Veera Rani Abbakka award presented to Dr Sandhya Pai, Urmila

Team Udayavani, Mar 4, 2019, 2:34 AM IST

Ullal: Abbakka award 2018-19 was presented to Dr Sandhya Pai, managing editor of ‘Taranga’ for her achievement in the area of literature and to businesswoman Urmila Ramesh Kumar for her achievement in area other than literature.  The awards were presented during the closing celebration of the Veera Rani Abbakka Utsav on Sunday March 3^rd. The two-day utsav was jointly organized by the Dakshina Kannada district administration, DK ZP and Kannada and culture department on the shores of Mogaveerapattana in Ullal.

MLC Harish Kumar spoke on the occasion and said, Veera Rani Abbakka who ruled Ullal is one of the many brave people who have sacrificed their lives for the country. During her reign, she faced 6 attacks and foiled 5 of them. The Utsav in memory of the queen who was the voice for the problem faced by the people here is appreciable. Felicitating two women achievers on the occasion is commendable, he said.

Dr Sandhya Pai spoke after accepting the award and said, there was a good relation between the Goud Saraswat Brahmin and Rani Abbakka. Due to the attack by the Portuguese on Goud Saraswat Brahminin Goa, the people of our society migrated towards the Karavali including Mangaluru.

Knowing Rani Abbakka’s fight in Mangaluru against the Portuguese, people from the Goud Saraswat Brahmin joined in with her army and fought against the Portuguese.

Abbakka award felicitated Urmila Ramesh Kumar also expressed her thoughts.

District deputy commissioner Sasikanth Senthil, Mangaluru assistant commissioner Ravichandra Nayak, Shrikant Rao, ZP member Mamata D A Gatty, Bantwal TP president Chandrahas Karkera, Ullal Mogaveera association president Bharat Kumar Ullal were present.

The guests and dignitaries were welcomed by Bhaskar Rai Kukkuvalli and Udayavani editor Manohar Prasad and Ullal Mogaveera association president Bharat Kumar Ullal compered the programme. The vote of thanks was given by Rajesh B of the Kannada and culture department.

Abbakka’s memory inspires bravery

The first freedom fight started from Ullal’s queen Abbakka. She is the first one to sacrifice her life for the country and its people. In the later days, the fight was taken forward by the queen of Jhansi, Chennamma and Mangal Pandey.

Abbakka’s sacrifice and selfless service is still visible and it’s very thought fills one with bravery. The programme of remembering Abbakka must not be limited to a single programme. We must do our best for the country, said Dr Sandhya S Pai.