5 GREATEST WARRIOR QUEENS OF INDIA!!

 

                                  

                                  Greatness and Bravery has no gender, and this is pretty evident when we take a glance on human history and the many female rulers and warriors that withstood the assumption of society and carved their names in golden letters. Even in Indian history, we find exceptional Queens that were not only incredible administrators, but also fiercefull warriors who fought and many who even sacrificed themselves for the protection of their people and motherland.

                                   Most of us know about the great women who fought with the Britishers to free her country while carrying her child on her back in the battlefield, the "Queen of Jhansi" Rani Laksmibai. Just like her, there are many other Queens that proved to be an epitome of women strength, but are left Unsung and Forgotten by us today. So, lets shed some light on these stars of Indian history and know about the 5 Greatest warrior Queens of India!!

5. Abbakka Chowta:(reign:1525-1570)

                                A ruler of the Chowta dynasty who ruled over parts of costal karnataka called "Tulu Nadu" during the 16th Century. Tirumala Raya, Abbakka's uncle crowned her as the Queen following the tradition of "Atiyasantana" in Jainism. Ullal, the subsidiary capital of Abbakka's kingdom was raided several times by the Portugese as the city was poltically placed. But Queen Abaakka repulsed these attacks bravely for more than 4 decades. She was called "Abhaya Rani"(fearless Queen) for her bravery and is also regarded as the "first women freedom fighter of India". She is celebrated in the state of Karnataka for her gretness and valor. A definite shining star of Indian history that has been forgotten by many.

4. Rani Durgavati:(reign:1550-1564)

                                 Born in the family of Chandel Rajput king Keerat Rai at the fort of Kalinjar, she became the ruler of Gondwana after her husband Dalpat Shah died in 1550, as her son Vir Narayan was of very young age. She administered her kingdom successfully under her reign and repulsed several attacks by the Mughals and Baz Bahadur, Grandson of Sher Shah Suri. But in 1564, when the Mughal general Khwaja Abdul Majid Asaf Khan with the permission from Akabr invaded her kingdom, Durgavati decided to defend and fight thinking it was better to die respectfully than to live disgracefully. Their forces met at Narrai, but the Mughals clearly had the upper hand. Rani Durgavati was bruttally injured while fighting, she was advised by her mahout to leave the battlefield. But she refused and killed herself with a dagger instead of getting captured by the Mughals. Rani Durgavati greatly enhanced the glory of her dyansty.

3. Tarabai Bhonsale:(reign:1700-1708)

                                Tarabai was the daughter-in-law of Shivaji Maharaj and wife of Rajaram Bhoansale. After the death of Rajaram, she assumed the role of the ruling governer of the Maratha empire until the new king. Tarabai was a skilled warrior and strategist, She leaded her armies and fought against the Mughal forces of Aurangzeb and resisted him from occupying the territory of  Marathas. She is acclaimed for keeping the Maratha empire alive amidst the growing Mughal power. Jadunath Sarkar, a prominent Indian historian mentions that "Queen Tarabai was the supreme guiding force of the Marathas and not any other minister. Her administrative genius and strength of character saved the nation in awful crisis.

2. Velu Nachiyar:(reign:1780-1790)

                              A daughter that was raised as a son by her parents. Queen Velu was trained horse riding, martial arts and was a fluent speaker of French, English and Urdu. after her husband Muthuvaduganathaperiya Udaiya Thevar was killed in battle by the british, she escaped her husband's palace with her daughter. Later she formed an alliance with Haider Ali, king of Mysore and also formed her own army of women warriors to fight the british East India Company. She arranged the first ever recorded  suicide bombing in history when she found the ammunition storing place of the Britishers. This human bombing was done by her women general Kuyuli. Queen Velu reinherited the Sivaganga Kingdom of her husband and was coronated as the queen in 1780. She was the first Indian Queen to wage a war against the British and was victorious. She is regarded as "Veermangai" or the Brave women by Tamilians.

1. Rudrama Devi:(reign:1263-1289)

                               Ganapatideva, the ruler of the Kakatiya dynasty had concerns about who will be his successor as he had no son. A priest advised him that his only daughter Rudrama devi should undergo a ritual ceremony which will promote a male alter-ego in her and then she can be crowned as the new ruler. At the age of 14, after going through the ritual she sat on the throne with her father in a joint rule and by the age of 16, she assumed full sovereignity in 1263. Other kings when getting aware of this, thought of it as a land grabbing opportunity and raided her land several times, but Rudrama fiercely repulsed these attacks and proved her capability. Apart from being a brave warrior, she was also a fantastic administrator and peacefully ruled her kingdom for more than 30 years. She did phenominal work in developing the social and cultural aspects of society, promoted education, and challenged the "varna system" by giving higher position to lower cast's. Marco Polo, who visited India during her reign described her as "An exceptional Queen who was loved the most by her people than any other ruler". 

                         These and many other womens who in different ways tried to revolutionize the society were definitely challenged by many. But it is their efforts that changed the outlook of people towrds womens and their capabilities. Even though they were left unsung, thier contribution in shaping our history can never be denied!!