Khader Bats for Abbakka’s Name for Mangaluru Airport
Bengaluru: Veera Rani Abbakka Utsava Samiti, in association with the department of Kannada and culture, organized ‘Taulava Veera Rani Abbakka Saahasakathana – Abbakka Charite’ programme in Ravindra Kalakshetra here on Sunday.
Rani Abbakka ruled in Ullal in Mangaluru and it was in the fitness of things that minister of health and family welfare, who is the elected MLA of Ullal, was the star speaker on the occasion.
He said that Rani Abbakka’s valiant fight against the Portuguese had not received the coverage it deserved for many reasons. The undivided district of South Canara, along with the Kasaragod taluk, was part of the then-Madras Presidency.
It was a matter of great solace that her bravery was being highlighted by the Abbakka Utsava Samiti.
Regarding the consistent demand to name the Mangaluru airport after Abbakka, Khader said that the proposal should be initiated at the gram panchayat and Zilla panchayat levels to begin with and then sent to the state government.
Once that was done, he said, he would make efforts to urge the Union government in the matter. The valour of this queen from Ullal should be given precedence and publicity and the modern generation, the students, in particular, should be made aware of her story.
Abbakka aka Abhaya Devi hailed from the Chowta dynasty of the Jain community from Puttige near Moodbidri and was given in marriage to the Banga dynasty in Ullal.
She is being portrayed as the symbol of communal harmony and integration. While she was a Jain, her army was made of Mogaveeras and Mapillas. Kunhalikutty and Kutty Pokare were her trusted advisers.
They all unitedly fought against the Portuguese attacks from Goa.
Former MLA K Jayaram Shetty expressed concern over the coastal districts being rocked by communal trouble every now and then. Peace should be established in the region by following her ethos.
A chair for studies about her life and times should be established to perpetuate her memory, he said.
Bengaluru mayor Manjunath Reddy, Veera Rani Abbakka Utsava Samiti working president Dinkar Ullal, convener Beloor Raghavendra Shetty, author Dr Indira S Hegde, Anita Surendra Kumar and others were present on the occasion.
Focus on important issues for which you were elected and how to resolve water crisis in the future. ..
Changing the airport name won’t solve issues faced by general public. .
You are just trying to divert public attention. .it’s time to mature. .