It is a general belief that women are the one who need protecting. Hence the phrase 'Damsel in distress'. But is that true? Yes I agree that most of the leaders and soldiers in India are men but, though lesser in number, women have been the protectors, the leaders, the saviors as well. And the history goes back to AD 1236 when the first woman ruler came to power.
I will take you through what the Indian history has to tell us about the greatest women who ruled our country.
I will begin with
1. Razia Sultan
or Razzaiya-al-din was born to Shams-ud-din Iltutmish and succeeded him as the Sultan of Delhi in India from 1236 to 1240. Although she had 4 brothers, her qualities and competence led her father to appoint her as the heir apparent. Even though her reign lasted for a short span of 3 and a half years she proved her worth as a ruler, politician and an army commander. The cause of her de-throne was the reluctance of ministry to accept a woman as their ruler.
She used to dress up in manly attire and would later show her face while conducting the sessions. She would only answer when addressed as 'Sultan' as against 'Sultana' which mean the wife or mistress of a king. She had all the qualities of a great ruler.
Next to come to power was 2. Rani Rudramma
She was in power from AD 1259 to 1289, a reign that lasted 3 decades. A ruler from Kakatiya dynasty of Deccan Plateau she was not only the one of the first women ruler but also one of the youngest. She succeeded her father King Ganapathideva of Warrangel when she was only fourteen. She too had to suffer the disregard of the ministers and even her husband Veerbhadra for being a female ruler. Nonetheless she ruled with great valor to keep the enemy kingdoms Cholas and Pandyas at bay.
Marco Polo, the Venetian traveller who paid a visit to the kingdom probably a little later, speaks highly of her administrative qualities, benign rule and greatness.
After her came a brave rajputani 3. Rani Durgavati who ruled between October 5, 1524 – June 24, 1564.
also known as Chand Khatun or Chand Sultana, was an Indian Muslim woman warrior. She acted as the Regent of Bijapur (1580–90) and Regent of Ahmednagar (1596–99). She was officially in power from AD 1595 to 1599 when she was killed.
She was requested to take powers in her hand as her son was too young when an attack from mughals led by Shah Murad, son of Akbar was anticipated. She successfully defended Ahmednagar against the Mughal forces of Emperor Akbar.
From the same state of Ahmednagar came 5. Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar
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Daughter of a patil(revenue collector) she came from a village in which girls were not given education but her father taught her to read and write. She was married at the tender age of 8 and her husband died 12 years later after which her father-in-law Malhar Rao Holkar trained her to be a ruler. She took command when her only son Malerao also died in 1767 till her death in 1795.
The reign of Ahilyabai, of Indore in central India, lasted for 30 Yrs. This has become almost legendary as a period during which perfect order and good Government prevailed and the people prospered. She was a very able ruler and organizer, highly respected during her lifetime, and considered as a saint by a grateful people after her death.
6. Kittur Rani Chennamma
Next was the famous and one of the most sung-hero of war of Indian independence 7. Maharani Laxmibai of Jhansi
This famous picture depicts the queen fighting in the battle with her son Damodar Rao strapped to her. She was one of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and for Indian nationalists a symbol of resistance to the rule of the British East India Company in the subcontinent.
Manikarnika was married to Gangadhar Rao, king of Jhansi in the year 1842. She took command in year 1853 after Gangadhar rao died.
Lakshmi Bai defended Jhansi against British troops when Sir Hugh Rose besieged Jhansi on 23 March 1858. But when the attack did not stop and continued leading to the death of women and children as well she decided after taking council to escape and join Tatya Tope and Rao Saheb.
According to tradition with Damodar Rao on her back she jumped on her horse Badal from the fort and escaped surrounded by guards; they survived but the horse died. The Queen of Jhansi, dressed as a cavalry leader, was badly wounded; not wishing the British to capture her body, she told a hermit to burn it.
8. Rani Avanti Bai
Rani Avanti Bai (or Avanti Bai Lodhi) ruled in the Indian state of Ramgarh now known as Madhya Pradesh. She was the wife of great king Vikramaditya. The king died leaving no heir to the throne. The british seized this opportunity to bring the kingdom under their rule. Avantibai rebelled against it and declared war. She raised an army of 4000 all by herself and faught a war against the british in 1857. Seeing the approaching defeat she killed herself by her sword as against surrendering.
Department of Posts issued the stamp in honour of Rani Avantibai. Maharashtra government issued the stamp in honour of Rani Avantibai.
After her there have been queens but these were the rulers, the patriots, the warriors who inspire me as they fought for their right, their belief and for their people. They changed the way people looked at women in their time. A time when women were not considered equal, were not given the right to stand in the same room or even to basic education. They left a mark in history and in people's hearts. They have and will continue to inspire generations to come.
I will take you through what the Indian history has to tell us about the greatest women who ruled our country.
I will begin with
1. Razia Sultan
or Razzaiya-al-din was born to Shams-ud-din Iltutmish and succeeded him as the Sultan of Delhi in India from 1236 to 1240. Although she had 4 brothers, her qualities and competence led her father to appoint her as the heir apparent. Even though her reign lasted for a short span of 3 and a half years she proved her worth as a ruler, politician and an army commander. The cause of her de-throne was the reluctance of ministry to accept a woman as their ruler.
She used to dress up in manly attire and would later show her face while conducting the sessions. She would only answer when addressed as 'Sultan' as against 'Sultana' which mean the wife or mistress of a king. She had all the qualities of a great ruler.
Next to come to power was 2. Rani Rudramma
She was in power from AD 1259 to 1289, a reign that lasted 3 decades. A ruler from Kakatiya dynasty of Deccan Plateau she was not only the one of the first women ruler but also one of the youngest. She succeeded her father King Ganapathideva of Warrangel when she was only fourteen. She too had to suffer the disregard of the ministers and even her husband Veerbhadra for being a female ruler. Nonetheless she ruled with great valor to keep the enemy kingdoms Cholas and Pandyas at bay.
Marco Polo, the Venetian traveller who paid a visit to the kingdom probably a little later, speaks highly of her administrative qualities, benign rule and greatness.
After her came a brave rajputani 3. Rani Durgavati who ruled between October 5, 1524 – June 24, 1564.
A patron of arts , Maharani Durgavati took the reins of dyansties Chandol and Gong in her hands when her husband King Daalpat died and her son Vir Narayan was too young to take over the kingdom.
She defied invasion from Baz Bahadur in 1556 but killed herself in the battle against mughal invasion which was led by Asaf Khan. She chose to kill herself in the battlefield when she realised defeat was inevitable. Like a true rajput she preferred the death of a warrior then living a disgraceful life.
4. Chand Bibi
She was requested to take powers in her hand as her son was too young when an attack from mughals led by Shah Murad, son of Akbar was anticipated. She successfully defended Ahmednagar against the Mughal forces of Emperor Akbar.
From the same state of Ahmednagar came 5. Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar
.jpg)
The reign of Ahilyabai, of Indore in central India, lasted for 30 Yrs. This has become almost legendary as a period during which perfect order and good Government prevailed and the people prospered. She was a very able ruler and organizer, highly respected during her lifetime, and considered as a saint by a grateful people after her death.
6. Kittur Rani Chennamma
Born five decades earlier than Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, she received training in horse riding, sword fighting and archery in her youth. She ruled her kingdom after she was married to Raja Mallasraja. After their son's death in 1824 she adopted Shivalingappa, and made him heir to the throne. The British East India Company did not accept this and ordered Shivalingappa's expulsion, using a policy of paramountcy and complete authority (doctrine of lapse officially codified between 1848 and 1856 by Lord Dalhousie), but Chennamma defied the order.
Rani Chennamma sent a letter to the governor at Bombay to plead the cause of Kittur, but Elphinstone turned her down, and war broke out. Rani Chennamma fought fiercely but was ultimately captured and imprisoned at Bailhongal Fort, where she died on 21 February 1829. She became a symbol of the independence movement in India.
Next was the famous and one of the most sung-hero of war of Indian independence 7. Maharani Laxmibai of Jhansi
Manikarnika was married to Gangadhar Rao, king of Jhansi in the year 1842. She took command in year 1853 after Gangadhar rao died.
Lakshmi Bai defended Jhansi against British troops when Sir Hugh Rose besieged Jhansi on 23 March 1858. But when the attack did not stop and continued leading to the death of women and children as well she decided after taking council to escape and join Tatya Tope and Rao Saheb.
According to tradition with Damodar Rao on her back she jumped on her horse Badal from the fort and escaped surrounded by guards; they survived but the horse died. The Queen of Jhansi, dressed as a cavalry leader, was badly wounded; not wishing the British to capture her body, she told a hermit to burn it.
8. Rani Avanti Bai
Department of Posts issued the stamp in honour of Rani Avantibai. Maharashtra government issued the stamp in honour of Rani Avantibai.
After her there have been queens but these were the rulers, the patriots, the warriors who inspire me as they fought for their right, their belief and for their people. They changed the way people looked at women in their time. A time when women were not considered equal, were not given the right to stand in the same room or even to basic education. They left a mark in history and in people's hearts. They have and will continue to inspire generations to come.
