Rewriting Indian History

Basavaraj Naikar’s The Queen of Kittur delineates the history of Pre-Independent India during the East India Company. The colonial encounter that it significantly deals with was fought between the Queen of Kittur – (Rani Chennamma) and the authorities of the East India Company around 1824 for land and political power. Although the Queen put up a heroic fight with the East India Company and succeeded in killing Thackeray, the political agent of South India and Collector of Dharwad, she was eventually betrayed by her courtiers later, and as a result, her kingdom was annexed to the British Raj, and she was imprisoned in her own fort at Balihongala, where she breathed her last in 1829 after suffering from nostalgia for the past glory of her kingdom. The Queen represents a typical example of Female heroism, sheer bravery and valiant fighting tactics – all depicting the icon of Women Empowerment in current times. History is absorbing and refreshing in the novel. Naikar investigates the history of the particular period in India and justifies substantially the patriotism of the Queen of Kittur in a gripping narration. The theme of honour and glory; patriotism and freedom; betrayal and defeat of the royal family of Kittur kingdom are succinctly highlighted. The spirit of freedom serves as a model to the entire womankind. The novelist has immortalized the Queen of Kittur through the historical novel. It is in other words re-writing history to the millions of readers across the globe. A spirited recollection of history to the core of her patriotism and national duty and honour---- P.V.Laxmiprasad—Indian Scholar