Born in 1778, Rani Chennamma was a member of the Desai community of Dharwad region of Karnataka. Desais were hereditary rulers of intermediate stature. They independently administered regions, large and small and were responsible for collection of land revenue and for maintenance of military force. They passed on a portion of the revenue to the larger rulers of region in order maintain local autonomy and also provided military support when needed. For instance, the Desai lineage of Kitturu was over time either in allegiance to the larger powers of Marathas in the North or the rulers of Mysuru in the South East with periods of complete autonomy in intermediate times.
Thus, shifting power structures and loyalties were an accepted feature of governance in the Desai community of rulers. Chennamma was married to Mallasarja Desai, the ruler of Kitturu as his second wife. According to legend, they first met in a forest when trying to shoot the same beast.
Political intrigue with the Marathas eventually claimed Mallasarja Desai’s life when his two sons, of whom Chennamma’s was the older, were just teenagers. Thus, Chennamma becomes guardian to her young step-son Shivalinga Rudra Sarja, who was anointed as the Desai after his father’s death.
The British East India Company, already on an expansionary path is eager to take over Kitturu. Chennamma was a true pioneer in that, despite being a relatively small ruler, she saw the difference between shifting allegiances to local powers and allegiance to the British – which was a colonizing power. She had a sense of the differences in motivations between the two possibilities and tried to retain autonomy by resisting the British through arms, even after her two sons had passed.
Despite being over-powered by the British military apparatus, she still chose to resist them, out of a sense of self respect.
Dates:
Rani Chennamma (1778 – 1829)
Born in Kakati, Belagavi District of the State of Karnataka. Married Mallasarja Desai in 1793.
Mallasarja Desai (1765 – 1816)
Mallasarja was the Desai of Kitturu from 1782 to 1816. He had two wives. The first was Rani Rudramma, whose son was Shivalinga Rudra Sarja who ruled from 1816 to 1824 when he died as a teenager.
The second wife was Rani Chennamma, whose son was Shiva Basavaraja (died in 1818 in the 3rd Anglo-Maratha War as a teenager).
A boy called Shivalingappa was adopted by Shivalinga Rudra Sarja just before his death. He was caught and killed by the British.
First Battle between Kitturu and British East India Company (October 1824).
The British forces were led by John Thackeray, Collector of Dharwad. Rani Chennamma defeated the British, Thackeray was killed in this war.
Second battle between Kitturu and British Each India Company (December 1824).
The British forces were led by Commissioner Chaplain. Rani Chennamma was captured and held in one of her own forts in Bailahongala. Her two young widowed daughters-in-law were also held captive with her. They each passed in captivity. Rani Chennamma lived in captivity for about 5 years before breathing her last at the age of 53.
Sangolli Rayanna
A loyal general in Chennamma’s army, he continued to wage a guerrilla war with the British after her capture. He was eventually captured and hanged.
