Onake Obavva
Encyclopedia
Onake Obavva (Kannada: ಓಬವ್ವ) was a woman who fought the forces of Hyder Ali
single-handedly with a masse (Onake) in the small kingdom of Chitradurga
in the Chitradurga
district of Karnataka
ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ, India
. Her husband was a guard of a watchtower in the rocky fort of Chitradurga
. She is considered to be the epitome of Kannada women pride, with the same standing as Kittur Chennamma
and Keladi Chennamma
. The sports stadium in Chitradurga- Veera Vanithe Onake Obavva Stadium, is named after her.
of Chitradurga as a reward for his excellence in military achievements, from the Vijayanagara ruler. His son Obana is known by the name Madhakari Nayaka. Madakari Nayaka's son Kasturi Rangappa succeeded him, consolidated the kingdom, and rule peacefully . As he had no heirs to succeed him, his adopted son — the apparent heir — was enthroned, but was killed a few months later by the Dalavayis.
Chikkanna Nayaka, the brother of Madakari Nayaka II sat on the throne in 1676, and his other brother succeeded him with the title Madakari Nayaka III. The unwillingness of Dalawayis to accept Madakari Nayaka III's rule gave an opportunity to a distant relative, Bharamappa Nayaka, to ascend the throne in 1689. The quick succession of rulers led to the people of Chitradurga not experiencing the benefits of longer ruling periods. Hiri Madakari Nayaka (1721 - 1748), Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka II and Madakari Nayaka IV were the next successors.
, when the fort of Chitradurga was lost to Hyder Ali once for all.
Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born Hyder Naik, he distinguished himself militarily, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore's rulers...
single-handedly with a masse (Onake) in the small kingdom of Chitradurga
Chitradurga
Chitradurga is a town in the southern part of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is also the headquarters of Chitradurga district. Chitradurga was also known by the names Chitradurg, Chitrakaladurga, Chittaldurg. Chittaldrug was the name officially used by the British Govt.-Geography:Chitradurga is...
in the Chitradurga
Chitradurga
Chitradurga is a town in the southern part of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is also the headquarters of Chitradurga district. Chitradurga was also known by the names Chitradurg, Chitrakaladurga, Chittaldurg. Chittaldrug was the name officially used by the British Govt.-Geography:Chitradurga is...
district of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Her husband was a guard of a watchtower in the rocky fort of Chitradurga
Chitradurga
Chitradurga is a town in the southern part of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is also the headquarters of Chitradurga district. Chitradurga was also known by the names Chitradurg, Chitrakaladurga, Chittaldurg. Chittaldrug was the name officially used by the British Govt.-Geography:Chitradurga is...
. She is considered to be the epitome of Kannada women pride, with the same standing as Kittur Chennamma
Kittur Chennamma
Kitturu Rani Chennamma was the queen of the princely state of Kittur in Karnataka. In 1824, 33 years before the 1857 war of independence, she led an armed rebellion against the British in response to the Doctrine of lapse. The resistance ended in her martyrdom and she is remembered today as one...
and Keladi Chennamma
Keladi Chennamma
Keladi Chennamma was the Queen of Keladi Kingdom in Karnataka. She was daughter of Siddappa Setty of Kundapur who is from a Lingayathi Banajigaru Community. She married King Somashekara in 1667. After Somashekara, she became the queen of Keladi Nayaka dynasty who fought the Mughal Army of Aurangzeb...
. The sports stadium in Chitradurga- Veera Vanithe Onake Obavva Stadium, is named after her.
Background
The former soldier Timmana Nayaka rose to the rank of GovernorGovernor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Chitradurga as a reward for his excellence in military achievements, from the Vijayanagara ruler. His son Obana is known by the name Madhakari Nayaka. Madakari Nayaka's son Kasturi Rangappa succeeded him, consolidated the kingdom, and rule peacefully . As he had no heirs to succeed him, his adopted son — the apparent heir — was enthroned, but was killed a few months later by the Dalavayis.
Chikkanna Nayaka, the brother of Madakari Nayaka II sat on the throne in 1676, and his other brother succeeded him with the title Madakari Nayaka III. The unwillingness of Dalawayis to accept Madakari Nayaka III's rule gave an opportunity to a distant relative, Bharamappa Nayaka, to ascend the throne in 1689. The quick succession of rulers led to the people of Chitradurga not experiencing the benefits of longer ruling periods. Hiri Madakari Nayaka (1721 - 1748), Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka II and Madakari Nayaka IV were the next successors.
Siege of Chitradurga
During the reign of Madakari Nayaka, the city of Chitradurga was besieged by the troops of Hyder Ali. A chance sighting of a woman entering the Chitradurga fort through a crack hole in the rocks led to a clever plan by Hyder Ali to send his soldiers through that crack. The defence guard on duty of the port near that crack hole had just gone home as usual asking his wife to guard until he is back from his lunch. The wife of that guard, Obavva, noticed the soldiers emerging out of this crack but was not perturbed. She used the Onake (a wooden long club meant for pounding paddy grains) to kill and quietly moved the dead, so that hundreds of them entered and fell, without raising the suspicions of the rest of the troops. The guard, Obavva's husband, upon his return from lunch, was shocked to see Obavva standing with a blood stained Onake and hundreds of the enemies' dead bodies around her. Though her sincere brave attempt saved the fort this time, Madakari could not resist the attack of 1779 by Hyder AliHyder Ali
Hyder Ali was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born Hyder Naik, he distinguished himself militarily, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore's rulers...
, when the fort of Chitradurga was lost to Hyder Ali once for all.