DEATH OF AKKANNA AND MADANNA

DEATH OF MADANNA AND AKKANNA

Dr K Prabhakar Rao

The sun set over the mighty ramparts of the fort
And shadows spread down the granite walls as gods will
Darkness was to loom soon over the busy bastion
Akkanna and Madanna prayed to the deity atop the hill
A lone night bird creamed which meant some calamity
The birdies over a tree flapped their wings in duress
Few sinister bats screamed and flew over the steep stairs
While the brothers mounted the palanquin after a day of stress


The body gurads of Madanna were on bothsides of him
Withdrawn swords they were to ensure his safety and life
All looked normal like any other day in the fort
The column was slowly getting down in the days of strife
Dark clouds slowly loomed over the fort on the fateful day
Destiny did not smile on the brothers on the sinful evening
The entourage suddenly came to a halt at the corner of street
Bakshi Ghulam with some armed men rushed at them with drawn swords waving
Swords flashed for a moment and the guards were no where to be seen

Money has paid the desired as they deserted the place
Madanna and Akkanna were trapped helpless in palanquin
Soon they were dragged out and put to disgrace
The brothers were brutally stabbed by the armed men
Having dragged them on the streets on the fateful day
Their heads were cut and placed in a silver tray
Their bodies were hung at the portals of the mighty fort

The mutineers fell on the houses of the fallen heroes
They killed Rustum Rao a valiant hero in his house in a fight
The Brahmins houses were put to fire that day in the fort
Scores of Hindus were slaughtered on that single night
Hindu women fell in wells to save their honor
Gave up their life and travelled on heavenly abode
Heads of Akkanna and Madanna were sent to the Mughal prince
Such acts were common in those days and of normal mode

The heads were sent to Aurangzeb as a gift
Who accepted the coveted treasure and felt the murders were must
He called a great congregation of soldiers and others
And they were crushed by elephants and pounded to dust
The luck of Golconda vanished with the brothers
And in few months the to Mughals the fort fell
The prosperous empire vanished into pages of history
While Aurangzeb made life for every one a great hell.



NOTE. Akkanna and Madanna( brothers) were Army chief and Prime Minister respectively in the service of Golconda sultan Abul Hasan Kutubshah ( Tanashah) in 17 century. They were distinguished and the kingdom greatly prospered under their guidance. Aurangzeb the Mughal emperor at Delhi invaded Golconda unable to digest that Hindus were prospering in the Golconda kingdom and on some pretext invaded the Kingdom. The fort resisted well. However Akkanna and Madanna were murdered owing to palace conspiracies and the fort fell after few months. The Kingdom was annexed to Mughal empire and Abul Hasan Kutubshah was interned at Daulatabad fort for rest of his life.



]