Date:24/10/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/10/24/stories/2005102404870300.htm

Karnataka - Bijapur

Samavesha observes Kittur Rani Chennamma victory day

Staff Correspondent

Government urged to constitute Kittur Rani Chennamma Development Authority

CELEBRATING A VICTOR: Pankaja Ravishankar donned the role of Kittur Rani Chennamma in a colourful procession taken out to celebrate the 182th victory anniversary of the queen in Bijapur on Sunday.

BIJAPUR: The Karnataka State Veerashaiva Panchamasali Samaj, which observed the 182th victory anniversary of Kittur Rani Chennamma with aplomb here on Sunday, urged the State Government to constitute a Rani Chennamma Development Authority.

Noting that Rani Chennamma waged war against the British in 1824, 33 years before Rani of Jhansi Lakshmibai, the meet demanded that the Government make the correction to the history of the freedom struggle. It was Rani Chennamma who launched a freedom movement against the British Raj first. The Kittur Army decimated a British Army General and many of his soldiers on October 23, 1824. Rani Lakshmibai fought with the British only in 1857. The facts can be ascertained from the original documents at the Royal Library in London. However, it history books record Rani Lakshmibai as the first Indian ruler to revolt against the British rule.

Delivering the keynote address, association secretary Basavaraj Dindur said the State Government should take up the issue with the authorities concerned. He also took objection to the syllabus revision and said that the new syllabus has lesser details of Rani Chennamma's fight against the British.

Bijapur MLA Appasaheb Pattanshetti said a life-sized statue of Rani Chennamma will be unveiled in heart of city. Inaugurating the meet, Bijapur MP and former Union Minister of State for Railways, Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal demanded that Veerashaiva Panchamasalis be included in Backward Classes list.

Mr. Yatnal said the previous National Democratic Alliance Government had agreed to install a Rani Chennamma statue on the premises of Parliament House.

The Kittur Rani Chennamma Award for 2005 was given to athlete Shobha J.J., who represented India at the Athens Olympics. Her sister Shailaja and father Jagdishappa Javur received the award on her behalf.

Earlier in the day a huge procession was taken out from Jorapurpet Shankaling Devasthan to Darbar High School ground. Traffic was disrupted on M.G. Road and Station Road for four hours.