Sangolli Rayanna

Sangolli Rayanna (15 August 1796 – 26 January 1831) was an Indian military Shetsanadi (Sainik) and warrior in the Kittur princely state of the Karnataka. He was the Shetsanadi of the Kingdom of Kittur ruled at the time by Rani Chennamma and fought the British East India Company till his death. His life was the subject of the 2012 Kannada film Sangolli Rayanna.Sangolli Rayanna, the 18th century warrior and freedom fighter of the Kuruba community

Activities

Sangolli Rayanna participated in the 1824 rebellion and was arrested by the British, who released him later. He continued to fight the British and wanted to install the adopted son of King Mallasarja and Rani Chennamma, namely Shivalingappa as the ruler of Kittur. He mobilised local people and started a guerilla type war against the British. He and his guerrilla army moved from place to place, burnt government offices, waylaid British troops and plundered treasuries. Most of his land was confiscated and what remained of it was heavily taxed. He taxed the landlords and built up an army from the masses. The British troops could not defeat him in open battle. Hence, by treachery, he was caught in April 1830 and tied up by the British; and sentenced to death. Shivalingappa, the boy who was supposed to be the new ruler, was also arrested by the British.

Rayanna was executed by hanging from a Banyan tree about 4 kilometers from Nandagad in Belagavi district on 26 January 1831.

Rayanna was helped by Gajaveera, a Siddi warrior, in his revolt against the British in 1829–30.

Rayanna was buried near Nandagad. Legend says that a close associate Sangolli Bichugatti Channabasappa of Rayanna planted a banyan sapling on his grave. The tree is fully grown and stands to this day. An Ashoka Stambha was installed near the tree. A small temple in the name of Sangolli Rayanna was constructed at Sangolli village, in which stands a statue of Rayanna flanked by two wooden weights used for body building. Two wooden weights are original, those were used by Rayanna himself for body building. A community hall built in commemoration of Rayanna at Sangolli serves the villagers of Sangolli. Karnataka Government recently established Krantiveer Sangolli Rayanna authority its work progress of Krantiveer Sangolli Rayanna Sainik school,”Shouryabhoomi” Krantiveer Sangolli Rayanna rock garden and in “Veerabhoomi” Krantiveer Sangolli Rayanna museum.

In popular culture

Ballads and other memorials

The Gee Gee songs (Ballad) are heroic folklore verses composed in North Karnataka and several such songs are sung about Kittur Chennamma, Sangolli Rayanna and other figures of pre-independence Karnataka. A life size bronze statue of Sangolli Rayanna, riding a horse with open sword in right hand, was installed near Railway station of Bengaluru. The main railway station of Bengaluru City has been renamed as “Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Railway station” in 2015. However the station officially re named and notified as “Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna” Railway Station on 03-02-2016

Film

In 2012, a film was produced on his life history. was the subject of another Kannada-language motion picture Kraanthiveera Sangolli Rayanna (Legendary Warrior Sangolli Rayanna), directed by Naganna and starring Darshan Thoogudeep, Jayaprada and Nikita Thukral.