#Thread
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
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
1/n
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#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
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
1/n
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..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.
2/n
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#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
..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.
2/n
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Their only bad luck, just 14 kms 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
3/n
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#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
Their only bad luck, just 14 kms 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
3/n
@TIinExile
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& bring her back to Goa, those boats never came back Shocked & 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, injured & empty handed
4/n @TIinExile
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
& bring her back to Goa, those boats never came back Shocked & 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, injured & empty handed
4/n @TIinExile
@TIinExile #Thread
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
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,
5/n
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#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
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,
5/n
@TIinExile
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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 her
6/n
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#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
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 her
6/n
@TIinExile
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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.
7/n
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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.
7/n
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They roamed around, relaxed and thanked their stars,Just when they were about to call it a victory, Chowta attacked with 200 of her chosen men - there was chaos all around and many portuguese lost their lives even without a fight
8/n
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#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
They roamed around, relaxed and thanked their stars,Just when they were about to call it a victory, Chowta attacked with 200 of her chosen men - there was chaos all around and many portuguese lost their lives even without a fight
8/n
@TIinExile
@TIinExile #Thread
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
General João was assassinated, 70 Portuguese were captured & 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 & defended her city,What'll you do?
9/n
@TIinExile
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
General João was assassinated, 70 Portuguese were captured & 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 & defended her city,What'll you do?
9/n
@TIinExile
@TIinExile #Thread
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
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
10/n
@TIinExile
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
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
10/n
@TIinExile
@TIinExile #Thread
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
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..
11/n
@TIinExile
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
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..
11/n
@TIinExile
@TIinExile #Thread
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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,
12/n
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#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
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,
12/n
@TIinExile
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to betray for money. She was arrested and put in the prison where she revolted again and was killed while trying to escape.
13/n
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#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
to betray for money. She was arrested and put in the prison where she revolted again and was killed while trying to escape.
13/n
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@TIinExile #Thread
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
Abbakka Chowta was a Jain who fought against the Portuguese for four decades, a full 300 years before the First War of Indian Independence in 1857.
14/n
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#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
Abbakka Chowta was a Jain who fought against the Portuguese for four decades, a full 300 years before the First War of Indian Independence in 1857.
14/n
@TIinExile
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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.
15/n
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#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
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.
15/n
@TIinExile
@TIinExile #Thread
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
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.
16/n
@TIinExile
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
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.
16/n
@TIinExile
@TIinExile #Thread
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
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.
17/n
@TIinExile
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
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.
17/n
@TIinExile
@TIinExile #Thread
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
We might have got to read a chapter about her in our text books, had she been a European or an American.
18/n
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#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
We might have got to read a chapter about her in our text books, had she been a European or an American.
18/n
@TIinExile
@TIinExile #Thread
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
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.
19/n
@TIinExile
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
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.
19/n
@TIinExile
@TIinExile #Thread
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
Still wondering why you’ve not heard about her yet?
Answer: You know who has written your history textbooks!
Share and let others know about this Forgotten History Hero
20/20
@TIinExile
#ForgottenHistoryHeroes
Still wondering why you’ve not heard about her yet?
Answer: You know who has written your history textbooks!
Share and let others know about this Forgotten History Hero
20/20
@TIinExile
