the historian who described the revolt of 1857 as the First War of India Independence, giving it a nationalist interpretation that emphasized Indian resistance to colonial rule.

The following statements regarding pre-1857 resistance movements are evaluated as follows: The statement that Vijayanagar rulers appointed Nayaks in their provinces is True, as this was indeed a significant administrative practice in the Vijayanagar Empire. The claim that Sivasubramania was the minister of Marudhu Pandiyas is False, as historical records do not support this relationship. The statement that Kattabomman was hanged on 17th October 1799 is True, marking an important event in the history of resistance against British expansion in South India. The assertion that Fettah Hyder was the elder son of Tipu Sultan is True, as Fettah Hyder was indeed Tipu Sultan's son. These statements reflect various aspects of Indian resistance to colonial rule and the administrative structures of pre-colonial Indian kingdoms.

1. Palayakkarar was the holder of a territory or a Palayam. These Palayams were held in military tenure and extended their full cooperation to be need of the Nayaks. The Palayakkarars collected taxes, of which one-third was given to the Nayak of Madurai another one-third for the expenditure of the army, and the rest was kept for themselves.
2. Kattabomman, Pulithevan, Marudu Brothers, Dheeran Chinnamalai.
2. What was the part of Velu Nachiyar in the Palayakkarar revolt?
Velu Nachiyar organised an army and employed her intelligent agents to find where the British stored their ammunition.
She recaptured Sivagangai and was again crowned as a queen with the help of the Marudu brothers.
3. Who were the leaders of the Palayakkarar confederacy in the south Indian rebellion?
Marudu Pandiar of Sivaganga, Gopala Nayak of Dindugal, Kerala Varma of Malabar and Krishnappa Nayak, and Dhoondaji of Mysore.
4. What was the importance of Tiruchirappalli proclamation?
The marudu Pandyas issued a proclamation of Independence called Tiruchirappalli Proclamation in June 1801,
It was the first call to the Indians to unite against the British.
5. Bring out the effects of the Vellore revolt.
Effects of the Vellore Revolt:
The new methods and uniform regulations were withdrawn.
The family of Tippu as a precautionary measure was sent to Calcutta.
William Cavendish Bentinck was removed from his service.
6. What was the immediate cause of the Revolt of 1857?
The immediate cause was the introduction of new Enfield Riffles in the army. For loading it, we want to use our mouth to remove the cartridge of the rifle.The cartridges were greased by the fat of cow and the pig.

1. Pulithevar was the pioneer in Tamil Nadu, to protest against the English rule in India. He was the Palayakkarar of the Nerkattumseval, near Tirunelveli.
2. During his tenure he refused to pay the tribute neither to Mohammed Ali, the Nawab of Arcot nor to the English. Further, he started opposing them. Hence, the forces of the Nawab of Arcot and the English attacked Pulithevar. But the combined forces were defeated by Pulithevar at Tirunelveli.
3. Pulithevar was the first Indian king to have fought and defeated the British in India. After this victory, Pulithevan attempted to form a league of the Palayakkars to oppose the British and the Nawab.
4. In 1759, Nerkattumseval was attacked by the forces of Nawab of Arcot under the leadership of Yusuf Khan.
5. Pulithevar was defeated at Anthanallur and the Nawabs forces captured Nerkattumsevval in 1761.
6. Pulithevar who lived in exile recaptured Nerkattumseval in 1764. Later, he was defeated by Captain Campell in 1767. Pulitzer escaped and died in exile without fulfilling his purpose, although his courageous trail of a struggle for independence in the history of South India.
2. Explain the events that led to conflict between Dheeran Chinnamalai and the british.
Dheeran Chinamalai was trained by French militray in modem welfare.
He was along the side Tipu Sultan to fight against the British East India Company and got victories against the British.
After Tipu Sulthan’s death, Chinnamalai settled down at Odanilai and constructed a fort there to continue his struggle against the British.
He sought the help of Marathas and Maruthu Pandiyar to attack the British at Coimbatore in 1800.
Chinnamalai was forced to attack Coimbatore on his own.
His army was defeated the British in battles at Cauvery, Odanilai, and Arachalur.
During the final battle, Chinnamalai was betrayed by his cook Nallapan and was hanged in Sankagiri Fort in 1805.
3. What were the causes of the Great revolt of 1857?
1. The most important cause of revolt in 1857 was a popular discontent of the British policy of economically exploiting India. This hurt all sections of society. The peasants suffered due to high revenue demands and the strict revenue collection policy.
2. Policies of the doctrine of lapse, subsidiary alliance, and policy of Effective Control created discontentment among people. The annexation of Oudh proved that even the groveling loyalty can’t satisfy British greed for territories.
3. The conversion activities of Christian missionaries were looked upon with suspicion and fear. The priests and the maulavis showed their discontent against the British rule.
4. Abolition of practices like sati, female infanticide, support to widow remarriage, and female education was seen by many as interference in their Indian culture by the Europeans.
5. The Indian sepoys were looked upon as inferior beings and treated with contempt by their British officers. They were paid much less than the British soldiers. All avenues of the promotion were closed to them as all the higher army posts were reserved for the British.
4. What were the causes of the failure of the Revolt of 1857?
Causes for the failure of the Revolt of 1857:
Various causes were responsible for the failure of the revolt.
Lack of organisation, discipline common plan of action, centralised leadership, modem weapons, and techniques.
The rebel leaders were no match to the British Generals. Rani Lakshmi Bai, Tantia Tope, and Nana Saheb were courageous but not good generals.
Non-participation of Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Western Punjab, and Rajputana.
The modem educated Indians did not support the revolts because the English rule could reform the Indian society and modernize it.
The British managed to get the loyalty of the Sikhs, Afghans, and Gurkha regiments who helped in the suppression of the revolt.
The British had better weapons, better generals, and good organisation.

The Revolt of 1857 marked a turning point in the history of India. It led to changes in the system of administration and the policy of the Government.
The administration of India was transferred from the East India Company to the British Crown through the ‘Queen’s Proclamation’ in 1858. The governor-general was given the title of viceroy.
The Board of Directors and the Board of Control were replaced by the Council of 15 members headed by the Secretary of State to supervise Indian affairs.
The Indian Army was thoroughly reorganized. More Britishers were employed in the army.
The British military policy came to be dominated by the idea of divide and counterpoise’. In fact, the Revolt of 1857 played an important role in bringing the Indian people together and imparting them the consciousness of belonging to one country.
The Revolt paved the way for the rise of the modem national movement century that the 1857 Revolt came to be interpreted as a “planned war of national independence by the Historian V.D. Savarkar in his book, ‘First War of Indian Independence.

The revolt did not have a clear leader. Bahadur Shah II was old and exhausted. He lacked military leadership.
At Kanpur, Nana Sahib was proclaimed a Peshwa, who was the adopted son of the exited Peshwa Baji Rao II.
He believed that he was entitled to a pension from the British.
When he was refused to be given, he was compelled to revolt against them. Rani Lakshmi Bai and Tantia Tope fought for Jhansi and Gwalior.
Begun of Awadh wanted to safeguard her territory.
Khan Bahadur Khan fought against the British when they subjugated his government in Bareilly.
As such, they lacked unity and gave way for the easy victory of the British.

Puli Thevar
2. The whole country was divided into ………………… palayams under the Palayakkarar system.
72
3. ………………… asked Kattabomman to pay the tribute arrears.
Coiin Jackson
4. The minister of Kattabomman was ………………….
Siva subramanian
5. The Tiruchirappali proclamation released in the year ………………….
1801
6. ………………… also known as Jansi Rani of South India.
Velunatchiyar
7. ………………… died in 1772 Sivaganga battle.
Muthu Vaduga Nathar
8. The Thiruchirappalli Proclamation was placed on the walls of the ………………… temple.
Srirangam vaishnava Temple
9. ………………… System was abolished by the Treaty of kamataka in 1801
Palayakkarar
10. Military General Agnew introduced a new turban known as ………………….
‘Agnew’s turban
11. The immediate cause of sepoy revolt was the introduction of ………………….
Enfield Riffles
12. Due to the terrorist activities of Chinna maruthu against British called as ………………….
Lion of Sivaganga
13. The Revolt of 1857 headed by ………………… in Kanpur.
Nana Saheb
14. The Revolt in Delhi controlled by the British General ………………….
John Nicholson
15. The sepoy Revolt was led by ………………… in Gwalior.
Tantia Tope

The following statements about early resistance movements in South India are evaluated as follows: The statement that Dheeran Chinnamalai was born at Melapalayam in Chennimalai near Erode is True, establishing his geographical origins in the Tamil region. The claim that the Maratha brothers were executed in the port of Tirupatur in Ramanathapuram District on 10th October 1801 is False, as historical records indicate different details regarding their execution. The statement that the Palayakkarar of Sivagiri was not a tributary to the company is False, as the Palayakkars were indeed subjected to British Company control and authority. The assertion that the British military policy came to be dominated by the idea of 'divide and counterpoise' is True, reflecting the British strategy of maintaining control by playing regional powers against each other and preventing unified resistance. This policy was instrumental in the British consolidation of power in India during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.