The correct answer is (a). Veerapandiya Kattabomman of Panchalankurichi rebelled against British attempts to collect taxes.
Veerapandiya Kattabomman was a chieftain of Panchalankurichi, a small kingdom in Tamil Nadu, India. He was a popular and respected leader, and his kingdom was prosperous. However, in the early 1800s, the British East India Company began to encroach on his territory. The British wanted to collect taxes from Kattabomman’s kingdom, and they also wanted to interfere in local customs. Kattabomman refused to submit to British rule, and he led a rebellion against them. The rebellion was unsuccessful, and Kattabomman was captured and executed. However, his rebellion inspired other Indian leaders to resist British rule, and it is considered to be an important event in the history of Indian independence.
The other options are incorrect because:
- (b) Usurp his territory: The British did not attempt to usurp Kattabomman’s territory. They only wanted to collect taxes from his kingdom.
- (c) Interfere in local customs: The British did interfere in local customs, but this was not the main reason for Kattabomman’s rebellion.
- (d) Impose religious restrictions: The British did not impose religious restrictions on Kattabomman’s kingdom.