New Delhi: The history of India is riddled with the exploits of several great women rulers who fought valiantly for the independence of their kingdom. One such woman was Rani Durgavati, the descendant of Mahoba’s Chandela dynasty and the queen of the Garha-Katanga Gond kingdom who valiantly fought against the Mughal Empire. She fought for her kingdom with immense courage and determination, and her valour became immortal in the pages of history.
Rani Durgavati: The woman who broke social barriers and fought the Mughals
Durgavati was born on October 5, 1524, in Uttar Pradesh’s Kalinjar Fort. Her father was Raja Salbahan of Ratha and Mahoba and it is believed that since she was born on Durgashtami, her parents named her Durgavati after Goddess Durga. She got married to Dalpat Shah, the son of Sangram Shah, the Gond King of Garha-Katanga, when she was 18 years old and a strong alliance was formed between the two families. The kingdom of Garha-Katanga emerged in the map of India after Timur invaded India in 1398.
Rani Durgavati and the control of her kingdom
In 1548, Rani Durgavati’s husband Dalpat Shah died and their minor son Bir Narayan became the heir. Rani Durgavati made Bir Narayan the proxy ruler and took over the control of the kingdom, helped by two ministers named Man Brahman and Adhar Kayastha. Under her able leadership, the kingdom became immensely prosperous and she constructed several reservoirs for the benefit of her people. Also, she encourage learning among her subjects.
Rani Durgavati expanded the boundaries of her kingdom and personally played a key role in supressing rebellions. According to the ‘Tarikh-i-Firishta’, a contemporary Persian source, Rani Durgavati thwarted the ruler of Malwa, Baz Bahadur who attacked her kingdom between 1555 and 1560.
Rani Durgavati and her fight against the Mughal Empire
In 1564, Asaf Khan, the Mughal governor attacked the kingdom of Rani Durgavati with a large army. The comparatively small force of Rani Durgavati managed to repel the Mughals three times. However, the Mughals came back with a strong army and routed the forces of Rani Durgavati. During the battle, Rani Durgavati was injured and she became unconscious. Later, she realised that the battle against the Mughals could not be won. She ordered her elephant driver to kill her with his dagger but he refused. The queen realised that she did not have enough time to escape. Instead of becoming a captive of the enemy, Rani Durgavati decided to take her own life and killed herself. On June 24, 1564, the brave queen chose death over dishonour.
Today, Rani Durgavati lives on in the memory of common people, where she has been placed in a position of great respect. Her story has become a legend and the subject of songs and tales, through which Rani Durgavati has found an immortal place in the hearts of the people.
Rani Durgavati, a descendant of the Chandela dynasty, ruled the Gond kingdom of Garha-Katanga with exceptional skill and courage. After her husband’s death, she effectively governed, expanding her kingdom and promoting learning. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
