Consider the following statements:
Statement I: The Poligars' revolt was one of the earliest uprisings against British rule in southern India, driven by the heavy land revenue demands imposed on the Poligars.
Statement II: The Poligars had traditionally collected the land revenue in the regions they controlled, and the British tried to undermine this authority by collecting the revenue directly.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- ABoth Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I
- BBoth Statement I and Statement II are correct, but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I
- CStatement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct
- DStatement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrect
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I
Explanation
Both statements are correct, and II explains I.
The Poligars (Palaiyakkarars) were local chiefs in the Tirunelveli–Madurai region of Tamil Nadu. They collected the land revenue in their areas and kept armed men. When the British tried to collect the revenue directly and disarm them, they rose in the Poligar Wars (1799–1805), one of the earliest uprisings against British rule in the south. Veerapandiya Kattabomman and the Marudu brothers led them.