Rani Velu Nachiyar Honored as First Queen of Sivaganga

Key facts

• Rani Velu Nachiyar of Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, was honored on her birth anniversary as the first Indian queen to wage war against British colonial rule.
• Born on January 3, 1730, she was the daughter of Raja Chellamuthu Vijayaragunatha Sethupathy and Rani Sakandhimuthal of the Ramnad kingdom.
• She earned the title 'Veeramangai' (Brave Woman) for leading an organized armed struggle against the East India Company (EIC).
• She formed a strategic military alliance with Hyder Ali, the King of Mysore, to reclaim her kingdom and establish independent rule.
• She was trained in traditional martial arts including Silambam and Valari, and was proficient in multiple languages including Tamil, English, French, and Urdu.