Kittur Rani Chennamma: A Warrior Queen

Kittur Rani Channamma

• Rani Chennamma was the first woman independence activist in Bharat
• She fiercely opposed the British Empire
• She did not succeed in driving the British away, but inspired other women to fight
• She was Queen of the princely state of Kittur in Karnataka
• Today, she is known as Kittur Rani Chennamma

Early Life

• Born in Kakati, a small village north of Belgaum in Karnataka (1778)
• Trained in horse riding, sword fighting, and archery from a young age
• Married Mallasarja Desai (ruler of Kittur) at age 15
• Her marriage was tragic; her husband died in 1816, and her son died in 1824.
• This left her to fight alone against the British

War Against the British

• Rani Chennamma and local people strongly opposed British high-handedness
• Thackeray invaded Kittur and led a battle resulting in the deaths of hundreds of British soldiers along with Thackeray
• The British retaliated with larger armies from Mysore and Sholapur
• Chennamma fought valiantly but was eventually defeated in 1824.
• She was imprisoned and died in 1829.

Doctrine of Lapse

• The British imposed the doctrine of lapse, preventing native rulers from adopting a heir if they had no children
• Kittur came under the administration of Dharwad collaterality
• This occurred automatically when the ruler died without a child to inherit the territory

Herdekar Manjappa

• Born in 1886, in Banavasi, Karnataka
• Early life was influenced by the ideas of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
• Became a staunch follower of Mahatma Gandhi
• Was considered the first Kannadiga to write newspapers and multiple books
• A prominent leader in the nationalist movement
• Worked to spread Gandhi's ideas to the masses
• Taught for a while and then established a weekly newspaper named Dhanurdhari.

Social Reform

• Manjappa was concerned about social reform, particularly the upliftment of the oppressed classes
• Believed education and improved status for women were essential for social reform
• Fought against the caste system

Madikeri Peasants' Revolt

• Kodagu district peasants revolted against exploitative British rule in 1837, led by Prince Banga Arasa Lakshminarayana.
• They fought against British rule due to the unfavorable policies, such as changing policies from receiving payment in kind and moving toward cash only.

Explore the life and legacy of Kittur Rani Chennamma, the first woman independence activist in Bharat. Learn about her early life, her fierce opposition to the British Empire, and how she inspired future generations of women to join the fight for independence.