Seizing the initiative Rani Abbakka Chowta, immediately rode off with her men successfully attacked and occupied the surprised Portuguese at Mangalore fort. She also despatched Admiral Mascarenhas the Chief of the Portuguese power to hell.

Thereafter she immediately rode on a further 100 kms and captured the Portuguese settlement at Kundapura.

People rallied around her and it frightened the Portuguese. Their reputation as a powerful and invincible power was at stake. If they did not contain Rani Abbakka Chowta, all of India would be lost to them. They bribed her pompous greedy estranged husband to betray her and lead to her capture.

No great soul can be chained or imprisoned. In prison she led the prisoners to fight back. In the ensuing fight the Rani was assassinated.

Rani Abbakka Chowta was a Jain by faith. For forty years she and her daughters led forces comprising of both Hindu and Muslim men, a full 300 years before the First War of Indian Independence in 1857.

One individual with courage, determined to save his or her people and homeland can successfully fight and destroy 100 attackers. Alas we had everything but we lost our will and integrity to become slaves in our land.

On one hand we glorify brutal foreign invaders, and on the other hand praise Indian leaders who emasculated and compromised a nation and people.

Our freedom and dignity of today is actually owed to the contribution and sacrifice of millions of men and women, many of them never remembered leave alone mentioned. Thats a tragedy that can be rectified.

Its time that our children learn their true history and be both grateful and inspired. Starting this independence day, lets begin to remember and share the life and accomplishments of real Heros. like the noble and valiant queen, Rani Abbaka Chowta ji.