We’ve heard and learnt stories of brave queens of India but specifically, deeply about brave Rani Lakshmibai👸, one of our earliest women freedom fighters of India who salvaged herself through a battle with the British🇮🇴, by sacrificing herself for her land, alongside carrying her infant on her back🤱🏻, riding on her horse Baadal🎠! She also had a great contribution to her kingdom’s overall prosperity and development, but, do we properly know about other queens of India? Are their stories passed on? Have they got much significance in our minds and respect for them in our heart, besides Rani Lakshmibai? Not much🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♀️. We haven’t even heard of few queens whose stories ade amazing! Hereunder are the valiant and inspiring🔥 stories of few queens of our nation which encourage other females of our nation to tackle with assailants and problems!⚔🛡

1. RANI ABBAKKA CHOWTA (1525-1570)

Regarded as the ‘first woman freedom fighter of India’, Rani Abbakka Chowta belonged to the Chowta Dynasty of Moodabidri which was in dominance from 12th-18th Century and ruled over the parts of coastal Karnataka. She was the first Tuluva Queen of Ullāl and was known as ‘Abhaya Rani’ (the fearless queen) on the account of her bravery, connecting her story back to early 16th Century. Despite her martial and valiant personality, and the competency to rule over a prominent dynasty with the continuous invasions and attacks of the Portuguese, she and her story is barely remembered and passed on throughout. It was the glorious year of 1555 when the Portuguese🇵🇹 colonial power after their series of establishment of official centres mainly around the Malabar coast of South India dating back to the early 16th Century, was at it’s peak. They ousted the then zamorin (a title for a hereditary monarch) of Calicut (Kozhikode) , defeated the Sultan of Bijapur of Adil Shahi Dynasty , Ain-al-Mulkin, took away the Daman province from Ahmad Shah III, the Sultan of Gujarat , established a colony in Mylapore , captured Bombay and made Goa as their headquarters. They even ruined the rich Sri Kaleshwar Temple🛕 to build a Church over it⛪! The next target for them was- the super profitable port of Mangalore💰🚢. But, there was a huge obstacle for them, just 14 kilometers south of Mangalore where was the small settlement of Ullāl🎍, ruled by then 30 years old feisty woman, Abbakka Chowta⚡! Initially, they had taken her lightly and had sent only few boats and soldiers to capture and bring her back to Goa, but, the boats and the troop, never returned… Shocked and enraged, they sent a huge fleet of ships this time, under the command of much celebrated Admiral Dom Àlvaro da Silveria🇵🇹. The admiral soon returned, badly injured and empty handed🤕🤲. Thereafter, another Portuguese naval fleet was sent, but, only a few injured from the crew managed to make it back⚓. Then the Portuguese went on to capture the Mangalore port and the fort anyways, perhaps planning to tackle Rani Abbakka Chowta from the convenient distance of the Mangalore fort🏰. A huge army under an experienced Portuguese General was sent to Ullāl, after the successful capture of Mangalore. The thought the plan of subjugating Ullāl and capturing the queen to be simple, but the plan was made foolproof. When they reached the place, there were no traces of the queen, her troops and her officials. So, thinking that she had fled away with her acquaintances, they simply roamed around, relaxed and just before they were going to declare it a victory⭐, Abhaya Rani with her 200 chosen men attacked🏹🤺! Many lost their lives even without a fight🌱, General João Peixoto was assassinated🇵🇹, 70 were captured and the rest retreated. Furthermore the queen rode with her men towards Mangalore Fort the same night and not only did she successfully enter into the fort but also killed Admiral Mascarenhas🤺, the chief of the Portuguese power and forced the remaining foreigners to vacate the fort⚔🔥. Even after this mutinous attack, she did not stop and rather went on to capture the Portuguese settlement at Kundapur🇵🇹, exactly 100 kilometres north of Mangalore🏞. After these events as well, she was simultaneously engaged in wars with the Portuguese for almost four decades and successfully thrived to rule over her kingdom🌆🌏. Once, she was returning from a visit to her family temple and was caught off guard, but she immediately mounted her horse🏇💨 and rode into the battle⚔🔥, leading her troops in a fierce counter-offensive. Her piercing battle cry – “Save the motherland.🇮🇳 Fight them on land⛰ and the sea🌊. Fight them on the streets🛣 and the beaches🏖. Push them back to the waters!🌊🤺”, echoed through winds🌬 as she and her soldiers fired flaming arrows at the Portuguese ships☄🏹🔥. While many of the ships in the Portuguese armada burnt that night🛳🔥, Rani Abbakka was wounded in the crossfire and was captured by the enemy with the help of a few bribed chieftains🏴‍☠️⚔. Rebellious till the very end, the fearless queen breathed her last in captivity in the prison🔒. However, her legacy lived on through her equally fierce and brave daughters👩‍👧‍👧 who continued to defend Tulu Nadu from the Portuguese.🌠🎋

2. SULTANA CHAND BIBI (1550-1599)

Chand Bibi was an Indian Muslim ruler🕌🇮🇳 and warrior⚔, who also possessed the hobby of painting flowers🌸🖌 and played the sitar🪕. She was versed in many languages including Arabic🇸🇦, Turkish🇹🇷, Persian🇮🇷, Marathi🇮🇳 and Kannada🇮🇳. Deccan Sultanates were a group of 5 dynasties which were formed after the division of the Bahamani dynasty of Deccan India. They were Nizam Shahi (Ahmednagar), Imad Shahi (Berar), Barid Shahi (Bidar), Adil Shahi (Bijapur) and Qutb Shahi (Golconda) dynasties🕍. Despite being the descendants of the same empire, they were in constant struggle with each other⚔🔥. Chand Bibi belonged to the Nizam Shahi dynasty of Ahmednagar🦅🕌, who was married by her father Hussain Nizam Shah, with the Sultan of Bijapur, Ahmad Adil Shah I🏰, to sue for better bonds of kinship amongst the two empires🤝👑. The begum always supported her spouse in all matters and affairs, but was deprived of an heir of own, so they appointed and adopted their nephew, Ibrahim Adil Shah II🤱🏻 as the successor to the throne, in 1579 , when he was about 8-9 years old. As soon as Ibrahim was declared the heir, Ahmad Adil Shah was killed by one of their slaves🏴‍☠️😈. After her husband’s death, the zeal she possessed of receiving an heir, turned into melancholy but being aware of precarious situation of the dynasty, she ascended the throne of Bijapur👑🏰. Being under the reign of a woman was not liked by the then patriarchal officials. She then, had to appoint a General to secure the empire’s position and stability, so she declared Kamil Khan as Nizam Shahi’s General🎎, but he proved to be treacherous. Kishvar Khan her another General, turned to be a traitor as well🎃, and imprisoned Chand Bibi in the fort of Satara🎐🏡, when she rebelled against him to order him to surrender the expensive elephants he captured from the troop during a battle🐘. He was forced to flee away to Golconda as he was unsuccessful in capturing the Ahmednagar fort🧱⚔, and also because his steps were infamous among other generals. He was killed in exile🌳 by a relative of Mustafa Khan (one of the generals of the begum🔥). Following this, Chand Bibi acted as the regent for a short time🎎. This incident warned other officials that being engaged with Sultana won’t be a plan of matter until Ibrahim became matured enough to officially ascend the throne👑. Chand Bibi, thus, was in prominence in Bijapur for almost 16 years from 1579 to 1595🦅🌟. Taking advantage of a weak situation, Ahmednagar’s Nizam Shahi sultan allied with the Qutb Shahi of Golconda to attack Bijapur🤺. In response to this, Chand Bibi with Abu-ul-Hassan, called for the Maratha forces in Carnatic🐉🌟. The Marathas attacked the invaders’ supply lines✴, forcing the Ahmednagar-Golconda allied army to retreat🧱🤺🦅. In 1595, when Ibrahim Nizam Shah, the then ruler of Ahmednagar was killed and there was instability of the Nizam Shahi dynasty, Chand Bibi, owing to her responsibility as his aunt, with her nobles, declared Bahadur Nizam Shah🎎, his son, her grand nephew as the king of Ahmednagar, under her regency👸. She’d left the responsibility of Bijapur in the hands of Ibrahim, her heir🤴. This decision was followed by few betrayals and rebels which also included the attack of Mughals🕌🦁, because few officials of the Deccan Sultanates invited Akbar to invade Ahmednagar⚔. The great Mughal empire (spread over entire North India🌏, even covering the whole of Northern Plains) which was reigned by Akbar, sent his son Murad Mirza🌔 who secretly dug up tunnels under the Ahmednagar fort🕳, filling it with gunpowder to breach the surrounding areas of the fort💣. When Sultana came to know of this, she ordered to fill those tunnels🍂 but one was left untouched, which was successfully lighted by the Mughal army🕯, which damaged few parts of one of the walls of the fort🧱. There was a lot of chaos among the soldiers from both the sides which marked the beginning of a short war⚔. To stabilize this chaos, the Sultana herself, clad in armour🛡, with the helmet on and, possessing a twinkling sword🗡💫 and a mighty and courageous look arrived at the scene who bravely repulsed the Mughal soldiers off🤺🦅🏇! They praised her bravery🐅🔥 and formally honoured her with the regnal title- ‘Chand Sultan’👳‍♀️. When the war was settled, at night, she ordered her men to rebuild the damaged wall🎊🧱 and, the next morning 🌄when everyone was amazed to see the wall in a good condition. In 1599 when Bahadur Nizam Shah passed away⚰☠, the Mughals again invaded Ahmednagar🤺🐉. Sultana did not hesitate to fight a war back with Emperor Akbar and his soldiers🔥👳‍♀️. She again clad the armour but was killed in the battle by her own troops because of the treacherous behaviour of the generals of Ahmednagar, itself.😔

3. MAHARANI AHILYA BAI HOLKAR SAHIBA (1725-1795)

According to a legend, when Malhar Rao Holkar✴, commander in the service of the Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I and subedār (lord) of the Malwa territory🐉🏞, stopped in Chaundi village🏕 (currently in Madhya Pradesh) on his way to Pune, saw the 8 years old Ahilya🧘🏻‍♀️ at the temple service in the village🛕. Recognizing her piety, character and the intelligence she owned, Malhar Rao chose the girl as the bride for his son👰, Khanderao Holkar 🎊and got her married in 1733💍💥. Khanderao grew up, but did not have much interests in reigning the kingdom nor in politics🛕. Malhar Rao wholeheartedly supported and the entire public, praised Ahilyabai’s intelligence and the way she patiently listened to all the matters and easily found out a solution that🥻👑. Malhar Rao provided weapon knowledge, horse riding🏇, politics, the knowledge of the shāstras,📚 etc. to Ahilya and at instances, she often used to go in battles with him, her father-in-law and the Subedar took suggestions regarding the tactics and strategies from her🤺! She used to tell her husband, the stories of her lesson that she learnt about reigning the kingdom. Soon she gave birth to her first son, Malerao in 1745🤴, and there years later to a daughter named Muktabai👸. Mālérao was declared the next heir to ascend the throne under the regency of Ahilyabai Sahiba. When Malhar Rao used to go off for battles, Khanderao didn’t care for the throne, but Maharani Ahilya balanced the position of the throne😌, generated justice at the court and the kingdom’s matters were handled by her in their absence. Once, when she went on a journey with her husband, Khanderao and father-in-law, Malhar Rao to Kumbher fort, Khanderao was shot by a cannonball and killed💣. Malhar Rao and Ahilyabai were completely aggrieved by his death that she had decided to go ‘sati’👳‍♀️🔥 with her husband’s corpse (the practice of burning of wife alive, on her husband’s funeral pyre). But when Malhar Rao convinced her, she decided not to, to serve her life for her people. After 12 years, Malhar Rao Holkar died as well during a battle owing to sickness. Her son, Mālérao also passed away of mental illness. Now, the responsibility of entire Holkar clan of the Maratha Empire was in the hands of her🤲🎊. Seeing this, Raghoba or Raghunath Rao plotted to attack the Holkars with his 5,000 men🤺🏇. When Ahilya came to know about this, she ordered her commander-in-chief, Tukoji Rao (Malhar Rao’s adopted son) to prepare the soldiers for the battle and also to send a letter to Madhavrao, the then Peshwa. The armies were priming at each other from one side to other side of the Shipra River. Now using her wit, Ahilyabai sent a letter to Raghoba saying📜: “If I’m defeated, no one would care, but if you lose by the hands of a woman🥻👑, you’ll be severely disrespected!😌” Receiving this letter, Raghoba withdrew his army and the Holkar clan won the match without fighting⚔. Maharani Ahilyabai, or to regard as Punyashlok, Sahiba, Rajmata and Devi Ahilyabai, was a great devotee of Shiva🔱🛕, and she had reconstructed and built many temples in pilgrimages🛕🏞 such as Kashi, Gaya, Somnath, Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Kanchi, Avanti, Dwarka, Badrinarayan, Rameshwar and Jaganathpuri and also dozens of ghats⛲, wells🕳🌊, tanks🛢, and rest houses🏘 along the way to connect other pilgrimages with South India🏞. She often went to Maheshvar where she did the same. Her reign was marked by peace and prosperity, but once, her public was aggrieved by the attacks of assailants and burglars🤑🤺. She announced that whoever could eradicate and eliminate the thieves from their kingdom, would marry her fair daughter, Muktabai🧏🏻‍♀️. Poor yet brave Yashwant Rao Phanse 🙋🏻‍♂️did the task, and thus, he married to her daughter💍🎊👑. Sahiba Ahilyabai had the speciality that she would result victorious in all the wars without battling and harming her soldiers😌📜🏇. Among Ahilyabai’s accomplishments was the development of Indore from a small village to a prosperous and beautiful city; her own capital, however, was in nearby Maheshwar, a town on the banks of the Narmada river🏞. She also built forts and roads in Malwa🏰🧱. She, the Queen of Malwa, slayed her enemies and invaders on battlefronts with four bows and quivers of arrows🏹 fitted to the corners of the howdah⛺🌌 of her favourite elephant🐘 when needed. She died in 1795, having reigned for nearly 30 years and was succeeded by Tukoji Rao, her commander-in-chief🤴.

4. RUDRAMADEVI aka ‘RUDRADEV MAHARAJA‘ (1245-1289)

Rudramadevi belonged to the telugu speaking, Kakatiya dynasty of eastern Deccan which flourished between 12th to 14th Century🌏. In 1262, she was made the next ruler alongside her father, Ganapatideva when she was only 14 years🔥👑. During this time, she was also married to Virabhadra🎊💍, a minor prince of the Chalukya dynasty🏰. Ganapatideva was in constant battles with Pandyas from the south and was concerned that he did not have any male heir to ascend the throne after his death🤴🎊. So, he sought his minister’s suggestion to make Rudramadevi his heir to ascend the throne through a ritual process called ‘putrika‘. Through the ‘putrika ceremony’ a daughter could be legally transformed into a son👑🌌. This was necessary step for royal succession. Ganapatideva agreed, he conducted the ceremony and Rudramadevi was given a male alter ego with a new name as ‘Rudradeva Maharaja‘🤺. There was finally successor to the Kakatiya throne, a woman🥻. All this was done to prepare for a worst-case scenario invasion. Ganapatideva’s cautious approach could not have come at a better time. The Pandya invasion was a disaster for the Kakatiyas, who suffered a nearly catastrophic defeat at the battle of Muttukur😔. After the battle, Ganapatideva eventually turned the tides of the war but he’d already lost significant territory. Many of his feudatories were now at a risk of being swayed to the Pandya side. Shamed by the outcome and tired of public life, Ganapatideva retired in 1261 CE handing full control to his 16 years old daughter🙆🏻‍♀️. But could Rudramadevi protect such fragile kingdom? -Absolutely🤩! She proved more than capable against both internal and external threats of which there were many. Instance as- the ruler of Yadava dynasty towards northwest of the Kakatiya dynasty, Mahadeva saw Rudramadevi’s👳‍♂️ ascendance as a land grabbing opportunity. He thought that it would be easy to crush down the Telugus as they were being ruled by a young woman. He simply did not respect her abilities. This was a grave miscalculation. In 1263 CE, Rudramadevi not only repulsed the invasion, but pursued the retreating Yadava armies all the way back to their capital at Devagiri🙍🏻‍♀️🤺🔥. After a bloody siege, Mahadeva agreed to pay tribute to Rudramadevi in the form of 10 million gold coins🥇💰, each of which were struck with Mahadeva’s name next to the Kakatiya emblem🐗 to symbolize his submission. Unfortunately, life was to get more complicated for the Kakatiya queen. Tragedy struck in 1266 CE- an emotional year, in which both her father and husband died. She vowed never to remarry despite having two daughters👩‍👧‍👧 and no sons. Some of her relatives simply could not accept the ruling authority of a woman despite the fact that she dressed up traditionally in male attire and possessed a male attitude🥻. Rudramadevi’s jealous cousins- Harihara and Murari resented the fact that her father had not selected one of them to inherit the throne, and so they launched a rebellion on the basis that her gender made her unfit for the position🎇. But Rudramadevi was not alone. In fact, she was supported by several powerful allies including the skilled tactician, Gona Ganna Reddy (hailing from a family of renowned Telugu poets📜🕊) and Jaganni Deva (the feudatory in-charge of the southern Nellore region🐉). With their assistance, Rudramamdevi quashed the rebellion in restored order🤺🔥. Then in 1269 CE she held a formal coronation ceremony📜👑, thus securing her position as the legitimate ruler of the Kakatiyas. Despite regular incursions by the Pandyas and Gajapati of Orissa, she managed to not only defend her domains and maintain stability, but also improve upon the status quo in some truly impressive ways. Under her reign, the kingdom readily and rapidly flourished. She built many artificial lakes🌊 and canals🏞 for irrigation, encouraged the growth of traders and merchants💰, systematized a proper land use pattern and enormous amount of Telugu literary works📖✍, poems etc. were published during her era. She also committed to establish meritocracy (political system in which economic goods and/or political power are vested in individual people on the basis of talent, effort, and achievement, rather than wealth or social class) through loosening of caste and nobility restrictions. Women were also given the right to land ownership and lots of temple donations and taxes were made by the public, indicating the proper distribution of wealth🛕. During her reign, she completed the fortress at Warangal🏯🧱 (the Kakatiya capital). She chose her grandson, Prataparudra as her heir to be ascending the throne after her death. Rudramadevi was further engaged in a battle with Amabadeva (Jaganni Deva’s brother, who ascended to his position after his death and separated Nellore from the Kakatiya dynasty) and his allies, where she died in 1289 CE during confrontation at Chanduputla. Some historians suggested before that she died a natural death in 1295 CE, but newly discovered carvings show her engaged in a battle, equipped with a sword and an armour⚔🛡, with the god of death, Yama, alongside☠🐃. The famed Italian traveler Marco Polo 📜✍spent time in Warangal in 1289 CE, before her death. In his writings he sang her praises. He wrote the following line✍: “The kingdom has been under the rule of a queen for some forty years. She is a lady of much discretion, who for the great love she bore her husband would never marry another. I can assure you that during all.that space of forty years, she administered her realm well. She was a lover of justice, of equity and of peace and was more beloved by those of her kingdom that any lady or lord before.”🐉🔥

5. ‘SULTAN RAZIYYAT-UD-DUNYA WA UD-DIN’ aka RAZIA SULTAN (1205-1240)

Razia Sultan was the first Muslim queen in the entire history👳‍♀️🕌 of Islamic civilization☪️ and also the first and the last female sovereign of the Mamluk or the Slave dynasty⚔ of the Delhi Sutanate after Sams-ud-Din Iltutmish🤺, her father. He raised Razia to be a bold young girl🧕🏻, training her alongside with his three sons in governance and military. Razia was trained by her father in warfare, administration and statesmanship🐉. The Sultan considered her daughter to be equal to 20 of his sons in ability! She assisted her father in state affairs and never hesitated in giving her opinion👳‍♀️. On his deathbed, Iltutmish appointed Razia to be his successor, becoming the first Sultan to nominate a woman as an heir🕌. However, her ascension was challenged and opposed by Turkan-I-Chahalgani👳‍♂️🇹🇷 (a faction of 40 powerful Turkish nobles who controlled political activity in the court🕊). They did not want to be ruled by an empress👸, so they set up her half-brother, Ruknud-din Firuz to the throne👳🏼‍♂️, but he was indulged in hedonism🎏🎐 and left the governance to his mother and Razia’s step mother, Shah Turkan🙍🏻‍♀️. One night, Shah Turkan laid a plan to harm Razia by digging a pit on the way where she used to go galloping on her horse everyday🏇. Fortunately, Jamal-ud-Din Yaqut👳🏿‍♂️ (the ostler of the Delhi Sultanate and one of Razia’s confidant African Siddi soldier) came to know of this and alerted Razia. The next dawn, she galloped to the spot and exposed it to everyone. Upon this, Sultan Firuz appeared at the scene but instead of investigating for the traitors, he turned on Razia and even threatened to kill her🙍🏻‍♂️. This dissatisfied the citizenry, thus, both were assassinated in the rebellion. When Saint Kazimuddin Zahid⚜ proclaimed that Razia should rule over them. So, she ascended the throne in the same year under the name of ‘Sultan Jalalat-ud-Din Razia’👳‍♀️ and thus, Delhi found its first ’empress’. She refused to be regarded as ‘Sultana’ as it meant ‘wife or mistress of a Sultan (ruler)’. Razia Sultan dressed up in a male attire with male ego and abolished purdah (veil) which angered the orthodox Muslims☪️. She also ordered to mint the coins with her name printed- “Pillar of women. Queen of the Times. Sultan Razia, daughter of Sams-ud-Din Iltutmish.”, openly exercising her power🦸‍♀️. She was a secular ruler who prioritised traditional and scientific education, established a host of schools, academies🏫, centers for research and public libraries📚, commanded armies, built roads🛣, dug up walls🕳🌊 and routinely roamed out to the kingdom and personally check onto the subjects. The Sultan also took a massive interest in various art forms and welcomed poets✍📜, musicians🎼 and scholars📖 to perform at her court. Despite her efforts, her ministers and starters hated the fact that she made regular public appearances without her veil. Even her minister, Nizam-ul-Mulk insisted her to wear her veil like she did when her father was alive. But Razia gave a simple yet bold answer, “When my father was alive, I was a mere princess. But now I meet my subjects as their queen.” When she banned the ‘Jaziah Tax’ on the non-Muslims, her ministers criticized her decision and claimed that she was a threat to the kingdom. On top of that, Nizam-ul-Mulk was planning to assassinate her. Fatefully, this time as well, she was saved from harm and it was non other than her beloved, Malik Altunia. Sultan was quick to act, by spreading the rumour through her spies that Nizam-ul-Mulk had decided to negotiate with her and now was ally with her. This effected his relation with other ministers, thus, he was forced to flee away to the hills of Simur. Impressed by Altunia’s dedication, Razia appointed him as the governor of Bhatinda. Soon another problem was faced by her. Her ministers and nobles spread the rumour that she had an affair with Yaqut (who was promoted as the chief of the nobles; she also fiercely defended him from discrimination which he faced as he belonged to the slave sect) and sent a letter to Altunia stating that they spent time together, rode horse and talked a lot; to provoke him to be jealous and attack Razia and Yaqut. He exactly reacted how the ministers wanted. Furious, he set up an ambush where Yaqut was killed during the fight and the Sultan was imprisoned by Altunia’s troops.⛓ Her beloved ally was now her enemy🙍🏻‍♀️🙍🏻‍♂️ and her half-brother Muiz-ud-Din Bahrām was made the Sultan👳🏻‍♂️. Perhaps, eventually with time, Altunia came to know of his faults and requested Razia for forgiveness🌷. They soon got married with each other as well💍. After their wedding, they marched towards Delhi to take over the throne👑, but they were ambushed by Bahrām and his armies. Despite the fact that they were unaware of the battle to take place, they fought with their enemies fearlessly and valiantly⚔🛡🔥. Altunia was killed by Bahrām and soon, an arrow Razia Sultan’s heart🏹. And, so ended the life of the great Sultan, and the first Muslim empress who reigned for only about 3-4 years because of her rivals and rebels against her just and correct steps😔⚔🔥.

These were the stories of few audacious Ranis, Sahibas and Sultanas of India, whose reigns were glorious. Rani Abbakka, the first woman freedom fighter🗡🇮🇳; Chand Bibi, the great warrior and ruler🦅⚔; Ahilyabai Holkar, the one possessing phenomenal wit🥻💫; Rudramadevi, a true lover and strong, martial warrior❣🤺; Razia Sultan, the first Muslim empress whose life was marked by baits and betrayals as well as glory💫👳🏻‍♀️! There were also many fascinating queens, such as- Kittur Chennamma, who led the rebellion against the British East India Company🇮🇴 with her army from Kittur, Karnataka, exhibiting guerilla warfare in 1824🤺; Maharani Tarabai Mohite, the regent of entire Maratha Empire✴ who defended the empire against Aurangzeb’s attacks; Rani Akkadevi, the brave warrior queen of 11th CE Chalukya dynasty, also regarded as Bhairavi🧞‍♀️, ‘the fearless one and the one who frightens everyone’; Rani Padmavati, an extremely beautiful, skilled warrior and legendary queen of the Mewar kingdom🌺 who committed self immolation by jumping into “Jauhar Kund“🔥; Rani Durgavati, who was considered equivalent to Rani Lakshmibai and under whose reign, her kingdom if Gondwana was left untouched by the Mughals🌺🏹; Rajmata Jijabai Bhonsale, the mother of Shivaji and founder of the Maratha Empire🐅✴; Mirabai, the great poet, saint and devotee of Krishna🦚🦪 and a main figure of the Bhakti Movement in 16th Century; Malika Kishwar, the mother of the last Nawab of Asadh, Wajid Ali Shah, who stood as a threat for the British🇬🇧🤺! These queens were, still are and will be the glorious examples of women empowerment! The flow of their admiration of their knighthood is incessant!💠🌊 Either they stand as Shakti🕉, Yin☯️, Al-Lāt☪️, Dolmā☸ or any female counterpart forms as mentioned in religions and beliefs. But, a sad fact is that they are so infamous in the hearts of the students and youths of modern world🌏, and when it’s about to tell a story of a queen of your nation👸, we remain blank🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♂️! In fact, all the tombs of Mughal rulers are kept at high priority and maintenance, whereas the tomb of Maharani Tarabai lies uncared and dirty by the the government with no fame. 😔

Do search more about the queens mentioned above and do pass on their brave stories.⚔🔥🇮🇳

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