States » SouthPosted at: Oct 20 2026 12:41PM


Rani Channamma statue loses arm ahead of Kittur Utsav

Belagavi, Oct 20 (UNI) The damage to the statue of Karnataka’s iconic freedom fighter Kittur Rani Channamma, whose right arm broke off ahead of the annual Kittur Utsav, has triggered demands for urgent repairs and its replacement, putting the spotlight on the upkeep of a prominent historical landmark.
The right arm of the bronze equestrian statue fell off on the night of October 19 at the entrance to the historic town of Kittur in Belagavi district. The incident comes just three days before the inauguration of Kittur Utsav on October 23, intensifying calls from pro-Kannada organisations for the government to intervene immediately.
The cause of the damage remains unclear. Officials suspect that corrosion, possibly aggravated by rain and strong winds, may have weakened the structure. Revenue officials, including the Tahsildar, taluk panchayat officials and police personnel, inspected the site. The detached arm and sword have been removed and kept at the Tahsildar’s office.
The incident has revived demands for replacing the nearly 30-year-old statue, with local activists questioning the authorities’ failure to act on earlier representations.
Rudragouda Patil, president of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike’s taluk unit, said he had submitted a memorandum seeking replacement of the statue four years ago, but the authorities had ignored it.
“We can understand that a new statue cannot be installed in three days, before the Kittur Utsav. However, the government can at least repair it before the event,” Patil said.
He urged Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is scheduled to attend the valedictory function, to announce the replacement of the existing statue with a larger one.
Sri Madiwala Rajayogindra Swami of Kittur Kalmath has also demanded that the government install a new statue.
The equestrian statue stands at the entrance to Kittur, off the Pune-Bengaluru national highway. The structure rises about 50 feet above ground, while the metal sculpture itself is around 10 feet tall and is estimated to weigh more than a tonne.
Unveiled in 1997, the statue was shifted a few feet away from the main road in 1999 during the widening of the highway under the Golden Quadrilateral project. It was cleaned and painted in 2024 to mark the bicentenary of the Kittur War.
Rani Channamma, the 19th-century queen of Kittur, is remembered for her armed resistance against British colonial rule. The statue serves as a prominent symbol of her legacy, making the damage particularly sensitive ahead of the annual festival held in her honour.
With the festival approaching, the immediate challenge for the authorities is to restore the statue before the celebrations begin, even as demands grow for a permanent replacement.
UNI BDN
Tags: #Rani Channamma statue loses arm ahead of Kittur Utsav
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