Thread by @varadadya

#StoryTime

Roughly somewhere in the 17th Century, there lived a Tribal woman named OBAVVA in the town of Chitradurga, Karnataka.

This is the story of her life and valour.

During those times, Hyder Ali was the most aggressive conqueror of that geography. One town after the other, he marched ahead.

However, Chitradurga was a difficult town to Capture. Like Sahyadri, it is hilly and does not have too many entrances.

It is said, the Leader of Chitradurga switched sides and that irked Hyder-Ali. He decided to attack Chitradurga at any cost.

Despite a lot of planning, he just could not get access to the City. After much toil, he found a Little Tunnel.

His spies discovered the Tunnel is guarded by a single man and he is not an active soldier. He would take breaks often for Food and other activities.

Hyder Alis plan was to get in his Troops with the cover of night. Assemble in a place and launch a surprise attack.

Obavva, was the wife of this Tunnel Guard. She would bring food to work for her husband and she would wait till he eats. Today too, same routine. She bought food and expected to wait till he eats.

However, today he ate and excused himself to go home for some rest.

He asked his wife to stand there as a guard, only because for years nobody had entered the city through that Tunnel. Today too, he thought, no movement will happen. So he might as well rest.

He didn't know, what was about to happen.

According to the plan, Hyder Ali's soldiers readied themselves to enter the city from that Tunnel.

Obavva was waiting under a big Boulder, with one eye on the Tunnel.

After a while, she was surprised at what her eyes saw.

She saw a head sprang up. She recognised from the clothing, this was an enemy soldier.

She looked around, there lying was a heavy pestle (a metal rod).

With one smack, she killed the soldier on the spot.

She realised, what she had done. Thinking that a dead corpse may invite trouble. She quietly dragged the corpse to a Side and went back to her position.

To avoid being spotted, Hyder Alis men were walking maintaining a distance from each other. So the next one was oblivious.

Obavva, repeated her act. She smacked the next guy with the same force. Dragged is Body to the side.

Legend says, she kept repeating this, killing hundreds Number varies in each tale, What remains are the Tales of her Bravery.

History also says she died on the same day. Some say, she died because of fatigue of killing hundreds and some say, a Mughal soldier escaped her wrath and stabbed her.

However, what's true is on that day, a Tribal Woman guarded the Kingdom like a Brave Soldier.

History remembers her as Onakke Obavva.

Onakke is the local name for the Metal Rod.

Tales of #OnakkeObavva are shared around Karnataka with great Pride.

Correction: Onake or Pestle - is a wooden long club with a Ring on one side and a flat base on the other side meant for pounding Paddy Grains.

Thank you @naraharijois and @suryakant_shaha ..