Rani Velu Nachiyar

A pioneering Indian queen who led armed resistance against British colonial rule, establishing the first all-women military unit in India.

Rani Velu Nachiyar: The Lioness of South India

Rani Velu Nachiyar (c. 1730–1796) was a Tamil queen from the Sivaganga Kingdom in present-day Tamil Nadu, India. Known as 'Veeramangai' (Brave Woman), she is celebrated as the first queen to fight against British colonial rule in India. Her legacy lies in her strategic brilliance and the creation of India's first all-female military unit, the ' Udaiyaal' regiment, which played a pivotal role in her campaigns against the British East India Company.

After her husband, Muthuviralingam, was killed by the Nawab of Arcot, Velu Nachiyar vowed revenge. She fled to the kingdom of Maruthu Pandiyar, where she trained in warfare and diplomacy. She also established spy networks and forged alliances with neighboring kingdoms. In 1780, she launched a guerrilla war using unconventional tactics, including a daring attack on the British fort at Tiruchirappalli using fire canoes. Her collaboration with the Maruthu brothers and the Kingdom of Kongu resulted in significant territorial victories.

Velu Nachiyar's most notable achievement was the formation of the Udaiyaal regiment, named after her daughter who sacrificed herself to sabotage enemy forces. This unit became a symbol of women's empowerment in warfare. Though her reign was brief, her resistance inspired future independence movements. Today, her story is preserved in local folklore and monuments, including the Velu Nachiyar Memorial in Sivaganga. For more details, visit Wikipedia or explore historical analyses like this academic paper.