Sangolli Rayanna
Encyclopedia
Sangolli Rayanna (15 August 1798 – 26 January 1831) 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 a warrior. A film was made on his life and achievements.
as Rani Chennamma’s son was adopted, the queen refused to secede her kingdom after her husband’s death. Aided by Rayanna, she fought British bravely but was defeated and imprisoned.
. He continued this warfare till 1829.
The landlords along with the British forced his father-in-law Laxman to cheat Rayanna. When Rayanna was having a bath in a stream near Dori Benachi, the British soldiers attacked, at that moment Rayanna's sword was in Laxman's hand. When Rayanna asked for his sword, Laxman gave it to British soldiers. Rayanna was overpowered and captured. Thus, he was captured by treachery. Rayanna was executed by hanging to death from a Banyan tree about 4 kilometers from Nandagad in Belgaum district. At the time of hanging he said "My last wish is to be born again in the country to fight against the British and drive them away from our sacred soil".
sapling on his grave. The tree is fully grown and stands to this day. A Asoka Stamba was installed near the tree some years back.
) are heroic verses composed on Kittur Chennamma, Sangolli Rayanna and other valiant characters from the noble stock of pre-independence Karnataka.
playing lead roles.
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...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He fought the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
till his death. He was the army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
chief of the Kingdom
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
of Kittur
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...
ruled at the time by Rani Chennamma. Rayanna was born in the small village of Sangolli, he belonged to the Kuruba
Kuruba
Kuruba / Kuruba Gowda or Kuruma is a caste of Hindus who mainly were shepherds in the past. The community is present in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. They are known as Dhangars in Maharashtra, Kurumba / Kurumans / Kurumbar in Tamil Nadu, Kuruba Gowda or Halumatha Gowda in...
/ Dhangar
Dhangar
The Dhangar caste is primarily located in the Indian state of Maharashtra...
caste and hence a warrior. A film was made on his life and achievements.
Kittur War
When the British wanted to secede the kingdom to their empire by putting forward the doctrine of lapseDoctrine 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...
as Rani Chennamma’s son was adopted, the queen refused to secede her kingdom after her husband’s death. Aided by Rayanna, she fought British bravely but was defeated and imprisoned.
Rayanna's Guerrilla War
Sangolli Rayanna continued to fight the British. His land was confiscated, and of what remained of it was heavily taxed. He taxed the landlords and built up an army from the masses. He used guerrilla tactics to attack government property; burnt land records and extracted huge sums of money from notorious landlords and bureaucrats. Rayanna is considered by many historians as the pioneer of guerrilla warfare in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He continued this warfare till 1829.
The landlords along with the British forced his father-in-law Laxman to cheat Rayanna. When Rayanna was having a bath in a stream near Dori Benachi, the British soldiers attacked, at that moment Rayanna's sword was in Laxman's hand. When Rayanna asked for his sword, Laxman gave it to British soldiers. Rayanna was overpowered and captured. Thus, he was captured by treachery. Rayanna was executed by hanging to death from a Banyan tree about 4 kilometers from Nandagad in Belgaum district. At the time of hanging he said "My last wish is to be born again in the country to fight against the British and drive them away from our sacred soil".
Memorial to Rayanna
Rayanna's mortal remains were buried near Nandaghad. Legend says that a close associate of Rayanna planted a BanyanBanyan
A banyan is a fig that starts its life as an epiphyte when its seeds germinate in the cracks and crevices on a host tree...
sapling on his grave. The tree is fully grown and stands to this day. A Asoka Stamba was installed near the tree some years back.
Ballads
The famous Gee Gee songs (BalladBallad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
) are heroic verses composed on Kittur Chennamma, Sangolli Rayanna and other valiant characters from the noble stock of pre-independence Karnataka.
Others
His life history is making in film as Kraanthi Veera Sangolli Rayanna (Kannada: ಕ್ರಾ೦ತಿವೀರ ಸಂಗೊಳ್ಳಿ ರಾಯಣ್ಣ, English: Legendary Warrior Sangolli Rayanna)is a upcoming 2011 historical drama - Kannada film directed by Naganna and produced by Anand Appugol. Challenging Star Darshan Thoogudeep, Jayaprada and Nikita ThukralNikita Thukral
Nikita Thukral is an Indian film actress and model, who has acted in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam films. She is best known for her item number "Kodana Kodi" in Saroja.-Early life:...
playing lead roles.