The Role of South India in the Freedom Movement

Kittur Rani Chinnamma

She was the first woman independence activist of India. She stood all alone with a vibrant fiery eye against the British Empire. She did not succeed in driving them away, but she did inspire many women to rise against the British rule. She was Chennamma Queen of the princely state of Kittur in Karnataka. Today she is well known as Kittur Rani Chennamma.

Chennamma (1778-1829 CE) was born at Kakati (Belgaum district) and had the proper education that the girls of the ruling class received in those times. She married Mallasarja Desai, ruler of Kittur at the age of 15. After his death, his son Shivalingarudra Sarja, who had no children, adopted a boy, Shivalingappa who was his relative. Shivalingrudra died prematurely and Chennamma ruled as the regent.

The Doctrine of Lapse was imposed on native states by the British. Under this declaration, native rulers were not allowed to adopt a child if they had no children of their own. Their territory formed part of the British Empire automatically.

The state of Kittur came under the administration of Dharwad collectorate in the charge of Mr. Thackeray. Mr. Chaplin was the commissioner of the region. Both did not recognise the new ruler and the regent, and informed that Kittur had to accept the British regime.

Both the local people and Rani Chennamma strongly opposed British high-handedness. Thackeray invaded Kittur. In the battle that ensued, hundreds of British soldiers were killed along with Thackeray.

The humiliation of defeat at the hands of a small ruler was far too much for the British to swallow. They brought in bigger armies from Mysore and Sholapur and surrounded Kittur.

Chennamma tried her best to avoid war; she negotiated with Chaplin and Governor of Bombay Presidency, under whose regime Kittur had fallen. It had no effect. Chennamma was compelled to declare war. For 12 days the valiant queen and her soldiers defended their fort; but as is common, traitors sneaked in, mixing mud and dung in the gunpowder in the canons. The Rani was defeated (1824 CE). She was taken prisoner and kept in the fort of Bailhongal for life. She spent her days reading holy texts and performing puja till her death in 1829 CE.

Chennamma became a legend. During the Freedom Movement, her brave resistance to the British formed the theme of plays, songs and song stories. Folk songs or lavanis were legion and the freedom struggle got a good boost through singing bards who moved throughout the region.

It is heartening news that a statue of Kittur Chennamma was installed in the Parliamentary Building premises at New Delhi on 11th September 2007. It is the most fitting tribute to a brave queen, who was the earliest ruler in India to fight the British rule.

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The small town of Kittur is known worldwide for the Kittur Chennamma Fort, a historical monument and a major tourist attraction in Karnataka. The fort is situated at a distance of 50 km from Belgaum and 32 km from Dharwad. Kittur is also an interesting tourist spot because of its old palaces, monuments and statues and also as an important archaeological site. The Kittur Chennamma Fort stands as evidence of the great freedom struggle that was led by Rani Chennamma and as a symbol of bravery and women's pride. 1

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