Born on 3rd January 1730 at Ramanathapuram (Tamil Nadu), Rani Velu Nachiyar, also called as Veeramangai (brave women) was the queen of Sivagangai. She was the first Indian queen who waged a war against the British East India Company and was fluent in Urdu, English and French. Rani Velu Nachiyar was trained in many methods of combat, including war match weapons usage, martial arts like Valari, Silambam, Horse riding, and archery. The British had taken over her kingdom and when Rani Velu Nachiyar found the place where the EIC stored their ammunition, her commander Kuyili made a suicide attack on the ammunition depot, and destroyed it.