MANGALORE: The people of the historic coastal town of Ullal have decided to revive the Abbakka Rani Utsav in the memory of the freedom fighter Rani Abbakka. The utsav was not celebrated for the past two years for various reasons.

The former MLA K. Jayarama Shetty took the initiative to organise the Abbakka Rani Utsav in 1998 as a tribute to the great queen who fought the Portuguese in the 16th Century. She destroyed a Portuguese armada that had anchored off Ullal.

Icon of valour

Since then she has been an icon of valour in this region. And since she was the first to put together an army that consisted of all communities, she is also remembered as a leader who promoted communal harmony.

Fed up with frequent communal clashes in the region, the people joined hands with Mr. Shetty to launch the utsav to promote communal harmony. But after five years of celebrating the utsav, it could not be held for two years mainly due to financial constraints. But the president of the reception committee of the utsav, B.M. Idinabba, feels that the utsav should be celebrated with or without financial help. The committee made several requests to the Government to meet at least a portion of the utsav expenses, but there has been no response.

Organising secretary Bhaskar Rai Kukkuvalli told pressperson here on Friday that the people's committee of Ullal has demanded that the utsav be revived at all costs and many have come forward to help in whatever way they can.

The utsav will be held on January 8, 2006, and will feature a number of events.

In order to commemorate Rani Abbakka's invaluable service to the nation, the utsav will be made more women-centric. Special awards for women achievers in two categories — prashasti and puraskar — will be given to writers, poets and teachers and to women who have shown exceptional courage, rendered social service and for similar activities.

Cultural programmes

Various cultural programmes, Kavigoshti by women, Kavyagana and many other programmes have been organised.

The committee will also appeal to the Government to erect a bronze statue of Rani Abbakka in a prominent place in Bangalore. The statue has already been carved.

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