The correct option is (a).
Explanation
The resistance in Kitoor (present-day Karnataka) was one of the early armed uprisings against the British East India Company's expansionist policies, specifically the refusal to recognize adopted heirs (a precursor to the Doctrine of Lapse).Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: Rani Channamma was the queen of Kitoor. Following the death of her husband and only son, the British refused to recognize her adopted son as the heir. She led an armed anti-British resistance movement in 1824. She was subsequently arrested in 1824 and died in prison in 1829.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Rayanna was not a wealthy zamindar. He was a poor chowkidar (watchman) of Sangoli in Kitoor. With popular support, he carried on the resistance after Rani Channamma’s arrest, destroying many British camps and records.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Rayanna was not pardoned or appointed as an administrator. He was eventually caught by the British and hanged in 1830.
Key Takeaway:
The Kitoor uprising highlights the role of both royal leadership (Rani Channamma) and grassroots resistance (Rayanna, a poor chowkidar) in the early struggle against British annexation policies.