BENGALURU: The government will observe the birth anniversary of 18th-century freedom fighter Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna by organising programmes on Sunday. On January 26, his martyrdom will be observed.
A circular was issued by the protocol wing of the department of personnel & administrative reforms (DPAR) on Friday. Sangolli Rayanna (1798-1831) was the army chief of the erstwhile Kittur kingdom ruled by Rani Chennamma and fought against the British. He was hanged to death from a banyan tree near Nandagad in Belagavi district in1831.
In recent years, Rayanna has been projected as an icon of the Kuruba community, considered to be the third largest in the state. The government’s decision is seen as a way to woo the community. Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai's cabinet has three Kurubas — KS Eshwarappa, MTB Nagaraj and Byrati Basavaraj. On Saturday, Bommai sought the blessings of Sri Niranjananda Puri of Kaginele Kanaka Gurupeet in Bengaluru. The mutt is located in Haveri district.
Opposition leader Siddaramaiah renamed Bengaluru City railway station after Sangolli Rayanna when he was chief minister. He later set up an authority to develop Rayanna’s birthplace in Belagavi as a heritage centre.
