Kuyili
{{short description|Woman Commando of Velu Nachiyar}}
{{for|the Indian film actress|Kuyili (actress)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox martyrs
|name = Veeramangai Kuyili
|birth_date = 1700s
|birth_place = Kudanchavadi, Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu
|death_date = 1780
|death_place = Sivagangai
}}
Veeramangai Kuyili (died 1780) was an army commander of queen Velu Nachiyar who participated in campaigns against the East India Company in the 18th century. She is considered the first suicide bomber and "first woman martyr" in Indian history.{{Cite news|url=https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2017/11/12/first-woman-suicide-bomber-india/|title=First Woman Suicide Bomber of India against British during Freedom Struggle|work=myIndiamyGlory|accessdate=2018-02-17|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2016/08/13/five-unsung-women-martyrs-of-indian-freedom-struggle/|title=FIVE Unsung Women Martyrs of Indian Freedom Struggle|work=myIndiamyGlory|accessdate=2018-02-17|language=en-GB}}{{cite news |title=Of valour and victory |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/travel/of-valour-and-victory/article4952581.ece |accessdate=13 August 2014 |newspaper=The Hindu|date=26 July 2013 |location=Chennai, India}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.dinakaran.com/ladies_Detail.asp?Nid=4963|title=வியூகங்களால் வென்றவள் {{!}} If you won multiple strategies - Dinakaran|website=www.dinakaran.com|access-date=2018-02-17|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143133/http://www.dinakaran.com/ladies_Detail.asp?Nid=4963|url-status=dead}}
Biography
Kuyili was born in the 18th century at Kudanchavadi, near Sivagangai district. Her father was a Mochi. Her mother was also known for her bravery and is said to have died while fighting with a wild bull to save her fields from being destroyed. Kuyili was a devout commander of Velu Nachiyar and repeatedly saved her life. On one such occasion, when she discovered that her Silambam teacher was actually a spy, she took action to save the queen immediately. On another occasion, when the queen was attacked during her sleep, she attacked the enemy and injured herself in the process. Seeing her loyalty and bravery, she was made the commander-in-chief of the women's wing of her army. Kuyili later played an important role in the Sivaganga expedition of the queen.{{Cite web|last=Udayavani|title=Kuyili- A brave commander who was the First ever suicide bomber in history|url=https://www.udayavani.com/english-news/kuyili-a-brave-commander-who-was-the-first-ever-suicide-bomber-in-history|accessdate=2020-08-06|website=Udayavani|language=kn}}{{cite web |last1=MV |first1=Amudha |title=Kuyili: The Dalit Commander Whose Sacrifice Remains An Unsung Tale |url=https://feminisminindia.com/2018/07/31/kuyili-dalit-commander-sivagangai/ |website=feminisminindia.com |date=30 July 2018 |accessdate=6 May 2019}}
Kuyili is known for her suicide attack in 1780. While attacking a fort of East India Company, she applied ghee on her body, set herself ablaze and jumped into the armoury of the East India Company, securing victory for Velu Nachiyar.{{cite news |title=Tamil Nadu to build memorial for freedom fighter Kuyili |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Tamil-Nadu-to-build-memorial-for-freedom-fighter-Kuyili/articleshow/20075937.cms |accessdate=13 August 2014|newspaper=Times of india |date=16 May 2013 |location=Chennai, India}}{{cite news |title=Velu Nachiyar & Kuyili: The Women Who Took Down The British 85 Yrs Before 1857! |url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/157316/news-india-independence-women-fighters-british-raj/ |accessdate=28 August 2018|location=Chennai, India}}[http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/remembering-queen-velu-nachiyar-sivagangai-first-queen-fight-british-55163 Remembering Queen Velu Nachiyar of Sivagangai, the first queen to fight the British]. The News Minute. 3 January 2017{{cite news|title=Of woman power and Tamizh glory|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/of-woman-power-and-tamizh-glory-375394.html|newspaper=IBN Live|date=14 June 2011|location=Chennai, India}}{{cite news|title=A Durga A Day-Day 6: Mata Katyayini-Rani Velu Nachiyar and Kuyili|url=https://medium.com/@surashiva/a-durga-a-day-day-6-mata-katyayini-rani-velu-nachiyar-and-kuyili-2-durgas-for-today-cb9294203134|date=15 October 2018|location=Chennai, India}}{{cite news|title=Veeramangai Velu Nachiyar|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/cover/veeramangai-velu-nachiyar/article26016399.ece|newspaper=The Hindu Business Line|date=18 January 2019|location=Chennai, India}} The Tamil Nadu government erected a memorial to Kuyili in the Sivagangai district.{{cite news |title=Tamil Nadu to build memorial for freedom fighter Kuyili |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Tamil-Nadu-to-build-memorial-for-freedom-fighter-Kuyili/articleshow/20075937.cms|accessdate=13 August 2014 |newspaper=Times of India |date=16 May 2013 |location=Chennai, India}}