Category Great Womens

“Only two sons of mine have gone to jail, but twenty thousand sons of Mother India are in jail. How can I bemoan my fate?” said Kasturba Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi highlights Kasturba’s selfless devotion in his autobiography. She led a simple life. Kasturba toured various states, spreading the message of freedom and Swadeshi. She called upon women to take to khadi, and practice spinning. Her words came from the heart, and influenced the masses. Kasturba had to sacrifice her family life as her husband was frequently in jail. At the time of the Dandi March, Stree Swarajya Sangh was formed. This was headed by Kasturba and Mithu Ben. They led the boycott of foreign clothes and the picketing of liquor shops. Kasturba was arrested several times. On February 24th, 1944 Kasturba passed away in prison wearing the khadi sari spun by Mahatma Gandhi.

At the age of fourteen, Laxmi Bai was married to Gangadhar Rao, the Raja of Jhansi. When Gangadhar Rao died, Lord Dalhousie ordered the Rani to hand over to them the reins of Jhansi. “I will not give my Jhansi”, said Laxmi Bai. Jhansi witnessed an uprising against the British on June 5th, 1857.

The Rani was an inspirational leader, and the people fought for her. She bravely proclaimed that her reign had begun. However, the British forces led by Sir Hugh Rose laid siege to Jhansi. The Rani defended Jhansi with all her might, but the British broke through. Rani Laxmi Bai escaped with a band of soldiers and joined other revolutionary leaders at Kalpi. They took Gwalior as the Rani fought in a man’s dress at the head of fifty horsemen. The Rani died heroically while defending Gwalior against the British.

        Noorjahan was a brave beauty. She was born Meherunnisa, to Mirza Giyas Beg who went on to become the Diwan of Kabul. Meherunnisa was well educated and excelled in painting. She married Sher Afgan, a royal. However, he was killed, and Meherunnisa was appointed lady in waiting at Akbar’s court.

         Jahangir, the son of Akbar fell in love with Meherunnisa and married her in 1611. Jahangir led a life of ease and luxury. Meherunnisa’s influence grew by the day. Jahangir bestowed on her the title Noor Mahal, meaning light of the palace. Later he gave her the title Noorjahan, or light of the world. She would sit in the balcony of her palace and the nobles would listen to her orders. Coins were minted in her name. Noorjahan was a highly cultured and kind hearted lady. She was buried beside her husband in a mausoleum erected by her. 

As a young girl, Raziya studied the science of war. Impressed by her ability, her father IItumish, the Sultan of Delhi made her his heir. However, after the death of IItumish, the nobles enthroned his irresponsible son Ruknuddin. Raziya overthrew Ruknuddin with the help of the nobles, and became Sultan of Delhi. The governors of Badaun, Multan, Hansi, and Lahore laid siege to her fort. Raziya cleverly won over two of the generals, and the rest fled. Raziya was an able ruler. Her kingdom extended from Sindh in the west, to Bengal in the east. She appointed non-Turks to high posts. The Turkish noblemen rose in revolt. Kabir Khan, the governor of Lahore was the first to do so. Raziya attacked him suddenly, and put him behind bars. However, she lost a heroic battle at Delhi and was beheaded. Raziya Sultan was the first woman to ascend the throne of Delhi.

Benazir Bhutto was a prime minister’s daughter. Following the 1977 elections, her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was arrested and hanged. Benazir, though under house arrest, found herself the head of the Pakistan People’s Party. In 1984, she was allowed to travel to England. Two years later, martial law was lifted in Pakistan, and Benazir returned to a rousing welcome by hundreds of thousands of people, at the Lahore airport. In 1988, the dictator Zia-ul-Haq announced elections. Making light of her advanced pregnancy, Bhutto campaigned for 15 hours a day. Her party won a majority with the support of smaller parties. Benazir became the youngest, and the first woman Prime Minister to lead a Muslim nation in modern times. She lost the elections in 1990, but won the 1993 elections. However, her government was dismissed in 1996. On 27th December, 2007 Benazir Bhutto was assassinated at a pre-election rally in Rawalpindi.

On August 15th, 1975 Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, the founder of independent Bangladesh, and his family were assassinated by military officers. Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Mujibur Rehman escaped, as she was in West Germany at the time. Sheikh Hasina was elected leader of the Awami League in 1981, while in exile. She was elected as the leader of the opposition in 1986 and 1991. Sheikh Hasina won the 1996 parliamentary election, and took oath as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She won the 2008 parliamentary elections and is currently the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.