Kittur Rebellion

Context (PIB): To commemorate the 200th anniversary of Kittur Vijayotsava, the Department of Posts issued a special stamp celebrating Rani Chennamma’s victory against British forces in 1824.

• Background:
  • Born in 1778 in Kakati, Karnataka, Rani Chennamma was a courageous figure trained in horseback riding, swordsmanship, and archery.
  • She became the second wife of Mallasarja of the Desai family, rulers of Kittur. After the death of her son in 1824, she adopted Shivalingappa as her heir.
• Conflict with the British:
  • The British East India Company, however, refused to recognize her adopted son as the successor, invoking the ‘doctrine of lapse,’ which allowed them to annex any princely state without a natural heir.
  • In October 1824, the British launched an assault on Kittur, but Rani Chennamma and her army retaliated fiercely, managing to achieve a temporary victory.
• Aftermath:
  • Unfortunately, on December 3, 1824, the British mounted another attack, overpowering the Kittur forces and capturing the fort. Rani Chennamma and her family were taken prisoner, and she remained in captivity until her death in 1829.