Durgavati
Encyclopedia
Rani Durgavati was born in the family of Rajput
Chandel Emperor Keerat Rai. She was born at the fort of Kalanjar
(Banda
, Uttar Pradesh
). The Chandel dynasty is known for the defence of King Vidyadhar who repulsed the Muslim attacks of Mahmud Ghaznavi. Keerat Rai's love for sculpture is shown in the temples of Khajuraho
and Kalanjar fort
. Rani Durgavati's achievements further enhanced the glory of her ancestral tradition of courage and patronage of the arts.
In 1542, she was married to Dalpat Shah, the eldest son of king Sangram Shah
of the Gond
dynasty. The Chandel
and Gond
dynasties became closer as a consequence of this marriage and was the reason Keerat Rai got the help of the Gonds and his son-in-law Dalpat Shah at the time of the Muslim invasion of Sher Shah Suri
in which Sher Shah died.
Rani Durgavati gave birth to a son in 1545 CE, who was named Vir Narayan. Dalpat Shah died in about 1550 CE. As Vir Narayan was too young at that time, Durgavati took the reins of the Gond
kingdom
in her hands. Deewan or Prime Minister Beohar Adhar Simha kayastha and minister Man Thakur helped the Rani in looking after the administration successfully and effectively. Durgavati moved her capital to Chauragarh in place of Singaurgarh. This was a fort of strategic importance situated on the Satpura hill range.
After the death of Sher Shah, Sujat Khan captured the Malwa zone and was succeeded by his son Baz Bahadur
in 1556 CE. After ascending to the throne, he attacked Rani Durgavati but the attack was repulsed with heavy losses to his army. This defeat effectively silenced Baz Bahadur
and the victory brought name and fame for Rani Durgavati.
In the year 1562 Akbar vanquished the Malwa ruler Baz Bahadur
and annexed the Malwa under Mughal
dominion. Consequently, the state boundary of Durgavati touched the Mughal Sultanate
.
Durgavati's contemporary was a Mughal
General, Khwaja Abdul Majid Asaf Khan, an ambitious man who vanquished Ramchandra, the ruler of Rewa
. The prosperity of Rani Durgavati's state lured him and he invaded after taking permission from Mughal
emperor Akbar.
When Durgavati heard about the attack by Asaf Khan she decided to defend her kingdom with all her might although her Deewan Beohar Adhar Simha pointed out the strength of the Mughal forces. Rani maintained that it was better to die respectably than to live a disgraceful life.
To fight a defensive battle, she went to Narrai, situated between a hilly range on one side and two rivers Gaur and Narmada on the other side. It was an unequal battle with trained soldiers and modern weapons in multitude on one side and a few untrained soldiers with old weapons on the other side. Her Faujdar Arjun Das was killed in the battle and Durgavati decided to lead the defence herself. As the enemy entered the valley, the soldiers of Durgavati attacked them. Both sides lost some men but Durgavati was victorious. She chased the Mughal army and came out of the valley.
At this stage Durgavati reviewed her strategy with her counselors. She wanted to attack the enemy in the night to enfeeble them but her lieutenants did not accept her suggestion. By next morning Asaf Khan had summoned big guns. Durgavati rode on her elephant Sarman and came for the battle. Her son Vir Narayan also took part in this battle. He forced Mughal army to move back three times but at last he got wounded and had to retire to a safe place. In the course of battle Durgavati also got injured near her ear with an arrow. Another arrow pierced her neck and she lost consciousness. On regaining consciousness she perceived that defeat was imminent. Her Mahout
advised her to leave the battlefield but she refused and took out her dagger and killed herself on June 24, 1564. Her death is celebrated in India as a "martyrdom day" on June 24. In the year 1983, the Government of Madhya Pradesh
renamed the University of Jabalpur as Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya in her memory. The Government of India paid its tribute to her by issuing a postal-stamp commemorating her death, on 24 June 1988.
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
Chandel Emperor Keerat Rai. She was born at the fort of Kalanjar
Kalinjar
Kalinjar is a fortress-city in the Bundelkhand region of central India. Kalinjar is located in Banda District of Uttar Pradesh state, near the temple-city and World Heritage Site of Khajuraho. The fortress is strategically located on an isolated rocky hill at the end the Vindhya Range, at an...
(Banda
Banda District
Banda district is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Banda is the district headquarters. It is a part of Chitrakoot Division.Banda is famous for its Shajar stone, used for making jewellery, and the historically and architecturally significant sites Khajuraho and Kalinjar. Khajuraho is...
, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
). The Chandel dynasty is known for the defence of King Vidyadhar who repulsed the Muslim attacks of Mahmud Ghaznavi. Keerat Rai's love for sculpture is shown in the temples of Khajuraho
Khajuraho
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments in Khajuraho , a town in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, located in Chhatarpur District, about southeast of New Delhi, are one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous for...
and Kalanjar fort
Kalinjar
Kalinjar is a fortress-city in the Bundelkhand region of central India. Kalinjar is located in Banda District of Uttar Pradesh state, near the temple-city and World Heritage Site of Khajuraho. The fortress is strategically located on an isolated rocky hill at the end the Vindhya Range, at an...
. Rani Durgavati's achievements further enhanced the glory of her ancestral tradition of courage and patronage of the arts.
In 1542, she was married to Dalpat Shah, the eldest son of king Sangram Shah
Sangram Shah
Sangram Shah belongs Raj Gond dynasty.He had established 52 Garh, so strangest the Gond Empire. The fort of Choura Garh/Chougan was constructed by Sangram Shah.He was a great administrator....
of the Gond
Gondi people
The Gondi, Goindi or Gond people are people in central India, spread over the states of Madhya Pradesh, eastern Maharashtra , Chhattisgarh, northern Andhra Pradesh, and Western Orissa. With over four million people, they are the largest tribe in Central India.The Gondi language is related to...
dynasty. The Chandel
Chandel
Chandela may refer to* Chandela, a Rajput clan in India* Chandel district, a district in Manipur, India* Suresh Chandel, Indian politician...
and Gond
Gondi people
The Gondi, Goindi or Gond people are people in central India, spread over the states of Madhya Pradesh, eastern Maharashtra , Chhattisgarh, northern Andhra Pradesh, and Western Orissa. With over four million people, they are the largest tribe in Central India.The Gondi language is related to...
dynasties became closer as a consequence of this marriage and was the reason Keerat Rai got the help of the Gonds and his son-in-law Dalpat Shah at the time of the Muslim invasion of Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri , birth name Farid Khan, also known as Sher Khan , was the founder of the short-lived Sur Empire in northern India, with its capital at Delhi, before its demise in the hands of the resurgent Mughal Empire...
in which Sher Shah died.
Rani Durgavati gave birth to a son in 1545 CE, who was named Vir Narayan. Dalpat Shah died in about 1550 CE. As Vir Narayan was too young at that time, Durgavati took the reins of the Gond
Gondi people
The Gondi, Goindi or Gond people are people in central India, spread over the states of Madhya Pradesh, eastern Maharashtra , Chhattisgarh, northern Andhra Pradesh, and Western Orissa. With over four million people, they are the largest tribe in Central India.The Gondi language is related to...
kingdom
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
in her hands. Deewan or Prime Minister Beohar Adhar Simha kayastha and minister Man Thakur helped the Rani in looking after the administration successfully and effectively. Durgavati moved her capital to Chauragarh in place of Singaurgarh. This was a fort of strategic importance situated on the Satpura hill range.
After the death of Sher Shah, Sujat Khan captured the Malwa zone and was succeeded by his son Baz Bahadur
Baz Bahadur
Miyan Bayezid Baz Bahadur was the last sultan of Malwa, who reigned from 1555 to 1562. He succeeded his father, Shuja'at Khan. He is known for his romantic liaison with Roopmati, a singer of Rajput birth....
in 1556 CE. After ascending to the throne, he attacked Rani Durgavati but the attack was repulsed with heavy losses to his army. This defeat effectively silenced Baz Bahadur
Baz Bahadur
Miyan Bayezid Baz Bahadur was the last sultan of Malwa, who reigned from 1555 to 1562. He succeeded his father, Shuja'at Khan. He is known for his romantic liaison with Roopmati, a singer of Rajput birth....
and the victory brought name and fame for Rani Durgavati.
In the year 1562 Akbar vanquished the Malwa ruler Baz Bahadur
Baz Bahadur
Miyan Bayezid Baz Bahadur was the last sultan of Malwa, who reigned from 1555 to 1562. He succeeded his father, Shuja'at Khan. He is known for his romantic liaison with Roopmati, a singer of Rajput birth....
and annexed the Malwa under Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
dominion. Consequently, the state boundary of Durgavati touched the Mughal Sultanate
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
.
Durgavati's contemporary was a Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
General, Khwaja Abdul Majid Asaf Khan, an ambitious man who vanquished Ramchandra, the ruler of Rewa
Rewa (princely state)
Rewa was a princely state of India, surrounding its eponymous capital, the town of Rewa.-Description:With an area of about 13,000 mi², Rewa was the largest princely state in the Bagelkhand Agency and the second largest in Central India Agency. The British political agent for Bagelkhand resided...
. The prosperity of Rani Durgavati's state lured him and he invaded after taking permission from Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
emperor Akbar.
When Durgavati heard about the attack by Asaf Khan she decided to defend her kingdom with all her might although her Deewan Beohar Adhar Simha pointed out the strength of the Mughal forces. Rani maintained that it was better to die respectably than to live a disgraceful life.
To fight a defensive battle, she went to Narrai, situated between a hilly range on one side and two rivers Gaur and Narmada on the other side. It was an unequal battle with trained soldiers and modern weapons in multitude on one side and a few untrained soldiers with old weapons on the other side. Her Faujdar Arjun Das was killed in the battle and Durgavati decided to lead the defence herself. As the enemy entered the valley, the soldiers of Durgavati attacked them. Both sides lost some men but Durgavati was victorious. She chased the Mughal army and came out of the valley.
At this stage Durgavati reviewed her strategy with her counselors. She wanted to attack the enemy in the night to enfeeble them but her lieutenants did not accept her suggestion. By next morning Asaf Khan had summoned big guns. Durgavati rode on her elephant Sarman and came for the battle. Her son Vir Narayan also took part in this battle. He forced Mughal army to move back three times but at last he got wounded and had to retire to a safe place. In the course of battle Durgavati also got injured near her ear with an arrow. Another arrow pierced her neck and she lost consciousness. On regaining consciousness she perceived that defeat was imminent. Her Mahout
Mahout
A mahout is a person who drives an elephant. The word mahout comes from the Hindi words mahaut and mahavat. Usually, a mahout starts as a boy in the 'family business' when he is assigned an elephant early in its life and they would be attached to each other throughout the elephant's life.The most...
advised her to leave the battlefield but she refused and took out her dagger and killed herself on June 24, 1564. Her death is celebrated in India as a "martyrdom day" on June 24. In the year 1983, the Government of Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
renamed the University of Jabalpur as Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya in her memory. The Government of India paid its tribute to her by issuing a postal-stamp commemorating her death, on 24 June 1988.