Ondiveeran

Ondiveeran Pagadai (or Ondi Veeran) (died circa 1771) was an Indian freedom fighter and commander in the army of Puli Thevan in battles against the British in Tamil Nadu.[1] Ondiveeran came from the Arunthathiyar Scheduled Caste (Dalit) and today is viewed as a hero by that community; pressure from that community lead the government to build a memorial to him in Tirunelveli district.[2]

Memorial

In the mid-2000s, the Dailt community in Tamil Nadu petitioned the government to establish a memorial to Ondiveeran, including public protests.[3] The foundation stone for the memorial (which cost the government 49 lakh rupees) was laid in 2011 by Minister for Information and Public Relations Parithi Ilamvazhuthi.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Special Correspondent. "‘Garden of Classical Tamil' work to be taken up soon". The Hindu.
  2. ↑ "The Fire Against Untouchability". google.com.
  3. ↑ "CPM activists block road". The Hindu.
  4. ↑ Staff Reporter. "Foundation stone laid for memorial". The Hindu.
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