#abbakka chowta

[women-throughout-history]

Rani Abbakka Chowta

Rani Abbakka Chowta, a key figure in Indian history, was part of the Chowta dynasty ruling coastal Karnataka. Known as Abhaya Rani for her bold nature, she emerged as an early freedom fighter against foreign invaders and colonial rule. As the queen of Ullal, Abbakka staunchly opposed Portuguese dominance, refusing tribute payments in 1555. Abbakka also challenged economic subjugation by the Portuguese, insisting on trade for the welfare of her people. Despite personal challenges, including a strained marriage, she prioritised her daughter's well-being, ultimately rescuing her daughter from an unwanted marriage proposal and resisting political alliances that compromised her principles. Abbakka's administration and army was inclusive, with individuals from diverse sects and castes. She formed strategic alliances with influential leaders to fortify her position against Portuguese incursions. Regarded as a significant threat by the Portuguese, Rani Abbakka stands as an early beacon of the Indian freedom movement. Her legacy endures through historical accounts and a bronze statue in Bengaluru, commemorating her unwavering defence of Ullal and her pivotal role in India's struggle for independence. Yet her story remains unknown, often overshadowed by the stories of other famous figures.

[nickysfacts]

Rani Abbakka exemplifies not only girl power but also how we are stronger united!

🇮🇳🚺🇮🇳

[valkyries-things]

ABBAKKA CHOWTA // RANI OF ULLAL

“She was the first Tuluva Queen of Ullal who fought the Portuguese in the latter half of the 16th century. 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). She was also one of the earliest Indians to fight European colonialism and is sometimes regarded as the 'first woman freedom fighter of India'.”

[indian-mythology]

The year was 1555. Portuguese colonial power was at its peak in the 1500’s. They destroyed Zamorins of Calicut. Defeated the Sultan of Bijapur. Took away Daman from the Sultan of Gujarat, Established a colony in Mylapore, Captured Bombay and made Goa as their headquarters. And while they were at it, pretty much unchallenged, they even ruined the ancient Kapaleeswarar Temple to build a Church over it.

Their next target, the super profitable port of Mangalore.

Their only bad luck, just 14 kilometers south of Mangalore was the small settlement of Ullal - ruled then by a feisty 30 year old woman - RANI ABBAKKA CHOWTA

Initially, they took her lightly and sent a few boats and soldiers to capture and bring her back to Goa - Those boats never came back.

Shocked and enraged, they sent a huge fleet of ships this time, under the command of much celebrated Admiral Dom Álvaro da Silveira - The admiral soon returned, badly injured and empty handed.

Thereafter, another Portuguese fleet was sent - only a few injured from the crew managed to make it back.

Then the Portuguese went on to capture the Mangalore port and the fort anyways, perhaps planning to tackle Rani Abbakka Chowta from the convenient distance of the Mangalore fort.

After the successful capture of Mangalore, a huge army under João Peixoto, an experienced Portuguese General was sent to Ullal.

The brief was simple: Subjugate Ullal and capture Abbakka Chowta.

The plan was foolproof- there was no way a 30 year old lady with a few men could withstand the might of an army of thousands with advanced weapons.

The Portuguese reached Ullal and found it deserted. Abbakka was nowhere in sight.

They roamed around, relaxed and thanked their stars - Just when they were about to call it a victory - Mrs Chowta attacked with 200 of her chosen men - there was chaos all around and many portuguese lost their lives even without a fight

General João Peixoto was assassinated, 70 Portuguese were captured and the rest just ran away.

So if you’re Abbakka Chowta, who’s just defeated a large army of aggressors, killed a general, captured fighters and defended her city - What will you do?

- Rest and enjoy the moment right?

- Right?

- No!

Rani Abbakka Chowta, rode with her men towards Mangalore that same night, and laid a siege of the Mangalore fort - She not just broke inside the fort successfully - but assassinated Admiral Mascarenhas the Chief of the Portuguese power there and forced the remaining Portuguese to vacate the fort.

She didn’t just stop at this but went on to even capture the Portuguese settlement at Kundapura, a full 100 kms, north of Mangalore - Just to make a point.

The Portuguese finally managed to get back at Abbakka Chowta by convincing her estranged husband, to betray for money. She was arrested and put in the prison where she revolted again and was killed while trying to escape.

Abbakka Chowta was a Jain who fought against the Portuguese for four decades, with an army comprising of both Hindus and Muslims, a full 300 years before the First War of Indian Independence in 1857.

What did we Indians do to her, as a mark of our respect and gratitude? - We just forgot her.

We didn’t name our girls after her. We didn’t even teach her stories to our kids.

Yes we did release a Postal Stamp in her name, named a boat after her and erected 2 statues - yes just 2 statues in the whole of India for someone who should be our national hero.

The Indian Coast Guard ship ICGS Rani Abbakka the 1st of a series of five inshore patrol vessels built at Hindustan Shipyard Ltd is named after Abbakka Mahadevi.

We might have got to read a chapter about her in our text books, had she been a European or an American.

Many talk about her being the last Indian to have the power of the agni-ban. In all this cacophony, our generation has lost a great hero - a great source of inspiration.

Still wondering why you’ve not heard about her yet?

[noisynutcrusade]

12 Brave Indian Queens Who Challenged Norms & Made History

‘What is a queen without her king?’ The answer to this can be found in these 12 stories, which are a testament to the valour of Indian queens, and how the absence of fear set them apart.  Here’s why we celebrate them.  1. Rani Abbakka Chowta A 16th-century warrior, Rani Abbakka is known for her undying fight against the Portuguese, when they began colonising the areas in proximity to the Indian…

[city-of-ladies]

Rani Abbakka Chowta - The fearless queen 

There were at least two queens named Abbakka Chowta who ruled over the small kingdom of Ullal in India. Both fought against the Portuguese during the 16th and 17th century and held them at bay. They are remembered in legend as the same character: “Abhaya rani”, the fearless queen, and considered as the first Indian women freedom fighters against European colonialism.

These queens belonged to the Chowta dynasty, ruling Ullal, a port on coastal Canara. Power was passed through the female line in this dynasty, the son of the ruler’s sister becoming the next king. Since king Thirumala Raya III had no nephew, he gave his niece Abbakka an education usually reserved to male heirs. She learnt military science, sword fighting and archery. Local legends paint her as a visionary child, gifted in art and science. At that time, the Portuguese dominated the trade in the Indian Ocean and had installed a string of forts on the West coast of India. In 1526, the Portuguese took possession of a port close to Ullal. 

A marriage was arranged for her, but as Abbakka kept living in her own home with her husband visiting her occasionally. She gave birth to three children who all stayed with her. Legends say that Abbakka parted with her husband because of her desire to fight off the Portuguese. She reportedly sent back him her wedding jewelry, which resulted in a divorce.

This Abbakka is believed to have ruled from 1544 to 1582. She refused to accept the Portuguese embargo on her ships and to pay the tribute they demanded. In 1555, the Portuguese sent an admiral against Ullal, but Abbakka fought back and the battle ended in a truce. In 1567, the Portuguese army attacked Ullal again. They managed to capture the city, but the queen hid in a mosque. She led 200 soldiers in a night attack, which resulted in the Portuguese general as well as 70 of their men. The invaders retreated to their ships, but she followed them and killed their admiral.

In 1581, Ullal faced another attack by a grand armada. The queen led her soldiers from the front, exhorting them to fight for their land. She, however, died during the invasion. 

Another queen named Abbakka succeeded her and won a decisive victory by attacking and burning the Portuguese fleet in 1618. When the Portuguese captured one of her rich ships, she had her soldiers sneak into their boats and burn them, inflicting heavy losses. Her fame spread across the Indian Ocean. Italian traveler Pietro della Valle met her, noting the simplicity of her retinue as well as her dedication to her work. He gave the following description of her: 

“Her complexion was that of a natural Ethiopian(...) She was girded at the waist, with a plain piece of white cotton and barefoot (...) From the waist upward the queen was naked. In brief, her aspect and habit represented rather a dirty Kitchen wench, or Laundress, than a delicate and noble Queen; (...)Yet the Queen shew’d her quality much more in speaking than by her presence; for her voice was very graceful in comparison with her Person, and she spoke like a prudent and judicious Woman. I imagine she was handsome in her Youth; and, indeed, the Report is that she hath been much of a Lady, of majestic beauty, though stern rather than gentle.”

For other valiant Indian queens who fought against colonialism, you can read about Rani Velu Nachiyar, Rani Avantibai and  Rani Lakshmibai

Bibliography:

Gupta Archana Garodia, The women who ruled India, leaders, warriors, icons

Pal Sanchari, “The Forgotten Story of Rani Abbakka Chowta, the Fearless Warrior Queen of Tulu Nadu”

[leticiaxoliveira]

DEVI MAHAVALLI CHOWTA

age: 31.

gender & pronouns: demigirl & she/they.

neighborhood: claret park.

occupations: international best-selling author, influencer/content creator, and the owner of the comic lab.

fc: pooja hegde.

HER STORY

trigger warnings: cheating, divorce, toxic relationship, pregnancy, teen pregnancy, drug overdose, attack, mental health (depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies), suicide attempt, miscarriage, cancer, car accident, death.

Abbakka Banga-Chowta and Ranveer Chowta always knew that they wanted the best for their daughter. That they wanted her to grow up strong, connected to her roots but also have the love to fly. When Devi came to their lives, they knew that they loved her more than anything else in the world. They just didn’t realize that their daughter was going to experience quite an adventure as she grew up. For the longest time, Abbakka and Ranveer thought that the most adventurous thing they’d explore with Devi was her sexuality and gender identity, something she discovered herself when she was thirteen. Living in Mumbai, India, they had struggled for awhile learning about this and it resulted in her being sent to an international school in Dubai. For awhile, Devi absolutely hated the school. Yet somehow, over time, it grew to not become too bad and it certainly helped her with her English. She even eventually started seeing someone when she was sixteen.

Falling in love for the first time was once of the simplest yet most beautiful things she’d ever experience. While she hadn’t been expecting him, she knew that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Even when she told him about her sexuality and gender identity, he only seemed to love her more and more. With both of their parents’ permission and blessings, they were set in an arrange marriage and promised to each other. Everything was going perfectly... Until news of Devi’s pregnancy came out.

Devi and her fiancé had just finished graduating from high school, the two ready to start university in the autumn and work even closer to starting their life together. But the moment their parents found out that she was pregnant, they were furious. Her meant-to-be-future-in-laws accused her of sleeping around and cheating on their son. In the midst of it all, he had panicked and said that he wasn’t the father, leaving Devi heartbroken. The engagement was called off, she was forced to say goodbye to the person she loved, and under a lot of scrutinizing pressure, Devi’s parents cut her off. Giving her enough money so that she’d be comfortable for awhile then giving her the slip.

She felt lost in it all. At eighteen years old, she was completely removed from everyone she loved and everything she knew. Having meant to start school at Harvard, she moved out to Boston as quickly as possible. Trying to prepare everything she could before her babies---yes, babies; Devi was pregnant with twins---were meant to come and school was to start. With the money her parents gave her, she was able to find a small apartment that worked yet saved the rest of the money to go towards the babies. She’d been quick to get a job, trying to earn enough money so that she could be able to provide for her children. Soon enough, her twin girls, Leia and Belle (after her favourite Star Wars character and Disney Princess), came into her life. By then, she had a steady job at a Barnes and Noble while also taking a few night classes for her Creative Writing and Hospitality Management majors. Eventually, as the years gone by and her daughters grew up more and more, the more she continued her schooling and the bills began to pile up, Devi took on a second job as a performer at the hottest strip club in Boston. It was a job that she never saw herself partaking in, but thanks to having grown up dancing, it was a job she became good at. Eventually, she graduated from Harvard and while she had been blessed with many scholarships and grants, there were still loans to be paid. Her daughters had been the only light in her life... At least, until sometime later, she met a young woman who came to Boston for a little bit: Carla Villanueva. For the first time in forever, she connected with someone—she was falling in love again. She never saw Carla coming and after what happened with her ex-fiancé and father of her daughters, she’d been scared. Admittedly, what they had was brief and eventually, Carla had to leave whereas Devi stayed. But god, she wished she had joined her. She never would’ve met Luca then.

Luca was a man who was so angry with the world he earned money by underground fighting and she needed a distraction from everything. Whether it was her internal anxiety struggling over how she would provide for her girls to how she’ll take care of her college expenses to missing Carla, she turned to Luca despite him scaring her a little bit. His anger brought out the worst in him and seeing one of his matches, Devi soon ghosted after months of them sleeping together. She’d been afraid of him showing that side of him to her when by themselves, or worse: to her daughters. But after Devi suffered a drug overdose on Valentine’s Day and was in the hospital for awhile, he soon came back into her life. Not too long later, she married Luca. Was it for love? At first, perhaps there’d been some true feelings for him. But after awhile, he went from being a loving partner to a jealous and possessive asshole. He never showed his true colours around Leia and Belle, and kept control whenever him and Devi would fight. It was toxic and while she tried to maintain her ground, deep down, the girl was terrified of the day he’d no longer have control over himself. When Devi found out she was pregnant, though, things did calm down. They were working together and communicating. For a moment, she was starting to believe that she was actually in love with him. That is, until she lost the baby.

It’d been about four months into the pregnancy and she wasn’t showing much yet, but it’d taken a huge blow on the both of them. One night, Luca finally admitted that he blamed her. Once more, their cycle of screaming matches and breaking things came back. Once more did Devi’s fear that Luca would lose his control came back and she feared it happening. And one night, it came deeply close. She found out he was having multiple affairs and with the girls at a sleepover, she took the opportunity to confront him. They had the worst fight ever that night: screaming well into the early morning, all kinds of shit knocked over and/or broken, holes that had been punched into the walls. They hadn’t gotten physical with each other, not until later when they decided to fuck instead of continue their screaming, but she’d been terrified the entire time. That night, she began a plan on filing for divorce.

After that, Devi finally decided to get her shit together and to make plans on getting away. While she stayed working at Barnes and Noble and the club while also started to also do dance performances for events to earn extra money, she was trying to find a nice place in Somerville where she and the girls could live together. Devi started to get her life back on track and to become the adult she needed to be. If not for herself, then for her daughters. For awhile, things were going good. Her and Luca didn’t fight again yet she continued her plan, while he was none the wiser. Then an incident happened at work, a rowdy client who was drunk and acting inappropriately. He’d tried to make a move on her and she told him off, causing him to punch her before slicing her arm with a knife he snuck in. If it hadn’t been for his friends and the bodyguards stopping him, she wouldn’t be here. She had quickly snuck away to a bathroom, grabbing supplies so that she could stitch herself back together and deal with what the fuck happened. It was a massive wakeup call and she knew that she needed to sort her shit out. How she did that, though, was nerve-wracking: by seeking out her parents. Over the years, Ranveer and Abbakka had moved from India to the States. The couple were the owners of the prestigious and luxurious resort and hotel chain known as The Jade Palace, having been a family business run by the Chowta’s since the late 1800s, and they had opened up a new location there in Boston. Learning about her parents living there, she cautiously sought them out. At first, it wasn’t a happy reunion and she’d been turn away. Then, while she’d been out with her daughters, they ran into each other again. Her parents finally seeing their granddaughters for the first time. Seeing Leia and Belle was exactly what the two needed for them to wake up. They offered their help, finally, and Devi took it.

She finally had the divorce papers and restraining order given to Luca. She moved out completely and into her parents’ new-ish Boston home, her and the girls safe and sound in the Chowta mansion. She left her job at the club so that she could begin working as a front-end attendant for the hotel before eventually making her way up. While she kept her job at the bookstore for as long as she could, having genuinely loved working there, she left it eventually to focus on her family and the Jade Palace. For awhile, she finally got everything under control. Her life was back in order. Her dad then made her an offer: to move to Providence Peak in early 2020 when the new location of the Jade Palace were to open in the summer of 2021 and undergo a process to be the owner of the hotel. During that time, she’d been able to release a well-received Young Adult book and considered with returning to the idea of becoming an author, a childhood dream of hers, but she decided to take her father’s offer. Soon enough, Devi and her daughters moved to Providence Peak.

Never had she expected a small mountain city to take over her heart the way it did. While she’s made some friends (and enemies) and even some surprising reconnections, while she also released a second book, while she found herself enjoying owning the Providence Peak location of her family’s hotel, while she reconnected with Carla and even began to try to start something with her, it would eventually end come early 2022. Her father’s health had been deteriorating and she had a duty as his daughter to return to help him. While she promised to return back to Providence Peak one day, she needed to focus on her father and especially on her daughters. Yet over the course of that time, Devi soon made a decision. Her step-cousin, Nazli Ertuğul, would become the new owner of the entire Jade Palace hotelier.

With her father battling cancer, things had been rough at the beginning. She had to watch her father, a normally strong man, in his weakest moment and it killed her. It was hard having to watch him like that and many times Devi found herself crying at night, feeling helpless. To add salt to the wound, her and Carla were beginning to grow estranged. A factor that broke her heart, especially after believing they could be together again and promising to return to return to her. As months went on and the longer she stayed in Boston, she began to fear that her promise would be broken. Eventually, Ranveer began to grow stronger, healthier, better. In August of 2022, during an appointment with his doctor, finally some good news came: he was cancer-free. Ranveer and Abbakka were ecstatic. With the girls having a soccer tournament, though, Devi had been unable to attend the appointment. During a break in the match, she’d gotten a call from her parents and they informed her of the happy news. All before tragedy would soon struck again; During the middle of the call, while they’d been driving, a collision happened and resulted in the worst thing imaginable: her parents died in the accident.

Devi couldn’t express her devastation over the path life led her on again. One minute, she was receiving the best news she’s heard in awhile. The next, she received the worst news. After the funeral, Devi’s best friend and older sister figure, Rachel Hargrove, offered to watch the girls for awhile back in Providence Peak. Have them return home and be with friends again while Devi took time to mourn. Considering how deeply and intensely the woman felt things, she knew that it was for the best. And for awhile, she mourned. She downward spiraled and took the time to do so. Yet, eventually, she remembered that her parents wouldn’t want her to be like this. That they would rather her try to find joy in life again instead of mourn. Wiping away her tears and trying to find peace within herself, she soon got to work. She soon was making preparations over the family mansion and her parents belongings for both their homes in Mumbai and in Boston, making sure to contact her family overseas and work with them as well. She even created a YouTube channel, using it as a way to connect more with her readers and to fully express her love of fandom, along with starting up a TikTok, much to her newly teenaged daughters’ chagrin. Eventually, after all business in Boston and concerning her family was dealt with, after she found herself in a better mental situation, she would soon switch over to a new target: returning back to Providence Peak.

While still in Boston, she’d been able to lock down on a new house in Claret Park, her, Leia, and Belle inheriting a large fortune both Ranveer and Abbakka left behind for them, among other things. However, she knew that she wanted to do more things in her life once she made her way back home. After contacting the owner of the Comic Lab, which had been one of her favourite places in Providence Peak, she soon struck a deal with them: she bought the comic book store, intending on finding a newer, bigger building for it and expand its merchandise and other things to offer. A large building for all nerdy fandom-loving people with merchandise, books, and all types of products with a café to serve food and drinks inspired by a multitude of fandoms and pop culture, she plans on the Comic Lab to grow into a business that’s basically the love child of Barnes and Noble, FYE, Game Stop, and Hot Topic (in her defense, they have many incredible pop culture products). Working with many book publications and organizations like BoxLunch and Loungefly to distribute these products.

After working on this project for awhile, along with writing a new book, Devi has finally realized that it was now time to return home. Part of her is excited, especially to reunite with some people. Part of her is nervous, especially to reunite with some people. Yet overall, Devi is ready to put her past behind her and to try and find happiness for herself and for her daughters. Even if she is giving life the stink-eye in fear of it throwing another wrench at her.

[figdays]

Indigenous Women Resisting Colonialism T-Shirt // NalgonaPositiveShop

Featuring: Malalai of Maiwand ( Afghanistan) Brave teenager who led local fighters against British Troops in the 19th century. Rani Abbakka Chowta (India) Toluva queen who defeated the Portuguese for over four decades. Tarenorerer (Tasmania/Australia) Led a guerrilla band against British Colonists Teresa Magbanua (The Philippines) School teacher and military leader who led troops against the Spanish and the US. Haunani-Kay Trask (Hawaii) Indigenous rights activist & educator who continues to fight against U.S. colonialism and tourism. Nehanda Charwe (Zimbabwe) Nyakasikana spirit medium who has a key leader in the uprisings against white colonial settlers.

[dreams4kahaani]

Queen

[spinayarnindia]

The year was 1555. Portuguese colonial power was at its peak in the 1500’s. They destroyed Zamorins of Calicut. Defeated the Sultan of Bijapur. Took away Daman from the Sultan of Gujarat, Established a colony in Mylapore, Captured Bombay and made Goa as their headquarters. And while they were at it, pretty much unchallenged, they even ruined the ancient Kapaleeswarar Temple to build a Church over it. Their next target, the super profitable port of Mangalore. Their only bad luck, just 14 kilometers south of Mangalore was the small settlement of Ullal - ruled then by a feisty 30 year old woman - Rani Abbakka Chowta. Initially, they took her lightly and sent a few boats and soldiers to capture and bring her back to Goa - Those boats never came back. Shocked and enraged, they sent a huge fleet of ships this time, under the command of much celebrated Admiral Dom Álvaro da Silveira - The admiral soon returned, badly injured and empty handed. Thereafter, another Portuguese fleet was sent - only a few injured from the crew managed to make it back. Then the Portuguese went on to capture the Mangalore port and the fort anyways, perhaps planning to tackle Rani Abbakka Chowta from the convenient distance of the Mangalore fort. After the successful capture of Mangalore, a huge army under João Peixoto, an experienced Portuguese General was sent to Ullal. The brief was simple: Subjugate Ullal and capture Abbakka Chowta. The plan was foolproof- there was no way a 30 year old with a few men could withstand the might of an army of thousands with advanced weapons. The Portuguese reached Ullal and found it deserted. Abbakka was nowhere in sight. They roamed around, relaxed and thanked their stars - Just when they were about to call it a victory - Mrs Chowta attacked with 200 of her chosen men - there was chaos all around and many portuguese lost their lives even without a fight - General João Peixoto was assassinated, 70 portuguese were captured and the rest just ran away. So if you’re Abbakka Chowta, who’s just defeated a large army of aggressors, killed a general, captured fighters and defended her city - What will you do? - Rest and enjoy the moment right? - Righ https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Z97r0hqvu/?igshid=mqnd0gss7mup

[barbarayarbrough]

Abbakka Chowta

Abbakka Chowta published first on http://www.memozing.net/

[thecalendarwomen]

22nd May, Abbakka Chowta

The Calendar Woman for 22nd May is Abbakka Chowta (1527-1570ss)

Rani Abbakka Chowta was the Queen of Ullal (one of the oldest cities in India) who led the resistance against the Portuguese; she was one of the earliest Indians to fight against colonial powers and became known as the first female freedom fighter in India. Abbakka was trained by her uncle Tirumala Raya in different aspects of warfare and military strategy which she later used against the Portuguese forces who attempted to take Ullal after first taking control of Goa. Ullal was a prosperous port city and a strategic hub for the spice trade to Arabia and the west and her forces were made up of people from all sects and castes who fought together to keep the Portuguese at bay.

Abbakka resisted the Portuguese forces from the beginning of her reign, refusing to pay a tribute that would be tantamount to yielding, and forging alliances with neighbouring kingdoms. After over 20 years of resistance, and a betrayal by her estranged husband who collaborated with the Portuguese, Abbakka finally lost the war and was arrested and jailed. She continued to fight however, and died during a prison revolt. Abbakka was an immensely popular Queen during her reign and her story passed into folklore, retold through songs, theatre and ritual dance.

[friendlycloud-blog]

30 Days of Women in History II (no-Europeans)

Day 20. A woman who defended a keep or city.Abbakka Chowta

And.... we're back to India again. The more one reads about India's history, the more heroic and intriguing women one can discover.

Abbakka Chowta is called the first woman freedom fighter of India. When the Portuguese attacked her city of Ullal, she was well prepared. People of different religions all had places of importance. She successfully held them of for a time, making alliances with others battling the Portuguese. Her husband betrayed her, joining with the Portuguese, and she was captured in the ensuing fights. She died in prison, still standing up to her captors, and has been considered a heroine since then.

http://friendlycloud.tumblr.com/post/29683178395/30-day-challenge-women-in-history