Rani Channamma

On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Rani Channamma’s historic victory over British forces on October 23, 1824, a commemorative postage stamp was issued to honour her remarkable stand against colonial rule.

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About Rani Channamma (1778 -1829)

She was the Queen of Kittur (Situated in present day Karnataka).
Born in 1778 in Kakati village, Karnataka.She was married to Raja Mallasarja and later assumed power after his death.
When her adopted son Shivalingappa, was denied succession under the Doctrine of Lapse, which disallowed adopted heirs from ruling, she openly resisted the British.
This defiance led to the Kittur Rebellion, making it one of the earliest acts of armed opposition to British colonial rule in India.

About Kittur Revolt (1824)

It is regarded as the first Indian armed rebellion against the British East India Company. Also, one of the earliest woman-led anti-colonial struggles.
Though the British lost 1st battle in 1824, Rani Chennamma was later captured & imprisoned at Bailhongal Fort (Belagavi, Karnataka), till her death in 1829.

Doctrine of Lapse

It was a British policy introduced by Lord Dalhousie, Governor-General of India (1848–1856), to expand British territorial control.
Under this doctrine, any princely state or territory without a direct male heir would be annexed by the British East India Company. Adopted heirs were not recognized as legitimate successors.
States Annexed under Doctrine of Lapse: Satara (1848), Jaitpur (1849), Sambalpur (1849), Bhagat (1850), Udaipur (1852), Jhansi (1853), Nagpur (1854).