There have been many heroes who have not been able to find their place in the history books. Here is a peep into the annals of Indian History.

Rani Abbakka Chowta, born in 1525 CE, was the first Tuluva Queen of Ullal. She fiercely resisted Portuguese attempts to capture the strategically placed port town of Ullal in coastal Karnataka, India. For over four decades, she repulsed each of their attacks, earning the title of “Abhaya Rani” (The fearless queen).

She was one of the earliest Indians to fight European colonialism. But,  the History books don’t mention her.

Abbakka’s ancestors were Jain royals from Gujarat, who probably migrated to Karnataka’s Tulu Nadu region around the 12^th century. They settled in Ullal, a port town near Mangalore. They became completely naturalised citizens. They adopted the local language and customs as their own. They adopted the Hindu god Somanatheshwara of the nearby Someshwar temple as their family deity. And, like the Tuluva warrior class, they followed a matrilineal system called Aliyasantana. In this system, property passed on from mother to daughter (not father to son). She was an expert at Guerilla warfare.

Abbakka was well equipped to combat the Portuguese commander Dom Alvaro de Silveira when he attacked Ullal in 1556. In 1558, the Portuguese attacked again with a larger army under Louis DeMello. But the queen got timely help from the Moplahs of Malabar and the Zamorin of Calicut. This was too much for the Portuguese force, which retreated. However, her luck ran out in 1570. She was captured and killed.  

The performing arts like Yakshagana and Bhoota Kola still celebrate Abbakka’s heroics.

Vidurashwatha is a village located in the  in the state of Karnataka, India. The village is situated near the Karnataka–Andhra Pradesh border. It is about 6 km from Gauribidanur. Vidurashwatha played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. However, it has not found a mention in the History books.

The village derives its name from the Ashwatha tree supposedly planted by Vidura of Mahabaharat.  

The Deccan Herald of 17^th August 2022, refers to this village in its headline Vidurashwatha: the forgotten ‘Jallianwala Bagh’ of Karnataka. The Hindustan Times calls it the Vidurashwatha Massacre, the Forgotten Jallianwala Bagh of South India.

The year was 1938 and India’s freedom struggle was at its peak. On the morning of April 25, a group of villages led by leaders of the Indian National Congress (INC) gathered at an open ground in Vidurashwatha village. They wanted to hoist the national flag. It was a peaceful march but they were defying prohibitory orders.  The police opened fire, killing 32 people and injuring more than 100 others. At least 90 rounds of ammunition was fired by the police that morning.

A place in memory of those who laid down their lives is built at the village.