Veerangana Rani Durgavati

Why in news?

• The Prime Minister performed bhoomi poojan of ‘Veerangana Rani Durgavati Smarak aur Udyaan‘ during the 500th birth anniversary of Rani Durgavati.

About Rani Durgavati

• Rani Durgavati (1524 – 1564) was the ruling Queen of Gondwana from 1550 until 1564. She was born in Mahoba’s Chandela dynasty. 
• She is chiefly remembered for defending her kingdom against the Mughal Empire.
• She was married to Dalpat Shah, the son of the Gond King Sangram Shah of the kingdom of Garha-Katanga. This kingdom is noted as one of the most powerful kingdoms of the Gond tribe.
• However, Dalpat Shah died in 1550 and due to the young age of their son, Durgavati took the reins of the Gondwana kingdom.

War with Mughals

• In 1562, Akbar conquered Malwa and made it a Mughal dominion. Consequently, the state boundary of the Rani touched the Mughal Empire.
• Rani’s contemporary was a Mughal General, Khwaja Abdul Majid Asaf Khan. The prosperity of Rani Durgavati’s state lured him, and he invaded Rani’s state after taking permission from the Mughal emperor Akbar.
• When Rani heard about the attack, she decided to defend her kingdom with all her might. She maintained that it was better to die respectfully than to live a disgraceful life.
• However, soon the Mughals fortified the area and overwhelmed the Gonds. While fighting them in battle, she is believed to have stabbed herself with her dagger to not surrender to the Mughal forces.

Recognitions and Honors

• In 1983, the Government of Madhya Pradesh renamed the University of Jabalpur as Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya in her memory.
• The government of India issued a postal stamp commemorating her death on 24 June 1988.
• The train between Jabalpur Junction and Jammutawi is known as Durgavati Express after the name of the Queen.
• Indian Coast Guard in 2018 commissioned ICGS Rani Durgavati, the third Inshore Patrol Vessel (IPV) of its kind.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following statements regarding Rani Durgavati:

1. She was a queen of Kakatiya Dynasty of Warangal.
2. She was a contemporary of Mughal Emperor Akbar

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer