Every city has some historical importance. They are considered as special on religious/spiritual background or historical background.
The city of Ranipet in Vellore district has strong historic significance. The king,Desingu Raja, who ruled with Gengi as capital, was one of the brave kings who refused to pay the tributary tax to the foreigner.
The fort of Gengi is globally popular. Among the rulers who ruled from this fort, Raja Desingu is the most talked-about in history.
Raja Desingu had strong connections and close bonding with the city of Ranipet. When Desingu Raja refused to pay the tax, Arcot Nawab Sadatullah Khan waged war against him in the year 1714 AD when Raja Desingu died. His body was kept in the Gengi Fort for public homage and then cremated. His wife committed ‘Sathi’ by jumping into the fire.
During the early days, Ranipet was a military centre. During the British rule it was one of the military centres. There are still some old buildings and tombs which stand as proof for this.
The largest section of the horse-mounted military segment was kept at Ranipet. Currently, Ranipet court is functioning in this location. Also, many public sector offices, girls’ high schools, teachers’ training centre are located here.
An old building opposite the government Children Home was functioning as medicine storage centre. The place where wekly fairs conducted now in the Chennai-Mumbai National Highway was a fenced wnclosure used by the British as open jail.
The first statue of Mahatma Gandhi after India’s independence was installed only in Ranipet within 13 days after his death! Mahatma Gandhi died on 30thJanuary, 1948. His statue was installed in Ranipet on 12th Febryary, 1948 withing 13 days after his death. The senior congress leader, Jayaram Chettiar of the Ranipet Lorry Owners’ Association, installed the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.
The central locality of Ranipet, known as ‘Navalpur’, has a cemetery garden. The navy military personnel who died during the wars of the British have been buried here. It was earlier known as Naval Graveyard. When the British forces moved from Chennai to Bangalore and vice-versa, they used to camp here.
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