Mumbai Karnataka Region To Be Renamed Kittur Karnataka

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There had been long standing demand by many pro Karnataka organization to rename Mumbai-Karnataka region as Kittur-Karnataka.
Heeding to this long-pending demand the state government has decided to rename the Mumbai-Karnataka region as Kittur-Karnataka.
Karnakata CM Basavaraj Bommai after inaugurating the Chennamana Kittur Utsava at Kittur announced that in the next cabinet meeting they will clear the proposal.

The Mumbai-Karnataka region with 7 districts – Belagavi, Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri & Uttara Kannada will be renamed as Kittur Karnataka after the legendary queen Rani Chennamma of Kittur.

Chennamma was born in a small village called Kakati in Belagavi District in Karnataka on 23 October 1778.
At the age of 15, she became the queen of Kittur which is presently a taluk in Belagavi after she married the king of Kittur, Raja Mallasaraja.
She is remembered as one of the first Indians to lead an armed rebellion against the British.

But Why did she fight British?

Rani Chennamma’s husband died in 1816 leaving her with one son. However, the boy died in 1824.
Rani Chennamma adopted another boy Shivalingappa and made him the heir to the throne.
However, citing the doctrine of lapse, the East India Company did not recognise the adopted heir and decided to annex Kittur.
Rani Chennamma rejected the doctrine and refused to accept British sovereignty. She took up arms against the British.

The British attacked Kittur in 1824 with more than 20000 men. In the initial battle EIC was subjected to heavy losses however British chicanery & army might eventually prevailed.
Rani Chennama was ably supported by leaders like Sangolli Rayanna, Gurusiddappa, Amatur Balappa
Despite her heroic attempts, Rani Chennamma was captured and Kittur was annexed. She was imprisoned in Bailhongal Fort where she breathed her last on 21 February 1829.

Despite leading one of the first rebellions in India against the British, Rani Chennamma of Kittur remains relatively unknown. In fact, her rebellion of 1824 can be considered as precursor to Indian Revolt of 1857.
A statue of Kittur Chennamma has been unveiled at the Indian Parliament Complex.
Various Ballads and songs are sung popularly in Karnataka describing her valour.
In fact, every year Kitturu Utsava is held in Kittur between 22-24 October commemorating initial victory over the English.