TEAM RAYANNA KARNATAKA

Sangolli Rayanna (15 August 1798 – 26 January 1831) was a prominent warrior.

Sangolli Rayanna participated in the 1824 rebellion and was arrested by the British, who released him later. He continued to fight the British and wanted to install the adopted son of King Mallasarja and Rani Chennamma, namely Shivalingappa as the ruler of Kittur.[1] He mobilised local people and started a guerilla type war against the British.[1] He and his "army" moved from place to place, burnt government offices, waylaid British troops and plundered treasuries.[1] Most of his land was confiscated and what remained of it was heavily taxed. He taxed the landlords and built up an army from the masses. The British troops could not defeat him in open battle. Hence, by treachery, he was caught in April 1830 and tried by the British; and sentenced to death.[1] Shivalingappa, the boy who was sup

Rayanna was buried near Nandagad. Legend says that a close associate of Rayanna planted a (banayan) sapling on his grave. Unlike the usual 6 foot grave, Rayanna's grave is 8 feet long because Rayanna was tall - more than 7 feet. The tree is fully grown and stands to this day. An Ashoka Stambha was installed near the tree. A small temple in the name of Sangolli Rayanna was constructed at Sangolli village, in which stands a statue of Rayanna flanked by two wooden weights used for body building. One of the wooden weights is original, that is it was used by Rayanna himself for body building. A community hall, built in commemoration of Rayanna at Sangolli serves the villagers of Sangoll