Legal Documents The significance of Pattaya in the history of Tamil Nadu

Veerapandiya Kattabomman was an 18th century Palayakala and king of Panchalankurich in Tamil Nadu who fought against the British East India Company. According to Local 18 Tamil, a Pattayam (legal document) was recently discovered in Pavali village in Virudhunagar district in Tamil Nadu.

This pattaya has not been properly maintained and is located in a cowshed. Although it is low maintenance, one can easily read the word “Kattabomman Pattayam”. After reading this sentence, I know that it is related to Veerapandiya Kattabomman.

Colonel John Alexander Bannerman released the document four days after the execution of Veerapandiya Kattabomman. This was to warn the villagers not to keep legions, weapons and build fort walls. The document also warned the public that anyone who dared to defy the East India Company would be killed.

The current generation of villagers is not satisfied with this document from a bygone era. Many people misunderstood after reading the contents of the document that Kata Boman was given this historical title. When the government proposed to take away this Pattaya, the people in the town stopped it, saying that the identity of our town should be here. Muthiah, a social activist from the town, had the document certified during CN Annadurai's tenure as Tamil Nadu chief minister. Ten years ago, the plate was safely placed on a small pedestal and has since become a symbol of the town.

Muthiah recalled that when a team led by the district collector came to take it away, we asked them to keep it here so that people could see it. The activist said he and other locals of Pawari village were proud to have a symbol of the freedom struggle in our town. He added that they just want to keep it in their town.

Some people who love Veerapandiya Kattabomman have a tradition of spending the night here on his birthday. However, they did not understand the document properly, which shows that history was not passed down.