They defied patriarchy and battled the enemy leading their people from the front. Swarupa Dutt/Rediff remembers them.
She was the first and only female ruler to lead the Delhi Sultanate; minted coins in her name, challenged convention by wearing a man’s tunic and was known for a rule that focussed on education, justice and trade.
The queen of Jhansi was a pivotal figure in the First War of Independence in 1857. Known for her valour on the battlefield where she was killed by the British while defending her forces in Gwalior.
Was the senior wife and chief empress of Emperor Krishnadevaraya, the greatest ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire. She even accompanied him and fought beside him in battle.
The queen-regent of the Maratha Empire from 1700 until 1708, Tarabai was also the daughter-in-law of the kingdom's founder Shivaji I. She defeated Aurangzeb in several battles and expanded the Maratha kingdom.
The Kakatiya queen-regent, who reigned from 1262 to 1289, ruled large parts of present-day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. She strengthened the Warangal Fort and regained lost territory of the Kakatiyas.
A philosopher, benefactor and legendary queen of Malwa, she was known for her administrative skills, sense of justice, and welfare towards her people.
The begum of Awadh and second wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah (remember Satyajit Ray’s Shatranj ke Khiladi), she valiantly led the rebellion against the British East India Company in 1857.
Challenging the expansionist policies of the British she led an armed resistance against the British East India Company but died as their prisoner of war.