Keladi Chennamma
Keladi Chennamma | |
|---|---|
| Born | Chennamma |
| Died | 1696 |
| Known for | Fighting against Mughal emperor Aurangzeb |
| Spouse(s) | Somashekhara Nayak |
Keladi Chennamma was the queen of Keladi Kingdom in Karnataka. She took birth in the household of a man called Siddappa Shetty, who was a native merchant in the region of Kundapur, Karnataka. She was from the Lingayatha community. Chennamma married King Somashekara Nayaka in 1667 CE. After Somashekhara Nayaka's death in 1677, Chennamma efficiently handled the administration of the Keladi Nayaka dynasty. During her reign of 25 years, she repelled the advance of the Mughal Army led by Aurangzeb from her military base in the kingdom of Keladi located in Sagara, Karnataka, India. She adopted Basavappa Nayaka, one of her close relatives who succeeded as Hiriya Basappa Nayaka. She also rendered a trade agreement with the Portuguese involving commodities like pepper and rice. Channagiri is named after her.
She also permitted Portuguese to establish churches at Mirjan, Honnavara, and Kalyanpura.[1] In the state of Karnataka, she is celebrated along with Abbakka Rani, Kittur Chennamma, Belawadi Mallamma and Onake Obavva, as the foremost women warriors and patriots.[citation needed]
Attack by Aurangazeb[]
She provided shelter to Rajaram Chhatrapati, son of Shivaji who was fleeing from the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb[2] after a meeting with her cabinet and treated Rajaram with respect,[3] but Aurangazeb attacked Keladi. Keladi Chennamma fought the war without defeat and battle with Mughals ended in a treaty.[4] A subordinate of Keladi Kingdom, Sadasiva of Swadi also helped Rajaram through a loan.[3] Keladi kingdom was probably the last to lose autonomy to Mysore rulers and subsequently to British. Her cabinet was headed by Timmanna Naik, who was the descendant of a commander of Vijayanagra.[citation needed]
Legacy[]
She is considered as the epitome of the Kannada women's valor along with Rani Abbakka, Onake Obavva and Kittur Chennamma.
Chennamma was known to be a very virtuous and pious woman, and a pragmatic administrator of her times.
In popular culture[]
- Keladi Chennamma (TV series), a Kannada language historical series broadcast on Suvarna TV.[5]
References[]
- ^ Kudva, Venkataraya Narayan (1972). History of the Dakshinatya Saraswats. Madras: Samyukta Gowda Saraswata Sabha. p. 112.
- ^ Krishnamurthy, Radha (1995). Sivatattva Ratnakara of Keladi Basavaraja: a cultural study. Keladi, Karnataka: Keladi Museum and Historical Research Bureau. pp. 6, 115.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Dixit, Giri S (1981). Studies in Keladi History: Seminar Papers. Bangalore: Mythic Society. pp. 4, 5, 115.
- ^ "1671-96 Rani Regnant Chennamma of Keladi (or Bednur) (India)". Worldwise guide to women in leadership. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ^ "Kannada Tv Serials Keladi Chennamma". nettv4u. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
External links[]
- 1696 deaths
- 17th-century Indian women
- 17th-century Indian people
- 17th-century women rulers
- 17th-century Indian monarchs
- Hindu monarchs
- Indian female royalty
- Indian women in war
- Kannada people
- Lingayatism
- Women in 17th-century warfare
- Nayakas of Keladi