In Indian history, we can find thousands of examples of powerful, dynamic women leaders who shaped the destiny of this ancient land. But in the Middle and Early Modern age there were fewer examples; and even those who wielded power through their husband’s or son’s position had to navigate a minefield of social barriers. Among rulers of Central Asian and Turkish descent, this trend was even more restrictive. However, with the rise of the Marathas- a martial society in which members of all castes and classes were adept at war- and the egalitarian Sikhs, women began to wield more direct power. In Part 1 of this Women’s Day Special, we saw the stories of Rajmata Jijabai, Maharani Yesubai, Maharani Tarabai, and Peshwin Radhabai, who all played important roles in the foundation and expansion of the Maratha Empire. Continuing this narrative, we take a look at 4 more extraordinary women who played pivotal roles in history.
‘Sarsenapati’ Umabai Dabhade
Umabai was the daughter of Devrao Thoke Deshmukh of Abhone. Her marriage to Sardar Khanderao Dabhade brought her into the spotlight. Over a period from 1705 to 1716, the valiant Khanderao captured most of Gujarat from the Mughals. Proficient in warfare, Umabai managed their territory of Talegaon by herself and successfully defeated invading forces. Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath advised Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj to appoint Khanderao as Sarsenapati (Commander-in-Chief) of the Maratha Empire. In 1719, Sarsenapati Dabhade led the army to Delhi along with Peshwa Balaji and his son Bajirao; and forced the Mughals to formally accept Maratha independence.
In 1729, Khanderao passed away of illness, and Shahu Maharaj appointed his son Trimbakrao as the Commander. At this time, with a view to strengthening central power, Peshwa Bajirao asked Trimbakrao to share half of the revenue of Gujarat with the central treasury and formally bring it under central authority. However, Umabai viewed this as the Peshwa’s trick to take over their province, and advised her son to refuse. Negotiations failed; and sensing an opportunity, the Nizam of Hyderabad and Mughal officer Muhammad Bangash instigated Trimbakrao to rebel against Bajirao with their support.
The First Woman Commander-in-Chief in Indian History
This led to the Battle of Dabhoi between the Senapati and the Peshwa in 1731, during which Trimbakrao accidentally died of a stray bullet. Furious, Umabai and her deputy Gaekwad led an army to avenge him. The Chhatrapati then personally intervened to make peace between his two ministers. Umabai agreed to pay the revenue, and her younger son Yashwantrao was appointed Senapati. However, Yashwantrao was weak and addicted to opium; so Umabai herself administered Gujarat and carried out the duties of the Sarsenapati for over 20 years. She defeated the Mughals in a major battle in 1732. Hence, she has been hailed as the ‘first woman Commander-in-Chief in Indian history’.
However, she never actually paid the full agreed amount; and considering she was a widow who had lost her eldest son, Shahu Maharaj was hesitant to demand it from her. After his death, the Empire was facing financial troubles, so Peshwa Nanasaheb demanded the revenue she owed. She refused and allied with Maharani Tarabai who had seized power from her grandson the Chhatrapati. The armies of the two women attacked Pune while the Peshwa was away, but were resisted by his grandmother Radhabai. Nanasaheb returned and defeated Umabai’s army. Her deputy Damaji Gaekwad accepted the Peshwa’s terms and was made Subhedar of Gujarat, while the rebel Umabai and her family were stripped of their power and left with an empty title. In 1753, Umabai passed away, and with her ended the glory of the House of Sarsenapati Dabhade.
Subhedar ‘Devi’ Ahilyabai Holkar
Ahilyabai Holkar (1725-1795 CE) is one of the most revered figures in Indian history. Born to Mankoji Shinde, a prominent member of the Dhangar (shepherd) community, she learnt to read and write early, and was a great devotee of Shiva. When she was 8, the Subhedar of Malwa, Malharrao Holkar saw her feeding the poor in a temple. Impressed with her piety and intelligence, he wedded her to his son Khanderao. She grew up to take charge of the Holkar household; however, tragedy struck when her husband was killed in battle. Bereft of his son, Malharrao began to depend on Ahilyabai to administer and defend the province in his absence. After his death in 1765, her adolescent son Malerao became Subhedar while she effectively ruled as Regent, but even he passed away of illness in two years.
In those times it was custom for only male heirs to succeed to the family position; however, Ahilyabai petitioned the Peshwa to appoint her as the Subhedar. Despite opposition from many, the young Peshwa Madhavrao I recognizing her abilities, declared her as Subhedar of Malwa in her own right, rather than on behalf of a male family member. This decision would change the fortunes of Malwa!
Ahilyabai established a competent, progressive administration and appointed Tukojirao Holkar, a distant relation, as head of military. While Tukojirao worked with Mahadji Shinde and Peshwa Madhavrao to recapture Delhi and North India, Ahilyabai led armies against plundering raiders with four bows and quivers of arrows fitted to her elephant’s howdah. But it was with her intelligence and compassion that she cemented her position.
The Saintly Noblewoman
Building many forts and roads she promoted trade and made Maheshwar her capital, establishing a new textile industry of the famed Maheshwari sarees. She developed Indore into a major cultural and economic center where artists and merchants flourished under her patronage. She held audience every day, listening to and addressing her subjects’ problems. Realizing that the tribals raiding her territory were lacking income; she allotted some unoccupied hilly land for them to settle down, allowed them to collect a small tax from travelers, and their raids stopped! She also contributed to the construction and maintenance of hundreds of temples across India, building temples at some of the holiest Hindu sites like Kashi, Somnath, Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Rameshwar, Dwarka, and Jagannathpuri. Famously, she rebuilt the sacred Kashi Vishwanath Shiva temple (on an adjacent site), which had been destroyed and converted into a mosque by Aurangzeb over 100 years ago!
Through her words as well as actions, she spread the message of Dharma across India. One of the few women to rule directly in pre-British India, she created a peaceful and prosperous Central India in a turbulent era of the Maratha Empire. Today, she is seen as an embodiment of female capability and even worshipped in some places as ‘Devi’ or Saint for her noble work!
Rani Laxmibai
In 1818, the East India Company defeated the Maratha Empire in the 3rd Anglo-Maratha War. The British exiled Peshwa Bajirao II to Bithur (UP), abolished his Pune Seat, and reduced the Chhatrapati to a mere Raja of Satara. The Maratha Empire lost, and India came under British rule. As Bajirao II settled down in Bithur, he grew fond of little Manikarnika, daughter of his Brahmin clerk Moropant Tambe, and treated her as his own daughter. She learned reading, writing, as well as horseriding, swordplay, and archery with the Peshwa’s adopted son Nanasaheb II and their friend Tatya Tope. At this time, the local Sardars of the Maratha Empire had become titular Maharajas, but in reality were ruled by the British. 14-yr old Manikarnika married such a Maharaja, Gangadharrao Newalkar of Jhansi, and took the name Laxmibai.
She gave birth to a son who died in four months. The royal couple adopted a baby in 1853 and named him Damodar; but soon after, the Maharaja died. The infant became King and Laxmibai ruled as his Regent. However, the British applied the Doctrine of Lapse, which disinherited all adopted royal children and annexed Jhansi, ordering Laxmibai to vacate her palace. She famously cried out, “Meri Jhansi nahi doongi!” But by March 1854, the British, giving Rs 60000 annual pension, forced her to leave.
The Rebel Queen
In May 1857, the Sepoy Rebellion began and soon the fire spread everywhere. The rebels seized Jhansi Fort, massacred all Englishmen, and took a hefty ransom from Laxmibai to leave. With no British officers left, Laxmibai reassumed the government and fought off neighboring kingdoms trying to take advantage of the chaos. She repeatedly asked the British for reinforcements but none arrived; so she set up a foundry to cast cannons, and raised an army of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, men and women from all castes. Till January 1858, Jhansi was at peace under its Queen.
Then the British arrived and demanded surrender. Laxmibai refused, and the Siege of Jhansi began. She sent letters to Peshwa Nanasaheb II, Tatya Tope, and Nawab Ali Bahadur II (great-grandson of Bajirao I). Tatya Tope arrived with an army to rescue her, but a traitor let the British inside the fort. That night, Laxmibai jumped from the walls with Damodar at her back and joined Tatya; while her female lieutenant Jhalkaribai distracted the British in disguise. The rebels made their way to Gwalior, declared Nanasaheb II as Peshwa of a revived Maratha Empire, and swore to regain Swarajya.
However, against her advice the rebel leaders separated, and the British seized the opportunity to attack Gwalior. On 17 June, the British broke through Laxmibai’s army, slaughtering 8000 people. Laxmibai fought till the very end till, wounded and exhausted, she passed away in glory. Even the British couldn’t help but admire her, with Colonel Rose calling her ‘the most dangerous of all Indian leaders’. Rani Laxmibai became a symbol- of nationalism, independence, and the power and courage of women; inspiring all later freedom fighters. She will forever be immortalized as one of India’s greatest heroes, subject of statues, literature… and dreams.
Jhalkaribai
She had no title, no position or hereditary right. Neither was she a relative of anyone important. She came from a humble north Indian Dalit family, but achieved renown in Indian and Maratha history by her courage and sacrifice. She was Jhalkaribai.
Born to Sadoba Singh and Jamunadevi of the Kori community in Bhojla near Jhansi, Jhalkaribai received no formal education. However, she learned horseback riding, as well as handling weapon early on. She displayed great courage in childhood, killing a leopard with an axe and fighting off robbers in her village. She was married to Puran Singh, a great wrestler and soldier from Jhansi and during a festival, caught the eye of Rani Laxmibai, who observed how similar they looked. Finding out more about Jhalkaribai’s bravery, she inducted her into the women’s wing of her army. Soon, the Brahmin queen and the Dalit warrior lady struck up a friendship, and Puran Singh and Jhalkaribai became Laxmibai’s advisors.
In 1858, the British laid siege to Jhansi Fort. Laxmibai’s army fought a bloody battle for months, with Puran Singh as an infantry lieutenant and Jhalkaribai commanding cannons. However, a traitor let the British into the fort, and a massacre started. Laxmibai prepared to escape the fort so she could continue the rebellion; but Jhalkaribai knew it was difficult unless she distracted the British. Quickly, she dressed in Laxmibai’s clothes and battlegear; and led a contingent out in disguise. Seeing the Queen’s flag, the British focused on capturing Jhalkaribai, and the real Queen escaped!
Jhalkaribai fought bravely, but eventually had to sue for peace. Even then, acting as Laxmibai, she tried to keep the British engaged in peace talks for the next day, until a defected Jhansi soldier exposed her identity. The British were dumbfounded and awestruck by her courage. Her end is unclear; however, most sources say the British executed her there and then.
Today, she is celebrated as a symbol of empowerment- both for women as well as the oppressed castes-and lives on through numerous statues and stories, as well as a stamp. She was no queen, but remains a ruler of hearts in her native region.
Endnote
These were but a few examples of the intelligence, courage, strength, and sacrifice inherent to women. Without them, history itself is incomplete. If the purpose of learning history is to inspire, it is essential that we celebrate our historical heroines as much as our heroes; and continue on the path of equality and empowerment.
– Ashutosh Dixit
