Rani Durgavati: Empress of Courage

Rani Durgavati, often referred to as Durgavati Chandela, was an Indian warrior queen who lived in the 16th century. She was a member of the Gondwana kingdom, which situated in what is now Madhya Pradesh. she was married to Dalpat Shah the son of the king Sangram Shah of the Garha Kingdom.today she is remebered as brave queen who defended her kingdom from the invasion of mughal dynasty.

Gondwana is a geographical area that includes southern Madhya Pradesh, sections of western Chattisgarh, and eastern Vidarbha. It is called after its former rulers, the Gonds, a tribal people who lived in a mostly forested area. The Garha Mandla kingdom, located in its northernmost region, was one of Gondwana's kingdoms. Sangram Shah, who conquered the lands all the way up to the Narmada Valley, Sagar, and Damoh, was its most illustrious king. The renowned Chouragarh Fort at Narsinghpur was constructed in recognition of this conquest of 52 forts.

His daughter-in-law Rani Durgavati, who was married to his son Dalpat Shah—or rather, to Sangram Shah, a Kachwaha Rajput by birth who would later become the legitimate successor to the Garha Mandla kingdom and a renowned warrior—would make his legacy even more illustrious.the brave Gond queen who resisted Emperor Akbar's demands for submission and fought until the bitter end. a real heroine who took control of the realm after her husband's passing and resisted the powerful Mughal army.

She was conceived by Shalivahan, the renowned for his strength and courage Chandela Rajput ruler of Mahoba. She was raised by Shalivahan with great care and received Rajput-style training after her mother died young. And at a young age, her father taught her how to ride a horse, go hunting, and use a weapon. She was a proficient hunter, markswoman, and archer who enjoyed going on adventures.

Durgavati was impressed with the Gond ruler Dalpat Shah after learning about his bravery and his exploits against the Mughals. He could be a Gond by birth, but his deeds make him a Kshatriya, Durgavati responded when her master pointed out that Dalpat Shah was a Gond. The Mughals feared Dalpat Shah because he held sway over the region that allowed them to travel to the South. Many other Rajput kings objected to Dalpat Shah's purchase of the alliance with Durgavati, claiming that he was a Gond. They were fully aware that Dalpat Shah was to blame if the Mughals were unable to reach the South. Shalivahan did not want Durgawati to marry Dalpat Shah because Dalpat Shah was not a Rajput.

He did accept Dalpat Shah, nevertheless, because of the promise he made to Durgavati's mother that he would let her select her life spouse. Finally, in 1542, Durgavati wed Dalpat Shah, cementing the connection between the Gonds and the Chandel kingdoms.In order to keep the Mughal emperors in check, a new alliance between the Chandelas and Gonds was forged.

Sadly, Dalpat Shah passed away soon after, in 1550, due to illness leaving Durgavati in charge of the empire. After her husband's death, Durgavati governed as a regent while her son, Bir Narayan, was still a juvenile. With the help of two ministers, Adhar Kayastha and Man Thakur, she successfully ruled the Gond kingdom. She moved her capital as a ruler to Chauragarh, a fort on the Satpuras that was crucial from a strategic standpoint.

She was a true leader and a successful ruler after the death of her husband the One third of the entire kingdom was ruled by her while the other two third she divided it into several small parts and appointed her trusted members who will work under her control. At that time there were around 70000 villages in the kingdom. Rani durgavati was helped by her 2 Minister named Adhar Kaystha and Man Thakur. Rani also moved her capital to chauragarh in a palace of singaurgarh it was a fort of strategic importance situated in Satpura Ring Hills.

Like her husband Dalpat Shah, Durgavati proved to be an able ruler, expanding the kingdom, looking after her subjects well. She had a large army with 20,000 cavalry, 1000 war elephants, large number of soldiers, which was well maintained. She also dug many reservoirs and tanks for the welfare of her people, one of the more well known one is near Jabalpur called Ranital.When the Sultan of Malwa, Baz Bahadur, tried to attack her kingdom, she fought back and forced him to retreat. So heavy was the loss faced by Baz Bahadur at hands of Durgavati, that he dared not attack her kingdom again.

In 1562, Akbar defeated Baz Bahadur, and took over Malwa, which now meant that Mughal empire was touching her kingdom. Lured by the prosperity of Gondwana, Akbar's subedar Abdul Majid Khan, wanted to invade and occupy it along with Malwa, which had already fallen to Mughals, Rewa too was captured and now only Gondwana was left.

Though her Diwan warned her against taking on the mighty Mughal Army, Rani Durgavati said she wud prefer death to surrender.She initially fought the Mughal Army at Narrai, flanked by the Narmada and Gaur rivers, and hilly ranges.hough the Mughal Army was superior to Durgavati's she led the defense, and fought back fiercely. Her fierce counter assault on the Mughal Army chased them out of the valley and she was successful initially.

Buoyed by success, Durgavati wanted to attack the Mughal Army in night, but the suggestion was not accepted by her lieutenants. And this meant she had to face the Mughal Army in open combat, which would prove to be fatal to her.Durgavati however refused to surrender, and with her son Vir Narayan, counter attacked the Mughal forces strongly, riding on her elephant Sarman.

Vir Narayan, himself led a fierce attack on the Mughals, making them retreat thrice, before he was wounded badly. Hit by arrows, bleeding, she realized that defeat was imminent against the Mughals. Disregarding her mahout's advice to flee from battle, Rani Durgavati, stabbed herself with a dagger on 24 June 1564. Her martyrdom day (24 June 1564) is even today commemorated as "Balidan Diwas", preferring death to surrender. Thus ended the life of a truly brave and remarkable lady.

Durgavati was also a patron of learning, respected scholars, encouraged building of temples, truly a great ruler. She was not just a brave warrior, but an able administrator too, who built lakes and reservoirs for benefit of her subjects.passed away physically, but her name lives on, especially in Jabalpur, where the University is named after her. She was a benevolent ruler, a caring mother, and a fierce warrior, who refused to surrender. A woman who was fiercely independent, be it in choosing her life partner, or refusing to surrender to the Mughals.