Kittur Chennamma
Encyclopedia
Kitturu Rani Chennamma (1778−1829) was the queen of the princely state of Kittur
in Karnataka
. In 1824, 33 years before the 1857 war of independence
, she led an armed rebellion against the British in response to the Doctrine of lapse
. The resistance ended in her martyrdom and she is remembered today as one of the earliest Indian rulers to have fought for independence. Along with Abbakka Rani
, Keladi Chennamma
and Onake Obavva
she is much venerated in Karnataka as an icon of bravery and women's pride.
, which stood around 5 km north of Belgaum
in Karnataka
. In her youth she received training in horse riding
, sword fighting and archery
. She became queen of her native kingdom and married Raja Mallasarja, of the Desai family, and had one son; after her son's death in 1824 she adopted Shivalingappa, and made him heir to the throne. The British East India Company
did not accept this and ordered Shivalingappa's expulsion, using doctrine of lapse
(officially codified between 1848 and 1856 by Lord Dalhousie
), but Chennamma defied the order: a battle ensued, during which Chennamma fought fiercely with the aid of her lieutenant, Sangolli Rayanna
, but was ultimately captured and imprisoned at Bailhongal
Fort, where she died on 21 February 1829.
Chennamma, born 56 years before the 1857 rebel Rani Laxmi Bai
, was the first woman to fight against British governance and the kappa tax. Her legacy and first victory are still commemorated in Kittur, during the Kittur Utsava of every 22 - 24 October. The festival is similar to the Mysore Dasara.
, the first woman President of India.
Kittur
Kitturu , also called Kittur is a village in Belgaum District of Karnataka state. It is part of the Bailahongal taluk in Belgaum district. It is a place of historical significance because of the resistance of Rani Chennamma of Kitturu to the British Raj.-History:On the outskirts of the town lies...
in Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
. In 1824, 33 years before the 1857 war of independence
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
, she led an armed rebellion against the British in response to the Doctrine of lapse
Doctrine of lapse
The Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy purportedly devised by Lord Dalhousie, who was the Governor General for the British in India between 1848 and 1856...
. The resistance ended in her martyrdom and she is remembered today as one of the earliest Indian rulers to have fought for independence. Along with Abbakka Rani
Abbakka Rani
Abbakka Rani or Abbakka Mahadevi was the queen of Tulunadu who fought the Portuguese in the latter half of the 16th century. She belonged to the Chowta dynasty who ruled over the area from the temple town of Moodabidri. The port town of Ullal served as their subsidiary capital. The Portuguese...
, Keladi Chennamma
Keladi Chennamma
Keladi Chennamma was the Queen of Keladi Kingdom in Karnataka. She was daughter of Siddappa Setty of Kundapur who is from a Lingayathi Banajigaru Community. She married King Somashekara in 1667. After Somashekara, she became the queen of Keladi Nayaka dynasty who fought the Mughal Army of Aurangzeb...
and Onake Obavva
Onake Obavva
Onake Obavva was a woman who fought the forces of Hyder Ali single-handedly with a masse in the small kingdom of Chitradurga in the Chitradurga district of Karnataka ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ, India. Her husband was a guard of a watchtower in the rocky fort of Chitradurga...
she is much venerated in Karnataka as an icon of bravery and women's pride.
Life
Chennamma was born in Kakati, a small village in the wealthy kingdom of KitturKittur
Kitturu , also called Kittur is a village in Belgaum District of Karnataka state. It is part of the Bailahongal taluk in Belgaum district. It is a place of historical significance because of the resistance of Rani Chennamma of Kitturu to the British Raj.-History:On the outskirts of the town lies...
, which stood around 5 km north of Belgaum
Belgaum
Belgaum is a city and a municipal corporation in Belgaum district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the fourth largest city of the state of Karnataka, the first three being Bangalore, Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad....
in Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
. In her youth she received training in horse riding
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
, sword fighting and archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
. She became queen of her native kingdom and married Raja Mallasarja, of the Desai family, and had one son; after her son's death in 1824 she adopted Shivalingappa, and made him heir to the throne. The British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
did not accept this and ordered Shivalingappa's expulsion, using doctrine of lapse
Doctrine of lapse
The Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy purportedly devised by Lord Dalhousie, who was the Governor General for the British in India between 1848 and 1856...
(officially codified between 1848 and 1856 by Lord Dalhousie
James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie
James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie KT, PC was a Scottish statesman, and a colonial administrator in British India....
), but Chennamma defied the order: a battle ensued, during which Chennamma fought fiercely with the aid of her lieutenant, Sangolli Rayanna
Sangolli Rayanna
Sangolli Rayanna was a prominent freedom fighter from Karnataka, India. He fought the British till his death. He was the army chief of the Kingdom of Kittur ruled at the time by Rani Chennamma. Rayanna was born in the small village of Sangolli, he belonged to the Kuruba / Dhangar caste and hence...
, but was ultimately captured and imprisoned at Bailhongal
Bailhongal
Bailhongal is a town in Belgaum district of Karnataka state in southern India. It is also the name of the surrounding taluka....
Fort, where she died on 21 February 1829.
Chennamma, born 56 years before the 1857 rebel Rani Laxmi Bai
Rani Lakshmibai
Lakshmi Bai, the Rani of Jhansi was the queen of the Maratha-ruled princely state of Jhansi, situated in the northern part of India...
, was the first woman to fight against British governance and the kappa tax. Her legacy and first victory are still commemorated in Kittur, during the Kittur Utsava of every 22 - 24 October. The festival is similar to the Mysore Dasara.
Statue of Kittur Rani Chennamma at New Delhi Parliament House complex
On 11 September 2007 a statue of Rani Chennamma was unveiled at the Indian Parliament Complex by Pratibha PatilPratibha Patil
Pratibha Devisingh Patil is the 12th President of the Republic of India and first woman to hold the office. She was sworn in as President of India on 25 July 2007, succeeding Dr. A.P.J...
, the first woman President of India.