VEERAPANDIYA KATTABOMMAN: The Tamil chieftain was hanged by the British on 16 October, 1799, 58 years before the mutiny of 1857. Kattabomman was a Polygar — feudal title for a class of territorial administrative and military governors — from Panchalankurichi near Thoothukudi. In 1798, while Kattabomman was paying taxes, he received a letter from collector Jackson asking him to pay the leftover amount. Jackson refused to meet him in person despite Kattabomman waiting for him. After three months, he met him at Ramalinga Vilasam, the palace of the king of Ramanathapuram. The meeting turned violent and Clarke, the deputy commandant of the company’s forces, was killed. The new collector of Tirunelveli wrote to Kattabomman calling him for a meeting in 1799. Kattabomman refused to meet the collector and a fight broke out. However, he was arrest and hanged. (Photo | EPS)