In honor of Kittur Vijayotsava, which celebrates 200 years since Rani Channamma's momentous triumph against British authority in Karnataka on October 23, 1824, the Department of Posts has issued a postage stamp.
The stamp gives a good impression of a portrait of Rani Channamma, which had her on a horse and pulling out a sword, which points out to her courage in the fight against British colonial masters. The design is also made by Shri Brahm Prakash where there are forts behind it which is in memory of the historical Kittur Channamma and the battle of Kittur. The red and black colours and ‘Kittur Vijayotsava – 200 Years’ make the stamp honouring to the hero of India’s freedom struggle, Rani Channamma.
This event is an endeavour of the Department of Posts which has been consistently saluting the freedom fighters with an aim of identifying those illustrious personalities of India who had a key role in the freedom struggle. India Post has released so many stamps in the year’s past honouring these heroes, and their memory and sacrifices continue to inspire future generations.
Through the pictorial motif of the stamp, people are reminded of the strength of Rani Channamma and strength which is at the heart of the nation. It also have shown the history of Kittur that how much this place contributed itself for the India’s freedom struggle. Such a stamp been released by the Department of Posts will go a long way in ensuring that the memory of Rani Channamma and her contributions to the state.
Kittur Vijayotsava
The Kittur Vijayotsava observed on October 23, pays tribute to the heroic victory of Rani Channamma over the British East India Company. This festival has been of focal cultural and historical significance more so in Karnataka state in India.
The queen of the former Indian kingdom of Kittur, Rani Channamma is now a legend and a fighter. She took the kingdom after the passing of her husband, Raja Mallasarja, She provided relative peace and prosperity for her kingdom till the British came with the doctrine of lapse so as to get control of Kittur because of absence of a male heir. Despite these pressures, Rani Channamma did not surrender to British rather she fought against British power and won the war against British army up to 1824. It came to be termed as Kittur Vijayotsava and made a history in the Indian records.
Thus we see that the Kittur Vijayotsava celebration re-establishes the cause of deathless spirit and valour of Rani Channamma and her soldiery. It also represents the struggle of several freedom fighters that fought hard against colonial masters. The celebrations usually involve cultural dance and drama, recanting of the battle, and annual general meetings with special lectures on the life and work of Rani Channamma.
Kittur Rani Channamma Fort which is the part of event as it is the historic ground of battle is decorated becomes the major attraction of the event. The modern fort has undergone modifications and holds corresponding decoration; they stage different events during the celebration. Dances, songs and drama with 'real' depiction of the battle give the tourist feel, the valour and tact of Rani Channamma.
Schools and other institutional and cultural organizations also have several functions in the celebration. In Kittur Vijayotsava, schools and colleges conduct essay writing competitions, debates, and Art exhibitions on the festival. Not only does these activity exposes the younger generation about their past but also the correct manner in which they should respect their past and especially the legacy of Rani Channamma.
It is however be said that the Kittur Vijayotsava festival is not restricted to the state alone, that is Karnataka. It has been accepted and appreciated all over the country; different social and historical organizations celebrate the event. The story of Rani Channamma extends her defiance and victory for the people in many fields of activities giving them encouragement to pay tribute to the queen.
But in recent years government and local authorities have come forward to protect and spread the culture of Kittur Vijayotsava. To preserve the history and to maintain number of historical sites related with Rani Channamma and her fight against British some attempts have been made. Similarly, efforts to capture and spread the history of Kittur Vijayotsava through books, documentaries and through the internet means are on a process of acceleration.
Rani Channamma
Rani Channamma of Kittur is a sensational icon of ideologies and bravery in Indian historical past. Many generations of people know her as an outstanding leader who was afraid of nothing, and a true patriot.
Channamma was talented in archery, sword fighting and horse riding just like other young girl of the clan. All these skills later helped her when fights with the British East India Company started. She then married Raja Mallasarja Desai at the age of fifteen, and he was the king of Kittur. When Raja Mallasarja Desai died without a male heir, Channamma adopted Shivalingappa as her son, hoping to secure the future of Kittur. However, the British refused to recognize the adoption and sought to annex Kittur.
The change of event in Channamma’s life began with the coming of The Doctrine of Lapse by the British East India company. This policy entailed the surrender of any Indian state of which the ruler had no direct male successor. At the demise of Raja Mallasarja Desai, without a male child, the rani Channamma adopted one Shivalingappa, to ensure that Kittur had a male heir. But the British deny the adoption and tried to occupy Kittur.
Persistence of Rani Channamma to resist the British thus led to the Kittur war. In October 1824, the British, led by St. John Thackeray, attacked Kittur. One great military skill that was illustrated by Channamma and her forces was strategy; they were ready for the invasion. The queen’s tenacity, and the imposing defence her soldiers offered, counter attacked and ensured the British lost many of their soldiers they had sought to overpower. This was the first major win and surely was a spectacle of the power and determination of Rani Channamma.
But the British, who got the spirit of hard and relentless struggle, did not take the first set back easily. To this they made a second attack in the following December 1824 with more forces and clearer strategies. Chaplin and Munro’s British forces laid siege to Kittur Forcing the defenders to open fire, the British forces used heavy artillery to batter down the defences of Kittur. At the end, passion and heroic efforts of Channamma and it soldiers could not match the strength and power of British army.
The second battle was also very furious one and Channamma and her troops did great show of bravery and strategically acumen. The queen herself a well-known archer and a swords woman also motivated her fighters to the last man standing. Still, after the severe and long-lasting battle, British forces finally entered the city of Kittur. Rani Channamma was arrested and captured with some of her favourite commanders.
Although the people of Kittur suffered defeat and some have been captured alive, it is another important episode in the India against the British colonial rule. Rani Channamma’s resistance pointed to a rising clamour and stiff stand against British policies across the Indian subcontinent. Her opposition against the East India Company laid a pattern for all the future freedom fighters and uprising including Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi.
The struggle of Kittur and great deeds of Rani Channamma is well remembered and valued in modern Karnataka and far beyond that. Today’s Kittur Fort is a symbol of bravery as the battle was fought here. Every year an annual festival called the Kittur Utsav is celebrated to commemorate the heroic act of the queen and he and his followers. Today, there are cultural programs, live demonstration of the battle and educative activities in order to keep the memory of this important confrontation alive.
Doctrine of Lapse
The Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy planned by the British Governor General in India, Dalhousie, during 1848-1856. This doctrine was central in the formation of Britain’s colonial authority in the Indian subcontinent, in mid-nineteenth century, and was an unjust and much reviled policy among the Indian kings and populace.
The Doctrine of Lapse gave Madras Troop an authority to annex any Indian princely state, or territory which the ruler died without leaving a natural born, legal heir male. The policy laid down here was that the moment there is no male heir who could be born to the existing King, then this state would simply ‘lapse’ and come under direct control of the British Monarch, which again goes against the normal expected practices where heirs were usually adopted to ensure that particular state /King remained in the throne.
According to the doctrine of lapse, the states which did not have a natural heir were satara annexed in 1848, Jaitpur and Sambalpur in 1849, Baghat in 1850, Udaipur in 1852, Jhansi in 1853 and Nagpur in 1854. Every annexation was followed by protest and Indian hostility of the concerned royal dynasty as well as the common people because it went against legal rights and rights of provincial self-governance.
Amongst all the leaders who protested against the Doctrine of Lapse it was Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi who became a symbol of against British rule. Her adopted son Damodar Rao never got the recognition for his real claim to succession which led to the annexation of Jhansi. Rani Lakshmibai rebel against British during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 to show how much the policy upset the people.
The Doctrine of Lapse was, however, finally given up after the uprising of 1857, which revealed the seeds of discontent which this policy had sown. This policy signified a change of British colonial strategy; the Crown assumed direct charge of the Indian subcontinent and began to exercise a different policy towards the princely states.