Fact check: Queen Velu Nachiyar from Tamil Nadu wasn't the first Indian ruler to go to war against the British

A post on social media claims that Queen Velu Nachiyar of Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga was the first Indian ruler to fight the British. India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found the claim to be misleading.

India's long history of freedom struggle is marked by the sweat and blood of many heroes. Several valiant men and women revolted against the oppressive colonisers for decades. A claim involving such a hero from the 18th century is now viral on social media.

"Velu Nachiyar, popularly known as ‘veeramangai’ [brave woman], the little-known queen from Tamil Nadu, was the first Indian ruler to fight against the British, in 1780, 77 years before the First War of Independence," says the claim.