Indian Independence Movement
- V.O. Chidambaram Pillai Indian freedom fighter born
- Muhammadh Yusuf Khan alias Marudhanayagam Military leader of the 18th century
- Puli Thevar, Polygar chieftain who fought against first and win over British East India Company in the 1750s and 1767s
- Rani Velunatchiyar, Queen of Sivaganga First Women Freedom Fighter of India
- Rettamalai Srinivasan (1860–1945), Dalitactivist, politician and freedom fighter from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu
- Thalapathy Venni Kaladi, he was the general of Puli Thevar and a brave warrior who died while fighting the British(he belonged to the Devendra kula vellalar community).
- Maruthiruvar brothers Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu who fought the British in the First and Second Polygar Wars
- Dheeran Chinnamalai (1756–1805), Polygar chieftain and feudatory of Tipu Sultan who fought the British in the Second Polygar War
- Subramanya Bharathi (1882–1921), Indian freedom fighter, Tamil poet and social reformer. Often regarded as the national poet of Tamil Nadu
- Bharathidasan (1891–1964), Tamil poet and rationalist.
- V. Kalyanasundaram (1883–1953), Scholar and independence fighter
- Subramaniya Siva (1884–1925), Freedom fighter and prolific writer
- Jeevanandham (1907–1963), Social reformer, political leader, litterateur and one of the pioneers of the communist and socialist movements
- Champakaraman Pillai (1891–1934), independence fighter
- Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar (1908–1963), freedom fighter and Leader of All India Forward Block
- Tiruppur Kumaran (1904–1932), Indian Revolutionary freedom fighter
- Muhammad Ismail (1896-1972), "Quaid-E-Millat," freedom fighter, Member of Parliament and was the President of Indian Union Muslim League
- K. Kamaraj, Freedom Fighter, Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and All India Congress President
- M. Bhaktavatsalam (1897–1987), Freedom Fighter, Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
- C. Subramaniam (1910–2000), Freedom Fighter and statesman and one of the men behind the Green Revolution
- Lakshmi Sehgal (1914-2012), Head of Rani Jhansi Brigade, women's wing of the Indian National Army and a close associate of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose. Presidential candidate in 2002 President's election.
Read more about this topic: List Of Tamil People
Famous quotes containing the words indian, independence and/or movement:
“If you tie a horse to a stake, do you expect he will grow fat? If you pen an Indian up on a small spot of earth, and compel him to stay there, he will not be contented, nor will he grow and prosper. I have asked some of the great white chiefs where they get their authority to say to the Indian that he shall stay in one place, while he sees white men going where they please. They can not tell me.”
—Chief Joseph (c. 1840–1904)
“I saw the man my friend ... wants pardoned, Thomas Flinton. He is a bright, good-looking fellow.... Of his innocence all are confident. The governor strikes me as a man seeking popularity, who lacks the independence and manhood to do right at the risk of losing popularity. Afraid of what will be said. He is prejudiced against the Irish and Democrats.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)
“The sadness of the women’s movement is that they don’t allow the necessity of love. See, I don’t personally trust any revolution where love is not allowed.”
—Maya Angelou (b. 1928)