The Centre approved to Bangalore Railway Station name Changed as 'Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna'

New Delhi: The Centre today approved the name change of the Bangalore city railway station as ‘Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna’ Railway Station. The decision came following a request of the Karnataka government, which sought the name change of the railway station.

In September 2014, the central government had cleared renaming 12 cities and towns of the state including Belgaum as Belagavi and Bangalore as Bengaluru. The other cities and towns whose names were changed then include Mangalore (to Mangaluru), Bellary (to Ballari), Bijapur (to Vijapura), Chikmagalur (to Chikkamagaluru), Gulbarga (to Kalaburagi), Mysore (to Mysure), Hospet (to Hosapete), Shimoga (to Shivamogga), Hubli (to Hubballi) and Tumkur (to Tumakuru).

In its latest order, the Home Ministry has also approved the changing of name of village ‘Khamkeria’ as ‘Kupuhe’ in Dimapur district in Nagaland.

About Krantivira Sangroli Rayanna

Sangolli Rayanna (15 August 1798 – 26 January 1831) was a prominent warrior from Karnataka, India. Rayanna was born on 15 August 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.

Sangolli Rayanna also 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 adopted son Shivalingappa as the ruler of Kittur. He mobilised local people and started a guerilla type war against the British. He and his “army” moved from place to place, burnt government offices, waylaid British troops and plundered treasuries.

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 1831 and tried by the British; and sentenced to death. Shivalingappa, the boy who was supposed to be the new ruler, was also arrested by the British.

Rayanna was executed by hanging to death from a Banyan tree about 4 kilometers from Nandagad in Belgaum district on 26 January 1832.

Rayanna was helped by Gajaveera, a Siddi warrior, in his revolt against the British in 1829-30.

Rayanna was buried near Nandagad. Legend says that a close associate of Rayanna planted a Banyan 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, i.e., it was used by Rayanna himself for body building. A community hall, built in commemoration of Rayanna at Sangolli serves the villagers of Sangolli.