Thoothukudi - History

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Thoothukudi - History

Thoothukudi is traditionally known for its pearl fishery and shipbuilding. It was the seaport of the Pandyan kingdom. Thoothukudi became the center of the Indian independence movement in the early 20th century, with such leaders as the poet Subramanya Bharathy, Kattabomman, and V.O. Chidambaram Pillai. In 1906, the great freedom fighter of India, V.O.Chidambaram Pillai with the help of Bal Gangadhar Tilak (also called as Lokmanya Tilak) launched the first Swadeshi ship "S.S. Gaelia" from this port town in British India.

The major harbour of Thoothukudi is well known as a pearl diving and fishing center. Thoothukudi was founded by the Portuguese in 1548, captured by the Dutch in 1658, and ceded to the British in 1825. (Courtesy - The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001) The lighthouse built in 1842 marked the beginning of the history of Thoothukudi harbour development.

Thoorthu (Dig) and Kudi (Drink). The town had no rivers and the only source of drinking water was from wells. "Thoortha" means land "reclaimed" from sea while "Kudi" also stands for "settlement" or "colony". Hence "Thoortha Kudi" or Thoothukudi could mean a settlement built on land reclaimed from sea. Finally, the Tuticorin name was used by Dutch people who were here, and now its called "Tuticorin" in English and "Thoothukudi" in Tamil.

Thoothukudi - History

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