Veerapandiya Kattabomman was crowned as the 47th king of Panchalankurichi in 1790. Mr Alan, a British representative, demanded that Kattabomman must pay six years of tax arrears but the king refused to acknowledge that the British had any claim on his lands. Kattabomman was not frightened of the consequences of his refusal to pay tax. He continued to reject a meeting with Jackson, the Collector of the East India Company. Eventually on 10th September 1798, Kattabomman met with Jackson at the palace in Ramanathapuram to discuss their tax dispute.
Veerapandiya Kattabomman was crowned as the 47th king of Panchalankurichi in 1790. Mr Alan, a British representative, demanded that Kattabomman must pay six years of tax arrears but the king refused to acknowledge that the British had any claim on his lands. Kattabomman was not frightened of the consequences of his refusal to pay tax. He continued to reject a meeting with Jackson, the Collector of the East India Company. Eventually on 10th September 1798, Kattabomman met with Jackson at the palace in Ramanathapuram to discuss their tax dispute. The king made a famously impassioned speech condemning the behaviour of British administrators. The meeting ended violently as Jackson ordered Kattabomman to be arrested. In a battle with the Deputy Commandant of the Company’s forces, Kattabomman managed to escape. The Deputy Commandant, Clarke, was killed.
Here below is a translation of Kattabomman’s famous conversation with
Jackson Thurai.
“Royalties, tributes, tax, interest!
The skies shower and the earth’s bear; why do you want royalties?
Did you come to the fields, negotiate the mounds, do the watering?
Plant the paddy, pluck the weeds, carry our farmer’s gruel?
Or did you grind turmeric and work for our young ladies playing there?
Or are you my uncle or brother-in-law? Shameless fool!
Why do you ask for royalties? How dare you ask for tax?
Our warrior forces will crush your heads into mere dust! Beware!
My moustache quivers, but my arrival as a guest prevents me!
For insulting me such, your head shall roll!”