Question

Venkatappa Nayaka became the ruler of Surapura at the age of ________
A. 5
B. 8
C. 10
D. 24

Answer 1

Hint: He was very young when he became the ruler. He was too young to rule by himself so he had a guardian to oversee it. He was 7 years old when his father died.

Complete Answer:
Surapura Venkatappa Nayaka was the most influential and last ruler of Nayak Dynasty of Shorapur. The Shorapur district was in southern India in the current state of Karnataka. This district was ruled by kings who had given tough resistance to Aurangzeb. When king Krishnappa Nayaka died, there was a crisis in succession between the king's younger brother and the king's very young son. The British appointed Philip Meadows Taylor as its Resident and Regent. He was sent to sort out the issue of the succession and he backed the prince, ensuring that Vaenkatappa got crowned as the king when he was still a young boy. Taylor stayed on as the British representative and backed him till the end of his tenure.

A. When Venkatappa was 5 years old, his father Krishnappa Nayaka was still the ruler of Surapura. So, this is not the correct option.

B. Venkatappa Nayaka was 8 years old when he became the ruler of Surapura after the death of his father. Therefore, this is the correct option.

C. At the age of 10 years old, he was already the ruler of Surapura and ruled with the guidance of the British representative. So, this is not the correct option.

D. At 24, he was ruling without any guardian to oversee or make his decisions for him for the last three years. So this is not the correct option.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B.

Note: He fought against the British rule and participated in the Revolt of 1857.
- He was also known as Raja Mundagai Venkatappa Nayaka (Mundagai means the chopped off hand). This was because he had lost his left forearm and used an artificial arm.
- He had a very close bond with Taylor and called him 'appa'.
- He was arrested and sentenced to be held in captivity but he shot himself dead instead.