8 lesser-known but yet powerful women in Indian history you should know about
8 lesser-known but yet powerful women in Indian history you should know about
The contributions of women in Indian history have long remained overshadowed and underrepresented. Yet, history is rich with women who were warriors, reformers, activists, poets, writers, saints, historians, and astronomers—figures who have been systematically pushed to the margins or even vilified.
Velu Nachiyar, a queen of Sivaganga in Tamil Nadu, is recognised as one of the first female rulers to challenge British colonialism. She allied with Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan to fight the British and reclaim her kingdom. She was born on January 3, 1730 to the Raja and Rani of the Ramnad kingdom. Velu was the princess of Ramanathapuram and the only child of Raja Chellamuthu Vijayaragunatha Sethupathy and Rani Sakandhimuthal of the Ramnad kingdom.
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Bibi Dalair Kaur was a 17th-century Sikh woman who fought against the Mughals. She rallied 100 female Sikhs against them. She was killed and is considered to be a martyr among Sikhs, screamed the Moghul soldiers, with their heads down, one hand on the horse reins, one hand wielding a mighty sword, they charged up the hill, determined to smash the fortress gates this time. A thousand arrows and bullets rained down from the over the high fortress walls. It was useless, they couldn't penetrate AnandPur, the Khalsa fort.
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Rani Rudrama Devi was one of the greatest rulers of the Kakatiyas, and a great queen in Indian history. She was the daughter of Ganapati Deva, her real name was 'Rudramba', as he had no male heir, he raised her like a son, and gave her the name of Rudrama Deva. She ascended the throne somewhere in 1296 AD, however, many of the feudatories revolted against her, not willing to accept a woman sitting on the throne. At the same time the Pandyas captured Nellore, while the Gajapati ruler Narasimha I invaded Vengi.
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Chand Bibi was a warrior from the Deccan region. She acted as a regent ruler of Bijapur Sultanate during 1580-90, under Ibrahim Adil Shah 2nd and the Ahmednagar Sultanate during 1595-1600, under Bahadur Shah. She is famous for successfully defending Ahmednagar from the Mughal forces of Akbar in 1595.
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Onake Obavva was an untrained woman of fights who could turn the tide if the situation demanded. Being the female pride of Karnataka and the whole country, Onake Obavva’s name is always included among the most daring, fearless champions ever. She was born on November 11. The Karnataka government took up the initiative to celebrate Onake Obavva Jayanti from 2021. Recently, PM Narendra Modi also remembered Obavva for her good deeds and described her as a symbol of Nari Shakti.
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Matangini Hazra was 73 when she was shot down by British bullets while leading a protest in 1942 in Tamluk, Bengal. With the Indian flag held high in her hands, Matangini continued to march forward, chanting "Vande Mataram." The British soldiers fired at her, but she did not stop. Even after being hit, she kept moving, flag in hand, until a bullet finally brought her down.
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Jhalkari Bai was born on November 22, 1830, in Bhojla village near Jhansi. She grew up to become a soldier and one of Rani Lakshmibai’s trusted advisors. It is believed that she learnt horse riding, the art of weaponry and to fight like a warrior at a very young age. She also learnt archery, wrestling and shooting from her husband, Puran Kori. Puran Kori was a soldier in the army of Raja Gangadhar Rao the husband of Rani Lakshmibai.
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Savitribai Phule, a social reformer, educationist, and poet, along with her husband Jyotirao Phule, played a pivotal role in advancing women's education and challenging the caste system in 19th-century India. She set up the first school for girls in India. Phule was a trailblazer in providing education for girls and for the ostracised portions of society. She became the first female teacher in India (1848) and opened a school for girls with her spouse.
