Maveeran Azhagumuthu Kone is considered as one of India’s first freedom fighters. Hailing from the Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu, Azhagumuthu Kone fought the British Presidency Army in several battles between 1750-1759. One of those battles was in 1755 when the army of Azhagumuthu Kone, along with the Travancore force, fought against Colonel Eron Keran's army and won. Legend has it that he braved the British forces and stood smiling in front of the cannons before they blasted him into bits in the final battle in 1759.