Onake Obavva

Onake Obavva (18th Century) (Kannada: ಓಬವ್ವ) was a woman who fought the forces of Hyder Ali single-handedly with a masse (Onake) in the small kingdom of Chitradurga in the Chitradurga district of Karnataka ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ, India. Her husband was a guard of a watchtower in the rocky fort of Chitradurga. She is considered to be the epitome of Kannada women pride, with the same standing as Kittur Chennamma and Keladi Chennamma. The sports stadium in Chitradurga- Veera Vanithe Onake Obavva Stadium, is named after her.

Biography

Background

The former soldier Timmana Nayaka rose to the rank of Governor of Chitradurga as a reward for his excellence in military achievements, from the Vijayanagara ruler. His son Obana is known by the name Madhakari Nayaka. Madakari Nayaka's son Kasturi Rangappa succeeded him, consolidated the kingdom, and rule peacefully . As he had no heirs to succeed him, his adopted son — the apparent heir — was enthroned, but was killed a few months later by the Dalavayis.

Chikkanna Nayaka, the brother of Madakari Nayaka II sat on the throne in 1676, and his other brother succeeded him with the title Madakari Nayaka III. The unwillingness of Dalawayis to accept Madakari Nayaka III's rule gave an opportunity to a distant relative, Bharamappa Nayaka, to ascend the throne in 1689. The quick succession of rulers led to the people of Chitradurga not experiencing the benefits of longer ruling periods. Hiri Madakari Nayaka (1721 - 1748), Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka II and Madakari Nayaka IV were the next successors.

Siege of Chitradurga

During the reign of Madakari Nayaka, the city of Chitradurga was besieged by the troops of Hyder Ali. A chance sighting of a woman entering the Chitradurga fort through a crack hole in the rocks led to a clever plan by Hyder Ali to send his soldiers through that crack. The defence guard on duty of the port near that crack hole had just gone home as usual asking his wife to guard until he is back from his lunch. The wife of that guard, Obavva, noticed the soldiers emerging out of this crack but was not perturbed. She used the Onake (a wooden long club meant for pounding paddy grains) to kill and quietly moved the dead, so that hundreds of them entered and fell, without raising the suspicions of the rest of the troops. The guard, Obavva's husband, upon his return from lunch, was shocked to see Obavva standing with a blood stained Onake and hundreds of the enemies' dead bodies around her. Though her sincere brave attempt saved the fort this time, Madakari could not resist the attack of 1779 by Hyder Ali, when the fort of Chitradurga was lost to Hyder Ali once for all.

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