Seven Great Female Rulers of India

Rudrama Devi

She was a 13th-century woman ruler of the Kakatiya dynasty. During her reign, she enlisted people from the lower strata of society into the army and granted them jagirs (feudal land grants). Primarily, she first had to fight wars against the Eastern Ganga and Yadava kings, but the queen herself took to the battlefield and secured victory.

Razia Sultan

She was the first female ruler in Turkic history. She entered the court attired like a man, a conduct that sat ill with religious orthodox elements. Razia was the daughter of Sultan Iltutmish (Al-Tamash), ruler of the Mamluk dynasty of Delhi. Following Sultan Iltutmish's death, because his sons proved incompetent, his daughter Razia Sultan was enthroned upon the Mamluk royal seat of Delhi in 1236. Razia ruled until 1240.

Rani Durgavati

She was the daughter of the Chandel kings of Kalinjar and the queen of the tribal kingdom of Gondwana. A few years into her marriage, following her husband’s death, the queen herself assumed the reins of power. Yet just a few years later, the Muslim ruler of Malwa, Baz Bahadur, launched multiple attacks, only to be routed each time. It was then that Akbar cast his covetous eye upon the queen; he dispatched a vast army to force her into his harem. But when the battle commenced, the tribal community, in defence of their queen’s honour, cut through the Mughal forces like chaff. The queen herself put Akbar’s commander to death on the battlefield. Yet holding out against Akbar’s enormous army was not possible for long. In the end, the queen plunged a dagger into her chest and made the supreme sacrifice. Remembering her sacrifice, the Gond tribals of Jabalpur still offer their floral tributes at her samadhi (memorial shrine) to this day.

Ahilyabai Holkar

If you ever hear this name spoken in Indore, people do not utter it in full; they simply say "Maa Ahilya." Held in almost goddess-like reverence, she was a great Shiva-bhaktin (devotee of Shiva). She was the daughter-in-law of the Maratha Subedar Malhar Rao Holkar. Yet she was widowed at the age of 19. Ahilyabai rebuilt Kashi Vishwanath, Somnath, Mahakal, and other Shiva temples. During the British era, the Holkars were the only rulers who refused to accept subjugation, and the entire credit for this belongs to Ahilyabai Holkar.

Rani Lakshmibai

The entire nation knows everything of her valour, so what remains to be written? About the queen, this alone suffices: “खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी” (“Fiercely fought the warrior queen, she was the Queen of Jhansi”).

Rani Chennamma

She was the ruler of the Kittur kingdom of Mysore. She mounted a fierce rebellion against the British policy of annexation. The queen had barely overcome the grief of first her husband's and then her son's death when she had to take up arms against the British over the issue of succession. The queen dealt a crushing blow to the British, but was later captured and died in prison.

Begum Hazrat Mahal

She was the second wife of the debauched Nawab of Lucknow, Wajid Ali Shah. Born in Faizabad, she was sold by her parents and worked as a tawaif (courtesan). However, when the Nawab elevated her to the status of a royal concubine, she was granted the title of Begum. When the British sought to annex Awadh on the pretext of misgovernance, the worthless Nawab did nothing, but Begum Hazrat Mahal rallied her people and waged war. Be they Hindu or Muslim, everyone rallied behind her. Even today, the people of Lucknow hold her in deep reverence.

Courtesy—Shri Sharad Singh, Varanasi

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