Abbakka Rani

Abbakka Rani(Kannada,Tulu:ಅಬ್ಬಕ್ಕ ರಾಣಿ ) or Abbakka Mahadevi (Kannada,Tulu:ಅಬ್ಬಕ್ಕ ಮಹಾದೇವಿ)was the queen of Tulunadu who fought the Portuguese in the latter half of the 16th century. She belonged to the Jain Chowta dynasty who ruled over the area from the temple town of Moodabidri. The port town of Ullal served as their subsidiary capital. The Portuguese made several attempts to capture Ullal as it was strategically placed. But Abbakka repulsed each of their attacks for over four decades. For her bravery, she came to be known as "Abhaya Rani" ('The fearless queen'). [cite web |url=http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page.asp?relid=6707 |accessdate=2007-07-25 |title= Queen Abbakka's triumph over western colonisers|publisher=Press Information Bureau, Govt., of India ] [cite web |url=http://www.boloji.com/history/028.htm |accessdate=2007-07-25 |title=The Intrepid Queen-Rani Abbakka Devi of Ullal] She was also one of the earliest Indians to fight the colonial powers and is sometimes regarded as the 'first woman freedom fighter of India'. [cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/feb/17tara.htm |accessdate=2007-07-25 |title=Include Tulu in Eighth Schedule: Fernandes|publisher=Rediff.com] [cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/29664181.cms |accessdate=2007-07-25 |title=Blend past and present to benefit future|publisher=Times of India]

Early life

The Chowtas followed a matrilineal system by which Tirumala Raya, Abbakka's uncle, crowned her the queen of Ullal. He also forged a matrimonial alliance for Abbakka with Lakshmappa Arasa, the powerful king of neighbouring Mangalore. This alliance was to later prove a source of worry for the Portuguese. Tirumala Raya also trained Abbakka in the different aspects of warfare and military strategy. The marriage, however was short lived and Abbakka returned to Ullal. Her husband thus longed for revenge against Abbakka and was to later join the Portuguese in their fight against Abbakka.

Historical background

After overrunning Goa and taking control of it, the Portuguese turned their attention southwards and along the coast. They first attacked the South Kanara coast in 1525 and destroyed the Mangalore port. Ullal was a prosperous port and a hub of the spice trade to Arabia and other countries in the west. Being the profitable trading center that it was, the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British vied with one another for control of the region as well as the trade routes. They however, had not been able to make much headway as the resistance from the local chieftains was very strong. The local rulers even forged alliances cutting across caste and religion lines.

Though Abbakka was a Jain by faith, her administration was well represented by Hindus and Muslims. Her army too consisted of people of all sects and castes including the Mogaveeras, a fisher folk community. She even forged alliances with the Zamorin of Calicut and other Muslim rulers south of Tulunadu towards this end. Together, they kept the Portuguese at bay. The marital ties with the neighbouring Banga dynasty added further strength to the alliance of the local rulers.

Battles against the Portuguese

The Portuguese, clearly upset by the Abbakka's tactics, demanded that she pay them tribute but Abbakka refused to yield. In 1555, the Portuguese sent Admiral Dom Álvaro da Silveira to fight her after she refused to pay them tribute. In the battle that followed, Rani Abbakka once again managed to hold her own and repulsed the attack successfully.

In 1557, the Portuguese plundered Mangalore and laid it waste. In 1568, they turned their attention to Ullal but Abbakka Rani resisted them yet again. João Peixoto, a Portuguese general and a fleet of soldiers where sent by the Portuguese Viceroy António Noronha. They managed to capture the city of Ullal and also entered the royal court. Abbakka Rani, however, escaped and took refuge in a mosque. The same night, she gathered around 200 of her soldiers and mounted an attack on the Portuguese. In the battle that ensued, General Peixoto was killed, seventy Portuguese soldiers were taken prisoners and many of the Portuguese retreated. In further attacks, Abbakka Rani and her supporters killed Admiral Mascarenhas and the Portuguese were also forced to vacate the Mangalore fort.

In 1569 however, the Portuguese not only regained the Mangalore fort but also captured Kundapur (Basrur). Despite these gains, Abbakka Rani continued to remain a source of threat. With the help of the queen's estranged husband, they mounted attacks on Ullal. Furious battles followed but Abbakka Rani held her own. In 1570, she formed an alliance with the Bijapur Sultan of Ahmed Nagar and the Zamorine of Calicut, who where also opposing the Portuguese. Kutty Pokar Markar, the Zamorine's general fought on behalf of Abbakka and destroyed the Portuguese fort at Mangalore but while returning he was killed by the Portuguese. Following these losses and her husband's treachery, Abbakka lost the war, was arrested and jailed. However, even in prison she revolted and died fighting.

Folklore and legend

According to traditional accounts, she was an immensely popular queen and this is also attested by the fact that she is even today a part of folklore. The queen's story has been retold from generation to generation through folk songs and Yakshagana, a popular folk theatre in Dakshina Kannada. In Bhootaradhane, a local ritual dance, the persona in trance recounts the great deeds of Abbakka Mahadevi. Abbakka is portrayed as dark and good looking, always dressed in simple clothes like a commoner. She is portrayed as a caring queen who worked late into the night dispensing justice. Legends also claim that Abbakka was the last known person to have the used the Agnivana (fire-arrow) in her fight against the Portuguese. Some accounts also claim that she had two equally valiant daughters who fought alongside her in her wars against the Portuguese. Tradition however treats all three - mother and two daughters as the same person.

Memory

Abbakka's memory is much cherished in her home town of Ullal. The "Veera Rani Abbakka Utsava" is an annual celebration held in her memory. The Veera Rani Abbakka Prashasti(award) is awarded to distinguished women on the occasion. [cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/09/stories/2006010914610300.htm |accessdate=2007-07-25 |title= M.P. Prakash calls for revival of local culture |publisher=Deccan Herald] On January 15th, 2003, the Indian postal department issued a special cover on Rani Abbakka. There have been calls to name the Bajpe airport and a naval vessel after the queen. [cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/32796607.cms |accessdate=2007-07-25 |title= Name Mangalore airport after Rani Abbakka: Dhananjaya |publisher=Times of India] A bronze statue of the queen has been erected in Ullal and another in Bangalore. [cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/27/stories/2007012721710400.htm|accessdate=2007-07-25|publisher=The Hindu | title= Highlight freedom fighters' role in books, says Ashok] The Karnataka Itihasa Academy has called for renaming the Queen's road in the state capital as 'Rani Abbakka Devi road'. [cite web |url=http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/__e5256852001e3a90.nsf/0/69721135fc4ba8e765256942002e3db2!OpenDocument&Highlight=0,abbakka |accessdate=2007-07-25 |title= Academy demands awards for historians |publisher=Indian Express]

ee also

* Ullal
* Tulunadu
* Goa Inquisition

Notes

References

* [http://www.ignca.gov.in/nl001903.htm Abbakka Rani - The unsung warrior queen]
* [http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page.asp?relid=6707 Queen Abbakka's triumph over Western colonisers]

External links

* [http://www.ourkarnataka.com/Articles/starofmysore/abbakka.htm Pepper queen Abbakka]
* [http://www.boloji.com/history/028.htm Rani Abbakka Devi of Ullal]
* [http://www.mea.gov.in/indiaperspective/2004/102004.pdf Abbakka, the warrior queen of Karnataka]
* [http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/09/stories/2006010904870400.htm Rani Abbakka has not been given her due]
* [http://www.deccanherald.com/Archives/jun192006/state2216232006618.asp Brave Abbakka still awaiting her due]
* [http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/itihas/abbakka.htm Historian Dr. Jyotsna Kamat's Article on Abbakka]