Women's rights leaders to recall anti-colonial resistance of Karnataka's anti-British Rani

By Our Representative
As many as 50 women's rights groups and civil society organisations, including Gujarat activists from Ekal Nari Shakti Manch, Maldhari Mahila Vikas Sangathan, Stree Jagruti Samiti, Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan and Anhad, have decided to celebrate the legacy of Rani Chennamma, known for her courageous resistance against the British rule about 200 years ago.
Briefing newspersons on the plan to hold a women's rights rally and day-long programme on February 21 at Kittur, Karnataka, where Rani Chennamma ruled, Gujarat rights leaders told newspersons in Ahmedabad, at the end of the function, a Kittur declaration, to be called, "I am Rani Chennamma Too!" will be released in order to exhort people to safeguard the Indian Constitution and democracy, and defeat the forces of hatred.
"While we all know about Rani Laxmibai's valiant fight against the British duing the 1857 war of independence, people in many parts of India know little about Rani Chennamma, who fought in the same spirit much earlier", said Dev Desai from Anhad, briefing Gujarat media about the proposed campaign.
Chennamma was born on 23 October 1778 in Kaakati, a small village in the present Belagavi District of Karnataka. Her father Desai Dhulappa Gowdaru trained her in horse riding, sword fighting and archery from a young age. She married Raja Mallasarja of the Desai family at the age of 15 who already had married to Rudramma and had a son called Shivalinga Rudrasarja.
Raja Mallasarja died in 1816, leaving Rani Chennamma with a son. This was followed by her biological son's death in a battle 1824. Her stepson Shivalinga Rudrasarja became king, he too died out of illness. He had no children hence she adopted Shivalingappa during his illness.
"Rani Chennamma was left with the state of Kittur and an uphill task to maintain its independence from the British", said a media communique. "She made the adopted son Shivalingappa heir to the throne. This irked the East India Company, who ordered Shivalingappa's expulsion. The state of Kittur came under the administration of Dharwad collectorate which notified Kittur to accept the British control."

The communique added, this led her to begin an armed resistance against the British East India Company in 1824 to retain control over her dominion. She defeated the Company in the first revolt killing John Thackeray. One of the few female rulers who fought British colonisation, she continues to be remembered as a folk hero in Karnataka as an important symbol of the Indian independence movement.
A fearless warrior, she stands tall as a symbol of resistance against the British rule. Embodying love for freedom and self-respect, this year 2024 marks 200 of her revolt against British imperialism", the communique stated, pointing out, the idea to celebrate the occasion was initiated by Anhad and the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), which recived support from and the Karnataka Rajya Mahila Dourjanya Virodhi Okkuta.
"Within a short time a large number of women's groups and independent citizens have joined hands to commemorate 200 years of this revolt against oppression and to carry forward the legacy of struggle against tyranny, injustice and repression to safeguard the constitution, secularism and democracy", it added.
"Prominent women activists from across India are expected to participate in the event", Noorjaha Diwan of the Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan told media, adding, the Kittur declaration would be released in state capitals and district headquarters across the country, to be distributed among women networks... We are hoping to reach out to more than 50 lakh women across India."

Comments

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani* India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor* Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas* November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

A Marxist intellectual who dwelt into complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape

By Harsh Thakor* Professor Manoranjan Mohanty has been a dedicated advocate for human rights over five decades. His work as a scholar and activist has supported revolutionary democratic movements, navigating complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape. His balanced, non-partisan approach to human rights and social justice has made his books essential resources for advocates of democracy.

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor* Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.

Search This Blog