The Great Warrior Queen: Maharani Durgavati of Gondwana

Posted on November 14, 2016 Updated on November 14, 2016

Maharani Durgavati was born on 5th October 1524 to the famous Rajput Chandel Emperor Keerat Rai. She was married to Daalpat Shah of Gond Dynasty in 1542. Soon after, she gave birth to a son who was named Vir Narayan. However, Daalpat Shah died in 1550 and the Queen decided to rule the kingdom as heir Vir Narayan was only five years old.

Rani Durgavati ably ruled over her Kingdom with the help of two ministers Adhar Kayastha and Man Thakur. She shifted her capital to Chauragarh in place of Singaurgarh as a strategic initiative, since the fort was situated in the Satpura hill range.

Now, the Malwa region had been captured by Sujat Khan who was succeeded by his son Bajbahadur in 1556 A.D. Now Bajbahadur decided to attack Rani Durgavati’s kingdom in a bid to expand his own territory. However, he was defeated by the Queen and sustained heavy losses in the battle. The decisive win helped spread Rani Durgavati’s name and fame across kingdoms.

In 1562, Malwa was annexed by Akbar and the region came to be ruled by Mughal General Khwaja Abdul Majid Asaf Khan. As a part of Akbar’s expansion plans, the Mughal forces planned to invade the kingdom of Rani Durgavati.

Rani Durgavati knew that her small army was vastly outnumbered by the Mughal forces and the Mughal soldiers were well trained and carried modern weapons. However she decided to go ahead and fight the battle rather than accepting defeat and live in dishonour.

The Rani with her army took up a defensive position near Narrai (Madhya Pradesh). The valley was guarded by hills on one side and the rivers Narmada and Gaur on the other side. Even though, the Mughal forces attacked from both sides of the valley the Rani with her small army fought valiantly. Her leading general Faujdar Arjun Das was killed in the battle and she began to lead the battle herself. Soon after the Mughal soldiers were forced to retreat from the valley. Rani Durgavati was keen to attack the Mughals during the night, thus giving them no chance to recover the losses and turn around. However, her generals advised her against the move.

The next morning the battle commenced again and this time the Mughals had managed to bring forth their heavy artillery during the cover of the night. Vir Narayan, fought bravely and led his army to push back the Mughal forces thrice. However, he was gravely injured during the course of the battle and was taken away from the field.

The Rani, riding her elephant Samran began to lead the battle. Even though she fought with all her might, her forces and weapons were greatly outnumbered by the Mughals. She sustained heavy injuries from two arrows during the battle.

Rani Durgavati realized that defeat was imminent and she was advised to escape the battle. However, she preferred death and took out her dagger and killed herself.

She is regarded as a martyr who died defending her kingdom from the Mughals. The day, 24th June 1564 is celebrated as Balidan Divas. In 1983, University of Jabalpur was renamed as Rani Durgawati Viswavidalaya by government of Madhya Pradesh in her honour. A postal stamp was also issued by the Indian Government commemorating her death, on 24 June 1988.

Source: hinduhistory.info;  importantindia;  indiastudychannel.com;  encyclopedia.com