Rani Abbakka Chowta of Ullal, on the coast of present Karnataka, is remembered for her long resistance to which European power?
- A.The Dutch
- B.The French
- C.The Portuguese
- D.The Danes
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C, the Portuguese. Rani Abbakka Chowta ruled Ullal near Mangaluru in the sixteenth century, when the Portuguese were trying to control the pepper and spice trade of the Malabar and Tulunadu coast, and she fought them for decades, which is why she is often called the first woman freedom fighter of the Indian coast. Option A is wrong because the Dutch came to India only at the beginning of the seventeenth century and concentrated on Coromandel and the spice islands. Option B is wrong because the French established themselves at Pondicherry in 1674, long after her time. Option D is wrong because the Danes traded from Tranquebar and Serampore and never fought her. The Portuguese had taken Goa in 1510 and dominated this coast.
Read the full article: Famous Queens and Women Rulers of India: Exam Notes
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