Rani Chennamma

Source-This post on Rani Chennamma is based on the article “How Rani Chennamma’s revolt against the British inspired a national campaign for women’s rights” published in “The Indian Express” on 20th February 2024.

Why in the News?

To commemorate the 200th anniversary of Rani Chennamma’s rebellion against the British, various social groups across the country are organizing a national campaign called “Naanoo Rani Chennamma” (I am Rani Chennamma too).

The campaign aims to empower women to oppose patriarchal, anti-democratic, and casteist forces in the country, inspired by Rani Chennamma’s legacy of bravery and defiance.

About Rani Chennamma

1. About:
a. Rani Chennamma was an Indian freedom fighter and Rani of the Kittur, a former princely state in Karnataka.
b. She led the Kittur revolt of 1824, which stands as one of the earliest woman-led anti-colonial struggles against British rule in India.

2. Birth– She was born on October 23, 1778, in Kagati, a small village in Belagavi district of Karnataka.

3. Marriage– She married Raja Mallasarja of Kittur at 15 and played a crucial role in defending her kingdom after his death.

4. Struggle against the British:
a. She initiated a rebellion against the British in 1824 after they declined to acknowledge her adopted son as the successor according to the ‘doctrine of lapse‘.
b. Although she was initially successful, the British captured Kittur Fort in their third attempt in December 1824, resulting in Rani Chennamma’s imprisonment and eventual death in 1829.

5. Significance– Her brave resistance to colonial oppression has made her a symbol in Karnataka’s political imagination and an important figure in Indian history.

What is Doctrine of Lapse?

1. The doctrine of lapse was an annexation policy applied by the British East India Company in India until 1859.

2. Under the doctrine, the ruler of an independent state died childless, the right of ruling the State reverted or ‘lapsed’ to the sovereign.

3. The policy is most commonly associated with Lord Dalhousie who was the Governor General of the East India Company in India between 1848 and 1856.

4. However, it was not solely his invention. The East India Company had annexed Kittur in 1824, Mandvi in 1839, Kolaba and Jalaun in 1840 and Surat in 1842 by imposing a ‘doctrine of lapse’.

UPSC Syllabus- History and Art & Culture/Personalities in news