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{{short description|Indian freedom fighter}}
{{short description|Indian ruler of Kittur}}
{{About||the 1961 film|Kittur Chennamma (film)}}
{{About||the 1961 film|Kittur Chennamma (film)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name              = Kittur Chennamma
| name              = Kittur Rani  Chennamma
| image              = File:Kittur Chenamma.jpg
| image              = File:Kittur Chenamma.jpg
| image_size        = 270px
| image_size        = 270px
| caption            = Statue of Rani Chennamma in [[Belagavi]]
| caption            = Statue of Rani Chennamma in [[Bengaluru]]
| birth_name        = Chennamma
| birth_name        = Chennamma
| birth_date        = {{birth date|df=yes|1778|10|23}}
| birth_date        = {{birth date|df=yes|1778|10|23}}
| birth_place        = [[Belgaum District]], [[Kingdom of Mysore]], India
| birth_place        = Kakati, [[Belagavi District]], present day [[Karnataka]], India
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1829|02|21|1778|10|23}}
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1829|02|21|1778|10|23}}
| death_place        = [[Bailhongal]], [[Princely State of Mysore]], [[Company rule in India]]
| death_place        = [[Bailhongal]], [[Bombay Presidency]], [[Company rule in India]]
| nationality        = Indian
| nationality        = Indian
| native_name_lang  = Kannada (Karnataka)
| native_name_lang  = Kannada (Karnataka)
| other_names        = Rani Chennamma, Kittur Rani Chennamma
| other_names        = Rani Chennamma, Kittur Rani Chennamma
| known_for          = 1824 Revolt against the British [[East India Company]]
| known_for          = 1825
Revolt against the British [[East India Company]]
}}
}}
'''Kittur Chennamma''' (23 October 1778{{snd}}21 February 1829)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/printrelease.aspx?relid=148944|title=Rani Chennamma of Kitturu|website=pib.nic.in|access-date=2018-02-21}}</ref> was the Indian queen ([[rani]]) of [[Kittur]], a [[princely state]] in present-day [[Karnataka]]. She led an armed rebellion against the British East India Company ('''BEIC''') in 1824 in defiance of the [[doctrine of lapse]] in an attempt to maintain Indian control over the region, but was defeated and died imprisoned. One of the first female rulers to rebel against British rule, she has become a folk hero in Karnataka and symbol of the [[Indian independence movement|independence movement]] in India.
'''Kittur Chennamma''' (23 October 1778 – 21 February 1829) was the Indian Queen of [[Kittur]], a former [[princely state]] in present-day [[Karnataka]]. She led an [[armed resistance]] against the [[British East India Company]] in 1824, in defiance of the [[Paramountcy]], in an attempt to retain control over her [[dominion]]. She defeated the Company in the first revolt, but died as a [[prisoner of war]] after the second rebellion. As one of the first and few female rulers to lead rebel forces against [[British colonisation]], she continues to be remembered as a [[folk hero]] in Karnataka, she is also an important symbol of the [[Indian independence movement]]


==Early life==
==Early life==
Kittur Chennamma was born on 23 October 1778, in Kakati, a small village in the present [[Belagavi District]] of Karnataka, India. She belonged to the [[Lingayatism|Lingayat]] community and received training in horse riding, sword fighting and archery from a young age.{{cn|date=March 2021}}
Kittur Chennamma was born on 23 October 1778, in Kakati, a small village in the present [[Belagavi District]] of Karnataka, India. She belonged to the [[Lingayatism|Lingayat]] community and received training in horse riding, sword fighting and archery from a young age. She married Raja Mallasarja of the [[Desai]] family at the age of 15. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/printrelease.aspx?relid=148944|title=Rani Chennamma of Kitturu|website=pib.nic.in|access-date=2022-04-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://feminisminindia.com/2017/06/13/kittur-chennamma-essay/|title=Rani Kittur Chennamma: India's Valiant Freedom Fighter|website=pib.nic.in|date=12 June 2017 |access-date=2022-04-17}}</ref>


She married Raja Mallasarja of the [[Desai]] family at the age of 15.
==Rebellion against the British==
Chennamma's husband died in 1816, leaving her with a son and a state full of volatility. This was followed by her son's death in 1824.  Rani Chennamma was left with the state of Kittur and an uphill task to maintain its independence from the British. Following the death of her husband and son, Rani Chennamma adopted Shivalingappa in the year 1824 and made him  heir to the throne. This irked the East India Company, who ordered Shivalingappa's expulsion. The state of Kittur came under the administration of [[Dharwad]] collectorate in charge of [[St John Thackeray]] of which Mr Chaplin was the commissioner, both of whom did not recognise the new rule of the [[regent]], and notified Kittur to accept the British control.


==Rebellion against the British==
This is seen as a foreshadowing of the later [[Doctrine of lapse]] introduced by [[Lord Dalhousie]], Governor General of India, to annex independent Indian States from 1848, a doctrine based on the idea that in case the ruler of an independent state died childless, the right of ruling the State reverted or "lapsed" to the [[suzerain]].
Chennamma’s husband died in 1824 (or was it 1816?), leaving her with a son and a state full of volatility. This was followed by her son’s death in 1824.  Rani Chennamma was left with the state of Kittur and an uphill task to save it from the British. Following the death of her husband and son, Rani Chennamma adopted Shivalingappa in the year 1824 and made him the heir to the throne. This irked the East India Company, who ordered Shivalingappa’s expulsion, on the pretext of the Doctrine of Lapse introduced by [[Lord Dalhousie]], the then Governor General, to annex independent Indian States in 1848. This doctrine was based on the idea that in case the ruler of an independent state died childless, the right of ruling the State reverted or ‘lapsed’ to the sovereign. The state of Kittur came under the administration of [[Dharwad]] collectorate in charge of [[St John Thackeray]] of which Mr. Chaplin was the commissioner, both of whom did not recognize the new ruler and regent and notified Kittur to accept the British regime.  
 
Rani Chennamma sent a letter to [[Mountstuart Elphinstone]], Lieutenant-Governor of the [[Bombay province]] pleading her case, but the request was turned down, and war broke out.<ref name=south>{{cite book|last=Gopalakrishnan|first=Subramanian (Ed.)|title=The South Indian rebellions : before and after 1800|year=2007|publisher=Palaniappa Brothers|location=Chennai|isbn=9788183795005|pages=102–103|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i81mLhBEBgQC&q=Kittur+Rani+Chennamma&pg=PA103|edition=1st|author2=Gopalakrishnan, edited by S. }}</ref> The British placed a group of sentries around the [[treasury]] and [[crown jewels]] of Kittur, valued at around 1.5 million rupees upon the outbreak of war in order to protect them.<ref name=jewels>{{cite book|title=Disturbances at Kittur and the death of Mr. Thackeray|year=1825|publisher=Parbury, Allen, and Company|location=London|pages=474–5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6CYYAAAAYAAJ&q=St+John+Thackeray+collector&pg=PA474}}</ref> They also mustered a force of 20,797 men and 437 guns, mainly from the third troop of Madras Native Horse Artillery in order to fight the war.<ref name=attack>{{cite book|last=Asiatic Journal Vol.3|title=The Occurrences at Kittur in 1824|year=1830|publisher=Parbury, Allen, and Co|location=London|pages=218–222|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7hELAQAAMAAJ&q=St+John+Thackeray+collector&pg=PA218}}</ref> In the first round of war, during October 1824, British forces lost heavily and St John Thackeray, collector and political agent,<ref name=malley/> was killed in the war.<ref name=south/> Amatur Balappa, a lieutenant of Chennamma, was mainly responsible for his killing and losses to British forces.<ref name=fort>{{cite news|title=Restore Kittur monuments|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article2502260.ece?textsize=small&test=2|access-date=13 November 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=1 October 2011}}</ref> Two British officers, [[Walter Elliot (naturalist)|Sir Walter Elliot]] and Mr Stevenson<ref name=malley>{{cite book|last=O'Malley|first=Lewis Sydney Steward|title=Indian civil service, 1601–1930.|year=1985|publisher=Frank Cass|location=London|isbn=9780714620237|pages=76|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qI1gUGPKZGsC&q=St+John+Thackeray+Collector&pg=PA76}}</ref>  were also taken as hostages.<ref name=south/> Rani Chennamma released them with an understanding with Chaplin that the war would be terminated but Chaplin continued the war with more forces.<ref name=south/> During the second assault, subcollector of [[Solapur]], Munro, nephew of [[Thomas Munro]] was killed.<ref name=malley/> Rani Chennamma fought fiercely with the aid of her deputy, [[Sangolli Rayanna]], but was ultimately captured and imprisoned at [[Bailhongal]] Fort, where she died on 21 February 1829.<ref name=south/> Chennamma was also helped by Gurusiddappa in the war against British.<ref name=research>{{cite news|title=Kambar calls for research on Chennamma|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/kambar-calls-for-research-on-chennamma/article4029534.ece?css=print|access-date=6 November 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=25 October 2012}}</ref>


Rani Chennamma sent a letter to [[Mountstuart Elphinstone]], Lieutenant-Governor of the [[Bombay Presidency]] pleading her cause, but the request was turned down, and war broke out.<ref name=south>{{cite book|last=Gopalakrishnan|first=Subramanian (Ed.)|title=The South Indian rebellions : before and after 1800|year=2007|publisher=Palaniappa Brothers|location=Chennai|isbn=9788183795005|pages=102–103|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i81mLhBEBgQC&q=Kittur+Rani+Chennamma&pg=PA103|edition=1st|author2=Gopalakrishnan, edited by S. }}</ref> The British tried to confiscate the treasure and jewels of Kittur, valued at around 1.5 million rupees.<ref name=jewels>{{cite book|title=Disturbances at Kittur and the death of Mr. Thackeray|year=1825|publisher=Parbury, Allen, and Company|location=London|pages=474–5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6CYYAAAAYAAJ&q=St+John+Thackeray+collector&pg=PA474}}</ref> They attacked with a force of 20,797 men and 437 guns, mainly from the third troop of Madras Native Horse Artillery.<ref name=attack>{{cite book|last=Asiatic Journal Vol.3|title=The Occurrences at Kittur in 1824|year=1830|publisher=Parbury, Allen, and Co|location=London|pages=218–222|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7hELAQAAMAAJ&q=St+John+Thackeray+collector&pg=PA218}}</ref> In the first round of war, during October 1824, British forces lost heavily and St John Thackeray, collector and political agent,<ref name=malley/> was killed in the war.<ref name=south/> Amatur Balappa, a lieutenant of Chennamma, was mainly responsible for his killing and losses to British forces.<ref name=fort>{{cite news|title=Restore Kittur monuments|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article2502260.ece?textsize=small&test=2|access-date=13 November 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=1 October 2011}}</ref> Two British officers, [[Walter Elliot (naturalist)|Sir Walter Elliot]] and Mr. Stevenson<ref name=malley>{{cite book|last=O'Malley|first=Lewis Sydney Steward|title=Indian civil service, 1601–1930.|year=1985|publisher=Frank Cass|location=London|isbn=9780714620237|pages=76|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qI1gUGPKZGsC&q=St+John+Thackeray+Collector&pg=PA76}}</ref>  were also taken as hostages.<ref name=south/> Rani Chennamma released them with an understanding with Chaplin that the war would be terminated but Chaplin continued the war with more forces.<ref name=south/> During the second assault, subcollector of [[Solapur]], Munro, nephew of [[Thomas Munro]] was killed.<ref name=malley/> Rani Chennamma fought fiercely with the aid of her deputy, [[Sangolli Rayanna]], but was ultimately captured and imprisoned at [[Bailhongal]] Fort, where she died on 2 February 1829.<ref name=south/> Chennamma was also helped by her henchman Gurusiddappa in the war against British.<ref name=research>{{cite news|title=Kambar calls for research on Chennamma|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/kambar-calls-for-research-on-chennamma/article4029534.ece?css=print|access-date=6 November 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=25 October 2012}}</ref>
[[Sangolli Rayanna]] continued the guerrilla war to 1829, in vain, until his capture. Rani chennamma died due to health deterioration (But folklore says she died after knowing the news of Rayanna's capture by swallowing ring's diamond as she gave up the hope) <ref name=south/> Rayanna wanted to install the adopted boy Shivalingappa as the ruler of Kittur, but Sangolli Rayanna was caught and hanged. Shivalingappa was arrested by the British.<ref name=south/> Chennamma's legacy and first victory are still commemorated in Kittur, during the Kittur Utsava held on {{nowrap|22–24{{nbsp}}October}} every year.


[[Sangolli Rayanna]] continued the guerrilla war to 1829, in vain, until his capture.<ref name=south/> He wanted to install the adopted boy Shivalingappa as the ruler of Kittur, but Sangolli Rayanna was caught and hanged. Shivalingappa was arrested by the British.<ref name=south/> Chennamma's legacy and first victory are still commemorated in Kittur, during the Kittur Utsava held on {{nowrap|22–24{{nbsp}}October}} annually.
==Books==
* '''Khare Khare Kitturu Bandaya''' by [[M. M. Kalburgi]]. <ref>{{cite web |title=ಖರೇ ಖರೇ ಕಿತ್ತೂರು ಬಂಡಾಯ |url=https://www.bookbrahma.com/book/khare-khare-kittur-bandaya |website=www.bookbrahma.com |access-date=22 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
* '''Kitturu Samsthana Sahitya''' - Part III by [[M. M. Kalburgi]] and Part I, Part  II by others. <ref>{{cite web |title=ಕಿತ್ತೂರು ಸಂಸ್ಠಾನ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ -ಭಾಗ ೩ |url=https://www.bookbrahma.com/book/kittur-samsthan-sahitya-vol-3 |website=www.bookbrahma.com |access-date=22 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
* '''Kitturu Samsthana Dakhalegalu''' by A.B.Vaggar. <ref>{{cite web |title=ಕಿತ್ತೂರು ಸಂಸ್ಥಾನ ದಾಖಲೆಗಳು |url=https://www.bookbrahma.com/book/kitturu-samsthaana-dakhalegalu |website=www.bookbrahma.com |access-date=22 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
* '''Kitturu Rani Chennamma''' by Sangamesh Tammanagoudar<ref>{{cite web |title=ಕಿತ್ತೂರು ರಾಣಿ ಚೆನ್ನಮ್ಮ |url=https://www.bookbrahma.com/book/kitturu-raani-chennamma |website=www.bookbrahma.com |access-date=22 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref>


==Memorials==
==Memorials==
===Burial place===
===Burial place===
Rani Chennamma's [[samadhi]] or burial place is in Bailhongal taluk, and is currently in a poor state due to poor maintenance of the surrounding park area by Government agencies.<ref name=samadhi>{{cite news|title=Kittur Rani Chennamma's samadhi lies in neglect|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-30/hubli/34816715_1_samadhi-rani-chennamma-chennamma-s|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720050621/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-30/hubli/34816715_1_samadhi-rani-chennamma-chennamma-s|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 July 2013|access-date=6 November 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=30 October 2012}}</ref>
Rani Chennamma's [[samadhi]] or burial place is in Bailhongal.<ref name=samadhi>{{cite news|title=Kittur Rani Chennamma's samadhi lies in neglect|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-30/hubli/34816715_1_samadhi-rani-chennamma-chennamma-s|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720050621/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-30/hubli/34816715_1_samadhi-rani-chennamma-chennamma-s|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 July 2013|access-date=6 November 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=30 October 2012}}</ref>


===Statues===
===Statues===
;Parliament House, New Delhi
;Parliament House, New Delhi
[[File:Kittur Chenamma.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Statue of Kittur Chenamma near [[Belgaum]] town hall.]]
[[File:Kittur Chenamma.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Statue of Kittur Chenamma near [[Belagavi]] town hall.]]
On 11{{nbsp}}September 2007 a statue of Rani Chennamma was unveiled at the [[Indian Parliament|Indian Parliament Complex]] by [[Pratibha Patil]], the first woman President of India.<ref>[http://news.oneindia.in/2007/09/11/pratibha-unveils-kittur-rani-chennamma-statue.html ''"Pratibha unveils Kittur Rani Chennamma statue"''], news.oneindia.in</ref> On the occasion, Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]], Home Minister [[Shivraj Patil]], [[Lok Sabha]] speaker [[Somnath Chatterjee]], [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] leader [[L. K. Advani]], [[Chief Minister of Karnataka|Karnataka Chief Minister]] [[H. D. Kumaraswamy]] and others were present, marking the importance of the function.<ref name=unveiled>{{cite news|title=Kittur Rani statue unveiled|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/12/stories/2007091258190400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107025859/http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/12/stories/2007091258190400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 January 2008|access-date=5 November 2012|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=12 September 2007}}</ref> The statue was donated by Kittur Rani Chennamma Memorial Committee and sculpted by [[Vijay Gaur]].<ref name=unveiled/>
On 11{{nbsp}}September 2007 a statue of Rani Chennamma was unveiled at the [[Indian Parliament|Indian Parliament Complex]] by [[Pratibha Patil]], the first woman President of India.<ref>[http://news.oneindia.in/2007/09/11/pratibha-unveils-kittur-rani-chennamma-statue.html ''"Pratibha unveils Kittur Rani Chennamma statue"''], news.oneindia.in</ref> On the occasion, Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]], Home Minister [[Shivraj Patil]], [[Lok Sabha]] speaker [[Somnath Chatterjee]], [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] leader [[L. K. Advani]], [[Chief Minister of Karnataka|Karnataka Chief Minister]] [[H. D. Kumaraswamy]] and others were present, marking the importance of the function.<ref name=unveiled>{{cite news|title=Kittur Rani statue unveiled|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/12/stories/2007091258190400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107025859/http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/12/stories/2007091258190400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 January 2008|access-date=5 November 2012|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=12 September 2007}}</ref> The statue was donated by Kittur Rani Chennamma Memorial Committee and sculpted by [[Vijay Gaur]].<ref name=unveiled/>
;Others
;Others
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==In popular culture==
==In popular culture==
* The heroics of Kittur Rani Chennamma are sung by folk in the form of ballads, lavani and GiGi pada.<ref name=akademi>{{cite book|last=Datta|first=Amaresh (Ed.)|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: devraj to jyoti, Volume 2|year=1988|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|location=New Dehi|isbn=9788126011940|pages=1293|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&q=sangolli+rayanna&pg=PA1293}}</ref>
[[File:Stamp of India - 1977 - Colnect 353110 - Kittur Rani Channamma.jpeg|thumb|150px|right|Kittur Rani Chennamma on a 1977 stamp of India]]
* ''[[Kittur Chennamma (film)|Kittur Chennamma]]'' is a 1962 film in [[Kannada language|Kannada]], directed by [[B. Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu]] with [[B. Saroja Devi]] in the title role.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250471/ ''"Kittur Chennamma (1962)"''], imdb.com</ref>
* The heroics of Kittur Rani Chennamma are sung by folk in the form of ballads, lavani and GiGi pada.<ref name=akademi>{{cite book|editor-last=Datta|editor-first=Amaresh |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: devraj to jyoti, Volume 2|year=1988|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|location=New Dehi|isbn=9788126011940|pages=1293|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&q=sangolli+rayanna&pg=PA1293}}</ref>
* ''[[Kittur Chennamma (film)|Kittur Chennamma]]'' is a 1961 film in [[Kannada language|Kannada]], directed by [[B. R. Panthulu]] with [[B. Saroja Devi]] in the title role.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250471/ ''"Kittur Chennamma (1962)"''], imdb.com</ref>
* A commemorative postage stamp was released on 23 October 1977 by Government of India.
* A commemorative postage stamp was released on 23 October 1977 by Government of India.
*Coast guard ship "Kittur Chennamma" was commissioned in 1983 and decommissioned in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|last=Varma|first=Dinesh M|title=Coast Guard to acquire 20 ships, 10 aircraft|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/coast-guard-to-acquire-20-ships-10-aircraft/article2139902.ece?css=print|access-date=13 November 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=28 June 2011}}</ref>
*Coast guard ship "Kittur Chennamma" was commissioned in 1983 and decommissioned in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|last=Varma|first=Dinesh M|title=Coast Guard to acquire 20 ships, 10 aircraft|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/coast-guard-to-acquire-20-ships-10-aircraft/article2139902.ece?css=print|access-date=13 November 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=28 June 2011}}</ref>
* The [[Indian Railways]] train [[Rani Chennamma Express]] connecting [[Bangalore]] and [[Miraj]] is named after her.
* The [[Indian Railways]] train [[Rani Chennamma Express]] connecting [[Bangalore]] and [[Miraj]] is named after her.
* [[Raiganj University]] [[Associate Professor]] Pinaki Roy's essay "Alternative History: A Postcolonial Rereading of Naikar’s ''The Queen of Kittur''", published in the ''Indian Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic Research'' (ISSN 2347-9884), 1(2), August 2014: 105-15, offers several instances of critical references to literary representations of the Queen of Kittur.
* [[Raiganj University]] [[Professor]] Pinaki Roy's essay "Alternative History: A Postcolonial Rereading of Naikar’s ''The Queen of Kittur''", published in the ''Indian Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic Research'' (ISSN 2347-9884), 1(2), August 2014: 105–15, offers several instances of critical references to literary representations of the Queen of Kittur.
* [[Rani Channamma University, Belagavi|Rani Channamma University]] in Belagavi is named in her honour.
* [[Rani Channamma University, Belagavi|Rani Channamma University]] in Belagavi is named in her honour.
* Kittur Chennamma is the name of a Martian vessel in the [[List of The Expanse episodes#ep27| "Reload"]] episode of the science fiction series [[The Expanse (TV series)|The Expanse]].
* Kittur Chennamma is the name of a Martian vessel in the [[List of The Expanse episodes#ep27|"Reload"]] episode of the science fiction series [[The Expanse (TV series)|''The Expanse'']].
* Remembered in RRR movie Etthara Jenda song alongside [[Tanguturi Prakasam]] , [[V. O. Chidambaram Pillai]], [[Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja]] , [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel]], [[Bhagat Singh]], [[Shivaji Maharaj]], and [[Subash Chandra Bose]]


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Lingayatism]]
[[Category:Lingayatism]]
[[Category:History of Karnataka]]
[[Category:History of Karnataka]]
[[Category:People from Belgaum district]]
[[Category:People from Belagavi district]]
[[Category:Resistance to the British Empire]]
[[Category:Resistance to the British Empire]]
[[Category:Indian rebels]]
[[Category:Indian rebels]]

Latest revision as of 17:50, 24 December 2022


For the 1961 film, see Kittur Chennamma (film).

Kittur Rani Chennamma
Kittur Chenamma.jpg
Statue of Rani Chennamma in Bengaluru
Born
Chennamma

(1778-10-23)23 October 1778
Kakati, Belagavi District, present day Karnataka, India
Died21 February 1829(1829-02-21) (aged 50)
Bailhongal, Bombay Presidency, Company rule in India
NationalityIndian
Other namesRani Chennamma, Kittur Rani Chennamma
Known for1825 Revolt against the British East India Company

Kittur Chennamma (23 October 1778 – 21 February 1829) was the Indian Queen of Kittur, a former princely state in present-day Karnataka. She led an armed resistance against the British East India Company in 1824, in defiance of the Paramountcy, in an attempt to retain control over her dominion. She defeated the Company in the first revolt, but died as a prisoner of war after the second rebellion. As one of the first and few female rulers to lead rebel forces against British colonisation, she continues to be remembered as a folk hero in Karnataka, she is also an important symbol of the Indian independence movement

Early life[edit]

Kittur Chennamma was born on 23 October 1778, in Kakati, a small village in the present Belagavi District of Karnataka, India. She belonged to the Lingayat community and received training in horse riding, sword fighting and archery from a young age. She married Raja Mallasarja of the Desai family at the age of 15. [1][2]

Rebellion against the British[edit]

Chennamma's husband died in 1816, leaving her with a son and a state full of volatility. This was followed by her son's death in 1824. Rani Chennamma was left with the state of Kittur and an uphill task to maintain its independence from the British. Following the death of her husband and son, Rani Chennamma adopted Shivalingappa in the year 1824 and made him heir to the throne. This irked the East India Company, who ordered Shivalingappa's expulsion. The state of Kittur came under the administration of Dharwad collectorate in charge of St John Thackeray of which Mr Chaplin was the commissioner, both of whom did not recognise the new rule of the regent, and notified Kittur to accept the British control.

This is seen as a foreshadowing of the later Doctrine of lapse introduced by Lord Dalhousie, Governor General of India, to annex independent Indian States from 1848, a doctrine based on the idea that in case the ruler of an independent state died childless, the right of ruling the State reverted or "lapsed" to the suzerain.

Rani Chennamma sent a letter to Mountstuart Elphinstone, Lieutenant-Governor of the Bombay province pleading her case, but the request was turned down, and war broke out.[3] The British placed a group of sentries around the treasury and crown jewels of Kittur, valued at around 1.5 million rupees upon the outbreak of war in order to protect them.[4] They also mustered a force of 20,797 men and 437 guns, mainly from the third troop of Madras Native Horse Artillery in order to fight the war.[5] In the first round of war, during October 1824, British forces lost heavily and St John Thackeray, collector and political agent,[6] was killed in the war.[3] Amatur Balappa, a lieutenant of Chennamma, was mainly responsible for his killing and losses to British forces.[7] Two British officers, Sir Walter Elliot and Mr Stevenson[6] were also taken as hostages.[3] Rani Chennamma released them with an understanding with Chaplin that the war would be terminated but Chaplin continued the war with more forces.[3] During the second assault, subcollector of Solapur, Munro, nephew of Thomas Munro was killed.[6] Rani Chennamma fought fiercely with the aid of her deputy, Sangolli Rayanna, but was ultimately captured and imprisoned at Bailhongal Fort, where she died on 21 February 1829.[3] Chennamma was also helped by Gurusiddappa in the war against British.[8]

Sangolli Rayanna continued the guerrilla war to 1829, in vain, until his capture. Rani chennamma died due to health deterioration (But folklore says she died after knowing the news of Rayanna's capture by swallowing ring's diamond as she gave up the hope) [3] Rayanna wanted to install the adopted boy Shivalingappa as the ruler of Kittur, but Sangolli Rayanna was caught and hanged. Shivalingappa was arrested by the British.[3] Chennamma's legacy and first victory are still commemorated in Kittur, during the Kittur Utsava held on 22–24 October every year.

Books[edit]

  • Khare Khare Kitturu Bandaya by M. M. Kalburgi. [9]
  • Kitturu Samsthana Sahitya - Part III by M. M. Kalburgi and Part I, Part II by others. [10]
  • Kitturu Samsthana Dakhalegalu by A.B.Vaggar. [11]
  • Kitturu Rani Chennamma by Sangamesh Tammanagoudar[12]

Memorials[edit]

Burial place[edit]

Rani Chennamma's samadhi or burial place is in Bailhongal.[13]

Statues[edit]

Parliament House, New Delhi
Statue of Kittur Chenamma near Belagavi town hall.

On 11 September 2007 a statue of Rani Chennamma was unveiled at the Indian Parliament Complex by Pratibha Patil, the first woman President of India.[14] On the occasion, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee, BJP leader L. K. Advani, Karnataka Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy and others were present, marking the importance of the function.[15] The statue was donated by Kittur Rani Chennamma Memorial Committee and sculpted by Vijay Gaur.[15]

Others

There are also statues commemorating her at Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kittur and Hubballi.[13]

In popular culture[edit]

Kittur Rani Chennamma on a 1977 stamp of India

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Rani Chennamma of Kitturu". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  2. ↑ "Rani Kittur Chennamma: India's Valiant Freedom Fighter". pib.nic.in. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Gopalakrishnan, Subramanian (Ed.); Gopalakrishnan, edited by S. (2007). The South Indian rebellions : before and after 1800 (1st ed.). Chennai: Palaniappa Brothers. pp. 102–103. ISBN 9788183795005. {{cite book}}: |author2= has generic name (help)
  4. ↑ Disturbances at Kittur and the death of Mr. Thackeray. London: Parbury, Allen, and Company. 1825. pp. 474–5.
  5. ↑ Asiatic Journal Vol.3 (1830). The Occurrences at Kittur in 1824. London: Parbury, Allen, and Co. pp. 218–222.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 O'Malley, Lewis Sydney Steward (1985). Indian civil service, 1601–1930. London: Frank Cass. p. 76. ISBN 9780714620237.
  7. ↑ "Restore Kittur monuments". The Hindu. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  8. ↑ "Kambar calls for research on Chennamma". The Hindu. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  9. ↑ "ಖರೇ ಖರೇ ಕಿತ್ತೂರು ಬಂಡಾಯ". www.bookbrahma.com. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  10. ↑ "ಕಿತ್ತೂರು ಸಂಸ್ಠಾನ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ -ಭಾಗ ೩". www.bookbrahma.com. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  11. ↑ "ಕಿತ್ತೂರು ಸಂಸ್ಥಾನ ದಾಖಲೆಗಳು". www.bookbrahma.com. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  12. ↑ "ಕಿತ್ತೂರು ರಾಣಿ ಚೆನ್ನಮ್ಮ". www.bookbrahma.com. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Kittur Rani Chennamma's samadhi lies in neglect". The Times of India. 30 October 2012. Archived from the original on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  14. ↑ "Pratibha unveils Kittur Rani Chennamma statue", news.oneindia.in
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Kittur Rani statue unveiled". The Hindu. 12 September 2007. Archived from the original on 7 January 2008. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  16. ↑ Datta, Amaresh, ed. (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: devraj to jyoti, Volume 2. New Dehi: Sahitya Akademi. p. 1293. ISBN 9788126011940.
  17. ↑ "Kittur Chennamma (1962)", imdb.com
  18. ↑ Varma, Dinesh M (28 June 2011). "Coast Guard to acquire 20 ships, 10 aircraft". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 November 2012.

External links[edit]

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