Remembering Great Women of India

Women have a special place of pride and honor in the Indian society. Their role in nation building is also well recognized. Like men, they too have excelled in every walk of life. If we turn the pages of history, we come across great women rulers, queen warriors, women leaders, women freedom fighters, women saints, scholars, writers and social workers. The country remembers them and honors them and brings out commemorative postage stamps in their fond memory even after they are gone. In the first part of this series, please have a look at the following:

WOMEN WARRIORS

RANI LAXMIBAI OF JHANSI (1834 - 1858)
Rani Laxmibai’s courage, deeds of valor and heroic battle against the British have become the theme of many a folklore and ballad in the country. She is the immortal warrior the country has ever seen. Even as a child Laxmibai learnt horse riding and sward fighting. When both her husband Raja Gangadhar Rao of Jhansi and her only son died in 1853 she adopted a son and made him the heir to the throne. The British Governor General Dalhousie refused to recognize her adopted son as heir to the throne and ordered annexation of Jhansi into British Raj. Rani Laxmibai refused to part with Jhansi. A fierce fight ensued. The Rani fought the British undauntedly leading her forces from the front and showed great courage and skill. She was fatally wounded in the battle and she breathed her last on June 18, 1858.

KITTUR RANI CHENNAMMA (1778 - 1829)
Chennamma received training in horse riding, sword fighting and archery in her young age. She was married to Raja Mullasarja of Kittur, a princely state of Belgaum in Karnataka. Her husband died in 1816. Her only son died in 1824. Chennamma adopted Shivalingappa as her son and made him heir to the throne. The British did not accept this and ordered the expulsion of Shivalingappa. The Rani defied the order. A great battle ensued. The Rani fought the British with great courage and skill. She could not, however, hold out for long. She was taken captive and lodged in Bailhongal Fort where she died on February 21, 1829.

RANI DURGAWATI
When Dalpat Shah, the ruler of Gondwana (present-day Madhya Pradesh), died in 1548 his infant son Bir Narayan become the ruler. Rani Durgawati took up the reins of governance on behalf of her son and administered the Kingdom most ably and benevolently for 16 years from 1548 to 1564. Gondwana, however, fell a victim to the aggressive designs of the Moghal Emperor Akbar of Delhi in 1564. He ordered his general Asaf Khan to occupy Gondawana. Rani Durgawati led her forces against the invading army and fought with great skill and bravery. Ultimately when her defeat becomes imminent, she plunged her dagger into herself choosing death to dishonor.

RANI AVANTIBAI
When Vikramaditya Singh, the ruler of Ramgarh state died leaving behind his wife Avantibai and no heir to the throne, the British put the state under court administration. Avantibai vowed to win back her land from the British. She raised an army of 4,000 men and led it herself against the British in 1857. A fierce battle ensured and Avantibai fought most valiantly but could not hold out for long against the superior strength of the British army. When her defeat becomes imminent she killed herself with her own sword and became a martyr on March 20, 1858.

JALKARI BAI
The folklore of Bundelkhand (part of Jhansi state then ) are full of heroic exploits of Jalkari Bai. She was a village girl and hailed from a very poor family. It is said that she had an encounter with a tiger while she was collecting firewood in the jungle and she killed the tiger single handed with her axe. She had a striking resemblance to Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi and because of this, Rani took interest in her and inducted her into the women’s wing of the army.
During 1957-58 there were several British raids on Jhansi Fort and the Rani repulsed every one of the attacks. Later when the fall of fort became imminent Jalkari Bai and some generates convinced Laxmibai to escape quietly with the help of supporters. In a ploy to deceive the British, Jalkari Bai dressed herself up like the Rani and took command of the army. The British found out the truth, but it was too late. The Rani had covered a considerable distance by then. Jalkaribai fought the British forces valiantly but was eventually forced to surrender. The British general, impressed by her loyalty, courage and fighting prowess treated her with respect and set her free.

WOMEN RULERS

AHILYABAI HOLKER (1725-1795)
Born in Ahmednagar of Maharashtra to Manakoji Shinde in 1725. Married to Khande Rao in 1733. When Khande Rao died in the battle of Kumbher in 1754, Ahilyabai learnt to run the princely state of Holker under the stewardship of her father-in-law Malhar Rao Holkar. With the death of her father-in-law in 1766 the entire responsibility of running the state devolved on her. She proved herself to be an enlightened ruler from then onwards till her death in 1795.

RANI RASHMONI (1793 - 1861)
Born in a poor family she was married into a wealthy zamindar family of Calcutta. After the death of her husband the management of zamindari fell on her shoulders and she showed great managerial skill and leadership in her new role. Rani Rasmoni’s nationalist outlook brought her in direct confrontation with the British rulers and each time and every time she had her way and the British could not prevail upon her. She was extremely religious and led an austere life. Construction of the temple complex on the banks of the Ganges, a number of bathing ghats on the river, a road from the Subarnarekha river to Puri for the benefit of the pilgrims and substantial contribution to the then Imperial Llibrary (now National Library) and Hindu College (now Presidency College) bear testimony to her benevolence.