Women with bravery and sacrifice...
Today, it's the first day of Navratri, where we worship all Goddesses from diff parts of India. India has been a land of #women_empowerment.
Through my story, I will walk you through some famous Hindu women from history, which will state that Santan Dharma was always progressive.
Veer Jijabai Bhosle
Jijau, the force behind Shivaji’s Hindavi Swaraj: Hindus were oppressed under the barbaric atrocities of Mughals in the north & Adil Shahs in the south.
But that did not deter Jijau who braved all this and blessed Shivaji Maharaj in all his endeavors for Hindu Rashtra.
Ahilyabai Holkar
The brave queen, Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar, regarded as one of the finest female rulers in Indian history. As a prominent ruler of the Malwa kingdom, she spread the message of dharma & promoted industrialization in the 18th century. She rebuilt thousands of temples across India.
Rani Laxmibai
The British had planned to conquer Jhansi. However Manikarnika, a fierce warrior leads a battle against them.
"Chamak uthi san sattavan mein, woh talwar purani thi, Bundele harbolon ke munh humne suni kahani thi, Khoob ladi mardani woh toh Jhansi wali rani thi".
Onake Obbava
During the reign of the last ruler of Chitradurga, the city was besieged by the troops of Hyder Ali ruler of Mysore state in the 18th century. Onake’s victory occurred during one of Ali’s many attempted sieges
Saving an eminent fort, she has become a symbol of Kannada's female pride.
Nayakuralu Nagamma
Argued to be one of the most powerful women in medieval India and the world. While bestowing upon her the label of ‘female pioneer’ is unquestionable.
As a minister in Palunadu, Nagamma rose to be considered as the world’s first woman minister & renowned statesperson.
Belawadi Mallamma
Queen of Lingayat community, fought with Maratha commander Raghunath Nedkar while defending her husband's kingdom. They arrested & took her to Shivaji.
He praised her & said "I made a mistake Ma..! Kindly forgive me, I don't want your kingdom", and released her.
Akka Mahadevi
900 years ago in what is now Karnataka, Mahadevi was a poet in Veerashaiva tradition, who worshipped Shiva.
She composed around 430 vachanas (poems), many of which reflect her ideas about home and marriage. In one, she said she abandoned home in pursuit of Shiva.
Bibi Dalair Kaur
Wajir Khan who was part of the Mughal Empire faced wid Bibi Dalair & her 100 armed women warriors. Khan yelled “Cowards, are you afraid of a woman"
Bibi responded, “We are hunters not hunted. Come forward & find out” Kaur & her army succeeded in killing many soldiers.
Rani Veeramangai Velu Nachiyar
queen Shivagangai kingdom—now Madurai, Tamil Nadu—from 1769 to 1790. She is celebrated by Tamilians as Veeramangai, or brave woman, an apt moniker, as Rani was the first female Indian ruler to successfully revolt and triumph against the British empire.
Rani Abbakka Chowta
Queen of Ullal, hailed as one of the first female freedom fighters of India and as being “the only woman in history to confront, fight and repeatedly defeat the Portuguese”. She defended the region for 4 decades in the latter half of the 16th century.
Queen Padmini
Hers is the story of beauty and bravery. Hers is a story of undefied defiance and honor.
Alauddin Khilji was enamored by her ethereal beauty. He then tried to acquire her for his harem. Queen Padmini, hundreds of women of Chittor had committed self-immolation in 1303.
Queen Karnavati
Years later, women of Chittor again had to face similar circumstances where they had to choose between life & honor; once again they chose to die instead of facing a disgraceful life.
It all happened in the year 1535 when Bahadur Shah of Gujarat attacked her kingdom.
Panna Dai
Maid of queen Karnavati, whom she entrusted with the safety of her son Udai Singh II, before committing mass suicide. For the battle of the throne, when the cousin of Prince Udai attacked, she spirited the young prince out of the castle, by placing her son Chandan in his place.
Uda Devi
the story traces back to battle in Sikandar Bagh in Lucknow in 1857. While thousands of soldiers were killed under orders of Colin Campbell, a sharpshooter hid atop a tree, fired at Britishers.
Only at end of battle did they discover it was a woman who was an undercover rebel.
Rani Avantibai
During the revolt of 1857, she successfully attacked Britishers & gained control of several territories. But her rule lasted four months.
Britishers were set to regain control with her efforts of reorganizing her army failing miserably. She died a tragic death.
Keladi Chennamma
Shivaji’s second son and he was on a run from the Mughals, she gave him shelter. Upon learning that she took Rajaram under her wing, Aurangzeb sent his men to fight her.
She fought heroically & defeated the Mughal army. Keladi got recognized as a separate kingdom.
Kittur Chennamma
kingdom of Kittur came under British. But Kittur Chennamma rebelled against Britishers. Her actions infuriated the British, who attacked Kittur. But she fought relentlessly & killed St John Thackeray, the collector & political agent of the EIC in South India.
Gaidinliu
Born in Manipur, Gaidinliu belonged to the Rongmei tribe. When she was just 13, she joined the Heraka movement led by her cousin, which sought to revive Naga tribal religion & resist conversion to Christianity. At age 17, she mobilized this movement against British rule
Pandita Ramabai
Daughter of Sanskrit scholar, Ramabai was born in Madras Presidency. At 19 when her parents died in 1877. She & her brother continued their parent's work, traveling & giving lectures. Her knowledge impressed pundits of Calcutta & earned her title of “Pandita”.
Anandibai Joshi
one of the first South Asian female physicians & first Indian female physicians, to be trained in Western medicine.
She was 1st female of Indian origin to study & graduate with a degree in medicine in the USA. She is also believed to be the 1st Hindu woman to set foot in the US.
This is just a small glimpse of the heroics of Hindu women from history, time & again our Hindu culture has continued to produce many avatars of Goddess Durga at various stages. On the occasion of Navratri, I bow in front of all brave Devis and I wish you all a