Karnataka: Muslim farmer donates land for Chennamma memorial

HUBBALLI: Thanks to Shoukat Ali Sumbad's generous gift, Sindagi town in Vijayapura will get a Chennamma memorial, modelled on the Kittur fort, to celebrate the town's connect with the valorous Lingayat queen who fought the British in 1824.
Basava Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swamiji of Lingayat Panchamasali Peetha Kudala Sangam said Sumbad, a farmer, came forward to donate his land adjacent to the state highway when local authorities failed to provide land for the memorial. "The committee led by Basava Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swamiji sought a 15x10 plot but when I went through their plan of constructing a model of Kittur fort, I decided to donate 425 sq ft," said the 61-year-old farmer. "Rani Chennamma is the pride of every Indian, irrespective of caste and creed, and my contribution is nothing compared to her sacrifice for the nation."
Sumbad, who lives in the neighbouring town of Almel, said he is a man of modest means but proud to make the contribution. "I own nine acres of land in Almel. I have six sons and two daughters. Two of my sons run small businesses in Mumbai. Ten of us live in a small house in Almel," he said.
Kin happy to donate land for memorial, says farmer
I also work as a broker to sell or buy sites. I had bought 15 guntas of land in Sindagi for my children some 15 years ago. When our MLA MC Managuli and Swamiji sought land for the memorial, my entire family agreed wholeheartedly” Sumbad said.
“As Chennamma’s history is linked to Sindagi, there has been a demand for a memorial here since 2008, but the town municipal council failed to provide land due to political and technical reasons,” said Swamiji. “There were plans to observe a Sindagi bandh in the first week of June to protest the indifference of authorities. But then Sumbad gave us his land. We have formed a committee to construct a model of Kittur fort and a bronze statue of Chennamma at a cost of Rs 28 lakh.”
Sindagi made headlines recently after some anti-social elements hoisted a Pakistan flag to stoke tension. The prime accused in the Gauri Lankesh killing is also from this town. Shivakumar Uppin, a resident of Almel, said Hindus and Muslims have lived in harmony here for centuries. “Sumbad’s donation has strengthened this bond further,” he said.