Tamil Nadu

VOC’s 149th birth anniversary observed

The 149th birth anniversary of legendary freedom fighter VO Chidambaram Pillai, who’s known as ‘Kappalottiya Tamizhan’ — (the Tamizhan who drove the ship) was marked in Madurai and various parts of southern districts on Saturday.

migrator

Madurai

Politicians from various parties garlanded the VOC statue at Simmakkal in Madurai and many from the VOC Peravai followed suit. Several people paid tributes on the portrait of the freedom fighter on the occasion. He was born in Ottapidaram, formerly in Tirunelveli district before bifurcation of Thoothukudi district, on the same day in 1872.

Minister for Information and Publicity Kadambur C. Raju along with Thoothukudi Collector Sandeep Nanduri got access to the birth house of VOC at Ottapidaram and garlanded his statue. After paying tributes, the Minister took pride saying that Thoothukudi is the land of the sacred as many freedom fighters hailed from here.

The Minister recalled great sacrifices made by the legendary freedom fighter

During his lifetime, VOC was confined in Coimbatore central jail for over two years and treated in a ruthless manner. He was also called ‘Chekkilutha Chemmal’, the Minister said.

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