Martial Queens of India

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rani_Durgavati   Portrait of Rani Durgavati by a Mughal Artist

Predecessor: Dalpat Shah   Successor:Vir Narayan

Born5 October 1524 Kalinjar Fort   Died24 June 1564 (aged 39) Narrai Nala, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

SpouseDalpat Shah   IssueVir Narayan    FatherSalbaham ReligionHinduism

Rani Durgavati (5 October 1524 – 24 June 1564) was the queen regent of Gondwana in 1550–1564 AD. She married King Dalpat Shah, the son of King Sangram Shah of Gondwana. She served as regent of Gondwana during the minority of her son, Vir Narayan, from 1550 until 1564. She is chiefly remembered for defending Gondwana against the Mughal Empire.

Life

Durgavati was born on 5 October 1524 at the fortress of Kalinjar. She was born in the family of the Chandela Rajput king Shalbaham, who ruled the Mahoba kingdom.[2]

In 1542, she wed Dalpat Shah, the eldest son of the king Sangram Shah of the Garha Kingdom.[3][2] The Chandelas of Mahoba and Rajgonds of Garha-Mandla dynasties became allies through this marriage.[

Queen regent

King Dalpat Shah died in 1550 CE when his successor Crown Prince Vir Narayan was merely 5 years old. His wife, Queen Durgavati rose to take the reins of the Gondwana kingdom as regent during the new king's minority. Diwan Adhar Kayastha and Minister Man Thakur helped the Queen in looking after the administration successfully and effectively. Queen Durgavati promoted peace, trade, and good will throughout her realm.[5]

Rani Durgavati moved her capital from Singorgarh fort to Chauragarh fort. It was a fort of strategic importance situated on the Satpura hill range.[2]

After the death of Sher Shah Suri, Shuja Khan captured Malwa and was succeeded by his son Baz Bahadur in 1556.[6] After ascending to the throne, Baz invaded Rani Durgavati's Gondwana but the invasion was repulsed with heavy losses for the former earning the latter a lot of prestige

Mughal Invasion of Gondwana

In 1562, Akbar vanquished the Malwa ruler Baz Bahadur and conquered Malwa, made it a Mughal dominion. Consequently, the state boundary of the Rani touched the Mughal Empire. Rani's contemporary was a Mughal General, Khwaja Abdul Majid Asaf Khan who defeated King Ramchandra Singh, the Monarch of Rewa. He desired the Queen Durgavati and the wealth of Gondwana. He led the Mughal invasion of the Rani's realm after gaining permission from Mughal emperor Akbar.[citation needed]

When the Rani heard about the invasions by Mughal General Asaf Khan she decided to defend her kingdom with all her might although her Diwan, Beohar Adhar Simha (Adhar Kayastha)[citation needed] warned about the strength of the invading Mughal forces. The Rani maintained that it was better to die respectfully than to live a disgraceful life.[citation needed]

To fight a defensive battle, she went to Narrai, situated between a hilly range on one side and two rivers Gaur and Narmada on the other side. It was an unequal battle with trained soldiers and modern weapons in multitude on the invading Mughal side and a few untrained soldiers with older weapons on the side of Rani Durgavati. Her Faujdar, Arjun Das was killed in the battle. The Rani then decided to lead the defense herself. As the enemy entered the valley, the soldiers of the Rani attacked them. Both sides lost some men but the Rani lost more.[8]

The Rani's domains were very federal, much more decentralised than an average non-tribal kingdom. There were fortress districts, which were administrative units and were controlled either directly by the monarch or through subordinate feudal lords (jagirdars) and junior rajas. Around half of the villages were in the hands of feudal lords. These local rajas recruited and contributed much of the soldiers, and also contributed arms to their sovereign during the times of war. The recruitment standards, training and equipment of these soldiers were not uniform, and were often substandard. Also, the feudal lords held much sway over sections of the army during a war. This decentralized structure created disadvantages during the war against the invading Mughals.[9]

At this stage, the Rani reviewed her strategy with her counselors. She wanted to continue with guerilla attacks on the invading Mughal forces in the night, but her chiefs discouraged her and insisted that she took on the invading forces in open combat in nightlight. But by the next morning, the Mughal general Asaf Khan summoned the big guns. The Rani rode on her elephant Sarman and came for the battle. Her son, the Crown Prince Vir Narayan also took part in this battle. He forced the invading Mughal army to move back three times but at last, he got wounded and had to retire to a safe place. In the course of the battle,the Rani also got injured badly near her ear with an arrow. Another arrow pierced her neck and she lost consciousness. On regaining consciousness she perceived that defeat was imminent. Her mahout advised her to leave the battlefield but she refused and took out her dagger and killed herself on 24 June 1564. Her martyrdom day (24 June 1564) is commemorated as "Balidan Diwas".[

Legacy

The Madan Mahal Fort in Jabalpur is famous for its association with the Queen Durgavati and her son, the Crown Prince Vir Narayan.[citation needed]

In 1983, the government of Madhya Pradesh renamed the university of Jabalpur as Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya in her memory.[citation needed]

The Government of India issued a postal stamp commemorating her death, on 24 June 1988.[10]

The train between Jabalpur Junction and Jammutawi was named Durgavati Express (11449/11450) in her honor.[citation needed]

The Indian Coast Guard on 14 July 2018 commissioned ICGS Rani Durgavati, the third Inshore Patrol Vessel (IPV) of its kind.

2.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudrama_Devi 

Reign1262 – November 1289   PredecessorGanapati-deva   SuccessorPrataparudra

DiedNovember 1289 CE  Possibly at Chandupatla  (present-day Telangana, India)

SpouseVirabhadra    Regnal nameRudra Deva Maharaja    DynastyKakatiya   Father: Ganapati-deva

Rudrama Devi (r. c. 1262 - 1289; also known by her regnal name Rudra-deva Maharaja) was a Kakatiya ( a Shudra Kingdom ) Queen regnant who ruled substantial parts of present-day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in southern India. She was among the few successful female rulers in Indian history.

Rudrama's father and predecessor Ganapati, who had no son, appointed her as his co-regent around 1260. By 1263, Rudrama became the sole ruler, although she was not formally anointed as a sovereign at least until 1269. Early during her reign, Rudrama appears to have faced a revolt, which she was able to suppress with the support of her loyalists. She recovered some of the territories that the Kakatiyas had lost during the late 1250s and the early 1260s to their southern neighbours - the Pandyas. She also repulsed invasions by the Seunas (Yadavas) from the north-west, and the Gajapatis from the north-east. In the 1270s and the 1280s, Rudrama lost much of her southern territory to a revolt by the Kayastha chief Amba-deva, and likely lost her life in a conflict against him in 1289. Her grandson Prataparudra succeeded her on the Kakatiya throne.

The reign of Rudrama was remarkable for the rise of several non-aristocratic warriors in the Kakatiya service. She strengthened the Warangal Fort by raising its inner wall and constructing an outer wall surrounded by a moat.

Early life

Rudrama-devi, also known as Rudramba, was a daughter of her predecessor King Ganapati-deva. Kumara-svami Somapithi, in his commentary on Vidyanatha's Prataparudra-yashobhushanam, states that Rudrama was a daughter of Ganapati by queen Somamba. However, at another place in the same text, he incorrectly names Rudrama as the chief queen of Ganapati. Some other sources also incorrectly describe Rudrama as a wife of Ganapati, including the Venetian traveler Marco Polo (who visited the Kakatiya kingdom around 1293 CE), and the 17th-century text Pratapa-charitra. However, contemporary epigraphic evidence makes it clear that Rudrama was a daughter of Ganapati, not his wife.[2]

Rudrama married Vira-bhadra, a son of Indu-shekhara, the Chalukya samanta of Nidadavolu.[3] There are several instances of Kakatiya monarchs reinstating defeated families to power and establishing marital relations with them: it is possible that Ganapati had subjugated this Chalukya branch during his conquest of Vengi in 1240. He probably arranged Rudrama's marriage shortly after,[4] in order to secure the political allegiance of the Chalukyas of Nidadavolu.[5]

Ascension

Ganapati apparently retired after suffering defeats at his southern frontier, against the Pandyas, in the late 1250s.[6] He had no male heir,[7] and nominated Rudrama as his successor. She began to rule as a co-regent from c. 1260 under the regnal name Rudra-deva Maharaja.[6] Ganapati probably became too old and weak to govern, and assigned Rudrama to run the government.[8] She appears to have become the sole ruler in 1263.[9]

The 1266 CE Tripuranthakam inscription of the Kakatiya maha-pradhana Pedda Mallaya Preggada mentions Maharaja Ganapati-deva as the ruling sovereign, not Rudrama. The 1269 CE Duggi inscription of the Kakatiya subordinate Janniga-deva describes Rudrama as pattoddhati (a mistake for pattoddhrti, meaning "chose royalty"). This suggests that in 1269, Ganapati was alive and Rudrama had not formally been anointed as a sovereign: officially, she was still a queen designate.[10]

Epigraphic evidence suggests that in the 1260s, the Kakatiyas lost control of several territories that were part of Ganapati's kingdom at its greatest extent. The southernmost territories were lost to the Pandyas, parts of coastal Andhra in the east were lost to the Gajapatis, and parts of Telangana in the north-west were lost to the Seunas (Yadavas).[11] In the Vengi region, no Kakatiya records have been found for the period 1262–1278, which suggests that their former vassals - the Kona Haihaya and the Chalukya chiefs - no longer acknowledged the Kakatiya suzerainty.[12] It is possible that the Kakatiya monarch granted autonomy to the Chalukyas of Nidadavolu, because Vira-bhadra of this family was Rudrama's husband; however, this is not certain.[13]

Revolts

It appears that some nobles and Rudrama's own relatives did not approve of a woman being nominated to the throne. The 17th-century text Pratapa-charitra states that two men named Hari-hara and Murari-deva revolted against Rudrama. The text describes them as Ganapati's sons from his junior queens.[6] It states that they captured the Kakatiya capital Warangal, and ousted Rudrama from there. Rudrama then rallied her supporters, recaptured the fort, and had her half-brothers killed. This account is not supported by any other evidence, and no other source mentions these purported sons of Ganapati, or Ganapati having any sons.[10] According to the Tripurantakam inscription of Ganapati's sister Mailama, Hari-hara was actually a paternal uncle of Ganapati.[6] Though the historicity of the Pratapa-charitra account is doubtful, it probably preserves the memory of a rebellion against Rudrama.[14]

Pratapa-charitra states that Prasaditya assumed the titles Kakatiya-rajya-sthapan-acharya (Sanskrit for "a pillar of support for the Kakatiya kingdom"[15]) and Raya-pitamahanka, highlighting his role in the re-establishment of the Kakatiya power. It is Prasaditya's family chronicle, so it exaggerates his role in suppressing the rebellion against Rudrama. Several other chiefs assumed similar titles, which suggests that they may have also helped Rudrama suppress the rebellion.[14] For example:

• The following Kakatiya subordinates assumed the title Raya-sthapan-acharya in their inscriptions dating from 1275 to 1290 CE:[14][16][6]

  • Maha-pradhana Kannara-nayaka (or Kandara-nayaka)

  • Maha-pradhana Ganapati-deva (or Ganapad-deva) Maharajulu

  • Nisshanka Mallikarjuna Nayaka

  • Amba-deva of Kayastha family

• The Malayala chief Gundaya-nayaka and Madaya-nayaka assumed the epithets (biruda) svami-drohara-ganda[14]

• Machaya Nayaka bore the epithet svami-drohara-ganda and svami-vamchakara-ganda[14]

Some early 14th-century chiefs, such as Devari Nayadu (fl. 1313–1317) and Kachaya Reddi, also bear similar titles, but they likely did not fight for Rudrama; they probably assumed these titles after fighting against the invasions from the Delhi Sultanate.[14]

Reign

Conflict with the Gajapatis in coastal Andhra

Epigraphic evidence suggests that during much of the 1260s and 1270s, the Gajapatis from the north-east maintained a presence in the coastal Andhra region, which was a part of Ganapati's kingdom at its greatest extent. For example, a 1262 CE Draksharamam inscription mentions Nara-simha-naradhipa ("Narasimha, the lord of men"), who was most probably the Gajapati king Narasimha I. Bhanudeva I, the son of Narasimha, invaded Vengi around 1274 CE, as attested by his two inscriptions at Draksharamam.[11] Arjuna-deva, the Matsya chief of Oddadi, as well as other chiefs, accompanied him.[13]

Rudrama sent an army led by the brothers Poti Nayaka and Proli Nayaka against the Gajapati forces. The two brothers assumed the titles Gajapati-matta-matanga-simha ("lion to the rutting elephant") and Oddiyaraya-manamardana ("the destroyer of the pride of the Odia king"). This suggest that they repulsed the Gajapati invasion.[13] Their army appears to have re-established the Kakatiya authority in much of the coastal Andhra region, with the Gajapati power restricted to the north of the Godavari River.[11]

The Kakatiya rule in the region is attested by a 1278-1279 CE inscription of Karaparti Suraya Reddi, who describes himself as a servant of Kakatiya Rudradeva Maharaja, that is, Rudrama. His inscription records a gift to the temple of the god Bhimeshvara at Draksharamam.[13] Epigraphic evidence suggests that the Kakatiya control of the coastal Andhra region remained unchallenged during the rest of Rudrama's reign.[14]

Conflicts with the Pandyas and their vassals

Towards the end of the Ganapati's reign the Pandyas had conquered the southernmost part of the Kakatiya territory, including Nellore, and their vassals ruled this area in the subsequent years.[17] The 1264 CE and 1269 CE inscriptions of Rudrama's Kayastha subordinate Janniga-deva claim that he ruled the area extending from Panugal in the north to Kaivaram-kota in the south;[17] Ganapati had conferred this area as a fief upon him.[18] However, epigraphic evidence suggests that much of this area was controlled by Pandya allies: the Kalukada chiefs Keshava-deva and his brother Raya-murari Soma-deva.[19]

An undated Chidambaram inscription of the Pandya prince Vikrama states that he did not march further north because he did not want to fight a woman who had assumed the name of a king. According to historians N. Venkataramanayya and M. Somasekhara Sarma, this may be euphemistic cover for his failed expedition against Rudrama.[17]

Inscriptions of Rudrama and her subordinates, discovered in the Kadapa and Nellore areas, suggest that Kakatiyas regained control over some of the territory that they had earlier lost to the Pandyas:[20]

• The 1264 CE Nandalur inscription of Nagaraja, the pradhani of Rudrama's subordinate Janniga-deva, records a gift to the temple of Samuya-natha-svami.[20]

• The 1268 CE Atluru inscription near Siddavatam also attests to Janniga-deva's control over the area. Although the inscription is damaged, and the name of the issuer is lost, his titles and date indicate that he was Janniga-deva.[20]

• Epigraphic evidence suggests that the Kakatiyas also ousted the Pandya vassal Vira Rajendra Chola (likely Rajendra Chola III[17]) from Nellore. Mahamandaleshvara Naga-deva Maharaja, a vassal of Rudrama, ruled at Nellore during 1271–1275.[20]

The Kakatiya subordinates soon lost these territories to rival chiefs, who were probably Pandya vassals. The Telugu Choda chief Vijaya Ganda-gopala appears to have displaced the Kayasthas. Tiru-kalatti-deva II (alias Tribhuvana-chakravarti Irumadi), the eldest son of the former Choda ruler Manuma-siddhi II, appears to have displaced Naga-deva from Nellore in 1263. He apparently ruled Nellore during c. 1279–1283, before another Choda chief Manuma-Gandagopala displaced him.[21]

Conflict with the Seunas

The Seuna (Yadava) king Mahadeva invaded the Kakatiya kingdom during Rudrama's reign. The Seuna records, including Mahadeva's inscriptions and Hemadri's Vrata-khanda, suggest that he achieved military successes against the ruler of Tilinga (Telangana), that is, the Kakatiya monarch. For example, they claim that Mahadeva was "the uprooter of the stalk of the lotus of the head" of the ruler of Tilinga, that he blew away this ruler like a strong wind blows away cotton, and that he "captured in battle the elephants and the five musical instruments" of this ruler.[22] The Vrata-khanda claims that Mahadeva left Rudrama free because he was reluctant to kill a woman.[23] The epithet "the uprooter of the stalk of the lotus of the head" appears to be a hereditary title inherited from his great-grandfather Jaitugi, who is known to have killed a Kakatiya king. Other claims made in the Seuna inscriptions are clear exaggerations.[22]

The records from Telangana suggest that Rudrama not only repulsed the Seuna invasion, but also annexed a part of their territory. The 17th-century text Pratapa-charitra describes the episode as follows: Mahadeva besieged the Kakatiya capital Warangal for 15 days, but Rudrama led the Kakatiya forces to destroy his 300,000 infantry and 100,000 cavalry. Rudrama then chased Mahadeva to the Seuna capital Devagiri; there, Mahadeva sued for peace, agreed to pay her 10 million gold coins as war indemnity, and concluded a peace treaty. Rudrama distributed the money among her commanders, set up a victory pillar in the Seuna territory, and returned to her own kingdom.[24]

The Pratapa-charitra claims, such as Rudrama's purported destruction of the 300,000 infantry and 100,000 cavalry, are obvious exaggerations. However, epigraphic and numismatic evidence suggests that Rudrama indeed repulsed a Seuna invasion:[25]

• A fragmentary Bidar Fort inscription mentions Rudrama's subordinate Bhairava of Sinda family, and states that he accompanied Rudrama as a commander of her army in all her expeditions. Bidar is located in the southern part of the traditional Seuna territory, and this inscription may have been issued during Rudrama's offensive against the Seunas, in the Bedadakota (present-day Bidar) area.[26] The inscription mentions her title as Raya-gaja-kesari, which she inherited from her father.[27]

• A 1267 CE Panugal inscription of the Seuna prince Sharnga-pani-deva records a gift to the temple of Chhaya-Somanatha. The inscription describes him as a son of the Seuna king Simhana and a subordinate of the Kakatiya Manuma-Rudradeva, that is, Rudrama. According to historian M. Somasekhara Sarma, this Sharnga-pani-deva is same as the Sharnga-pani-deva described in the 1268 CE Hire-Kogilur inscription as the father of Mahadeva. He theorizes that Mahadeva's father Sharnga-pani-deva seized Panagal during the Seuna invasion of the Kakatiya territory, and acknowledged her suzerainty after the Seuna defeat.[25] However, historian P.V.P. Sastry theorizes that Sharnga-pani-deva (or Sarjnapani-deva) of the Panugal inscription was another Seuna prince who sought asylum with the Kakatiyas because of his differences with Mahadeva.[26]

• In 1922, a set of 43 gold coins issued by Seuna kings was unearthed at Rachapatnam near Kaikaluru. M. Somasekhara Sarma notes that the treasure cannot be considered to be a proof of Seuna presence in the Kakatiya country, as coins travel extensive distances; for example, Roman coins have been found in southern India because of trade. According to him, the coins may have been part of the war indemnity that the Seunas paid to Rudrama according to the Pratapa-charitra.[28]

Amba-deva's revolt

Members of the Kayastha family, who held a fief in the southern part of the Kakatiya kingdom, appear to have been loyal to Rudrama during the tenure of the brothers Janniga-dev and Tripurari-deva.[26] Their younger brother Amba-deva, who became the Kayastha chief in 1272,[21] appears to have been loyal to Rudrama for some time, as suggested by his title raya-sthapanacharya ("a pillar of support for the kingdom"[15]).[12] However, his inscriptions do not mention any overlord, which suggests that he soon asserted independence, giving up his allegiance to Rudrama.[29]

Amba-deva's 1290 CE Tripurantakam inscription, records his military successes, including his victories over the feudatories and allies of Rudrama.[30][29]

• In 1273, he defeated the Shripati Ganapati, the ruler of the Gurindala (Gurazala or Gurijala) area.[31] A 1268 CE Mutukur inscription suggests that Ganapati was a vassal of Rudrama.[31]

• Amba-deva claims to have cut off heads of 75 chiefs (nayakas) in battle.[30] These chiefs were probably Rudrama's subordinates, whom she sent to subjugate Amba-deva after his victory over Shripati Ganapati.[31] The number 75 and the beheading claim are likely poetic exaggeration, and may be interpreted to mean that Amba-deva simply defeated the entire Kakatiya army.[32]

• Amba-deva claims to have caused his destruction or ruin (vidhvamsa) of Kopperunjinga alias Kadava-raya,[32] a Pandya vassal who was also possibly a Kakatiya ally at the time.[33]

• Sometime before 1281, Amba-deva appointed Manuma Ganda-gopala on the throne of Nellore.[34][32]

• Amba-deva defeated Manu-Mallideva, the Telugu Choda ruler of the Eruva region, and annexed his territories.[30] Although Manu-Mallideva's inscriptions do not mention any overlord, he may have been a Kakatiya subordinate.[35]

• Amba-deva also defeated the Pandya ruler Maravarman Kulashekhara, and his allies, the Kalukada chiefs.[36] He established a marital alliance with a chief named Bollaya, and conquered the Pendekallu area.[35][30]

With these victories, Amba-deva carved out an independent principality that included almost all of the former south-western parts of the Kakatiya territory to the south of the Krishna River.[34] As a result, at the time of Rudrama's death, the Kakatiya kingdom was smaller than the one she had inherited; nevertheless, it was still larger than it had been during the early part of her father's reign.[37] The distribution of inscriptions that mention her as sovereign suggests that the Kakatiya sphere of influence shrank during her reign.[38]

Death

The 1289 CE Chandupatla inscription that mentions the death of Rudrama

Rudrama appears to have been killed in November 1289 CE by Amba-deva's forces. This theory is supported by the following evidence:[39]

• The 27 November 1289 Chandupatla inscription records warrior Puvvula Mummadi's gift of some land to the god Soma-natha-deva, for the merit of Rudrama (called "Kakati Rudrama-devi") and her general Mallikarjuna-nayaka. It states that both of them had attained Shiva-loka, that is, died, presumably a few days before the date of the record.[40]

• A 1290 CE inscription, issued by Mallikarjuna's son Immadi Mallikarjuna-nayaka, attests that Mallikarjuna was a general of Rudrama; this inscription was issued for the merit of "Kumara Rudra-deva Maharaja".[40]

• These inscriptions suggest that Rudrama and her general Mallikarjuna died at the same time. According to historian P.V.P. Sastry, Rudrama was likely very old at the time - around eighty years - and therefore, probably did not lead her forces in a battle. However, she may have accompanied her army - commanded by Mallikarjuna - to inspire them.[40]

• Amba-deva's 1290 CE Tripurantakam inscription states he deprived Mallikarjuna-pati of seven limbs. This Mallikarjuna, whom the inscription describes as an enemy of gods and brahmanas, appears to be same as Rudrama's general Mallikarjuna.[41] In this context, the "seven limbs" appear to refer to the seven constituent members of Mallikarjuna's royalty,[29] defined in the Sanskrit thesaurus Amara-ksoha as "king, minister, friend, treasury, territory, forts and forces".[41]

• Amba-deva's revolt is the only political disturbance known to have taken place in the Kakatiya kingdom around 1289 CE. Besides claiming to have deprived Mallikarjuna of his overlord (one of the "limbs"),[42] Amba-deva also claims to have "vanquished" all the kings of Andhra.[35] This suggests that he was responsible for killing Rudrama: according to Sastry, he did not explicitly state that he killed Rudrama, because boasting about killing an old woman would have discredited him as a warrior.[41]

In 2017, archaeologist D. Kanna Babu of Archaeological Survey of India identified two sculptures at Pochalamma temple in Bollikunta as depictions of Rudrama. The first sculpture shows her riding a horse with reins in her left hand and a sword in her right hand; it features an overhead umbrella - the royal insignia. The second sculpture shows her tired, seated sorrowfully, and leaning towards left; the royal umbrella is missing, presumably because she lost it in the battle; and there is a buffalo - the vehicle of Yama, the lord of death. According to Babu's interpretation, the sculptures depict Rudrama's death in a battle against Amba-deva.[43]

Around 1291, during the reign of Rudrama's successor Prataparudra, the Kakatiya forces defeated Amba-deva.[44] Earlier historians believed that Rudramadevi ruled until 1295, because some records before this year name Prataparudra as Kumara (Prince) Rudra.[45] However, the discovery of the Chandupatla inscription confirmed that Rudramadevi died before 27 November 1289.[40][46] Moreover, some records before 1295 (such as the 1292 Inkirala inscription) call Prataparudra a Maharaja ("great king"). It appears that Prataparudra continued to be called Kumara Rudra for some years after ascending the throne, because this was a familiar usage.[45]

Administration

According to an early 14th-century text, Rudrama's father Ganapati considered her equal to a son, and therefore, decided to use a male persona for her.[47] Rudrama thus promoted a male image to rule in a patrilineal society that traditionally excluded women from political power: she assumed a male name and wore masculine clothing.[48] Her husband Vira-bhadra finds few mentions in historical records and did not actively participate in the administration.[37]

Rudrama recruited several non-aristocratic warriors into the Kakatiya service: her successor Prataparudra as well as the later Vijayanagara emperors adopted this policy as well.[37] Epigraphic evidence suggests that during and after the later part of Ganapati's reign, the number and proportion of officers (as opposed to chiefs and princes) among individuals acknowledging Kakatiya overlordship increased significantly. For example, out of the 34 Kakatiya subordinates known from Kakatiya inscriptions during the early part of Ganapati's reign (c. 1199-1230 CE), 47% were chiefs and princes, while 26% were officers. From Rudrama's reign, 63 subordinates are known: only 17% of these were chiefs and princes, while 38% were officers. This suggests that, during this period, the noble families declined while the importance of the officers grew.[49] In the Kakatiya administration, the officers with the designation anga-rakshaka (bodyguard) first appeared during Rudrama's rule, and virtually disappeared during the reign of her successor Prataparudra.[15]

The Malayala and Recherla chiefs, who played an important role during the reigns of the preceding kings Rudra and Ganapati, appear to have retired from active service during Rudrama's reign. New chiefs, such as Reddis of Gona family and the Velamas, emerged as the important generals during her time.[12]

Notable subordinates of Rudrama included:

• The Reddi chiefs of the Gona family: Gona Gannaya and his general Vitthala helped Rudrama's successor Prataparudra conquer the Bellary and Raichur forts from the Seunas.[50]

• The Velama chief Prasaditya, who commanded the south-western region of the Kakatiya kingdom.[50]

• The Kayastha brothers Janniga-deva, Tripurantaka (alias Tripurari), and Amba-deva, who ruled in succession.[26] Amba-deva appears to have been loyal to Rudrama for some time, as suggested by his title raya-sthapan-acharya, before he asserted independence.[12]

• The Are vassals migrated from western Deccan to the Srisailam area, which came to be known as Are-bhumi or Are-vidu. Sharnga-pani-deva, a son of the Seuna king Simhana, was the most important Are vassal of Rudrama. Ranaka Gopa-deva-raja, a military commander mentioned in the 1273 CE Gundalapadu inscription, was another chief of Are ancestry.[50]

• Bhairava, son of Maila of Sinda family, was a vassal of Rudrama. According to the Bidar inscription, he assisted the queen in her successful military campaigns in Vengi, Dravila, and the Seuna kingdom.[51]

• Sura, a chief (samanta) of the Viriyala family, served the queen as a military commander (senadhipati) in the northern region.[51]

• The chiefs of the Cheraku family served as Rudrama's commanders in the southern region.[51]

• Minister (maha-pradhana) and commander (senadhipati) Annaya-deva of Induluri family was Rudrama's son-in-law.[52]

• Ponkala Mallaya Preggada, another maha-pradhana, held the office of bahattara-niyogadhipati,[51] the superintendent of 72 niyogas or royal offices.[18]

Constructions

Rudrama continued the fortification of Warangal by raising the height of a curtain wall, approximately 0.75 miles (1.21 km) in diameter, to 20 feet (6.1 m). This wall was made of granite blocks, was surrounded by a wide moat, and had 45 bastions, which were 40–60 feet on a side. She also commissioned the construction of an outer earthen wall, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in diameter, and surrounded by an additional 150 150 feet (46 m)-wide moat.[53]

Rudrama built a ranga-mandapa dedicated to her family deity Svayambhu-deva (Shiva) in the Warangal Fort. A sculpture discovered among the ruins of this structure depicts her as a lion-mounted warrior holding a dagger and a shield in her hands. The image also depicts an elephant holding a lotus in its trunk: according to historian P.V.P. Sastry, it represents Rudrama's title Raya-gaja-kesari.[54]

Family and succession

Rudrama and her husband Vira-bhadra had three daughters: Mummadamma, Rudrama, and Ruyyama (alias Ruyyamba).[3] According to Vidyanatha's Prataparudra-Yashobhushana, Mummadamma married Mahadeva.[51] Rudrama, the princess who shared her mother's name, married the Seuna (Yadava) prince Yellana-deva (or Ellana-deva[3]), who held a fief near Guntur, as suggested by his Alapadu inscription.[55] Ruyyama married the minister and commander Annaya-deva of Induluri family, who was a son of Gannaya.[52]

Since queen Rudrama had no son, her father Ganapati asked her to adopt Mummadamma's son Prataparudra alias Vira-rudra as her own son. Rudrama did so, and nominated Prataparudra as her successor.[51]

Rudrama had a sister named Ganapama-devi (or Ganapamba), who married Beta of Kota family.[7]

In popular culture

Among the historical rulers of India, Rudrama was one of the few women who inherited the throne from her father. She was also among the most successful women rulers of medieval South Asia, by the length of her reign as well as by the area of her kingdom. The historical traditions written in the centuries immediately following her death did not celebrate her as an important female monarch, and instead presented her as a widow queen who ruled on behalf of her infant son. However, in the 20th century, she became a source of regional pride in the Andhra Pradesh (later split into Telangana).[47]

In 2015, filmmaker Gunasekhar made a Telugu film Rudhramadevi on the life of Rudrama Devi with Anushka Shetty playing the titular role.[56]

Peninsula Pictures produced a serial on Star Maa titled Rudramadevi which pictured the childhood of Rudramadevi to the TV viewers for 100 episodes.

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avantibai

Born  16 August 1831  Mankhedi Village, Seoni

Died  20 March 1858 (aged 26)

Nationality   Indian    Spouse:Maharaja Vikramaditya Singh

Father: Zamindar Rao Jujhar Singh

Maharani Avantibai Lodhi (16 August 1831 – 20 March 1858) was a queen-ruler and freedom fighter. She was the queen of the Ramgarh (present-day Dindori) in Madhya Pradesh. An opponent of the British East India Company during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, information concerning her is sparse and mostly comes from folklore. In 21st century, she has been used as a political icon in Lodhi community.[1]

Statue of Rani Avantibai, Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh

Early life

Avantibai Lodhi was born in Lodhi family on 16 August 1831 in Mankehadi village district Seoni in the house of Zamindar Rao Jujhar Singh. She was married to Prince Vikramaditya Singh Lodhi, the son of Raja Laxman Singh of Ramgarh (present-day Dindori). They had two children, Kunwar Aman Singh and Kunwar Sher Singh. In 1850 Raja Laxman Singh died and Raja Vikramaditya assumed the throne. Both his sons were still minor when the king became ill. As a Queen she efficiently administered state affairs. As the guardian of the minor sons, on hearing the news, the British took the action of "Court of Wards" to the state of Ramgarh and appointed Sheikh Sarbarahkar for the administration of the state. He along with Mohammed Abdullah were sent to Ramgarh. Considering this as an insult, the queen expelled Sarbarahkars from Ramgarh.[2] In midst of this, the king died and the whole responsibility came onto queen. She ordered the farmers of the state not to obey the instructions of the British. This reform work increased the popularity of the queen.

Indian rebellion of 1857

Rani Avantibai got the responsibility of publicity for organizing the huge conference led under the chairmanship of Gond Raja Shankar Shah. Discharging her responsibility, the queen sent glass bangles along with the letter to the kings and landlords of the neighboring states and wrote in the letter

Either tighten your waist to protect the motherland or sit at home wearing glass bangles, you should fulfill the oath to your religion

Whoever read this message got ready to sacrifice everything for the country. The echo of the queen's appeal resonated far and wide and according to the plan; all the surrounding kings united against the British. When the revolt of 1857 broke out, Avantibai raised and led an army of 4000.[3] Her first battle with the British took place in the village of Khairi near Mandla, where she and her army were able to defeat the British Deputy Commissioner Waddington and his forces such that they had to flee from Mandla. However, stung by the defeat the British came back with vengeance along with the help of King of Rewa and launched an attack on Ramgarh. Avantibai moved to the hills of Devharigarh for safety. The British army set fire to Ramgarh and turned to Devhargarh to attack the queen.[4]

Avantibai resorted to guerilla warfare to fend off the British army.[4] However, when facing almost certain defeat in battle, she sacrificed her life for the protection of the motherland by piercing herself with her sword on 20 March 1858.[5] Rani achieved veergati at a place called Sukhi-Talaiya between Balapur and Ramgarh. After this, the movement was suppressed from this area and Ramgarh also came under British control.

Samadhi of Rani

In Ramgarh, some distance away from the ruins of the palace towards the bottom of hill, there is a tomb of Rani, which is in very dilapidated condition. There are tombs of other people of Ramgarh dynasty also near this.

Legacy

After India's independence, Avantibai has been remembered through performances and folklore.[6] One such folk song is of the Gond people, a forest dweller tribe of the region, which says:[7]

The Rani who is our mother, strikes repeatedly at the British. She is the chief of the jungles. She sent letters and bangles to other (rulers, chieftains) and aligned them to the cause. She vanquished and pushed the Britishers out, in every street she made them panic, so that they ran away wherever they could find their way. Whenever she entered the battleground on horseback,she fought bravely and swords and spears ruled the day. O, she was our Rani mother

She is among the viranganas (heroic women) lauded by groups of people involved in the events of 1857, other examples of whom include Rani Lakshmibai, Rani Durgavati, Rani Asha Devi, Jhalkari Bai, Rani Mahabiri Devi and Rani Uda Devi in north India and Rani Velu Nachiyar, Kuyili, Rani Kittur Chennamma and Rani Abbakka Chowta in south India.

In 1988–1989, a park has been built by Government besides remnants of the palace and temple of Radhakrishna (built by descendants of Ramgarh dynasty). A huge white coloured statue of Rani riding a horse has been installed in the park.

Although little is known of Avantibai except through folklore, her story merited a brief inclusion in the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) history textbooks from 2012 as a participant in the 1857 rebellion, after parliamentary protests from the Bharatiya Janata Party .[8][9] Although she was a Lodhi queen.

The Narmada Valley Development Authority named a part of the Bargi Dam project in Jabalpur in her honour.[10]

First Stamp Of 'Rani Avantibai'

India Post has issued two stamps in honour of Avantibai, on 20 March 1988 and on 19 September 200

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kittur_Chennamma    Statue of Rani Chennamma in Bengaluru 

BornChennamma  14 November 1778   Kakati, Belagavi District, present day Karnataka, India

Died21 February 1829 (aged 50)  Bailhongal, Bombay Presidency, Company Raj

NationalityIndian    Other namesRani Chennamma, Kittur Rani Chennamma  

Known forRevolt against the British East India Company

Kittur Chennamma (14 November 1778 – 21 February 1829) was the Indian Queen of Kittur, a former princely state in present-day Karnataka. She led an armed resistance against the British East India Company, in defiance of the Paramountcy, in an attempt to retain control over her dominion. She defeated the Company in the first revolt, but died as a prisoner of war after the second rebellion. As one of the first and few female rulers to lead kittur forces against British colonisation, she continues to be remembered as a folk heroine in Karnataka, she is also an important symbol of the Indian independence movement.

Royal standard of Kittur Chennamma, at Kittur Fort

Early life

Kittur Chennamma was born on 14 November 1778, in Kakati, a small village in the present Belagavi District of Karnataka, India. Kakati was a small deshgat (a small princely state). Chennamma's father was Dhulappa Desai and her mother's name was Padmavati. She belonged to the Lingayat community and received training in horse riding, sword fighting and archery from a young age. She married Raja Mallasarja of the Desai family at the age of 15, after looking up to him since the age of 9,[1][2]

Conflict against the British

Chennamma's husband died in 1816, leaving her with a son and a state full of volatility. This was followed by her son's death in 1824. Rani Chennamma was left with the state of Kittur and an uphill task to maintain its independence from the British. Following the death of her husband and son, Rani Chennamma adopted Shivalingappa in the year 1824 and made him heir to the throne. This irked the East India Company, who ordered Shivalingappa's expulsion. The state of Kittur came under the administration of Dharwad collectorate in charge of St John Thackeray of which Mr Chaplain was the commissioner, both of whom did not recognize the new rule of the regent, and notified Kittur to accept the British control.

This is seen as a predecessor of the later Doctrine of lapse Policy introduced later by Lord Dalhousie, Governor General of India, to annex independent Indian States from 1848, a doctrine based on the idea that in case the ruler of an independent state died childless, the right of ruling the State reverted or "lapsed" to the suzerain.

In 1823, Rani Chennamma sent a letter to Mountstuart Elphinstone, Lieutenant-Governor of the Bombay province pleading her case, but the request was turned down, and war broke out.[3] The British placed a group of sentries around the treasury and crown jewels of Kittur, valued at around 1.5 million rupees upon the outbreak of war in order to protect them.[4] They also mustered a force of 20,797 men and 437 guns, mainly from the third troop of Madras Native Horse Artillery in order to fight the war.[5] In the first round of war, during October 1824, British forces lost heavily and St John Thackeray, collector and political agent,[6] was killed in the war.[3] Amatur Balappa, a lieutenant of Chennamma, was mainly responsible for his killing and losses to British forces.[7] Two British officers, Sir Walter Elliot and Mr Stevenson[6] were also taken as hostages.[3] Rani Chennamma released them with an understanding with Chaplain that the war would be terminated but Chaplain continued the war with more forces.[3] During the second assault, subcollector of Solapur, Munro, nephew of Thomas Munro was killed.[6] Rani Chennamma fought fiercely with the aid of her deputy, Sangolli Rayanna, but was ultimately captured and imprisoned at Bailhongal Fort, where she died on 21 February 1829 due to health deterioration.[3]

Sangolli Rayanna continued the guerrilla war to 1829, in vain, until his capture.[3] Rayanna wanted to install the adopted boy Shivalingappa as the ruler of Kittur, but Rayanna was caught and hanged. Shivalingappa was also arrested by the British.[3] Chennamma's legacy and first victory are still commemorated in Kittur, during the Kittur Utsava held on 22–24 October every year.

Burial placeRani Chennamma's samadhi or burial place is in Bailhongal.[13]

StatuesParliament House, New Delhi

Statue of Kittur Chenamma near Belagavi town hall.

On 11 September 2007 a statue of Rani Chennamma was unveiled at the Indian Parliament Complex by Pratibha Patil, the first woman President of India.[14] On the occasion, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee, BJP leader L. K. Advani, Karnataka Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy and others were present, marking the importance of the function.[15] The statue was donated by Kittur Rani Chennamma Memorial Committee and sculpted by Vijay Gaur.[15]

OthersThere are also statues commemorating her at Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kittur and Hubballi

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarabai   Tarabai, as depicted by Baburao Painter c. 1928  Regent of the Maratha Empire

A 1927 depiction of Tarabai in battle by noted Marathi painter M. V. Dhurandhar 

ReignMarch 1700 – 12 January 1708, 1710 – 2 August 1714   MonarchShivaji II

Chief Queen Consort of the Maratha Empire    Reign11 March 1689 – 3 March 1700

PredecessorJankibai     SuccessorRajasbai   Bornc. 1675   Satara, Maratha Empire (Present day Maharashtra, India)

Died9 December 1761 (aged 85–86)  Satara, Maratha Empire (present-day Maharashtra, India)

SpouseRajaram (married c. 1683, died 1700)   IssueShivaji II  

HouseMohite (by birth) Bhosale (by marriage)   FatherHambirrao Mohite    ReligionHinduism

Maharani Tarabai Bhosale (née Mohite)[1] was the regent of the Maratha Empire from 1700 until 1708. She was the queen of Rajaram I, and daughter-in-law of the kingdom's founder Shivaji I. She is acclaimed for her role in keeping alive the resistance against Mughal rule in Konkan, and acting as the regent of the Maratha Empire during the minority of her son, Shivaji II. She defeated Mughal forces of Aurangzeb in several battles and expanded the Maratha Empire.

Family and early life

Tarabai came from Mohite clan. She was the daughter of Hambirrao Mohite, Commander-in-Chief of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha kingdom. Hambirrao's sister Soyarabai was the queen of Shivaji and the mother of his younger son Rajaram I. Tarabai married Rajaram at the age of 8 in 1682, becoming his second wife.

After the death of his half-brother and predecessor Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Rajaram ruled the Maratha Kingdom from 1689 to 1700, when his first wife Jankibai was the queen consort. On Rajaram's death in March 1700, Tarabai proclaimed her infant son, Shivaji II (later known as Shivaji I of Kolhapur) as Rajaram's successor and herself as the regent.[2]

Tarabai In Command

See also: Mughal–Maratha Wars § Marathas under Tarabai

A 1927 depiction of Tarabai in battle by noted Marathi painter M. V. Dhurandhar

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As the regent, Tarabai took charge of the war against the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's forces. Tarabai was skilled in cavalry movement and made strategic movements herself during wars. She personally led the war and continued the fight against the Mughals. A truce was offered to the Mughals in such a way that the Mughal emperor promptly rejected it, and Tarabai continued the Maratha resistance.

After the Battle of Satara, Aurangzeb contested for every inch of Deccan region at great cost of life and money. Aurangzeb drove west, deep into Maratha territory notably conquering Satara (the Maratha capital) the Marathas expanded eastwards into Mughal lands Hyderabad. Aurangzeb waged continuous war in the Deccan for more than two decades with no resolution and thus lost about a fifth of his army.

Signs of strain were showing in the Mughal camp in late 1701. Asad Khan, Julfikar Khan's father, counselled Aurangzeb to end the war and turn around. The expedition had already taken a giant toll, much larger than originally planned, on the empire and it looked possible that 175 years of Mughal rule might crumble due to being involved in a war that was not winnable.[citation needed]

By 1705, Marathas had crossed the Narmada River and made small incursions in Malwa, retreating immediately. With his 8000 men, Dabhade attacked and defeated Mahomed Khan's forces numbering almost fourteen thousand. This left the entire Gujarat coast wide open for Marathas. They immediately tightened their grip on Mughal supply chains. By 1705 end, Marathas had penetrated Mughal possession of Central India and Gujarat. Nemaji Shinde defeated the Mughals on the Malwa plateau.

In 1706, Tarabai was captured by Mughal forces for a brief period of 4 days, but she escaped after the Mughal camp - in which she was being held - was ambushed by the Marathas. In 1706, Mughals started retreating from Maratha dominions.[citation needed] The Maratha country was relieved at the news of the death of Aurangzeb, who died at Ahmadnagar and buried at Khuldabad near Aurangabad, Maharashtra in 1707.[3]

Of the years 1700–1707, Jadunath Sarkar, a prominent Indian historian, especially of the Mughal dynasty, has opined: "During this period, the supreme guiding force in Maharashtra was not any minister but the dowager queen Tarabai. Her administrative genius and strength of character saved the nation in that awful crisis."[4]

Conflict with Shahu

Equestrian statue of Tarabai in Kolhapur

In order to divide the Maratha forces, the son of Aurangzeb, Azam Shah on the advice of his general Zulfikar Khan released Shahu I, Sambhaji's son and Tarabai's nephew, on certain conditions. Shahu immediately challenged Tarabai and her son Shivaji II for leadership of the Maratha polity.

Tarabai at that time demanded loyalty from the Maratha generals saying that Sambhaji (Shahu's father) had lost the kingdom which Shivaji had created. Rajaram through his efforts had regained that kingdom and therefore it was not the same kingdom but a new one created by Rajaram. [5]

Shahu eventually prevailed, sidelining Tarabai, due to his legal position and Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath's diplomacy. Tarabai established a rival court in Kolhapur in 1709, and established her son Shivaji II as the first Chhatrapati of Kolhapur, known as Shivaji I of Kolhapur. However, Shivaji I of Kolhapur was deposed in 1714 by Rajaram's other widow, Rajasabai, who put her son, Sambhaji II, on the throne. Sambhaji II imprisoned Tarabai and her son. Shivaji I of Kolhapur died in 1726. Tarabai later reconciled with Shahu I in 1730 and went to live in Satara but without any political power.[6]

Conflict with Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao

In the 1740s, during the last years of Shahu's life, Tarabai presented to the heirless Shahu I, a young man who she claimed was her grandson, and thus, a direct descendant of Shivaji. She claimed that Rajaram had been concealed after his birth for his protection and had been raised by the wife of a soldier. Shahu, who did not have a son of his own, adopted the young man who later succeeded him as Rajaram II (also known as Ramaraja).[7]

After Shahu died in 1749, Rajaram II succeeded him as the Chhatrapati. When Balaji Baji Rao left for the Mughal frontier, Tarabai urged Rajaram II to remove him from the post of Peshwa. When Rajaram refused, she imprisoned him in a dungeon at Satara, on 24 November 1750.[8] She also claimed that he was an impostor and she had falsely presented him as her grandson to Shahu.[6]

In early October 1750, Tarabai had met Umabai Dabhade, who also held a grudge against the Peshwa. Umabai dispatched 15,000 troops led by Damaji Rao Gaekwad in support of Tarabai. Gaekwad defeated a 20,000-strong force led by the Peshwa loyalist Trimbakrao Purandare at Nimb, a small town north of Satara. He then marched to Satara, where he was received by Tarabai. However, Trimbakrao re-formed his army and on 15 March, attacked Gaekwad's army, which was encamped on the banks of Venna River. Gaekwad was defeated in this battle and forced to retreat with heavy losses.[9]

Meanwhile, Balaji Baji Rao returned from the Mughal frontier, reaching Satara on 24 April. He stormed the Yavateshwar garrison in Satara, defeating Tarabai's forces. He surrounded the Satara fort and asked Tarabai to release Rajaram II, whose physical and mental condition had deteriorated considerably. Tarabai refused and Balaji Baji Rao left for Pune, since a siege of the well-provisioned and strong Satara fort would not be easy. Meanwhile, Damaji Gaekwad, Umabai Dabhade and their relatives were arrested by the Peshwa's men.

A section of Tarabai's troops in the Satara garrison unsuccessfully rebelled against her. She beheaded the rebel leader, Anandrao Jadhav. However, she realized that she would not be able to fight Balaji Baji Rao, and agreed to meet him in Pune for a peace agreement. Janoji Bhonsle, also a rival of Balaji Baji Rao, was in the neighbourhood of Pune with a strong army and agreed to protect her against any harm. In Pune, Balaji Baji Rao treated her respectfully and after some reluctance, Tarabai accepted Balaji Baji Rao's superiority. She agreed to dismiss her lieutenant Baburao Jadhav, whom Balaji Baji Rao disliked. In return, the Balaji Baji Rao forgave her. On 14 September 1752, the two took oaths at Khandoba temple in Jejuri, promising mutual peace. At this oath ceremony, Tarabai also swore that Rajaram II was not her grandson. Nevertheless, Balaji Baji Rao retained Rajaram II as the titular Chhatrapati and a powerless figurehead

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chand_Bibi 

Chand Bibi hawking, an 18th-century painting

Born1550   Ahmednagar Fort, Ahmadnagar Sultanate  (now in Maharashtra, India)

Died18 April 1600 (aged 49–50)      SpouseAli Adil Shah I

HouseNizam Shahi (by birth)    Adil Shahi (by marriage)

FatherHussain Nizam Shah I   MotherKhunza Humayun Begum   ReligionShia Islam

Sultana Chand Bibi (1550 – 18 April 1600) was the regent of the Bijapur Sultanate during the minority of Ibrahim Adil Shah II in 1580–1590, and the regent of the Ahmednagar Sultanate during the minority of her great nephew Bahadur Shah in 1595–1600. Chand Bibi is best known for defending Ahmednagar against the Mughal forces of Emperor Akbar in 1595.[2]

Early life

Chand Bibi was the daughter of Hussain Nizam Shah I of Ahmednagar, India[3][unreliable source?] and the sister of Burhan Nizam Shah II, the Sultan of Ahmednagar. She was versed in many languages, including Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Marathi and Kannada. She played the sitar and painting flowers was her hobby.[4]

Bijapur Sultanate

Main article: Adil Shahi

Following an alliance policy, Chand Bibi was married to Ali Adil Shah I of the Bijapur Sultanate.[5] A stepwell (bawdi) constructed near the eastern boundary of Bijapur by her husband was named Chand Bawdi after her.[6][unreliable source?]

Ali Adil Shah's father, Ibrahim Adil Shah I, had divided power between the Sunni nobles, the Habshis and the Deccanis. However, Ali Adil Shah favored Shi'as.[7] After his death in 1580, the Shi'a nobles proclaimed his nine-year-old nephew Ibrahim Adil Shah II as the ruler.[8] A Deccani general called Kamal Khan seized power and became the regent. Kamal Khan was disrespectful towards Chand Bibi, who felt that he had ambitions to usurp the throne. Chand Bibi plotted an attack against Kamal Khan with help from another general, Haji Kishvar Khan.[8] Kamal Khan was captured while fleeing and was beheaded in the fort.

Kishvar Khan became the second regent of Ibrahim. In a battle against the Ahmednagar Sultanate at Dharaseo, the Bijapur army led by him captured all the artillery and elephants of the enemy army. After the victory, Kishvar Khan ordered other Bijapuri generals to surrender all the captured elephants to him. The elephants were highly valued, and the other generals took great offense. Along with Chand Bibi, they hatched a plan to eliminate Kishvar Khan with help from General Mustafa Khan of Bankapur. Kishvar Khan's spies informed him of the conspiracy, and he sent troops against Mustafa Khan, who was captured and killed in the battle.[8] Chand Bibi challenged Kishvar Khan, but he got her imprisoned at the Satara fort and tried to declare himself the king. However, Kishvar Khan became very unpopular among the rest of the generals. He was forced to flee when a joint army led by a Habshi general called Ikhlas Khan marched to Bijapur. The army consisted of the forces of three Habshi nobles: Ikhlas Khan, Hamid Khan and Dilavar Khan.[7] Kishvar Khan tried his luck at Ahmednagar unsuccessfully, and then fled to Golconda. He was killed in exile by a relative of Mustafa Khan. Following this, Chand Bibi acted as the regent for a short time.[8]

Ikhlas Khan then became the regent, but he was dismissed by Chand Bibi shortly afterwards. Later, he resumed his dictatorship, which was soon challenged by the other Habshi generals.[7] Taking advantage of the situation in Bijapur, Ahmednagar's Nizam Shahi sultan allied with the Qutb Shahi of Golconda to attack Bijapur. The troops available at Bijapur were not sufficient to repulse the joint attack.[8] The Habshi generals realized that they could not defend the city alone, and tended their resignation to Chand Bibi.[7] Abu-ul-Hassan, a Shi'a general appointed by Chand Bibi, called for the Maratha forces in Carnatic. The Marathas attacked the invaders' supply lines,[8] forcing the Ahmednagar-Golconda allied army to retreat.

Ikhlas Khan then attacked Dilavar Khan to seize the control of Bijapur. However, he was defeated, and Dilavar Khan became the regent from 1582 to 1591.[7] When order was restored in Bijapur kingdom, Chand Bibi returned to Ahmednagar.

Ahmednagar Sultanate

Ikhlas Khan chief minister of Ali Adil Shah of Bijapur

In 1591, the Mughal emperor Akbar had asked all the four Deccan sultanates to acknowledge his supremacy. All the sultanates evaded compliance, and Akbar's ambassadors returned in 1593. In 1595, Ibrahim Nizam Shah, the ruler of Ahmednagar Sultanate was killed in a severe battle about 40 miles from Ahmednagar at Shahdurg against Ibrahim Adil Shah II of Bijapur.[9][unreliable source?] After his death, some nobles felt that his infant son Bahadur Shah should be proclaimed the King under the regency of Chand Bibi (his father's aunt).[10][unreliable source?]

However, the Deccani minister Miyan Manju proclaimed the twelve-year-old son of Shah Tahir, Ahmad Nizam Shah II, as the ruler on 6 August 1595. The Habshi nobles of Ahmednagar, led by Ikhlas Khan, were opposed to this plan. The rising dissent among the nobles prompted Miyan Manju to invite Akbar's son Murad Mirza (who was in Gujarat) to march his army to Ahmednagar. Murad came to Malwa, where he joined Mughal forces led by Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana. Raja Ali Khan joined them at Mandu, and the united army advanced on Ahmednagar.[9]

However, while Murad was on march to Ahmednagar, many noblemen left Ikhlas Khan and joined Miyan Manju. Miyan Manju defeated Ikhlas Khan and other opponents. Now, he regretted having invited the Mughals, but it was too late. He requested Chand Bibi to accept the regency, and marched out of Ahmednagar with Ahmed Shah II. Ikhlas Khan also escaped to Paithan, where he was attacked and defeated by the Mughals.[9]

Chand Bibi accepted the regency and proclaimed Bahadur Shah king of Ahmednagar.[10]

Defence of Ahmednagar

Princess Chand Bibi defends Ahmadnagar 1595

Ahmednagar was invaded by the Mughals in November 1595.[9] Chand Bibi took the leadership in Ahmednagar and defended the Ahmednagar fort successfully.[11][unreliable source?] Later, Shah Murad sent an envoy to Chand Bibi, offering to raise the siege in return for the cession of Berar. Chand Bibi's troops were suffering from famine. On 23 February 1596, she decided to make peace by ceding Berar to Murad, who retreated.[12]

Chand Bibi appealed to her nephews Ibrahim Adil Shah II of Bijapur and Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah of Golconda, asking them to unite against the Mughal forces.[13] Ibrahim Adil Shah II sent a contingent of 25,000 men under Sohail Khan, which was joined by the remainder of Yekhlas Khan's force at Naldurg. Later, it was joined by a contingent of 6,000 men from Golconda.[9]

Chand Bibi had appointed Muhammad Khan as the minister, but he proved treacherous. He made overtures to the Khan-I-Khana, offering to surrender the whole Sultanate to the Mughals. Meanwhile, Khan-I-Khana started taking possession of districts that were not included in the cession of Berar.[9] Sohail Khan, who was returning to Bijapur, was ordered to come back and attack Khan-I-Khana's Mughal forces. The Mughal forces under Khan-I-Khana and Mirza Shah Rukh left Murad's camp at Sahpur in Berar and encountered the combined forces of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, and Golconda under Sohail Khan near Sonpet (or Supa) on the banks of Godavari River. In a fierce battle on 8–9 February 1597, the Mughals won.[9]

In spite of their victory, the Mughal forces were too weak to pursue their attack and returned to Sahpur. One of their commanders, Raja Ali Khan, was killed in the battle and there were frequent disputes between other commanders. Due to these disputes, Khan-I-Khana was recalled by Akbar in 1597. Prince Murad died shortly thereafter.[9] Akbar then sent his son Daniyal and Khan-I-Khana with fresh troops. Akbar himself followed and encamped at Barhanpur.[11]

In Ahmednagar, Chand Bibi's authority was being resisted by the newly appointed minister Nehang Khan. Nehang Khan had recaptured the town of Beed, taking advantage of Khan-I-Khana's absence and of the rainy season. In 1599, Akbar dispatched Daniyal, Mirza Yusuf Khan and Khan-I-Khana to relieve the governor of Beed. Nehang Khan also marched to seize the Jaipur Kotli pass, expecting the Mughals to meet him there. However, Daniyal avoided the pass and reached Ahmednagar fort. His forces laid siege to the fort.

The Tomb of Salabat Khan II (wrongly thought to be Chand Bibi's Tomb), Ahmednagar

Chand Bibi again defended the fort. However, she could not bring about an effective resistance, and decided to negotiate terms with Daniyal.[10] Hamid Khan, a nobleman, exaggerated and spread the false news that Chand Bibi was in treaty with the Mughals.[10] According to another version, Jita Khan, a eunuch valet of Chand Bibi, thought that her decision to negotiate with the Mughals was treacherous and spread the news that Chand Bibi was betraying the fort.[14][unreliable source?] Chand Bibi was then killed by an enraged mob of her own troops. After her death, and a siege of four months and four days, Ahmednagar was captured by the Mughal forces of Daniyal and Mirza Yusuf Khan on 18 August 1600.[15][9]

Chand Bibi's Palace

The Tomb of Salabat Khan II is wrongly known locally as "Chand bibi ka Mahal [Chand Bibi's Palace]" and similar names.[16]: 199 

In popular culture

Indian filmmaker Narayanrao D. Sarpotdar made Chandbibi (or Queen of Ahmednagar) a silent film in 1931. Sultana Chand bibi, an Indian Hindi-language film about the queen, starring Shakuntala Paranjpye released in 1937.[17]

Burial place

Mirabutorab Torabi Mashhadi[18] received a mission from Nizam Shah of Deccan to bring the bones of Chand Bibi to Mashhad and bury them next to the Imam Reza shrine.

6.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahilyabai_Holkar      Statue of Ahilybai Holkar, Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh 

Maharani of Indore Reign1 December 1767 – 13 August 1795    Coronation11 December 1767

PredecessorMalhar Rao Holkar   SuccessorTukojirao Holkar 

Regent of Indore Regency20 May 1766 – 5 April 1767  SubedarMalhar Rao Holkar II

Born31 May 1725  Chondi, Maratha Confederacy  (present-day Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra, India)

Died13 August 1795 (aged 70) Rajwada, Indore,Indore State,Maratha Confederacy(present-day,Madhya Pradesh,India)

SpouseKhanderao Holkar  IssueMalhar Rao Holkar II (son)  Muktabai (daughter)

NamesAhilya Bai Sahiba Holkar  HouseHolkar   FatherMankoji Shinde  MotherSushila Shinde  ReligionHinduism

Ahilyabai Holkar (Marathi pronunciation: [əɦɪljɑbaɪ]; 31 May 1725 – 13 August 1795),[1] also spelled Ahalya Bai,[2] was the Rajamata and later the ruling queen of Indore within the Maratha Confederacy. She established Maheshwar (in Madhya Pradesh) as the seat of the Holkar Dynasty.[3] A beloved figure of Indian history, she is renowned for good governance, social welfare, and humanitarian work along with religious, educational, and cultural advancements.[4] She contributed to the growth of Indian architecture through the commission of various temples, Ghats, and Dharmshalas. Ahilyabai's Matha, or charitable endowments, spread across India.[5][6] Remembered as a Sadhvi, or holy woman,

After the deaths of her husband Khanderao Holkar, father-in-law Malhar Rao Holkar, and son Male Rao Holkar, Ahilyabai undertook the affairs of the Holkar dynasty. She defended Indore against invasions and personally led armies into battle, with her brother-in-law Tukoji Rao Holkar serving as her military commander.[3]

Early life and marriage

Ahilyabai was born into a Marathi Hindu family to Mankoji Shinde and Sushila Shinde in Maharashtra in the village of Chandi, now Ahmednagar district. Her father was a descendant of a respected Dhangar (Gadaria) family. Mankoji Shinde served as the Patil of the village.[7][8] Ahilyabai had five brothers and was first educated at home.

Ahilyabai rose to prominence when Malhar Rao Holkar, a commander in the army of Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I and ruler of Malwa, stopped in Chandi on his way to Pune and saw her at a temple service. Impressed by the child's piety and character, Malhar advised his son, Khanderao, to marry her. They were wed in 1733 when he was nine or ten and she was seven or eight.[9] They had a son, Maloji Holkar, in 1745 and a daughter, Muktabai Holkar, in 1748.[10]

Family's rise to prominence

By the time of Ahilyabai's marriage, her father-in-law Malhar Rao Holkar had already risen from a childhood of shepherding to ruling as Subahdar over a territory comprising thirty parganas yielding high revenues. From 1748, Malhar Rao's power in Malwa allowed him to play kingmaker in northern and central India and by 1750, he was the de facto ruler of the Maratha Confederacy. He regularly received grants, including monetary tributes, land, and noble titles, from the Peshwa government in recognition of his service to the empire.[11] His land lay north of the Narmadha on both sides of Sahyadri.[5] In 1751, he successfully mediated a major land agreement between the Peshwa and Mughal emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur and by 1753, he was considered indispensable.[12]

Education and military expertise[edit]

Starting in 1754, Malhar Rao kept Ahilyabai actively involved in diplomacy debates, matters of the kingdom's finances, and other problems of both the Mughal Empire and the Peshwa.[13] Throughout her married life, she was brought up by her mother-in-law, Gautama Bai Holkar, who is credited for teaching Ahilyabai to have proper values. She trained her in administration, accounts, and politics and, in 1759, gave Ahilyabai her khasgi, or land grant.[14][15]

Ahilyabai's trust from her father-in-law and her military expertise are both demonstrated by a 1765 letter he wrote her during an invasion of Punjab by a Durrani Empire-Rohilla dynasty coalition led by Emperor Ahmad Shah Durrani. Malhar Rao, who was fighting in Delhi, commanded her to take heavy artillery on a military expedition to Gwalior and attack the fort at Gohad:

"...proceed to Gwalior after crossing the Chambal. You may halt there for four or five days. You should keep your big artillery and arrange for its ammunition as much as possible... The big artillery should be kept at Gwalior and you should proceed further after making proper arrangements for it's expenses for a month. On the march you should arrange for military posts to be located for protection of the road."

Ahilbayai's attack was successful.

Khanderao's death and aftermath[edit]

In 1754, Khanderao and Malhar Rao, acting on orders from Mughal Grand Vizier Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung III, laid siege to the fort at Kumher, then held by Jat Raja Suraj Mal. Suraj Mal had sided with Safdar Jang, another Mughal vazier who had rebelled against the emperor. Khanderao was inspecting his troops in an open palanquin when he was killed by cannon fire.[17]

Devastated by Khanderao's death, Alhiyabai announced she would commit sati, ritualistic suicide on his funeral pyre. Her dismayed subjects begged her to reconsider but she explained that she felt sati was the only way she could fulfill her husband's promise to accompany her all her life. Her father-in-law Malhar Rao begged:

"Daughter, my son left me whom I raised with a hope that he would support me in my old age. Now, will you also leave me, an old man, alone to be drowned in the fathomless ocean? ... Will you also leave me without any support? Still, if you don't want to change your mind, let me die first."[18]

This convinced her to choose to live and Malhar Rao thereupon began to train her in military affairs.[3][19] He died on 20 May 1766 in Alampur.[20]

Reign

Maheshwar Fort

On 23 Aug 1766, Ahilyabai's only son, Male Rao Holkar, became ruler of Indore at age 21 when he received investiture from the Peshwa.[9] Male Rao had reigned for just over six months when he died on 5 April 1767.[9] Malhar Rao's adopted son Tukoji Rao Holkar was then made Subahdar on the payment of a large tribute of Indian rupees and Ahilyabai became the de facto ruler.[21]

Historical records show that groups from neighboring states, particularly the Chundawat clan of Jaipur, rebelled during this transfer of power, taking advantage of both Tukoji Rao's absence from the region and the widespread devastation wrought by the Third Battle of Panipat and its aftermath. Ahilyabai led Marantha armies against these rebellions and, despite a lack of resources and aid, won every battle.[22][23][24]

In 1791, Ahilyabai's son-in-law, Yeshwantrao Fanse, died and her daughter Muktabai committed sati on his funeral pyre.[25]

Administration

In those times, the state's administration was two-sided, military and civil. The military side was again bifurcated, Tukoji Rao Holkar was the Subedar, and he had to serve Martha. Devi Ahilyabai was outspoken, proclaiming her power by declaring, "I am the daughter-in-law of Malhar Rao". The Saranjamdar system established by Malhar Rao was efficient and was recognized by the Puna authorities. Saranjamdar was a "camp within a camp" complete by itself. The state records involuntarily reveal the diplomatic and administrative skills exhibited by Devi.[26] Justice administration [27] was soft but speedy, practical yet spiritual, restraining yet re-forming.

She transformed Indore into a progressive city, and build industries[28] and universities.[29] The government of India issued a stamp on 25 August 1996 in celebration of the 200th death anniversary.[30] The Indore airport is named after Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport. The city of Indore named the university Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya. Not merely in her State but indeed in other parts of India she is credited with promoting activities including repair and additions to several famous temples such as Kashi Viswanath Mandir at Varanasi, Gouri Somnath Mandir at Chola and the construction of the famous Dashashwamedh Ghat at Banaras.

Indore not only became a major city but also built industries [28] and universities.[29] The Government of India issued a postal stamp in honor of Sadhvi's 200th death anniversary on 25 August 1996.[30] Presently the airport at Indore is named "Devi Ahalya Bai Holkar Airport". The university in Indore city is named as Devi Ahalya University. Not only in her own state but also across India, she is credited with arranging the supply of Ganga water for temples, shrines, Ghats, temple donations, endowments and annual pujas. She is credited with promoting activities including the repair and addition of several famous temples, notably the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, the Gauri Somnath Temple[31] in Chola and the construction of the famous Dashashwamedha Ghat in Banaras.

Charities and endowments

The Rajwada Palace was the official residence of the Holkars during the reign of Ahilyabai.

The Holkar family was known for avoiding using public cash to meet their personal and family expenses. They possessed their personal funds, which they had accumulated through their private property. Ahilyabai inherited personal funds estimated at sixteen crores rupees at that time. Ahilyabai donated money from her personal resources to charity.[32] The charities of the Devi Ahilyabai in her territory as well as throughout the Bharata Kanda are too well known. A well-documented account of the expenditure can be found in the "Devasthan classification list 1923 by the Holkar government".[33]  The Holkar government appointed a "Devastahan officer" who travelled far and wide and collected information on the spot.[34]

The arrangements made by Devi Ahilya at all the sacred were shown in the below table

Charities connected with the Jyotir-Lingas 

Sl No  Name of the Linga  Geographical situation  Description of charity   Authority for statement.

1.Shree Somanath

Kathiawad, on the sea side.

In 1786 A. D. The idol was re-installed

Maheshwar Durbar Batmipatre.

Part II, P.87

2.Shree Mallikarjuna.

Dist. Karnul Madras Presidency.

Temple was built.

State Record.

3.Shree Onkareshwar.

Central India (on the Narbada bank.)

House for Drums, Flower-garden, Palanquin,  Boat,

Silver-idol

State Record.

4.Shree Vaijnath.

Nizam’s State

In 1784 A. D. The temple was re-built.

Bharat Itihasa Shanshodliak Mandal Report

Shak 1834, Bhadrapad Number.

5.Shree Nagnath.

Nizam’s State

In 1784 A, D.

Annual payment of Rs. 81/- for 1 worship.

State Record.

6.Shree Vishwanath

Benares

(1) Mankarnikaghat

(2) Re-installation of Kashi- Vishwanath. (3) 6 Private temples. (4) Temple of the Ganges and 3 temples on the Ghat. (5) Shree Tarkeshwar temple. (6) Dashaswarnedha Ghat. (7) Female Mankarnika Ghat. (8) Dharmashala Rameshwar. (9) Dharmashala Kapildhara. (10) 9 Private Bungalows. (11) Garden-field. (12) Plinth on Shitala Ghat. (13) Dharmashala Uttar Kashi. (14) Establishment ofBramha-puri.

State Record.

7.Shree Trimbakeshwar.

Nasik District.

Bridge of Kushawarta-Ghat

State Record.

8.Shree Ghirishneshwar

Verul Nizam’s State

Re-built Shivalaya Tirth.

Bharat I.S.M. R. Shak 1838,

Shree Gokarna.

On the Western sea. Madras Presidency.

(1) Alms-House.

State Record.

Shree Mahakaleshwar

Ujjain (Central India)

Worship of the Linga on the Mahashivratra night, and food distribution on the day following.

State Record.

Shree Rameshwar

Madras Presidency.

Alms-House. Wells. Shree Radha-Krishna temple.

State Record.

Shree Bhima-Shankar

Bombay Presidency.

Alms-House,

State Record.

Sapta Puri and Char Dham

Sapta Puri (seven cities) and Char Dham (four quarters) were looked up eventually by Hindus of all castes and creeds in worship and pilgrimage.[36]

Dwarka: she built a Almshouse

Ujjain(Avantika): she built four Mandir and a charitable building

Kanchipuram: Ganga water annually sent

Mathura: she built a Mandir 2 Ghat and one charitable building

Ayodhya: She built 4 Ram Mandir and 3 charitable buildings

Haridwar(Maya): a Ghat and a charitable house

Varanasi: Refer the above table

Char Dhama - four quadrants of Aryavarta

Badrinath: 5 Dharmashalas and eight charity buildings

Jagnath (Puri): A temple, Almhouse and garden land

Conclusion

Here we see the various charities of Devi Ahilyabai extending throughout the length and breadth of Bharatakhanda. In the book HOLKAR STATE HISTORY VOL. II Life and Life’s-Work of Devi Shree Ahilyabai ( 1725-1795 A. D.)page 42 there are worship expenses[37]

Various temples Ghats and rest houses built during her time exhibit Indian architecture and the various features of different schools. They became so many training grounds for young Indian architecture. Not only in her territory but throughout the whole of India. The aspects of Devi Ahilyabai charity reveal and resuscitation of Thirthas and Kshetras.

Death[edit]

Ahilyabai died on 13 August 1795 at age 70. She was succeeded by her commander-in-chief and brother-in-law, Tukoji Rao Holkar, who abdicated the throne in 1797 in favour of his son Kashi Rao Holkar.

7.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rani_of_Jhansi  Fig1:Lakshmibai dressed as a sowar  Fig2:A depiction of Lieutenant Bonus, the first British soldier over the walls of Jhansi to survive. Two lieutenants who preceded him, surnamed Dick and Maiklejohn, were both killed.   Fig3:The reported site of the Rani's horseback jump from the wall of Jhansi    Fig4:Statue of the Rani at the reported site of her cremation, near Gwalior 

Queen consort of Jhansi    Reign1843 – 21 November 1853

BornManikarnika Tambe   19 November 1828  Varanasi     Died18 June 1858 (aged 29)Gwalior

SpouseGangadhar Rao Newalkar   ​(m. 1842; died 1853)​  IssueDamodar Rao  Anand Rao (adopted)

DynastyNewalkar (by marriage)

The Rani of Jhansi[a] (born Manikarnika Tambe;[b] 19 November 1828 — 18 June 1858), also known as Rani Lakshmibai,[c] was the queen consort of the princely state of Jhansi in the Maratha Empire from 1843 to 1853 through marriage to Maharaja Gangadhar Rao Newalkar. She was one of the leading figures in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and remains a national hero and symbol of resistance against the British rule of India.

Born into a Marathi Karhade Brahmin family in Banares, Lakshmibai married the Maharaja of Jhansi, Gangadhar Rao, in 1842. After his death in 1853, the British East India Company, under Governor-General Lord Dalhousie, refused to recognize the claim of Rao's adopted son to the throne and annexed Jhansi under the doctrine of lapse. Unwilling to surrender control of her kingdom, the Rani joined the rebellion against the British in 1857.

She led a successful defense of Jhansi against Company allies, but Jhansi ultimately fell to British forces under the command of Hugh Rose in early 1858. The Rani escaped on horseback and later joined the rebels in capturing Gwalior, where they declared Nana Saheb as Peshwa (ruler) of the revived Maratha Empire. She died in June 1858 after succumbing to mortal wounds sustained during the British counterattack at Gwalior.

Biography

Little is known for certain about the Rani's life before 1857, because there was then no need to record details about an as-yet ordinary young girl. As a result, every biography of her life relies on a mixture of factual evidence and legendary tales, especially when concerning her childhood and adolescence.[1]

Early life and marriage

A miniature portrait of Rani Lakshmibai

Moropant Tambe was a Maharashtrian Karhada Brahmin who served the Maratha noble Chimaji, whose brother Baji Rao II had been deposed as Maratha peshwa in 1817.[2] In the city of Varanasi, he and his wife Bhagirathi had a daughter, who they named Manikarnika, an epithet of the River Ganges; in childhood she was known by the diminutive Manu.[3] Her birth year is disputed: British sources tended towards the year 1827, whereas Indian sources generally preferred the year 1835. According to legend, the astrologers attending her birth foretold that she would combine the qualities of the three principle Hindu goddesses: Lakshmi, deity of wealth; Durga, deity of strength; and Saraswati, deity of knowledge.[4]

Both Manikarnika's mother Bhagirathi and her father's employer Chimaji died when she was a young child. Moropant moved to the court of Baji Rao at Bithur, who gave him a job and who became fond of Manikarnika, whom he nicknamed "Chhabili".[5] According to uncorroborated popular legend, her childhood playmates in Bithur included Nana Sahib and Tatya Tope, who would similarly become prominent in 1857. These stories say that Manikarnika, deprived of a feminine influence by her mother's death, was allowed to play and learn with her male playmates: she was literate, skilled in horseriding, and—extremely unusually for a girl, if true—was given lessons in fencing, swordplay, and even firearms.[6]

It is presumed that Baji Rao brought Manakarnika to the attention of Gangadhar Rao, the old raja of Jhansi who had no children and greatly desired an heir. The ambitious Moropant accepted the unexpectedly prestigious marriage offer, and the couple wed, according to Indian sources, in May 1842. If the traditional chronology is correct, Manakarnika would have been seven years old, and the marriage would not have been consummated until she was fourteen.[7] Accorded the name Lakshmi, after the goddess, she was thereafter known as the Rani Lakshmibhai.[8] Both Indian and British sources portray Gangadhar Rao as an apolitical figure uninterested in rulership—thus increasing the scope for depicting the Rani's leadership abilities—but while British sources characterise him as debauched and imbecilic, Indian sources interpret these traits as evidence of his cultured nature.[9] According to popular legend, he turned blind eye to Rani Lakshmibhai's equipping and training of an armed all-female regiment, but if it existed, it was likely formed after Gangadhar Rao's death.[10]

God willing I still hope to recover and regain my health. I am not too old, so I may still father children. In case that happens, I will take the proper measures concerning my adopted son. But if I fail to live, please take my previous loyalty into account and show kindness to my son. Please acknowledge my widow as the mother of this boy during her lifetime. May the government approve of her as the queen and ruler of this kingdom as long as the boy is still under age. Please take care that no injustice is done to her.

Gangadhar Rao, Letter to East India Company officials, 19 November 1853[11]

In 1851, Lakshmibhai gave birth to a son amid much rejoicing, but he died at a few months old to the great grief of his parents.[12] Gangadhar Rao's health deteriorated and he died two years later on 21 November 1853. As was customary, he adopted a young boy on his deathbed—in this case, a five-year-old relative named Anand Rao, who was renamed Damodar Rao.[13] Two days before his death, Gangadhar Rao wrote a letter to East India Company officials, pleading them to recognise Damodar Rao as the new ruler and the Rani Lakshmibhai as his regent.[11]

Widowhood and annexation

The East India Company administration, led by Governor-General Lord Dalhousie, had for several years enforced a "doctrine of lapse", wherein Indian states whose Hindu rulers died without a natural heir were annexed by Britain. This policy was quickly enforced on Jhansi after Gangadhar Rao's death, to the Rani's dismay.[14] She wrote a letter to the Company protesting the annexation on 16 February 1854.[15] Dalhousie issued a lengthy minute in response eleven days later. He argued that since the British had conquered the Marathas, Jhansi's former overlords, the Company was now the "paramount power" with the authority to decide the succession. Dalhousie characterised Gangadhar Rao's rule as one of decline and mismanagement, and asserted that Jhansi and its people would benefit from direct British rule.[16]

Lakshmibhai fought the decision through diplomatic channels. She initiated conversations with Major Ellis, a sympathetic local Company official, and engaged John Lang, an Australian lawyer, to represent her.[17] She wrote multiple appeals to Dalhousie, outlining previous British treaties with Jhansi in 1803, 1817, and 1842 which recognised the rajas of Jhansi as legitimate rulers.[18] She also cited specific terminology and Hindu shastra tradition to argue that Damodar Rao should be entitled to the throne.[19] Dalhousie bluntly rejected these appeals without refuting the arguments contained within, but still the Rani peristed: her final appeals concluded that the annexation constituted a "gross violation ... of treaties" and that Jhansi was reduced to "subjection, dishonour, and poverty".[20]

None of these appeals came to fruition, and Jhansi lapsed to the Company in May 1854.[20] Granted a lifetime pension of five thousand rupees per month (or six thousand pounds yearly) by the new Company superintendent of Jhansi, Captain Alexander Skene, Lakshmibhai was required to vacate the fort but allowed to keep the two-storey palace.[21] She disagreed with the Company in the following years over various matters: on taxation and debts, the 1854 lifting of the ban on cattle slaughter in Jhansi, the British occupation of a temple outside the town, and of course the continued foreign rule.[22]

Later songs and poems retell Lakshmibhai's defiant mantra, "I will never give up my Jhansi!", which she is traditionally said to have cried during this period. She continued to train her all-female regiment, and paraded them on horseback through the town.[23]

1857 Indian Rebellion

Agra

Allahabad

Delhi

Jhansi

Kanpur

Lucknow

Meerut

Gwalior

Kalpi

class=notpageimage|

Important settlements around modern Uttar Pradesh during the Indian Rebellion

On 10 May 1857, native sepoy troops stationed in Meerut mutinied against their British officers, sparking the Indian Rebellion.[24] The nascent rebellion swiftly grew as towns and troops across northern India, including Delhi, joined in. Nana Sahib organised massacres of the British at Kanpur, while similar events occurred in Lucknow; news of these killings had not reached Jhansi by the end of May.[25] The garrison, commanded by Skene, consisted of native troops of the 12th Native Infantry and the 14th Irregular Cavalry, and oversaw a strategic position at the junction of four major roads: northwest to Agra and Delhi, northeast to Kanpur and Lucknow, east to Allahabad, and south across the Deccan Plateau.[26]

Skene was not initially alarmed, and allowed the Rani to raise a bodyguard for her own protection.[27] However, on 5 June, a company of infantry took control of the ammunition store, and shot their British commanding officer when he attempted to reassert control the next day. The remaining sixty British men, women, and children took refuge in the main fort, where they were besieged.[28] According to a servant of a British captain, the Rani sent a letter claiming that the sepoys, accusing her of protecting the British, had surrounded her palace and demanded she provide assistance.[29] On 8 June, the British surrendered and asked for safe passage; after an unknown someone acquiesced, they were led to the Jokhan Bagh garden, where nearly all of them were killed.[30]

The Rani's involvement in this massacre is a subject of debate. S. Thornton, a tax collector in Samthar State, wrote that the Rani had instigated the revolt, while two somewhat questionable eyewitness accounts reported that she executed three British messengers and gave the rest false promise of safe passage.[31] Other contemporary reports claimed the Rani was innocent, while the official report by F.W. Pinkney came to no clear conclusion.[32] Lakshmibai herself claimed, in two mid-June letters to Major Erskine, commissioner of the Saugor division, that she had been at the mercy of the mutineers and could not help the besieged British. She wished damnation upon the mutineers, asserted that she was governing only while Company rule was absent, and asked for government assistance to combat prevalent disorder. Erskine believed her account, but his superiors in Fort William were less trusting.[33] Even if the Rani was not involved with the mutiny, its outcome had spectacularly coincided with her prior aims, and items belonging to the massacred were later found in her palace.[34]

The Rani of Jhansi's seal

After the rebels left, Erskine authorised the Rani to rule until the British returned. In this capacity, she collected taxes, repaired the fort, and distributed donations to the poor.[35] One of her generals named Jawahar Singh defeated Sadasheo Rao, a cousin of Gangadhar Rao, who tried to claim Jhansi for himself. This skirmish led the Rani to focus on re-establishing military authority, and so she ordered the recruitment of troops and the manufacturing of cannon and other weapons.[36] With this larger force of approximately 15,000 troops, Jhansi saw off an attack by the nearby kingdom of Orchha, who had remained loyal to the Company and whose leaders judged that the British would turn a blind eye to the war. Orchha invaded on 10 August and besieged Jhansi from early September to late October, when they were driven off by the raja of Banpur's troops.[37]

British hostility and Siege of Jhansi

In September 1857, with Jhansi under Orchha siege, the Rani requested that Major Erskine send forces to help, as he had earlier promised when authorizing her rule. On 19 October, he replied in the negative, and further added that the conduct of all at Jhansi would be investigated.[38] Even though she feared the British regarded her as an enemy, the Rani was not yet ready to take the rebels' side, although she was dismayed by the British failures to reply.[39] Unable to persuade the Rani to commit to the rebellion, the raja of Banpur left Jhansi in January 1858. Some of her advisors advocated for peace with the Britis; others, including her father, for war.[40] Remaining rebel leaders had begun to gather at Jhansi, including the raja of Banpur, who returned with 3,500 men on 15 March. This encouraged the Rani, who was still of two minds: she continued to send unanswered conciliations to the British, while at the same time militantly preparing arms and ammunition.[41] Her position may have eventually been decided by her troops, who demanded to fight.[42]

Because of her conflict with the Company-loyal state of Orchha and her rescue by the rebel raja of Banpur, the British had likely decided that the Rani was an enemy.[43] Kanpur had been retaken on 16 July, followed by Lucknow and, on 22 September Delhi. Their attention now fell on the remaining pockets of resistance in Central India: Jhansi, a pivotal strategic location and the home of a ruler now seen as a "Jezebel", was a prime target.[44] Command of the Central India Field Force of 4,300 men was given to the capable Hugh Rose, who set out from Indore on 6 January 1858.[45] He relieved Sagar on 3 February, defeated the army of Shahgarh and sacked Banpur in early March, and then marched on Jhansi.[46]

A depiction of Lieutenant Bonus, the first British soldier over the walls of Jhansi to survive. Two lieutenants who preceded him, surnamed Dick and Maiklejohn, were both killed.[47]

Rose's army, by now numbering around 3,000 men, approached Jhansi from several directions. Reconnaissance found that not only were the defences in excellent condition, with 25-foot (7.6 m) loopholed granite walls topped by large guns and batteries able to enfilade each other, but the surrounding countryside had been removed of all cover and foliage.[48] The inhabitants of the town, including 11,500 soldiers, had stockpiled hundreds of tons of supplies in preparation for the upcoming siege.[49] It began on 22 March with consistent artillery fire against Jhansi's ramparts. Although the Rani's forces returned fire capably, her best gunners were soon killed, and the defender's situation became increasingly dire. A breach was made on 29 March, although it was quickly stockaded. Rose was making preparations for an assault when news reached him that the Rani's childhood friend Tatya Tope was marching to rescue Jhansi with more than 20,000 men.[50]

Rose, unable to confront the new enemy with his whole force for fear that the defenders of Jhansi would sortie into his rear, detached just 1,200 men to confront Tatya Tope. Despite the numerical advantages of the rebel force, the vast majority of them was untrained, and they used old, slow guns. In the Battle of Betwa on 1 April, accurate British artillery fire repelled the first rebel line, and organisational mistakes meant the second line was unable to assist. In a comprehensive victory, the British lost less than one hundred men, and inflicted over 1,500 casualties on Tatya Tope's army.[51] At 3am on 3 April, two columns assaulted the south wall of Jhansi—one through the breach and one using ladders in an escalade—and both penetrated the defences. The Rani personally led a counter-attack with 1,500 Afghan troops, but steady British reinforcement drove them back, and she retreated to the fort.[52]

Rose's forces controlled the whole town, excluding the north-east quarter and fort, by sunset.[53] The defenders fought stubbornly in hand-to-hand fighting, and killed several British soldiers through igniting trails of gunpowder. No mercy was given in return: the British killed around three thousand people. Some defenders, including the Rani's father Moropant, escaped the city and reformed on a nearby hill. Moropant was captured and, on 20 April, executed.[54] Rose planned to assault the fort on the morning of 4 April, but received the unexpected news that the Rani had escaped.[55]

Escape and final battles

The reported site of the Rani's horseback jump from the wall of Jhansi

How the Rani managed to escape is not known fully—there are multiple accounts. One tradition tells that riding a horse, she jumped off the fort walls.[56] One British account holds that a native soldier serving under Rose secretly arranged for a horse to be brought to the fort, so that the Rani could be lowered onto it with her adopted son.[57] Another, told by Rose's aide-de-camp Anthony Lyster, suggests that Rose desired to avoid the extreme casualties that an assault of the fort would result in; he thus arranged a 400-yard (370 m) gap in the sentry line to bait the Rani into attempting an escape, whereupon she would be captured. Such a plan could only have been made if Rose was unaware of the Rani's skill on horseback—as he was certainly aware, Lyster's account is questionable.[58]

Whatever the truth, accompanied by around three hundred soldiers, and with her adopted son Damodar Rao tied to her waist, the Rani managed to escape a very precarious situation.[59] Legends say that her contingent rode the 102 miles (164 km) northeast to Kalpi in one night; more reliable sources state that she narrowly escaped a pursuing British detachment when stopping to eat a morning meal, and that she arrived at midnight on 5 April—still a feat of endurance.[60] Kalpi, a strategic location on the Yamuna River,[61] was the headquarters of Rao Sahib, the nephew of Lakshmibai's old friend Nana Sahib. By 27 April, an army of ten thousand soldiers had assembled there under the Rani, Tatya Tope, the raja of Banpur, and other leaders.[62] To the Rani's disappointment, she was overlooked for command of the rebel force in favour of Tatya Tope, who likely resented her subsequent efforts to increase their force's discipline.[63]

Rose's army advanced from Jhansi against Kalpi on the 26th, and Tatya Tope led his forces to confront the British at the town of Kunch. He failed to heed the Rani's advice to protect his flanks and Rose outmanouevred him, inflicting six hundred casualties, capturing all opposing guns, and causing severe infighting in the rebel army.[64] Following the defeat, Tatya Tope headed to Gwalior, where he hoped to gain the allegiance of the city's eponynmous Contingent. Rose regarded the Gwalior Contingent as the best army in India, but thus far they had remained loyal to the raja of Scindia, whose allegiance was to the British.[61] Meanwhile, the Rani and the other rebel leaders had prepared five lines of defence around the walls and ravines of Kalpi Fort, and attacked Rose's besieging force under a smoke screen on 22 May. Once again, the Rani's advice—to not attack on difficult ground—was ignored, and accurate musket fire followed by a bayonet charge repulsed the attack. Although Rose's army was severely weakened by the battle and the extreme heat, he did not have to attack Kalpi—the rebel leaders fled in the night.[65]

One British officer gave the Rani credit for the idea to march to Gwalior, stating that only "she possessed the genius, the daring, the despair necessary for the conception of great deeds", although most evidence implies that it was Tatya Tope's plan.[66] Around this time, Charles Canning, Dalhousie's successor as Governor-General, declared the Rani a rebel leader and announced a bounty of 20,000 rupees for her capture.[67] After a brief skirmish on 31 May, the Gwalior Contingent turned on their raja, who fled to the British, and welcomed the rebels to the strategically important and well-defended fort.[68] At a durbar on 3 June, Rao Sahib was proclaimed viceroy of his uncle Nana Sahib amid feasts and revelry. The Rani refused to attend, because she felt the rebels were celebrating when they should have been preparing for battle; she convinced Rao Sahib to focus on the coming warfare on 5 June.[69] The following day, Rose's army left Kalpi, arriving before Gwalior ten days later; having studied the terrain, he ordered an attack from the south-east on 17 June.[70]

At 7:30 am, units from the 95th Regiment of Foot twice engaged rebel forces commanded by the Rani on hilly ground between Kotah-ki-Serai and Gwalior.[71] A charge by a squadron of the Eighth Hussars surprised and scattered her bodyguard; according to an eyewitness, the Rani, possibly accompanied by a woman companion named Mundar, charged at them.[72] The exact manner of her death is unknown, but all accounts agree she died fighting.[73]

Aftermath

Statue of the Rani at the reported site of her cremation, near Gwalior

The Rani's body was likely cremated by her followers.[74] Her death greatly demoralised the defenders of Gwalior, and Rose captured the city on 19 June, ending the last major battle of the rebellion.[75] British reactions to her death were varied: one officer felt that the "beast of Jhansi [...] had too easy a death", while others expressed mixed pleasure and regret at the death of a worthy adversary.[76] Rose's post-mortem assessment has been remembered, especially in India. He wrote that she was "remarkable for her beauty, cleverness, perseverance [and] generosity to her subordinates. These qualities, combined with her rank, rendered her most dangerous of all the rebel leaders."[76] In his battle report, he wrote that she was the "best and bravest of the rebels".[77] Others noted how Indian resistance collapsed after the death of their "most determined, spirited, and influential head", who had, as the commander of the Hussars put it, "fought like bricks".[78]

After the fall of Gwalior, Tatya Tope and Rao Sahib continued to lead guerilla resistance against the British; eventually, both were captured and hung.[79] Nana Sahib's fate is unknown; rumours of his death abounded, but he continued to be "sighted" until 1895.[80] Because of the Rani's rebellion, her adopted son Damodar Rao was stripped of the 600,000 rupees held in trust for him, and was instead allocated a monthly pension of 150 rupees. In an 1898 court case aiming to increase this to 250 rupees, he argued that his adopted mother had been a faithful and misunderstood British subject, an argument that was received badly by Indian nationalists.[81]

Cultural legacy

The story of Rani Lakshmibai, an enigmatic figure central to the events of 1857, became a legend of immense potency in India;[82] she has been called "the greatest heroine of Indian history".[83] Many aspects of the Rani's life—the many unknown facts, her martyr-like death in battle in uncertain circumstances, and her unaccomplished goals—made her story easy to be made into myth, especially in the Indian peasant culture based around oral tradition.[84] These traditions associate the Rani with the leitmotifs of deities of nearly all Hindu denominations: the bravery and ferocity of Durga and her aspect Chandi; the name of Lakshmi; the leaps of Hanuman; or the androgyny of Shiva. Most of all, she symbolised both the mother goddess and the primal female embodiment of reality, the Shakti. The universality of her legend's applicability contributed to its influence on generations of Indian nationalists.

8.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jhalkaribai   Fig1:Statue of Jhalkaribai in Gwalior  Fig2:Statue of Jhalkaribai in Jhansi 

Born22 November 1830    Jhansi State  DiedApril 5, 1858 (aged 27) Jhansi, Jhansi state

Cause of deathMartyrdom   NationalityIndian   OccupationWarrior/Army personnel

Known forBeing the most prominent advisor to Rani Lakshmibai   MovementIndian Rebellion of 1857

SpousePuran Singh (an artilleryman from the artillery unit of Rani Lakshmibai)

ParentsSadowar Singh (father)  Jamuna Devi (mother)

Jhalkaribai (22 November 1830 – 5 April 1858)[2] was a woman soldier who played an important role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. She served in the women's army of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi. She eventually rose to a position of a prominent advisor to the queen, Rani of Jhansi.[3] At the height of the Siege of Jhansi, she disguised herself as the queen and fought on her behalf, on the front, allowing the queen to escape safely out of the fort.[3][4]

Praj sen

Jhalakaribai was born to Sadova Singh, a farmer, and Jamunadevi on 22 November 1830 in Bhojla village, near Jhansi.[1] In her youth, she is claimed to have stood her ground when attacked by a tiger and killed it with an axe.[5] She reportedly once killed a leopard in the forest with a stick she used to herd cattle.[6]

Jhalkaribai bore an uncanny resemblance to Laxmibai and because of this she was inducted into the women's wing of the army.[7][3]

Military service

In the queen's army, she quickly rose in the ranks and began commanding her own army.[8] During the Rebellion of 1857, General Hugh Rose attacked Jhansi with a large army. The queen faced the army with 14,000 of her troops. She waited for relief from Peshwa Nana Sahib's army camping at Kalpi that did not come because Tantia Tope had already been defeated by General Rose. Meanwhile, Dulhaji from Thakur community, in charge of one of the gates of the fort, had made a pact with the assailants and opened the doors of Jhansi for the British forces. When the British rushed the fort, Laxmibai, on advice of her courtier, escaped through Bhanderi gate with her son and attendants to Kalpi. Upon hearing of Laxmibai's escape, Jhalkaribai set out for General Rose's camp in disguise and declared herself to be the queen. This led to a confusion that continued for a whole day and gave the Rani's army renewed advantage.[4]

In addition, she was a close confidante and advisor to the queen playing a key role in the analysis of the battle, alongside Laxmibai.[8][9][10]

Legacy

Statue of Jhalkaribai in Jhansi

The death anniversary of Jhalkaribai is celebrated as Shahid Diwas (Martyr Day) by various Koli/Kori organizations.[11] The movement to establish Bundelkhand as a separate state has also used the legend of Jhalkaribai to create the Bundeli identity.[12] The Government of India's Post and Telegraph department has issued a postal stamp depicting Jhalkaribai.[13]

The Archaeological Survey of India is setting up a museum at Panch Mahal, a five-storey building located inside the Jhansi Fort in remembrance of Jhalkaribai.[14]

She is referred to in the novel Jhansi ki Rani written in 1951 by B. L. Varma, who created a subplot in his novel about Jhalkaribai. He addressed Jhalkaribai as Korin and an extraordinary soldier in Laxmibai's army. Ram Chandra Heran Bundeli novel Maati, published in the same year, depicted her as "chivalrous and a valiant martyr". The first biography of Jhalkaribai was written in 1964 by Bhawani Shankar Visharad, with the help of Varma's novel and his research from the oral narratives of Kori communities living in the vicinity of Jhansi.[15]

Writers narrating the story of Jhalkaribai. Efforts have been made to place Jhalkaribai at an equal footing of Laxmibai.[15] Since the 1990s, the story of Jhalkaribai has begun to model a fierce form of Koli womanhood, has acquired a political dimension, and her image is being reconstructed with the demands of social situation.[12]

President Ramnath Kovind unveiled the statue of Jhalkari Bai at Guru Tegh Bahadur Complex in Bhopal on 10 November 2017

9.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velu_Nachiyar  Monarch of Sivaganga estate

Reignc. 1780-c. 1790   Coronation1780  

PredecessorMuthu Vaduganatha Periyavudaya Thevar (until 1772)   SuccessorVellacci

Born3 January 1730Ramanathapuram, Kingdom of Sivaganga (Modern day Tamil Nadu, India)

Died25 December 1796 (aged 66)   Sivaganga, Kingdom of Sivaganga (Modern day Tamil Nadu, India)

Burial25 December 1796  Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, India  SpouseMuthu Vaduganatha Periyavudaya Thevar

DynastySethupathi  FatherChellamuthu vijayaragunatha Sethupathy  MotherMuthathal Nachiyar

"Veeramangai" Rani Velu Nachiyar (3 January 1730 – 25 December 1796) was a queen of Sivaganga estate from c. 1780–1790. She was the first Indian queen to wage war with the East India Company in India.[2][3] She is proudly called by Tamils as Veeramangai ("brave woman").[4] With the support of Hyder Ali's army, feudal lords, the Maruthu Brothers, Dalit commanders, and Thandavarayan Pillai, she fought the East India company.[5][6][7][8]

Life

Velu Nachiyar was the princess of Ramanathapuram and the only child of King Chellamuthu Vijayaragunatha Sethupathy and Queen Sakandhimuthathal of the Ramnad kingdom. Nachiyar was trained in many methods of combat, including war match weapons usage, martial arts like Valari, Silambam, Kalaripayattu, horse riding, and archery. She was a scholar in many languages and was proficient in languages like French, English and Urdu.[3] In 1746, she entered into marriage with Muthu Vaduganatha Periyavudaya Thevar, serving as a close advisor, mentor, and confidant to the prince.[9]

When her husband, Muthu Vaduganatha Periyavudaya Thevar, was killed in a battle with EIC soldiers in 1772 at KalaiyarKoil, she was drawn into the conflict. Velu Nachiyar ran away from Sivagangai as a fugitive and sought the help of Hyder Ali. Hyder Ali helped her with 5,000 soldiers and gunpowder weapons. Initially, Hyder Ali refused, but he later agreed to help her with soldiers, arms and training. Velu Nachiyar sought the help of rich merchants as well. After eight years of planning—along with support of many feudal lords, Tipu Sultan, Marudhu brothers, and Thandavarayan Pillai—she fought against the British East India Company.[5][6][7]

08.12.1772 Sivaganga minister Thandavarayan Pillai wrote a letter on behalf of Rani Velu Nachiyar to Hyder Ali. In it Arcot Nawab's forces are occupying Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and destroying. I escaped from there and stayed in the forests with the Kallar leaders and continued the rebellion. If you help me in this endeavor I can do better, so if you send five thousand horsemen and five thousand men of war, I will pay their maintenance, and with them I will recover these two principalities, send troops to Madurai and begin a counteroperation. Also mentioned that the Polygars would cooperate with us.[10]

When Velu Nachiyar found the place where the EIC stored some of their ammunition, her commander Kuyili[8] made a suicide attack on the ammunition depot by running into the ammunition godown, setting herself on fire, and blowing it up.[11][12][13]

In 1780, Velu Nachiyar waged war against the British and successfully reclaimed her kingdom. She governed for ten years and passed away in 1796.[14][15] In 1790, she was succeeded by her daughter Vellacci.[1] She granted powers to her daughter with the Marudu brothers to help with the administration of the kingdom. Velu Nachiyar died a few years later, on 25 December 1796