Indian history has long been seen through a male prism with the contribution of women rulers largely overlooked, but author Archana Garodia Gupta hopes to correct the imbalance with her recent book.
"The Women Who Ruled India: Leaders. Warriors. Icons." focuses on 20 women, some famous and others barely finding a mention in history books, who singlehandedly shaped the fates of their kingdoms.
Spotlighting the lives of women such as Nur Jehan and Ahiliya Bai Holkar, the book tells tales of valour, diplomacy, leadership and wit. All the women, with the exception of Mughal empress Nur Jehan, the wife of Jehangir, were those who ruled independently, "either as regents or titled rulers".
"The initial list I compiled was of about 100 women rulers. Many factors influenced my selection. One of course was the availability of information.
"While there have been many women who strongly influenced their husband's or sons, I have selected only those who ruled directly, either as regents, or in their own name. The sole exception is Nur Jahan, who ruled indirectly but was probably the single most powerful woman ruler in the world ever," the Delhi-based author told PTI.
Gupta is a leading national quizzer, who won BBC Mastermind India's 'Champion of Champions' title.
Gupta, who has also written a two-volume collection of The History of the India for children' (Vol 1 and Vol 2) said studying Indian history is like studying a continent with many countries
Many areas tend to get neglected. Women are neglected. (Then) There is a tendency to be Delhi-centric, and neglect the south and east I also feel we tend to dwell on our defeats more than our achievements," she said.
The result of her efforts is a 291-page book, a compendium of profiles of the legendary, the not so well known and those who rarely find a mention in any discussion.
The book is a pacy read, offering glimpses of fascinating lives peppered with anecdotes showcasing little-known facts.
So, there is a chapter on Begum Samru, a courtesan who went on to become the head of a mercenary Army and the ruler of Sardhana in 18th century northern India.
Readers can also learn about Didda of Kashmir, who ruled her kingdom for almost five decades from 958 CE onwards andwas known for her keen political instinct and a ruthlessness that spared no one. There's also Rani Abbakka of Ullal (near present day Mangalore), the 16th century fearless queen who took on Portuguese colonisers in their heyday.
Though tough to choose, Gupta said her favourite of the lot is Ahiliya Bai Holkar, queen of the Maratha Malwa kingdom.
"She well deserves the epithets of Rajayogi or philosopher queen used for her.
She made Indore the best governed state in the 18th century. She solved many problems through lateral thinking. Her approach to citizens rights was very modern and forward thinking. It is actually quite difficult to find any faults in her," she explained.
It also throws light on the queen who chopped off noses -- Rani Karnavati of Garhwal.
Karnavati, regent to the throne of hilly Garhwal, once famously fought and defied the mighty forces of Shah Jahan. She granted them their lives but with the condition that noses of all the enemy soldiers be cut-off, thereby earning her the moniker 'nak-kati' Rani.
But most important, Gupta says in her introduction to the book, the stories are not to be confused with hagiographies as they are presented "warts and all".
"... these women were not saints. They often made wrong decisions ... sometimes lied and cheated in their quest for power. But they were invariably courageous and intelligent.
"Above all, they were leaders. We will not hold women leaders up to impossible standards, different from the measures we use for men," she writes.
Of course, it only scratches the surface of a vast treasury of stories.
"The histories of many more women rulers wait to be told," reads the last line of the book's introduction.
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