As our Independence Day is approaching (August 15th), we can listen to the story of valorous deeds of our country's women and men who devoted their lives for India's freedom from British rule. This week let us listen to the story of brave Rani Chennamma.
Rani Chennamma ruled the Kingdom of Keladi (present day Shimoga district in Karnataka) for 25 years from 1671-1696. She was not born to a King's lineage, but married to a King Somasekhara Nayak who ruled Keladi. She was very beautiful and known for her wisdom and adherence to justice. She helped the King in maintaining justice in the kingdom. After some years of their marriage, the King slipped away from his virtuous life and went behind a dancer. He was intoxicated by the dancer's father and started behaving mad. Knowing the state of King Keladi, the Sultan of Bijapur who was ruling the neighboring state planned to attack Keladi kingdom. When Rani Chennamma came to know about this, she decided to take sword in her hand in order to protect the people of Keladi. Her clever planning kept the enemies at bay. However, Keladi kingdom started facing internal threats from its own Ministers. As the King did not have any child, some ministers started proposing to Rani Chennamma, that she could adopt their son and make him adorn the throne of Keladi. They threatened her that if she did not oblige to the plan, they might gather people and act against the kingdom.
Rani Chennamma was very sad about the happenings. Though she faced threats from many persons like dancer's father who had made King under his control, ministers with their demands and other neighboring rulers, but did not want to give up to the situations. She thought its was the right time to show her prowess and save her citizens. She adopted a virtuous boy named Basappa Nayaka and gave proper training on all skills which would enable him to be a good King. The bold step from Rani Chennamma made the ministers to follow her.
Rani Chennamma is known for her bravery in giving refuge to Rajaram, the second son of Shivaji, when he ran away from the clutches of Moghuls. Though Rajaram pleaded for refuge to many Kings, they denied him. All of them were afraid of being against Moghuls by giving refuge to Rajaram and hence did not provide him their support. When Rajaram asked support from Keladi kingdom, Rani Chennamma decided to extend Keladi kingdom's support to him. Her rationale was that Shivaji Maharaj being a powerful person to establish freedom from Muslims, its the duty of a Hindu to give refuge to his son, when he was under threat from Muslims. Yet many ministers commented that this would pave way for serious consequences and in addition to that giving refuge to Rajaram, at the time when Moghuls had already taken his Maratha Kingdom was of no use. Despite the ministers criticisms, Rani Chennamma believed that it was her duty to house Rajaram and save him from Moghuls attack. This act of hers drew war between Keladi and Moghuls. However, with diligent planning of Rani Chennamma, Keladi kingdom won the war and paved way for Rajaram to rejuvenate his kingdom. After few decades, Marathra kingdom with their sustained efforts, threw away Moghuls and proclaimed freedom.
It was because of Rani Chennamma's bold decision then to give refuge for Rajaram, which paved way for Maratha kingdom to gain their freedom from Moghuls. She set an example of taking bold decisions according to virtues for the welfare of the society.
Rani Chennamma's actions are indeed inspiring. Even when we face mounting problems in our lives, we have to look unto those deeds of her even during difficult times and draw motivation from them.
Jai Hind
Source: Biography of Rani Chennamma, http://hinduhistory.blogspot.com/
Rani Chennamma ruled the Kingdom of Keladi (present day Shimoga district in Karnataka) for 25 years from 1671-1696. She was not born to a King's lineage, but married to a King Somasekhara Nayak who ruled Keladi. She was very beautiful and known for her wisdom and adherence to justice. She helped the King in maintaining justice in the kingdom. After some years of their marriage, the King slipped away from his virtuous life and went behind a dancer. He was intoxicated by the dancer's father and started behaving mad. Knowing the state of King Keladi, the Sultan of Bijapur who was ruling the neighboring state planned to attack Keladi kingdom. When Rani Chennamma came to know about this, she decided to take sword in her hand in order to protect the people of Keladi. Her clever planning kept the enemies at bay. However, Keladi kingdom started facing internal threats from its own Ministers. As the King did not have any child, some ministers started proposing to Rani Chennamma, that she could adopt their son and make him adorn the throne of Keladi. They threatened her that if she did not oblige to the plan, they might gather people and act against the kingdom.
Rani Chennamma was very sad about the happenings. Though she faced threats from many persons like dancer's father who had made King under his control, ministers with their demands and other neighboring rulers, but did not want to give up to the situations. She thought its was the right time to show her prowess and save her citizens. She adopted a virtuous boy named Basappa Nayaka and gave proper training on all skills which would enable him to be a good King. The bold step from Rani Chennamma made the ministers to follow her.
Rani Chennamma is known for her bravery in giving refuge to Rajaram, the second son of Shivaji, when he ran away from the clutches of Moghuls. Though Rajaram pleaded for refuge to many Kings, they denied him. All of them were afraid of being against Moghuls by giving refuge to Rajaram and hence did not provide him their support. When Rajaram asked support from Keladi kingdom, Rani Chennamma decided to extend Keladi kingdom's support to him. Her rationale was that Shivaji Maharaj being a powerful person to establish freedom from Muslims, its the duty of a Hindu to give refuge to his son, when he was under threat from Muslims. Yet many ministers commented that this would pave way for serious consequences and in addition to that giving refuge to Rajaram, at the time when Moghuls had already taken his Maratha Kingdom was of no use. Despite the ministers criticisms, Rani Chennamma believed that it was her duty to house Rajaram and save him from Moghuls attack. This act of hers drew war between Keladi and Moghuls. However, with diligent planning of Rani Chennamma, Keladi kingdom won the war and paved way for Rajaram to rejuvenate his kingdom. After few decades, Marathra kingdom with their sustained efforts, threw away Moghuls and proclaimed freedom.
It was because of Rani Chennamma's bold decision then to give refuge for Rajaram, which paved way for Maratha kingdom to gain their freedom from Moghuls. She set an example of taking bold decisions according to virtues for the welfare of the society.
Rani Chennamma's actions are indeed inspiring. Even when we face mounting problems in our lives, we have to look unto those deeds of her even during difficult times and draw motivation from them.
Jai Hind
Source: Biography of Rani Chennamma, http://hinduhistory.blogspot.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment