Onake Obavva
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Onake Obavva (18th Century) 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 State, India. She was the wife of a guard of the watch tower in the rocky fort of Chitradurga. She is considered as the epitome of the Kannada women pride along with Kittur Chennamma and Keladi Chennamma.
[edit] History
The former military personnel, Timmana Nayaka, rose to the rank of Governor 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 and consolidate the kingdom to rule peacefully . As he had no heirs to succeed him, his adopted son — the apparent heir — was enthroned but was killed in few months 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. Somehow, the subjects of Chitradurga did not experience a good reign of their rulers as they lived on the throne for very brief period. The Hiri Madakari Nayaka (1721 - 1748), Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka II, Madakari Nayaka IV succeeded one after him and there is nothing to mention of their rule.
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 the crack hole. 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 while in her temporary seat, noticed the soldiers emerging out of this crack, Obavva was not perturbed. As she was carrying with her, the Onake (a wooden long club meant for pounding paddy grains) she killed and quietly moved the dead, so that hundreds of them entered and fell, without raising any suspicion. The guard, Obavva's husband, upon his return from his lunch was shocked to see Obavva standing with a blood stained Onake and hundreds of dead bodies of the enemy fleet around her. Though her sincere brave attempt saved the fort this time, Madakari could not resist the attack of 1779 by Hyder Ali. The fort of Chitradurga was lost to Hyder Ali once for all.
