Rani Chennamma

Why in news?

The Kittur Rani Chennamma Utsav, a 3 days festival to honor the bravery of Rani Chennamma, began in Kittur, Karnataka recently.

• Birth – She was born to a Lingayat family on October 23, 1778 in Kagati, Belagavi district of Karnataka.
• She was trained from a young age in horse riding, sword fighting, and military strategy.
• She was married off to Raja Mallasarja of Kittur.
• Ascension to throne – Her husband was died in 1816, her young son, Shivalingarudra, ascended the throne.
• In 1924, Shivalingarudra died, leaving Kittur with a vacant throne.
• Then, she adopted Shivalingappa and declared him as the heir to the throne, and took on responsibilities as a queen-regent.
• Clash with British – The British rejected Shivalingappa as the legitimate heir and subsequently introduced Doctrine of Lapse.
• Under the doctrine, any princely state without a natural heir would collapse and would be annexed by the British.
• Kittur revolt, 1824 –
  • With Chennamma refusing to surrender to British, John Thackery, the British official at Dharwad, launched an attack on Kittur in October 1824.
  • In this first battle British forces lost heavily, whereas, this victory was short-lived.
  • On December 3, 1824, the British army, under Col Deacon, again attacked the Kittur Fort and captured it and she was taken hostage.
  • She would remain in prison till 1829 and died of ill health at Bailhongal Fort, Karnataka in 21^st February 1829.
• She was the 1^st Indian ruler to lead an armed rebellion against the British East India Company.
• Legacy – She has long been featured in folklore and lavanis (folk theatre), which project her as a guardian and a protector and continues to inspire generations of Indian women to stand up for justice and equality.

Reference

1. Indian Express | Kittur Rani Chennamma Utsav
2. PIB | Rani Chennamma