Kittur Chennamma

A queen named Chennamma ruled a land called Kittur.

She learned to ride horses and use a bow.

Her husband and son both died. This left her to lead her people. She chose a boy to be the next ruler.

British leaders did not like this choice. They wanted to take control of her land. This led to a war.

Chennamma won the first fight against the British. But the British came back with more men. They took the queen away.

She died in a fort later on. People still tell stories of her bravery today.

Chennamma was a queen in a place called Kittur.

She lived in what is now Karnataka, India. As a young girl, she learned to ride horses. She also learned to use a sword and a bow.

Chennamma faced hard times. Her husband died in 1816. Then her son died in 1824. To keep her land safe, she adopted a boy named Shivalingappa. She named him her heir. The British East India Company did not like this. They wanted to rule Kittur themselves.

War broke out in 1824. The British sent many men and guns. In the first fight, Chennamma's forces won.

But the British returned with more troops. Chennamma fought hard with her deputy, Sangolli Rayanna. Eventually, the British captured her. She died as a prisoner in 1829.

Today, people remember her as a hero.

There is a statue of her in the Indian Parliament. India even put her face on a stamp. People in Kittur hold a festival for her every year.

Kittur Chennamma was a brave queen from a place called Kittur. This land is in the state of Karnataka in India today. She was born on November 14, 1778, in a small village named Kakati. Her father was named Dhulappa Desai and her mother was Padmavati. As a young girl, she learned many important skills. She practiced horse riding, sword fighting, and archery. These skills helped her become a strong leader later in life.

Life changed for Chennamma when she faced many losses. Her husband, Raja Mallasarja, died in 1816. Later, her son also passed away in 1824. To keep her kingdom safe, she adopted a boy named Shivalingappa. She named him her heir to rule after her. However, the British East India Company did not agree with this choice. They wanted to take control of Kittur for themselves.

War broke out because the British would not recognize the new rule.

In October 1824, the first battle began. The British brought 20,797 men and 437 guns to fight. During this first war, Chennamma's forces actually won. A lieutenant named Amatur Balappa helped lead her forces to victory. The British lost many men and their collector, St John Thackeray, was killed.

Even after a victory, the conflict did not end. The British came back with even more strength. Chennamma fought very hard alongside her deputy, Sangolli Rayanna.

Sadly, the British eventually captured the queen. She was taken to Bailhongal Fort as a prisoner. She lived there until she died on February 21, 1829. Her deputy, Rayanna, continued to fight for her until he was also caught.

Today, Chennamma is remembered as a great folk heroine. People in Karnataka still celebrate her through the Kittur Utsava festival every year. You can find statues of her in many places like Bengaluru and Hubballi. A special statue of her even stands at the Indian Parliament in New Delhi.

Her name is also used for a train called the Rani Chennamma Express. She remains a symbol of courage for many people.

Kittur Chennamma was the Queen of the princely state of Kittur. This state is located in what is now the Karnataka region of India. She is a famous figure for leading an armed resistance against the British East India Company. Her goal was to keep control over her own land and people. Today, she is remembered as a folk heroine in Karnataka.

Chennamma was born on November 14, 1778, in a small village called Kakati. Her father was Dhulappa Desai, and her mother was Padmavati. She was born into a Jain family, though her descendants later converted to Lingayatism. From a young age, she received specialized training in many skills. She learned how to ride horses, use a sword, and practice archery. These skills prepared her for the challenges of leadership.

Her life changed significantly due to several personal losses. She married Raja Mallasarja of the Desai family when she was 15 years old. Her husband died in 1816, which left the state in a difficult position. Later, her son also passed away in 1824. To ensure the state had a future leader, she adopted a Lingayat boy named Shivalingappa. She named him her heir to the throne.

This decision caused a major conflict with the British East India Company. The British did not recognize Shivalingappa as the rightful ruler. This situation was a predecessor to a later policy called the Doctrine of Lapse. That policy was later introduced by Lord Dalhousie, the Governor General of India. Under that doctrine, if a ruler died without a biological child, the state would revert to British control. In 1823, Chennamma wrote to Mountstuart Elphinstone to plead her case. He was the Lieutenant-Governor of the Bombay province, but he turned down her request.

War broke out between Kittur and the British forces. The British prepared for battle by placing sentries around the treasury. The crown jewels in the treasury were valued at approximately 1.5 million rupees. The British mustered a large force to fight the war. This force included 20,797 men and 437 guns. Most of these guns came from the third troop of the Madras Native Horse Artillery.

The first round of war occurred in October 1824. During this period, the British forces suffered heavy losses. St John Thackeray, the collector and political agent, was killed during the fighting. A lieutenant named Amatur Balappa was largely responsible for these British losses. During the conflict, two British officers, Sir Walter Elliot and Mr Stevenson, were taken as hostages. Chennamma released them after reaching an agreement with a man named Chaplain. However, Chaplain continued the war with even more forces.

The second assault by the British was much harder. During this time, the subcollector of Solapur, named Munro, was killed. Chennamma fought very fiercely alongside her deputy, Sangolli Rayanna. Despite their courage, Chennamma was eventually captured by the British. She was taken as a prisoner to Bailhongal Fort. She remained there until she died on February 21, 1829, due to failing health.

Even after the Queen was captured, the resistance continued. Sangolli Rayanna led a guerrilla war until 1829. He wanted to install the adopted boy, Shivalingappa, as the ruler. Eventually, Rayanna was caught and hanged, and Shivalingappa was also arrested. Despite these losses, Chennamma's legacy remains very strong. Her first victory is still commemorated every year during the Kittur Utsava festival.

Many honors exist today to celebrate her life and bravery. In 2007, a statue of her was unveiled at the Indian Parliament Complex in New Delhi. This event included many leaders, such as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pratibha Patil. Her name is used for the Rani Chennamma Express, a train connecting Bangalore and Sangli. There is also a Rani Channamma University in Belagavi named in her honor. Her story is even found in popular culture, including films and science fiction series. The Indian government even released a commemorative coin in 2025 to mark 200 years since her victory.