Sangolli plaque uprooted in treasure hunt

R Uday Kumar, TNN | Oct 23, 2013, 07.15 AM IST

READ MORE Unnao treasure hunt|Sangolli Rayanna

BELGAUM: Call it the Unnao effect. Unidentified miscreants uprooted a memorial plaque of 19th-century freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna in a bid to scoop out hidden treasure from a tract of land in Belgaum district on Monday.

According to police, the car-borne miscreants swooped down on Amatur village in Bailhongal taluk, 46km from Belgaum, between 2am and 4am on Monday, removed the stone installed several decades ago and started digging up the area where the plaque stood.

Sangolli Rayanna is the right-hand man of Kittur Rani Channamma, and the legend has it that he gave away riches to his followers before taking on the British. It’s widely believed — and without conclusion — that the treasure is buried in Amatur.

It is said Rayanna presented a 25-acre land to his sister Thayavva, and its ownership is now with one of the descendants, Ramappa Ningappa Rogannavar. The five-foot-long-and-two-foot-wide memorial stone has carvings of the sun and moon in the top, and depicts a sword-wielding Sangolli Rayanna in the middle. Family members said the stone may have been installed some time after 1831.

Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna

This statue of Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna is the only memorial at his birth place Sangolli village.
Sangolli is about 15 kilometers from Kittur on Kittur-Bailhongal road.

Learn more about Rayanna at- Sangolli Rayanna's memorial at Nandaghad.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Sangoli Rayanna Rajyabhishek Celebrated in Nandgad…

Jai Malhar

RAYANNA NAYAK

MAHANAYAK OF SWARAJ MOVEMENT IN INDIA
(On the occasion of 179th Smriti Anniversary - 26th January 2010)
( RAYANNA NAYAK : B:15-Aug-1798, D:26-Jan-1831)

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

A tribute to Sangolli Rayanna
Staff Correspondent

The bronze statue of Sangolli Rayanna. HUBLI: A 13-foot bronze statue of freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna will be taken out in a procession at several places in the State, starting on Wednesday, before it is installed in Bangalore on June 29.
Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, the former minister and adviser to Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Pratishthana H.M. Revanna said that the journey would begin at Kolhapur. The statue would be taken to Nippani, Belgaum, Kittur, Dharwad, Hubli, Haveri, Ranebennur, Harihar, Davangere, Chitradurga, Hiriyur, Shira, Tumkur and Nelamangala before reaching Bangalore.
The statue, which cost Rs. 70 lakh, will be installed at Khoday Circle near Bangalore Railway Station at a cost of Rs. 1.5 crore. It will be taken to the venue in a colourful procession.
Mr. Revanna said that the statue was being installed to commemorate Sangolli Rayanna’s sacrifice. He said that preparations had been made to welcome the statue and many organisations and individuals including the Seer of Kaginele Peetha would participate in the function. The statue will be unveiled in August.
Mr. Revanna said that soon the Bangalore Railway Station would be named after Sangolli Rayanna. He said that following the resolution of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in this regard, the State Government had forwarded the proposal to the Railway Board. After getting the consent of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, the proposal had been sent to the Home Ministry for final approval, he said.
Mr. Revanna said that although a residential school had been established at Nandagad in Belgaum, where Sangolli Rayanna was caught and hanged, development had been slow in the region. He urged the State Government to develop Nandagad as a tourist spot.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Sangolli Rayanna memorial at Nandghad

Nandagad was on our agenda for the day we visited Ramteerth. We got directions to Sangolli Rayanna's memorial. Sangolli Rayanna was Kittur Rani Chennamma's trusted lieutenant. We heard about the Banyan tree from which Sangolli Rayanna was hanged to death by the Britishers. Our first stop was at the memorial.

Rayanna's mortal remains lie buried under this ficus.

The black board says "freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna's Samadhi."

The engraving on the Asoka Stamba.

ನಾಡಿನ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಗಾಗಿ ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರೊಡನೆ ಹೋರಾಡಿ ಬಲಿದಾನ ಮಾಡಿದ ಕನ್ನಡ ಕಡುಗಲಿ ಸಂಗೊಳ್ಳಿ ರಾಯಣ್ಣನ ಜಾಗೃತಿ ಸ್ಮರಣೆಗೆ which translates to "Memorial to the brave warrior Sangolli Rayanna who sacrificed his life fighting for freedom of the land."

Transcription of the board- ಕ್ರಾಂತಿವೀರ ಸಂಗೊಳ್ಳಿ ರಾಯಣ್ಣನ ಸಂಕ್ಷಿಪ್ತ ಇತಿಹಾಸ

ಶ್ರೀ ಸಂಗೊಳ್ಳಿ ರಾಯಣ್ಣ ಅಪ್ರತಿಮ ವೀರ. ಈತನ ದೇಹದ ಕಣಕಣದಲ್ಲೂ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಶೌರ್ಯ, ಸಾಹಸಗಲಿದ್ದವು. ಸೂರ್ಯ ಮುಳುಗುವ ದೇಶದ ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರಿಗೆ ಈತ ಸಿಂಹಸ್ವಾಪ್ವಗಿದ್ದ. ಕಿತ್ತೂರು ಚೆನ್ನಮ್ಮಜಿಗೆ ನೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಬಂಟನಾಗಿದ್ದ. ೧೮೨೪ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕಿತ್ತುರಿಗೆ ಸೋಲಾಯಿತು. ಅನಂತರ ರಾಯಣ್ಣ ಕಿತ್ತುರಿಗೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ತಂದು ಕೊಡಲು ಪಣ ತೊಟ್ಟ. ಈತ ೧೭೬೬ ಆಗಸ್ಟ್ ೧೫ ರಂದು ಸಂಗೊಲ್ಲಿಯೇಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ್ದ. ಈತನ ತಾಯಿ ಕೆಂಚವ್ವ, ತಂದೆ ಬರಮಣ್ಣ ಓಲೆಕಾರಿಕೆ ಇವರ ವೃತ್ತಿ. ಸಣ್ಣವನಿರುವಾಗಲೇ ಯುದ್ದದ ತರಬೇತಿ ಪಡೆದಿದ್ದ. ೧-೧-೧೮೨೯ ರಿಂದ ೭-೪-೧೮೩೦ ರ ಅವದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕಿತ್ತೂರ ನಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಚರಿಸಿದ. ತನ್ನ ಸೈನ್ಯವನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟಿದ. ಥ್ಯಾಕರೆ ನಿದನದನಂತರ ಚಾಪ್ಲಯಾಣನ ಆಡಳಿತ. ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರು ಕಿತ್ತೂರಿನ ಮೇಲೆ ದಂಡೆತ್ತಿ ಬಂದರು ರಾಯಣ್ಣ ಕಿತ್ತೂರಿನ ಹುಲಿಯಾಗಿ ಹೋರಾಡಿದ. ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರ ಸೆರೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕರೂ. ನಂತರ ರಾಯಣ್ಣನನ್ನು ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರ ಯತ್ನ ನಡೆದೇ ಇತ್ತು. ರಾಯನ್ನನದು ಗೆರಿಲ್ಲಾ ಯುದ್ದ ತಂತ್ರ. ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಕುಲಕರ್ಣಿ ಬಾಳಪ್ಪ ಕಂದಾಯ ವಸೂಲಿ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಯಣ್ಣನ ತಾಯಿಗೆ ಅಪಮಾನ ಮಾಡಿದ ಇದನ್ನು ಸಹಿಸದ ರಾಯಣ್ಣ ಬಾಲಪ್ಪನನ್ನು ತುಂಡರಿಸಿದ. ಈ ಕೃತ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರು ನಡುಗಿದರು. ರಾಯಣ್ಣ ರೊಚ್ಚಿಗೆದ್ದ. ಸಂಪಗಾವ್, ಬೀಡಿ ಕಚರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಬೆಂಕಿ ಇಟ್ಟ ಖಜಾನೆಯನ್ನು ಬರಿದು ಮಾಡಿದ. ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷರಿಗೆ ರಾಯಣ್ಣ ನುನ್ಗಲ್ಲರದ ತುತ್ತಾದ. ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರನ್ನು ಬಗ್ಗು ಬಡಿಯಲು ಸಂಯವನ್ನು ಐದು ಸಾವಿರದವರೆಗೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸಿದ. ರಾಯನನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿಯುವ ಹಂಚು ಹಾಕಿದರು. ಕ್ಹೊದನಾಪುರದ ನಿಂಗನಗೌಡ, ನೆಗಿನಹಾಲದ ವೆಂಕನಗೌಡ ಇವರು ರಾಯಣ್ಣನನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿದು ಕೊಡುವುದಾಗಿ ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರಿಗೆ ಗುಪ್ತವಾಗಿ ಮಾತು ಕೊಟ್ಟರು. ರಾಯಣ್ಣನ ಗುಂಪಿನಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಲಕ್ಕಪ್ಪ ನಿಂಗನಗೌಡ ಹಾಗು ವೆಂಕನಗೌಡರಿಗೆ ಬೇಕಾಗಿದ್ದ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದ. ಲಕ್ಕಪ್ಪನ ಸಹಾಯದಿಂದ ರಾಯಣ್ಣನನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿಯುವ ಸಂಚು ಹೂಡಿದರು. ಡೂರಿ ಬೆಣಚಿ ಗುಡ್ಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ನೀರಿನ ಝರಿ ಹರಿದಿದಿತ್ತು. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಯಣ್ಣ ಸ್ನಾನ ಮಾಡುವ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ತನ್ನ ಖಡ್ಗವನ್ನು ಲಕ್ಕಪ್ಪನ ಕೈಗೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದ. ಎದೆ ಸಂಧರ್ಭವನ್ನು ಲಕ್ಕಪ್ಪ ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಸಂಜ್ನ್ಯೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟ. ಒಂಬತ್ತು ಜನ ಒಮ್ಮೆಲೇ ಬಂದು ರಾಯಣ್ಣನ ಮೇಲೆ ಬಿದ್ದರು. ರಾಯಣ್ಣ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿ ಬಿದ್ದ. "ಮೋಸದಿಂದ ಹಿಡಿದ ನೀವು ಗಂಡಸರೇ" ಎಂದು ಚೀರಿದ. ಅಂದು ದಿನಾಂಕ ೧೮-೪-೧೮೩೦ ಆಗಿತ್ತು. ನಂತರ ವಿಚಾರಣೆ ನಟಕ ಮಾಡಿದರು. ದಿನಾಂಕ ೨೯-೧-೧೮೩೧ ರಂದು ನಂದಘದದಲ್ಲಿ ಗಲ್ಲಿಗೇರಿಸಲಾಯಿತು. ಈ ಸ್ತಿತಿ ನೋಡಿ ಜನ ಕಣ್ಣಿರಿನ ಕೋಡಿ ಹರಿಸಿದರು. ಅಪ್ರತಿಮ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ಪ್ರೇಮಿ ರಾಯಣ್ಣ ಪ್ರಾಣ ಜ್ಯೋತಿ ನಂದಘದದಲ್ಲಿ ನಂದಿ ಹೂಯೋತು. ಬಿಚ್ಚಿಗಟ್ಟಿ ಚೆನ್ನಬಸಪ್ಪ ರಾಯಣ್ಣನ ಜೀವ ಗೆಳಯ, ರಾಯಣ್ಣನ ಋಣ ತೀರಿಸಲು ಮಾರು ವೇಷದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂದು ರಾಯಣ್ಣನ ಸಮಾಧಿಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಆಳದ ಸಸಿಯೊಂದನ್ನು ನೆಟ್ಟಿದ. ಆ ಸಸಿ ಇಂದು ಹೆಮ್ಮರವಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆದು ನಿಂತಿದೆ. ಆ ಗಿಡದ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಹೂವು, ಎಲೆ, ದೆತುಗಳು ರಾಯಣ್ಣನ ಸಾಹಸಕ್ಕೆ ಮೂಕಸಾಕ್ಷಿಯಾಗಿವೆ. ರಾಯಣ್ಣ ದೇವತಾ ಪುರುಷನಾದ, ಹೀಗೆ ಸಂಗೊಳ್ಳಿ ರಾಯಣ್ಣ ಒಂದು ದಂತ ಕತೆಯಾಗಿ ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ಮನದಲ್ಲಿ ಊಲಿದಿದೆ.

The place of execution is about 4km from the memorial. Anybody in Nandagad will give you directions ...in Marathi.

Sangolli Rayanna was hanged from one of the branches just behind this little temple. The video might help... A local woman herding her buffaloes showed us a spot marked with few stones but there were no branches above the spot. We guessed the branch must have broken off ...the incident took place way back 1830, that's 180 years back.

It would be good if the tree is fenced and a board fixed stating the tree's importance.

Policemen to get Sangolli Rayanna award

Staff Reporter

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Chief Minister unveils statue of the freedom fighter near the City railway station

colourful: Folk artistes perform during the unveiling of the statue of Sangolli Rayanna near City Railway Station in Bangalore on Tuesday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

The State Government will institute an award in Sangolli Rayanna's name to be given away every year to policemen besides writing to the Railway Ministry to name the City Railway Station after the freedom fighter, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has said.

Unveiling the statue of Sangolli Rayanna at D. Devaraj Urs Circle here on Tuesday, he said that he would hold discussions with the Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Prathistana about their demands. He said that lessons on Sangolli Rayanna would be included in school curriculum. Mr. Yeddyurappa said that Rs. 1 crore had been earmarked for improvement of Kittur Rani Chennamma and Sangolli Rayanna memorials.

He called upon citizens to draw inspiration from freedom fighters, including Sangolli Rayanna, and serve the nation.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah said the unveiling of the statue was long pending. Though it was installed at D. Devaraj Urs Circle in 2008, the unveiling was delayed.

He said that he had approved a project in 2005-06 for setting up a defence academy at Nandagad, where Rayanna was hanged.

He said that the Government should try and have a dialogue with the Union Government with regard to establishing an NDA in the State.

“I am not making these demands because Rayanna belonged to the Kuruba community. He was a great freedom fighter and his struggle should be recognised by the Government,” he said.

K.S. Eshwarappa, BJP State unit president, said that Sangolli Rayanna was the army chief of Kittur Rani Chennamma.

He said that Rayanna is considered by many as a pioneer of guerrilla warfare. He fought against the British till the end of his life.

He said that citizens must draw inspiration from him and work towards rooting out terrorism from the country.

On the occasion, Prabhakar Dongre, the sculptor of the 13-foot-tall, 1.5-tonne statue, was felicitated.

It is said that Mr. Dongre, who is from Kolhapur, took three years to make the panchaloha statue. Sangolli Krishnamurthy, president of Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Prathistana, and Mayor Nataraj were also felicitated on the occasion.

Highlights: Freedom Movement in Belgaum (ಬೆಳಗಾವಿ)

Belgaum has played very important role in freedom struggle. In this article I have tried to summarize important people and events associated with the freedom struggle.
“One can only think of Belgaum as a holy place of pilgrimage. Its atmosphere is saturated with the devout love of Sri Gangadharrao Deshpande; it is charged with the spirit of adoration of his assistants, the volunteers, who know the value of discipline and obedience; it is permeated with non-violence, which Gandhiji’s presence is spreading into it in every action that is taken; and, definitely for the purpose of manifesting this non- violence to perfection, the big congregation has gathered here. If a place like this cannot be called a holy land, I would like to know what other name might be given to it.”
–Mahadevbhai Desai, Day to Day with Gandhi
Kittur Rani Chennamma:
First women freedom fighter of India. She was (born October 23, 1778 in Kakati, Kittur, Karnataka, India – died February 21, 1829) the Queen of Kittur, India. She was best known for leading an armed rebellion against the British East India Company in 1824. The resistance ended with her arrest and she became a symbol of the independence movement in India.

Krantiveer Sangolli Rayanna (15 August 1798 – 26 January 1831):
He introduced modern techniques in guerilla warfare. He was a prominent warrior from Karnataka, India. Rayanna was born on 15th Aug 1798. He was the army chief of the Kingdom of Kittur ruled at the time by Rani Chennamma and fought the British East India Company till his death. Interestingly on his birth day (15th August) India got independence and on his death day India became republic (26th January). At the time of being hanged 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”.

BHAVE Babasaheb Nargundkar(death 1858) – Ruler of Nargund kingdom in Karnataka:
He revolted against the British in 1857 after he was denied adaption of a heir and waged war which he eventully lost. He was hanged in Belgaum in 1858.He was the first person from a royal family hanged at a public place. His death was very tragic. His statue is installed at the center of the Belgaum city.
Shri Gangadharrao Deshpande (Lion of Karnatak- 31st March 1871 to 30th July 1960):

He was styled as Lion of Karnatak. There were only two people in entire India who had similar title; they were Punjab Kesari – Lala Lajpat Ray and Andhra Kesari – T. Prakasam.
Gangadharrao Deshpande was one of the four chief Lieutenants of Lokamanya Tilak.Other three were N.C.Kelkar, Dadasaheb Khaparde, and Mr.Baptista. When Tilak started his home rule league Gangadharrao Deshpande became one of the vice presidents. Tilak nominated Gangadharrao Deshpande to Bombay Assembly in 1920.
Gangadharrao Deshpande was one of the five main personal disciples of Mahatma Gandhiji. Other four were Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Kakasaheb Kalelkar and Kishorilal Mashruwala.
Gangadharrao Deshpande was the first and foremost from Karnataka to respond to the repeated calls of the Mahatma to suffer and sacrifice for the cause of national freedom.Mahatma Gandhi had called him “the great Gangadharrao”.
He was called as “Khadi Bhageerath of Karnatak” since he started first khadi center at his native place Hudli and it was the first Khadi center in entire South India. He started Kumri Ashram at Hudli and many of eminent freedom fighters like G.Narayan were trained at the Kumri Ashram.
He established daily news papers Dhureena(Kannada), Raashtramat(Marathi- worked as chief editor) and Lokmanya (Marathi). He played an important role in establishing the leading Kannada daily news paper Samyukta Karnataka.
Gangadharrao Deshpande alongwith Govindrao Yalagi started the celebrations of Ganapati Festival and Shivaji Jayanti at Belgaum.
He was the Reception Committee Chairman of the Belgaum Congress Session. The only session ever presided by Mahatma Gandhiji.
He organized 3rd annual conference of Gandhi Seva Sangh at his native village Hudli.About 10,000 delegates from all over India except Jawaharlal Nehru have participated.
He was the Chairman of the Karnataka Khadi and Village Industries Association. He was a trustee of All India Spinners Association headed by Mahatma Gandhi. He was also one of the founder of Gandhi Seva Sangh alongwith top freedom fighters of the country.
Gangadharrao Deshpande was First President of KPCC (1920). Also he was KPCC President twice.
He was a General Secretary of the Congress alongwith Jawaharlal Nehru and Saifuddin Kitchlew during 1923.
He was the President of AICC(5th dictator) during 1931-32.
He was a member of Congress Working Committee for Several years.
He fought for India’s Independence for 60 years (1887 to 1947). When India got freedom he worked for unification of Karnataka. After 1947 he lived hermit like life and engaged himself in spiritual pursuits under the guidance of Gurudev Ranade. Karnataka Government has sanctioned Rs. 1 Crore 60 Lacs to build his monument at Hudli village.

Picture: Karnatak Simha Gangadharrao Deshpande alongwith his disciples Ramchandra Wadavi and Pundalikji Katagade
please click here to read short biography written on Kamat.com
Bombay State Political Conference (1916):
Bombay State Political Conference was held in 1916 at Belgaum. Tilak launched his Home Rule League in Belgaum. Tilak announced “ Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it” at this conference. Tilak met Mahatma Gandhi for the first time at this conference. Gangadharrao Deshpande was the Secretary of the Reception Committee. Some people wrote a letter to Gandhi and requested him not to attend the conference. But Gandhi wrote a letter in reply and told “Nothing but death can prevent me from going to Belgaum and attending the Conference”.
39th Congress Session (1924):
39th Congress Session was held in 1924 at Belgaum under the presidentship of Mahatma Gandhi. It was only session presided by Mahatma Gandhi. It was the only congress session held in Karnatak before independence. Gangadharrao Deshpande was the Chairman of Reception Committee. It was in this session the service of volunteers of Seva Dal founded by Dr. N.S. Hardikar were utilized for the first time. This conference played very important role in freedom movement as it helped different factions of Congress come together. The venue was named “Vijay Nagar” and depicted the history of Vijay nagar empire and Karnatak.
3rd Annual Conference of Gandhi Seva Sangh (1937):
3rd Annual Conference of Gandhi Seva Sangh was held in Hudli Village, Kundarnaadu, Karnatak. Mahatma Gandhi Stayed in Hudli Village for one week. About 10,000 delegates participated in the conference.Inte-caste marriage “Rashtriya Vivah” was organised at Hudli. Wedding ceremonies of Mahatma Gandhi’s grand-daughter Manu Gandhi and Mahadev Bhai Desai’s(Gandhiji’s Secretary) sister and thread ceremony of Mahadev Bhai’s son were organized at the Hudli Village, Belgaum District. You can visit Hudli village which is very famous for production of Khadi. There is good collection of old photographs at “Gandhi Ghar”. This was the last visit of Mahatma Ganghi to Belgaum(6) and Karnatak(8).
Quit India Movement (1942):
Belgaum played a very important role in quit india movement. More than 5000 people imprisoned at Belgaum. British government had announced Rs.5000/- on 5 freedom fighters in entire Karnatak. All five freedom fighters belong to Belgaum District. The Quit India movement was organized very effectively in Belgaum and surrounding districts because which “Karnatak Pattern” became popular in entire country.
Freedom fighters who played an Important role in Freedom movement

Picture: Shri B.Y.Deshpande. (Annu Guruji)

Picture: Shri Vamanrao Bidari

Picture: Shri Gajanan Yalagi. Yalagi family played a very important role in freedom movement. Almost 17 people went to jail in various movements of freedom struggle.