Dheeran Chinnamalai

(1756 – 1805) was a Kongu chieftain from Tamil Nadu who rose up in revolt against the British East India Company in the Kongu Nadu, the first south Indian to do so. He was one of the main leaders in the Polygar Wars and commanded a vast army, notably during the Second Polygar War that took place in 1801–1802. A thousand-strong army under him took French military training in modern warfare to fight alongside Tipu’s Mysore forces against the British East India Company. After Tipu’s death, Chinnamalai settled down at Odanilai in Kongu Nadu and constructed a fort there. He defeated the British in a series of battles in the period 1801 – 1804. Later, Chinnamalai left his fort to avoid cannon attack and engaged in guerrilla warfare. The British captured and hanged him at Sankagiri Fort in 1805.