Kittur Chennamma

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Kitturu Rani Chennamma (Kannada:ಕಿತ್ತೂರು ರಾಣಿ ಚೆನ್ನಮ್ಮ),(1778 - 1829) was the queen of the princely state Kittur in Karnataka. In 1824, thirty three years before the 1857 war of independence she led an armed rebellion against the British in response to the Doctrine of lapse. The resistance ended in her martyrdom and she is remembered today as one of the earliest Indian rulers to have fought for independence. Along with Abbakka Rani, Keladi Chennamma and Onake Obavva she is much venerated in Karnataka as an icon of bravery and women's pride.

[edit] Early Life

Chennamma was born in Kakati, almost 56 years earlier than Rani Laxmi Bai, in a small village north of Belgaum in Karnataka. She was married to Raja Mallasurja. With this marriage she had only one son who died in 1824. She adopted Shivalingappa and made him heir to the throne. The British East India Company did not accept this and ordered expulsion of Shivalingappa with the help of their policy Doctrine of lapse.The Rani defied the order. A great battle ensued. The Rani fought the British with great courage and skill. She could not, however, hold out for long. She was taken captive and lodged in Bailhongal Fort, where she died in the year 1829.

Chennamma was the first lady who fought against British for their unwanted interference and tax collection(Kappa).Chennamma was a legendary queen who fought the British army from her base in the small kingdom of Kittur in the Belgaum district of Karnataka State, India. She was ably aided in her struggle by her lieutenant Sangolli Rayanna.