Kittur Rani

The Queen of Kittur, 

You are brave and patriotic. 

You waged war against the British, 

You didnot accept their sovereignty. 

You didnot accept the Doctrine of lapse,

And were determined to save your country 

From the clutches of the Britishers. 

You fought with the mighty British empire, 

For the people of your country .

Your legacy and first victory are still commemorated in Kittur, 

During the Kittur Utsava 

Held on 22-24 October each year. 

You have become immortal for your,

selfless love, devotion and sacrifice,

for your motherland! 

Kittur Chennamma or Kittur Rani 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 her childhood days.

She married Raja Mallasarja of the Desai family at the age of 15. He died in 1824, leaving her with a son and his kingdom to administer. The kingdom was going through unrest.

Her son also died in the year 1824. Following the death of her husband and son, Rani Chennamma adopted Shivalingappa in the year 1824 and made him the heir apparent. 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 whose in charge was St John Thackeray and Mr. Chaplin was the commissioner.Both of them 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 Presidency pleading her cause, but the request was turned down, and war broke out.The British tried to confiscate the treasure and jewels of Kittur, valued at around 1.5 million rupees. They attacked with an army comprising of 20,797 men and 437 guns, mainly from the third troop of Madras Native Horse Artillery.

 In the first round of war, in October 1824, British forces suffered heavy losses and St John Thackeray, collector and political agent, was killed in the war.

 Amatur Balappa, a lieutenant of Chennamma, played a major role in this victory. 

Two British officers, Sir Walter Elliot and Mr. Stevenson were also taken as hostages.Rani Chennamma released them with an understanding with Chaplin that the war would be terminated.But Chaplin continued the war with more forces. During the second assault, subcollector of Solapur, Mr. Munro, nephew of Thomas Munro was killed. Rani Chennamma fought fiercely with the aid of her lieutenants named Sangolli Rayanna and Gurusiddappa.

But was finally captured and imprisoned at Bailhongal Fort, where she died on 2 February 1829. 

Sangolli Rayanna continued the guerrilla war till 1829 but was ultimately caught and hanged. He wanted to install the adopted prince Shivalingappa as the ruler of Kittur. Shivalingappa was also arrested by the British.Chennamma's legacy and first victory are still commemorated in Kittur, during the Kittur Utsava held on 22–24 October every year.

Rani Chennamma's samadhi is in Bailhongal taluk.

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. The statue was donated by Kittur Rani Chennamma Memorial Committee and sculpted by Vijay Gaur.

There are also statues of Rani Chennamma at Bangalore, Belgaum, Kittur and Hubli.The heroics of Kittur Rani Chennamma are sung by folk in the form of ballads, lavani and GiGi pada.Kittur Chennamma is a 1962 film in Kannada, directed by B. Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu with B. Saroja Devi in the title role.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.The Indian Railways train Rani Chennamma Express connecting Bangalore and Kolhapur is named after her. Rani Channamma University in Belagavi is named in her honour.Kittur Chennamma is the name of a Martian vessel in the "Reload" episode of the science fiction series The Expanse.

Kittur Rani will always be remembered as a brave,courageous and patriotic woman who fought and gave her life for her motherland.Those who die for the motherland become immortal and Kittur Rani is one among them.

Salute to the great Queen of India!