ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti fˈoːɹ, wˌɛn kˈætʃɐθˌiːvuː wʌz sˈiːdᵻd baɪ ˈɪndiə tə sɹˌiː lˈæŋkə, hiː bɪkˌeɪm ðə fˈɜːst tˈæmɪl lˈiːdɚ tə tʃˈælɪndʒ ɪt lˈiːɡəli.
In 1974, when Katchatheevu was ceded by India to Sri Lanka, he became the first Tamil leader to challenge it legally.