Life
Velu Nachiyar was born on 3 January 1730. She was the princess of Ramanathapuram and the only child of King Chellamuthu Vijayaragunatha Sethupathy and Queen Sakandhimuthathal of the Ramnad kingdom. Nachiyar was trained in many methods of combat, including war match weapons usage, martial arts like Valari, Silambam, Kalaripayattu, horse riding, and archery. She was a scholar in many languages and was proficient in languages like French, English and Urdu. In 1746, she entered into marriage with Muthu Vaduganatha Periyavudaya Thevar, serving as a close advisor, mentor, and confidant to the prince.
When her husband, Muthu Vaduganatha Periyavudaya Thevar, battle was held in maravar manglam 12 km from kalaiyar Kovil.second day killed in attack EIC soldiers in 1772 at KalaiyarKoil, she was drawn into the conflict. Velu Nachiyar ran away from Sivagangai and sought the help of Hyder Ali, Dindigul is border state ruled by Hyder Ali . She stayed in virupaachi fortress.After eight years of planning — along with support of many nattu ambalars, commanders Marudhu brothers, and Thandavarayan Pillai—in war time support by tippu sultan she fought against the British East India Company.
In 1772, Sivaganga minister Thandavarayan Pillai wrote a letter on behalf of Rani Velu Nachiyar to Hyder Ali, looking for military support:
The Nawab of Arcot is encroaching on both Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga kingdoms and wreaking havoc. After escaping from there, I stayed with the Kallar leaders in the forests and continued the revolt. In this effort, anyone who can help me can make even better achievements. Therefore you have five thousand horsemen. If I could send five thousand soldiers, I would be able to bear their allowance and join them in recapturing these two princely states, and also send troops to Madurai and start counter-operations throughout the country. The Polygars there will also cooperate with us.
In 1780, Velu Nachiyar waged war against the British and successfully reclaimed her kingdom. She governed for ten years and died in 1796. In 1790, she was succeeded by her daughter Vellacci. She granted powers to her daughter with the Marudu brothers to help with the administration of the kingdom. Velu Nachiyar died a few years later, on 25 December 1796.
