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A song for Wooden Doll: The tale of Veerapandian Kattabomman

"Who be you to tax our land?"
Thus spake the fearless polygar*,
For Freedom did he stand!

The British did with heavy hand,
Provoke every ryot to war;
"Who be you to tax our land?"

Kattabomman** with his faithful band
Against vile Collectors did spar;
For Freedom did he stand!

His struggles charged the motherland:
Rebellion spread wide and far,
"Who be you to tax our land?"

Even when at Pudukkottai the war he planned
Was betrayed by the treacherous Zamindar
For Freedom did he stand!

He squeezed the noose with his own hand
Before the they could hang him at Kayattar,
"Who be you to tax our land?"
For Freedom did he stand!

*polygar: minor chieftain before British times
**Kattabomman: in Tamil literally "Wooden Doll"

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