Sangolli Rayanna

For the film, see Sangolli Rayanna (film).

Sangolli Rayanna (Kannada: ಸಂಗೊಳ್ಳಿ ರಾಯಣ್ಣ) (15 August 1798 – 26 January 1831) was a prominent freedom fighter from Karnataka, India. He fought the British till his death. He was the army chief of the Kingdom of Kittur ruled at the time by Rani Chennamma. Rayanna was born in the small village of Sangolli, he belonged to the Kuruba / Dhangar caste^{[citation needed]} and hence a warrior. A film was made on his life and achievements.

Kittur War

When the British wanted to secede the kingdom to their empire by putting forward the doctrine of lapse as Rani Chennamma’s son was adopted, the queen refused to secede her kingdom after her husband’s death. Aided by Rayanna, she fought British bravely but was defeated and imprisoned.

Rayanna's Guerrilla War

Sangolli Rayanna continued to fight the British. His land was confiscated, and of what remained of it was heavily taxed. He taxed the landlords and built up an army from the masses. He used guerrilla tactics to attack government property; burnt land records and extracted huge sums of money from notorious landlords and bureaucrats. Rayanna is considered by many historians as the pioneer of guerrilla warfare in India.^{[citation needed]} He continued this warfare till 1829.

The landlords along with the British forced his father-in-law Laxman to cheat Rayanna. When Rayanna was having a bath in a stream near Dori Benachi, the British soldiers attacked, at that moment Rayanna's sword was in Laxman's hand. When Rayanna asked for his sword, Laxman gave it to British soldiers. Rayanna was overpowered and captured. Thus, he was captured by treachery. Rayanna was executed by hanging to death from a Banyan tree about 4 kilometers from Nandagad in Belgaum district. At the time of hanging he said "My last wish is to be born again in the country to fight against the British and drive them away from our sacred soil".

Memorial to Rayanna

Rayanna's mortal remains were buried near Nandaghad. Legend says that a close associate of Rayanna planted a Banyan sapling on his grave. The tree is fully grown and stands to this day. A Ashoka Stamba was installed near the tree some years back.

Ballads

The famous Gee Gee songs (Ballad) are heroic verses composed on Kittur Chennamma, Sangolli Rayanna and other valiant characters from the noble stock of pre-independence Karnataka.^{[citation needed]}

Others

His life history is making in film as Kraanthi Veera Sangolli Rayanna (Kannada: ಕ್ರಾ೦ತಿವೀರ ಸಂಗೊಳ್ಳಿ ರಾಯಣ್ಣ, English: Legendary Warrior Sangolli Rayanna)is a upcoming 2011 historical drama - Kannada film directed by Naganna and produced by Anand Appugol. Challenging Star Darshan Thoogudeep, Jayaprada and Nikita Thukral playing lead roles.

External links

• Marathi article about Sangolli Rayanna
• Ballad of Rayanna
• Ballad
• Kannada Article
• Memorial to Sangolli Rayanna