Rebellion of kittur – Brave Queen Chennamma (1824)-Notes

 

Rebellion of kittur – Brave Queen Chennamma (1824)-Notes

 

The British brought in many changes in the administration after defeating the Marathas, Tippu and Hyder Ali. Denying the right of adopted children over the throne was one of such rules. The rebellion led by Chennamma, the queen of Kittur opposing this law is a prominent one. Kittur lies between the Dharwad and Belagum. After the death of her husband Mallasarja, Chennamma, the queen of Mallasarja took active interest in the administrative matters. After the death of Mallasarja, his son Shivalingarudrasarja took over the reign of Kittur. Due to his failing health, Chennamma had to take care of day to day administration.

 Shivalingasarja supported the British during the Maratha war. As a result, the British entered into an agreement with Kittur and collected payment from him. This agreement was entered into during the time of Thomas Munroe. After the death of ShivalingarudraSarja, Chennamma adopted a boy named Shivalingappa and started ruling Kittur as a queen regent. Then, Thackeray was the Collector and political agent of the British in Dharwad. He sent a report to the Governor of Bombay and attempted to take over Kittur Kingdom under the Doctrine of Lapse policy. He attempted to take over the treasury and fort under his control.

Chennamma considered war as inevitable. She prepared for the war. Meanwhile the British also prepared themselves for the war. In the battle, Thackeray was shot dead. Many British were taken as the prisoners of war. The British attacked Kittur again under the leadership of Colonel Deak. The army fought the battle bravely.

Chennamma attempted to flee from the battle field. But she was captured by the British army. Chennamma and others were imprisoned at Bylahongala fort. Queen Chennamma passed away in the prison. She has remained an ideal person till today.

Sangolli Rayanna (1829-30) Sangolli Rayanna The name of Sangolli Rayanna has remained famous along with the name of Rani Chennamma. Rayanna was a brave soldier. He fought for the independence of Kittur and felt it was his duty to liberate his motherland. He fought against the British and was imprisoned along with her. He was later released by the British. There are many oral histories about Rayanna. He developed a sense of nationalism and went on organizing an army. He organized secret meetings at sensitive places.

He aimed at looting the treasury and taluk offices of the British. He had an army of five hundred men. He became furious with the villagers who were assisting the British army. The British thought that Rayanna was being instigated by Rani Chennamma. Hence, they shifted Chennamma to Kusugal prison from Bylahongala. The British devised a cunning strategy to capture Rayanna. They encouraged Desais who were opposing Rani Chennamma. An Amaldar named Krishnaraya joined hands with them. Thus Rayanna was cunningly captured and brought down to Dharwad. Many of his soldiers surrendered after his arrest. He was declared as a main offender and was hanged to death at Nandagadh in 1831. Many ballads have kept the life and bravery of Rayanna alive even today.

Rebellion of Amara Sullya This rebellion was basically a farmers’ rebellion. This rebellion needs to be understood in the backdrop of political situations prevalent in coastal Karnataka and Kodagu regions during 1835-37. The British dethroned the ruler of Kodagu,

 Chikkaveerarajendra of Haleri dynasty in 1834. He was later transferred to Vellore through Bangalore and later to Kashi. This incident created political insatiability in Kodagu. Swami Aparampura, Kalyanaswamy and Puttabasappa organized a rebellion against this. All the three declared that they were part of the Haleri dynasty that ruled Kodagu. Swami Aparampura assumed the leadership of the rebellion. He was captured in 1834 and shifted to Bangalore. Similarly Kalayanaswami was captured in 1837 and placed in Mysore prison. Puttabasappa:

The people of lower Kodagu continued the rebellion after the capture of Kalyanaswamy. Sullia, Bellare and Puttur, the major places of Canara region, were part of Amara Sullia. It is interesting to note that a farmer named Puttabasappa, as Kalyanaswami. This Puttabasappa later presented himself as Swami Aparampura. This also notes the fluid nature of the rebellion. Puttabasappa took over the leadership of the rebellion. The rebellion started in the hilly region. Puttabasappa organized the rebels and calmed down the people. He declared that tax on tobacco and salt will be withdrawn, if the rebel government assumed power. The rich farmers, land owners and local chieftains were assured of this move. The capture of the government office in Bellare was the first move in this rebellion.

 Puttabasappa killed an Amaldhar who was known for his brutality. This further increased the popularity of Puttabasappa. This incident gained more support for the rebellion and the rebellion became more famous. The rebels marched towards Mangalore to capture it. The British were engaged in fortifying their fort in Mangalore. The rebels marched towards Mangalore through Panemangalore and Bantwal. They looted the treasury and prison of Bantwal.

The British sought the army of Thalacheri, Cannanore and Bombay to quell this uprising. On hearing this development, Puttabasappa and his associated fled towards Sulya. The British captured them with the help of people in Kodagu. Puttabasappa, Lakshmappa, Bangarasa, Kedambadi Ramayiah Gowda and Guddemane Appaiah were hanged to death. Though the rebellion failed, it has an important place in the history of rebellions against the British.