# Kuyili

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{{short description|Woman Commando of Velu Nachiyar}}
{{for|the Indian film actress|Kuyili (actress)}}

{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}

{{For|the film|Kuyili (film)}}{{Infobox martyrs
|name        = Veeramangai Kuyili
|birth_date  = 29 November 1749
|birth_place = Kudanchavadi, [Sivaganga district](/source/Sivaganga_district), Tamil Nadu
|death_date  = 7 October 1780s
|death_place = Sivagangai
}}

'''Veeramangai Kuyili''' (29 November 1749 —7 October 1780) was an army commander of queen [Velu Nachiyar](/source/Velu_Nachiar) who participated in campaigns against the [East India Company](/source/East_India_Company) in the 18th century. She is considered the first [suicide bomber](/source/Suicide_attack) and "first woman [martyr](/source/martyr)" in [Indian history](/source/History_of_India).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2017/11/12/first-woman-suicide-bomber-india/|title=First Woman Suicide Bomber of India against British during Freedom Struggle|work=myIndiamyGlory|accessdate=2018-02-17|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2016/08/13/five-unsung-women-martyrs-of-indian-freedom-struggle/|title=FIVE Unsung Women Martyrs of Indian Freedom Struggle|work=myIndiamyGlory|accessdate=2018-02-17|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Of valour and victory |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/travel/of-valour-and-victory/article4952581.ece |accessdate=13 August 2014 |newspaper=The Hindu|date=26 July 2013 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dinakaran.com/ladies_Detail.asp?Nid=4963|title=வியூகங்களால் வென்றவள் {{!}} If you won multiple strategies - Dinakaran|website=www.dinakaran.com|access-date=2018-02-17|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143133/http://www.dinakaran.com/ladies_Detail.asp?Nid=4963|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Biography ==
Kuyili was born in the 18th century at Kudanchavadi, near [Sivagangai district](/source/Sivaganga_district). Her father was a [Mochi](/source/Mochi_(Hindu)). Her mother was also known for her bravery and is said to have died while fighting with a wild bull to save her fields from being destroyed. Kuyili was a sevaki  (loyal aide) of [Velu Nachiyar](/source/Velu_Nachiyar) and repeatedly saved her life. On one such occasion, when she discovered that her ''[Silambam](/source/Silambam)'' teacher was actually a spy, she took action to save the queen immediately. On another occasion, when the queen was attacked during her sleep, she attacked the enemy and injured herself in the process. Seeing her loyalty and bravery, Kuyili later played an important role in the [Sivaganga](/source/Sivaganga_Palace) expedition of the queen.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Udayavani|title=Kuyili- A brave commander who was the First ever suicide bomber in history|url=https://www.udayavani.com/english-news/kuyili-a-brave-commander-who-was-the-first-ever-suicide-bomber-in-history|accessdate=2020-08-06|website=Udayavani|language=kn}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=MV |first1=Amudha |title=Kuyili: The Dalit Commander Whose Sacrifice Remains An Unsung Tale |url=https://feminisminindia.com/2018/07/31/kuyili-dalit-commander-sivagangai/ |website=feminisminindia.com |date=30 July 2018 |accessdate=6 May 2019}}</ref>

Kuyili is known for her [suicide attack](/source/suicide_attack) in 1780. While attacking a fort of East India Company, she applied [ghee](/source/ghee) on her body, set herself ablaze and jumped into the armoury of the East India Company, securing victory for Velu Nachiyar.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tamil Nadu to build memorial for freedom fighter Kuyili |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Tamil-Nadu-to-build-memorial-for-freedom-fighter-Kuyili/articleshow/20075937.cms |accessdate=13 August 2014|newspaper=Times of india |date=16 May 2013 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Velu Nachiyar & Kuyili: The Women Who Took Down The British 85 Yrs Before 1857! |url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/157316/news-india-independence-women-fighters-british-raj/ |accessdate=28 August 2018|location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref name=r1>[http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/remembering-queen-velu-nachiyar-sivagangai-first-queen-fight-british-55163 Remembering Queen Velu Nachiyar of Sivagangai, the first queen to fight the British]. ''The News Minute''. 3 January 2017</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Of woman power and Tamizh glory|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/of-woman-power-and-tamizh-glory-375394.html|newspaper=IBN Live|date=14 June 2011|location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=A Durga A Day-Day 6: Mata Katyayini-Rani Velu Nachiyar and Kuyili|url=https://medium.com/@surashiva/a-durga-a-day-day-6-mata-katyayini-rani-velu-nachiyar-and-kuyili-2-durgas-for-today-cb9294203134|date=15 October 2018|location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Veeramangai Velu Nachiyar|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/cover/veeramangai-velu-nachiyar/article26016399.ece|newspaper=The Hindu Business Line|date=18 January 2019|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Kuyili is revered as Theepaanchi Amman, meaning "the goddess who jumped into fire," in Muthupatti village near Sivagangai, Tamil Nadu, based on local oral traditions.<ref>{{cite news |last=Staff Reporter |title=Kuyili: the warrior in queen Velu Nachiyar’s army |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/kuyili-the-warrior-in-queen-velu-nachiyars-army/article65757815.ece |access-date=August 21, 2025 |work=The Hindu |date=August 11, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=உலகின் முதல் தற்கொலைப் போராளி குயிலிக்கும் தீப்பாய்... |url=https://www.vikatan.com/spiritual/temples/103958-history-of-kuyili-and-theepaaintha-amman-temple-in-muthuppatti |access-date=August 21, 2025 |website=Vikatan |date=October 4, 2017 |language=ta}}</ref> Historical evidence about her life is scarce, relying primarily on folk songs and oral histories due to her marginalized Arunthathiyar or Sambavar background.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mukherjee |first=Oishi |title=Kuyili: The Dalit Commander Whose Sacrifice Remains An Unsung Tale |url=https://feminisminindia.com/2018/07/31/kuyili-dalit-commander-sivagangai/ |access-date=August 21, 2025 |website=Feminism in India |date=July 31, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Anand |first=T. |title=Role of Velu Nachiar in the Indian Freedom Movement |journal=Shanlax International Journal of Arts, Science and Humanities |volume=8 |issue=S1 |date=February 2021 |pages=156–158 |doi=10.34293/sijash.v8iS1-Feb.4005 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349695054_Role_of_Velu_Nachiar_in_the_Indian_Freedom_Movement}}</ref> A memorial and statue for Kuyili were inaugurated in the Sivagangai district by the Tamil Nadu government in July 2014 and October 2024, respectively.<ref>{{cite news |title=T.N. CM Stalin unveils statues of freedom fighters |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-cm-stalin-unveils-statues-of-freedom-fighters/article68736638.ece |access-date=August 21, 2025 |work=The Hindu |date=October 9, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tamil Nadu to build memorial for freedom fighter Kuyili |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Tamil-Nadu-to-build-memorial-for-freedom-fighter-Kuyili/articleshow/20075937.cms |access-date=August 21, 2025 |work=The Times of India |date=May 16, 2013}}</ref>

==See also==
* [Rani Velu Nachiar](/source/Rani_Velu_Nachiar)
*[Arunthathiyar](/source/Arunthathiyar)
*[Chamar](/source/Chamar)
*[Ravidassia](/source/Ravidassia)

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

Category:People from Sivaganga district
Category:Indian revolutionaries
Category:1780 deaths
Category:Suicides by self-immolation in India
Category:Suicides in India
Category:18th-century suicides
Category:Indian women in war
Category:Year of birth unknown
Category:Female suicide bombers
Category:Martyrs

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kuyili](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuyili) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuyili?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.