Who was Rani Durgavati?

About Rani Durgavati:

• Rani Durgavati (1524-2024) was the descendant of the famous Chandela dynasty of Mahoba and the queen of the Gond kingdom of Garha-Katanga.
• She was born on 5th October 1524 A.D. in the family of famous Chandel emperor Keerat Rai.
  • The Chandel Dynasty is famous in Indian history for the valiant king Vidyadhar, who repulsed the attacks of Mehmood Gaznavi.
  • His love for sculptures is shown in the world famed temples of Khajuraho and Kalanjar Fort. 
• Rani Durgavati was born in Kalinjar (Banda, U.P.), one of the most important forts of medieval India.
• In 1542, she was married to Dalpatshah, the eldest son of King Sangramshah of the Gond Dynasty. Chandel and Gond dynasties got closer as a consequence of this marriage.
• She gave birth to a son in 1545 A.D. who was named Vir Narayan.
• Dalpatshah died in about 1550 A.D. As Vir Narayan was too young at that time, Durgavati took the reins of the Gond kingdom in her hands. 
• Two ministers, Adhar Kayastha and Man Thakur, helped the Rani in looking after the administration successfully and effectively. 
• Rani moved her capital to Chauragarh in place of Singaurgarh. It was a fort of strategic importance situated on the Satpura hill range.
• It is said that trade flourished during this period. Peole were prosperous.
• Like her husband’s predecessors, she extended her territory and accomplished the political unification of Gondwana, also called Garha-Katanga, with courage, generosity, and tact.
• She distinguished herself as a warrior and fought with unvarying success against BazBahadur, the Sultan of Malwa.
• In the year 1562, Akbar vanquished the Malwa ruler Baj Bahadur and annexed the Malwa with Mughal dominion. Consequently, the state boundary of Rani touched the Mughal kingdom.
• She is chiefly remembered fordefending Gondwana against the Mughal Empire. She took on the might of the Mughal Empire with great courage and leadership.
• Though she finally faced defeat at the hands of the Mughal army, she is remembered as a warrior in blood and spirit.

Q1: What is the Gond Dynasty?

The Gond dynasty arose in the Gondwana region of central India around the 13th century CE. Their influence spread from eastern Madhya Pradesh to western Odisha and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. They governed four major kingdoms: Garha-Mandla, Deogarh, Chanda, and Kherla. The Gond rulers held power between the 16th and 18th centuries in present-day Madhya Pradesh.

Source: Madhya Pradesh Cabinet gives nod to Rs 100 crore memorial for Rani Durgavati in Jabalpu