V. Veemaraja alias Jegaveera Pandia Subramania Kattabomma Durai, the legal heir of freedom fighter Veerapandia Kattabomman, said he, along with other descendants of the legendary freedom fighter, was eagerly waiting to see the opening of the new memorial which had been built like a fort.
The infrastructure work at the memorial, taken up at a cost of Rs. 1.10 crore, was completed, but the memorial was yet to be opened to public, he told The Hindu here on Tuesday.
Mr. Durai, who is a fifth generation heir of Kattabomman, said it was a tribute to the freedom fighter, who fought courageously against the British. Kattabomman was hanged at Kayathar on October 16 in 1799.
In recognition
It was in recognition of his gallantry and sacrifice that Kattabomman Memorial Fort was built at Panchalankurichi, his birthplace, in 1974, and subsequently 200 houses were built under the title, ‘Kattabomman Santhathiyar Kudiyiruppu,’ for his descendants.
Several years ago, Kattabomman postage stamp was released by the BJP government at the Centre, and a naval establishment was commissioned as ‘INS Kattabomman’ by former President R. Venkataraman on October 20 in 1990, he recalled.
Statue erected
Sources said all major works in the memorial had been completed and finishing touches were being given. Four days back, a seven-and-a-half-foot-tall statue of Kattabomman was erected at the memorial.
Ilasai Manian, secretary, Raghunathan Library, Bharathi Research Centre, Ettayapuram, said that weapons used by soldiers of the British East India Company were being maintained in the government museum in Chennai. Efforts should be taken to maintain such weaponry in Kayathar memorial to attract tourists, he said.
