Category: Biography Story

Prithviraj III famously known as Prithviraj Chauhan or Rai Pithora was one of the greatest Rajput rulers who ever lived. He is the famous ruler of the Chauhan dynasty who ruled the Sapada Baksha which is a traditional Chahamana territory. He controlled the present-day Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana,  Madhya Pradesh, and some parts of Punjab. Even though he had kept Ajmer as his capital, many folk legends describe him as the king of India’s political center Delhi.

 

Personal Life 

Prithviraj Chauhan fell in love with a woman named Sanyukta, she was the daughter of the king of Kannauj whose name was Raja Jaichand. The king of kannauj didn’t like this and he didn’t want Prithviraj to marry his daughter so he arranged a ‘swayamvara’ for her. He invited all the princes except Prithviraj. He didn’t invite him to insult Prithviraj but Sanyukta rejected all other princes and later fled with Prithviraj to Delhi, where they married later.

Prithviraj Chauhan Against the Muslim Ghurid Dynasty 

Prithviraj Chauhan is widely known as a warrior king who bravely resisted the Muslim ruler, Muhammad of Ghor, the ruler of the Muslim Ghurid dynasty with all his might. In 1192 CE, Prithviraj was defeated by Ghurids at the second battle of Tarain and later he was executed after his defeat. His defeat at the second battle of Tarain is considered to be a landmark event in the Islamic conquest of India.

Basic Information

• Prithviraj Chauhan Full Name: Prithviraja III

• Prithviraj Chauhan was also known as: Rai Pithora

• Father’s Name: Someshvara

• Important Battles: Battles of Tarain

Prithviraj Chauhan Birth 

According to the famous eulogistic Sanskrit poem, Prithviraj Chauhan was born on the twelfth day of Jyeshtha, which is the second month in the Hindu Calendar which corresponds to May -June of the Gregorian calendar. Prithviraj Chauhan’s father’s name was Someshvara who was the king of Chahamana and his mother was queen Karpuradevi, a Kalachuri princess. ‘Prithviraj Vijaya’, is a Sanskrit epic poem on the life of Prithviraj Chauhan and it does not talk about the exact year of his birth but it does talk about the certain planetary positions at the time of Prithviraj’s birth. The description of the described planetary position helped Indian Indologist, Dasharatha Sharma to estimate the year of Prithviraj Chauhan’s birth which is believed to be 1166 CE.

Prithviraj Chauhan Early Life and Qualifications

Prithviraj Chauhan and his younger brother were both brought up in Gujarat, where his father Someshvara was brought up by his maternal relatives. Prithviraj Chauhan was educated well. It states that he had mastered six languages. Prithviraj Raso went on and claimed that Prithviraj had learned 14 languages which seems to be an exaggeration. Prithviraj Raso also has claimed that he had mastered many subjects such as mathematics, Medicine, History, military, defense, painting, theology, and philosophy too. The text also claims that Prithviraj Chauhan was also good at archery. Both the text also claims that Prithviraj from a younger age had an interest in warfare and hence was able to learn the difficult military skills quickly. 

Prithviraj Chauhan Coming to Power

After the death of Prithviraj II, Someshvara the father of Prithviraj Chauhan was crowned as the king of Chahamana and Prithviraj was only 11 years old when the entire incident happened. In the year 1177 CE, Someshvara passed away which led 11 years old Prithviraj Chauhan to ascend the throne in the same year with his mother as the regent. At the early age of his rule as the king, Prithviraj Chauhan’s mother managed the administration which was assisted by the regency council.

Early Reign of Prithviraj Chauhan and his Important Ministers

During his early years as the young king, Prithviraj was assisted by a couple of loyal ministers who assisted him in running the kingdom. 

• The chief minister during this period was Kadambavasa who was also known as Kaimasa or Kailash. In the folk legends, He was described as an able minister and a soldier who devoted his life to the young king’s progress. Prithviraj Vijaya also states that Kadambavasa was responsible for all the military victories during the early years of Prithviraj’s reign. According to Prithviraja-Prabandha a man by the name Pratapa-Simha conspired against the minister and fully convinced Prithviraj Chauhan to believe that the minister was responsible for the repeated Muslim invasions that took place on his kingdom. This caused Prithviraj Chauhan to execute the minister later on. 

• Another important minister who is mentioned in the ‘Prithviraja Vijaya’ is Bhuvanaikamalla who was the paternal uncle of Prithviraj’s mother. According to the poem, he was a very capable general who served Prithviraj Chauhan. The ancient text also states that Bhuvanaikamalla was also a very good painter.

Prithviraj Chauhan assumed the actual control of the administration in the year 1180 CE. 

Prithviraj Chauhan’s Conflict with Nagarjuna

Prithviraj Chauhan took complete control in the year 1180 CE and soon he was challenged by many Hindu rulers who tried to capture the Chahamana dynasty. The first military achievement of Prithviraj Chauhan was on his cousin Nagarjuna. Nagarjuna was the son of Prithviraj Chauhan’s uncle Vigraharaja IV who revolted against the coronation of him on the throne. Prithviraj Chauhan showed his military supremacy by retaking Gudapura which Nagarjuna had captured. It was among the earliest military achievements of Prithviraj.

Prithviraj Chauhan’s Conflict with Bhadanakas

After completely defeating his cousin, Prithviraj then went on and then captured the neighboring kingdom of the Bhadanakas in the year of 1182 CE. The Bhadanakas was an unknown dynasty that controlled the area around Bayana. Bhadanakas always was a threat to the Chahamana dynasty for capturing the area around Delhi which was under the Chahamana dynasty. Seeing the rise of the future threat Prithviraj Chauhan decided to destroy the Bhadanakas completely.

Prithviraj Chauhan’s Conflict with  Chandelas

Between the years of 1182-83 CE, The Madanpur inscriptions from Prithviraj’s reign claimed that he had defeated the Jejakabhukti which was ruled by Chandela king Paramardi. After the Chandala king was defeated by the Prithviraj, it caused many rulers to form a hate relationship with him as a result of which an alliance was formed between Chandelas and Gahadavalas. The combined Chandelas-Gahadavalas army had attacked the Prithviraj’s camp but was soon defeated. The alliance was broken and both the kings were executed a few days after the war. The Kharatara-Gachchha-Pattavali has mentioned that a peace treaty was signed in the year  1187 CE between Prithviraj Chauhan and Bhima II who was the king of Gujarat. A peace treaty was signed to end the war that both the kingdoms had with each other in the past. 

Prithviraj Chauhan’s Conflict with  Gahadavalas

According to the legends of Prithviraja Vijaya, Prithviraj Chauhan also came into conflict with the most powerful king of the Gahadavala kingdom, Jayachandra. Prithviraj Chauhan had run away with the daughter of Jayachandra, Samyogita which led to a rivalry between the two kings. The incident has been mentioned in popular legends such as Prithviraja Vijaya, Ain-i-Akbari, and Surjana-Charita but many historians believe that the legends may be false. 

Reign Of Prithviraj

Prithviraj’s father died in a battle in 1179 CE after which Prithviraj became the king. He ruled both Ajmer and Delhi and once he became the king, he initiated various operations to expand his kingdom. He first started capturing the small States of Rajasthan and did successfully conquer each of those. After that, he attacked the Chandelas of Khajuraho and Mahoba and defeated them. He launched a campaign on the Chalukyas of Gujarat in 1182 CE which resulted in a war that went on for years. He was finally defeated by Bhima 11 in 1187 CE. Prithviraj also attacked the Gahadavalas of kannauj. He didn’t indulge himself politically with other neighboring states and isolated himself even though he was successful in expanding his kingdom. 

Important Battles

Prithviraj Chauhan fought many battles in his life and was a very famous ruler of his time but there are some battles that are very famous. In the 12th century, the Muslim dynasties had done many raids on the northwestern areas of the subcontinent due to which, they were able to capture most of that part. One such dynasty was the Ghurid dynasty, whose ruler Muhammad of Ghor crossed the Indus river to capture Multan which was an earlier part of the Chahamana kingdom. Ghor controlled the western territories which were part of Prithviraj’s kingdom. 

Muhammad Ghor now wanted to expand his kingdom to the east which was controlled by Prithviraj Chauhan. This led to many battles between the two. These two, i.e, Prithviraj and Muhammad of Ghor are said to have fought many battles, but shreds of evidence are for only two of those. Which were known as the battles of Tarain. 

The First Battle Of Tarain

This battle, the first battle of Tarain, began in the year 1190 CE. Before this battle started Muhammad Ghor had captured Tabarhinda which was a part of Chahamana. The news reached the ears of Prithviraj and he was very furious. He launched a campaign towards that place. Ghor after capturing Tabarhindah had decided that he would go back to his base but when he heard about Prithviraj’s attack, he decided to hold his army and put up a fight. The two armies clashed and there were many casualties. Prithviraj’s army defeated the army of Ghor, which resulted in Ghor being injured but he somehow escaped.

The Second Battle Of Tarain 

Once,  Prithviraj defeated Muhammad Ghor, in the first battle of Tarain, he had no intentions of fighting him again as with time, the first battle was merely a frontier fight for him. He underestimated Muhammad Muhammad Ghor and never thought that he would have to fight him again. It is said that Muhammad Ghor attacked Prithviraj at night and he was able to deceive his army. Prithviraj didn’t have many Hindu allies but despite his army being weak, he put up a good fight. He was finally defeated by Ghor in the second battle of Tarain and Muhammad Ghor was able to capture Chahamana. 

Death 

This is important to note that it is not clear when actually he died and how. Many medieval sources suggest that Prithviraj was taken to Ajmer by Muhammad of Ghor where he was kept as a Ghurid vassal. After sometimes Prithviraj Chauhan rebelled against Muhammad of Ghor and was later killed for treason. This theory is supported by the ‘horse-and-bullman’-style coins which have the name of Prithviraj on one side and the “Muhammad bin Sam” name on another. The exact reason for the death of Prithviraj Chauhan varies from one source to another.

 A Muslim historian, Hasan Nizami states that Prithviraj Chauhan was caught conspiring against Muhammad of Ghor which allowed the king to behead him. The historian has not described the exact nature of the conspiracy.

According to Prithviraja-Prabandha, Prithviraj Chauhan has kept the building which was close to the court and was close to the room of Muhammad of Ghor. Prithviraj Chauhan was planning to kill Muhammad and had asked his minister Pratapasimha to provide him with a bow and arrows. Minister did fulfill his wish and provided the weapons to him but also informed Muhammad about the secret plan which Prithviraj had been plotting to kill him. Prithviraj Chauhan was then later taken captive and was thrown into a pit where he was stoned to death. 

According to Hammira Mahakavya, Prithviraj Chauhan after his defeat had refused to eat which ultimately led to his death. Various other sources state that Prithviraj Chauhan was killed immediately after his death. According to Prithviraj Raso, Prithviraj was taken to Ghazna and was blinded and later on killed in the prison. According to ‘Viruddha-Vidhi Vidhvansa,’ Prithviraj Chauhan was killed immediately after the battle. 

Conclusion 

R. B. Singh and historians state that at its peak Prithviraj Chauhan’s empire extended from the foothills of Himalayan in the North till Mount Abu in the South. His empire extended from the Betwa River to the Sutlej river when we consider East to West. If we include the present day, the empire of Prithviraj Chauhan had Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab. Prithviraj Chauhan is largely portrayed as the greatest Hindu king as he was successful in keeping the Mulsim invaders at the bay for many years. Prithviraj Chauhan was the symbol of Indian power before the beginning of the Islamic rulers in medieval India.

He is called the man of the masses, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who served as the Prime Minister of India for three terms, is undoubtedly a man of remarkable stature. Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s date of birth is 25th December 1924. He had a commendable life that spanned over a period of over nine decades. In this Atal Bihari Vajpayee biography, we will look into some of his greatest achievements, early life, career and his role in the upliftment of the nation and more. 

Childhood and Early Life

Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s place of birth was Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. He was born to Krishna Bihari Vajpayee and Krishna Devi in a Hindu Brahmin family. After finishing his schooling from Saraswati Shisu Mandir and Anglo-Vernacular Middle (AVM) School in Barnagar, Ujjain, Atal went on to attend Gwalior’s Victoria College where he completed his BA in English, Sanskrit and Hindi. He then pursued and completed his postgraduate studies in Political Science from DAV College in Kanpur. He then went to pursue law but then gave it up owing to the partition riots of 1947. 

Career

Atal was an active member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, initially joining as a volunteer or Swayamseval to rising to the ranks of a ‘vistarak’ (a probationary full-time worker). He worked for several newspapers – Panchjanya (a weekly Hindi), Rashtra Dharma (a monthly Hindi), and the Swadesh and Veer Arjun (dailies) as a vistarak in Uttar Pradesh.

Vajpayee’s first stint with national politics started as early as 1942, during the time of the Quit India Movement, which eventually brought an end to the British’s colonial rule in India. He had embarked upon the career of being a journalist but was unable to pursue it further as he joined the erstwhile Bharatiya Janata Sangh, which ultimately went on to shape the present-day Bharatiya Janata Party. 

He was initially appointed as the national secretary of the party and was made in charge of the northern region, which was based in Delhi. Following the demise of Deendayal Upadhyaya, Atal was made the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Sangh and became its president in the year 1968. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a man of eloquent oratorical skills, which he utilised for brilliantly defending the Sangh’s policies. 

In terms of his national political career, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had been elected to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of the Parliament) nine times and twice to the Rajya Sabha (or the upper house of the Parliament). He is thus regarded as a veteran Parliamentarian. 

History as Prime Minister

Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s history as the Prime Minister of India is also quite remarkable. He served as the country’s Prime Minister for three terms. In the year 1996, he was sworn in as the 10th Prime Minister of India. However, when the Bharatiya Janata Party failed to form a majority in the Lok Sabha, Vajpayee resigned just after a period of 16 days as it became evident that he did not have the support necessary to form a government. 

His second term as a Prime Minister began after the 1998 general elections that resulted in the formation of the National Democratic Alliance. This Atal Bihari Vajpayee led government lasted for a total of 13 months. 

The third and final term of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s lasted for the full 5-year period starting from 1999 to 2004. Since Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the only candidate to have become Prime Minister of India with 2 successive mandates.

Contributions

Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee had made a number of remarkable contributions to the development of the country. He served not only as the Prime Minister of India but also as it Foreign Minister and Chairperson of various important Standing Committees of Parliament. He had also been an active Leader of the Opposition. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has thus played a significant role in shaping up domestic and foreign policies of independent India. 

He was also a true advocate of social equality and an ardent champion of empowerment for women. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee believed in an India that is anchored in 5000 years of civilisational history but as modernising, renewing and rejuvenating itself to meet the challenges that lay ahead in the years to come. 

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was mainly considered a pragmatist but when criticised for testing nuclear weapons in the year 1998, he assumed a non-deterring defiant posture. He also played a key role in making dedicated efforts to resolve the long running feud between Pakistan and India over the region of Kashmir. Given his inspiring leadership, India was able to achieve steady growth in the economy and soon paved the way for the nation to become a leader in the information technology sector. 

Political Disintegration

In spite of its numerous achievements, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee led government was not entirely lacking in drawbacks. The economically less viable section of the Indian society often felt left out in the path towards economic growth. The Vajpayee led government was also heavily criticised for its cumbersome response to the Gujarat riots that occurred in 2002. Starting the year 2000 his government also started the divestment of public funds from a number of industries that were run by the state. In the 2004 Parliamentary elections, the Vajpayee led coalition was defeated and he announced retirement from active politics in December 2005. 

Personal Life

Atal Bihari Vajpayee never got married and remained a bachelor his entire life. He, instead, adopted the daughter of his long time friend, Rajkumari Kaul and Prof B. N. Kaul. His adoptive daughter was Namita Bhattacharya and the family lived with him. He breathed his last on 16th August 2018. 

Achievements

Besides political aspirations, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was also a noted poet. He wrote poems in Hindi. Among his renowned works include, Kaidi Kaviraj Ki Kundalian, a collection of poems that he had composed during imprisonment at the time of 1975–77 emergency, and ‘Amar aag hai’. 

Recognising his selfless dedication towards the country, which he calls his first and only love, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, in 2014. He devoted more than 50 years of his life in service to society and the nation. He was named as the ‘Best Parliamentarian’ in the year 1994.

Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee not only proved himself to be an eminent national leader but was also an erudite politician and a devout social worker. His many skills made him a multi-faceted personality. His works echo his commitment to nationalism where he laid efforts to articulate the aspirations of the masses. 

Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi, a notable woman in the history of The Indian politics, the Iron Lady, was the first woman prime minister of India. She was an icon of the Indian National Congress. Indira Gandhi father, Jawaharlal Nehru, was the very first Prime Minister of India to support Mahatma Gandhi in the fight for independence. Indira Gandhi was the second prime minister to serve for a longer period of time, first from 1966 to 1977 and second from 1980 to her death in 1984. From 1947 to 1964, she continued as Chief of Staff in the Jawaharlal Nehru administration, which was highly integrated. In 1959, she was elected president of the Congress.

Indira Gandhi, as Prime Minister, was seen as ferocious, weak and extraordinary with the centralization of power. From 1975 to 1977, she placed an emergency in the country to suppress the political opposition. India gained popularity in South Asia with major economic, military and political changes under her leadership. Indira Gandhi was elected by the India Today Magazine in 2001 as the world’s greatest Prime Minister. In 1999, BBC called her the “Woman of the Millennium.”

Birth and Education

Born on November 19, 1917, Indira Gandhi family was an illustrious family. She was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru. Indira Gandhi Education was at prime institutions like Ecole Nouvelle, Bex, Ecole Internationale, Geneva, Pupils’ Own School, Poona and Bombay, Badminton School, Bristol, Vishwa Bharati, Shantiniketan and Somerville College, Oxford. A number of universities worldwide awarded her honorary doctoral degree. She also received a Citation of Distinction from Columbia University with an outstanding academic record. Smt. Indira Gandhi was deeply involved in the fight for independence. In her childhood, she established the ‘Bal Charkha Sangh’ and also in 1930 the ‘Vanar Sena’ of kids to assist the Congress Party in the Non-Cooperation Movement. She was arrested in September 1942 and served in the riot-affected areas of Delhi with Gandhi’s supervision in 1947.

Marriage and Political Journey

Indira Gandhi Husband was Feroze Gandhi. On 26 March 1942, she married him and had two children. In 1955, she became a member of the working committee for the Congress and the Party’s central election. She was appointed to the Central Parliamentary Congress Board in 1958. She was Chairman, National Council Integration for A.I.C.C. and President, All India Youth Congress, Women’s Department, 1956. In 1959 she was President of the Indian National Congress, serving until 1960 and from January 1978 again.

She was Information and Broadcasting Minister (1964- 1966). From January 1966 through March 1977, she held the highest office as Indian Prime Minister. At the same time, from September 1967 until March 1977, she was Minister of Atomic Energy. From 5 September 1967 to 14 February 1969, she was additionally appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From June 1970 to November 1973, Gandhi headed the Ministry of Home Affairs and from June 1972 to March 1977 was Minister of Space. She was President of the Planning Commission from January 1980. From 14 January 1980, she again presided over the Prime Minister’s Office.

Organisations and Institutions

Indira Gandhi has been affiliated with a number of organizations and institutions, such as Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital, Gandhi Smarak Nidhi and Kasturba Gandhi Memorial Trust. She was the Swaraj Bhavan Trust Chairman. In 1955, Bal Sahyog, Bal Bhavan Board and the Children’s National Museum were also affiliated with her.   In Allahabad, she established Kamala Nehru Vidyalaya. During 1966-77, she was also linked to several major institutions including the University of Jawaharlal Nehru and the North-Eastern University. She was also a member of the Delhi University Court, the Indian Delegation to UNESCO (1960-64), a member of the Executive Board of UNESCO from 1960-64 and a member of the National Defense Council from 1962. She has also been involved with the Sangeet Natak Academy, the National Integration Council, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society and the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund.

In August 1964, Indira Gandhi also became a Rajya Sabha member and served until February 1967. During the fourth, fifth and sixth sessions, she was a Lok Sabha member. In January 1980, she was elected to the Seventh Lok Sabha, from Rae Bareli (U.P.) and Medak (Andhra Pradesh). She preferred the Medak seat to be held and gave up the Rae Bareli seat. In 1967-77 and again in January 1980, she was appointed as the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

Achievements

To her credit, she had many achievements. In 1972, she was the receiver of Bharat Ratna, Mexican Academy Award for Liberation of Bangladesh (1972), FAO’s 2nd Annual Medal (1973) and Nagari Pracharini Sabha’s Sahitya Vachaspati (Hindi) in 1976.  In 1953, Gandhi was also awarded the Mothers’ Award, U.S.A., the Italian Islbella d’Este Award for excellent diplomatic work, and the Howland Memorial Prize from Yale University. According to a poll by the French Institute of Public Opinion, she was the woman most respected by the French for two years, in 1967 and 1968. She was the world’s most respected female in 1971, according to a special Gallup Poll Survey in the U.S.A. She was awarded Diploma of Honour by the Argentine Society in the year 1971 for the Protection of Animals.

Indira Gandhi Death

Indira Gandhi, the Iron Lady of India, died in 1984 on October 31. She was killed by two of her bodyguards. Her words, spoken at a public rally in Bhubaneswar just the previous day, had become prophetic. Indira Gandhi was reading from a speech prepared by her information advisor, HY Sharada Prasad. For a few moments, by removing the script written, Indira Gandhi talked about the chances of a tragic end to her life. She said, “I’m here today, and maybe tomorrow I won’t be here. Nobody knows how many attempts to shoot me have been made. If I live or die, I do not care. I’ve lived a long life, and I’m proud that I’ve spent my entire life helping my country.”

Conclusion

Indira Gandhi History is perhaps one of the most popular Indian leaders in the world. She was India’s first and only female Prime Minister, in addition to being the daughter of one of the founding fathers of the country, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Internationally, her strong presence helped to develop India’s place as an emerging global superpower. At the time of her tenure, she was dubbed ‘The Iron Lady of India’ by many. She was praised as a ‘goddess’ by many political leaders after leading India to victory in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, with Atal Bihari Vajpayee naming her ‘Goddess Durga’ in particular. Her tenure was not short of controversy, for all her successes. 

Her declaration of a national emergency, which resulted in a ban on the press and media, received criticism from many; from the governments of the people and the opposition. While aimed at removing Sikh extremists from a shrine, Operation Blue Star was a highly contentious problem and was eventually seen as the cause of her death in 1984. Nonetheless, as one of India’s greatest Prime Ministers, she leaves behind a legacy. After her assassination, Indira Gandhi was succeeded by her mother, Rajiv Gandhi.

We know about Gandhi, Nehru, Bhagat Singh in our study of the Indian Freedom struggle movement.

When it comes to women, we only speak about Rani Laxmibai’s contribution to the revolution of 1857. However, other women freedom fighters contributed heavily to the Indian Independence Movement.

Amongst the women who contributed to the independence of India, Sarojini Naidu is an underrated name.

Sarojini Naidu was not only a freedom fighter but also one of the eminent women poets of India.

She is also given the title of ‘Nightingale of India’.

Early Life and Education

Naidu was born in Hyderabad on the 13th of February 1879 to eminent linguist Aghornath Chattopadhyay and his wife Barada Sundari Devi, a Bengali poetess. Her father was also one of the first members of the Indian National Congress in Hyderabad. 

Sarojini Naidu was an intelligent student who showed fluency in Urdu, Telugu, English, Bengali, and Persian. 

At the age of 12, she received fame by topping the matriculation exams of Madras University. This leads her to receive a scholarship from the Nizam of Hyderabad to study abroad.

Naidu was interested in writing poetry, while her father wanted her to be a mathematician.

Sarojini went to study in England where she met famous literary laureates such as Edmond Goose and Arthur Symons. Goose suggested that Naidu should use Indian themes in her poetry work. 

Naidu expressed the life and events of modern India through her poetry. Her works- ‘The Golden Threshold’ (1905), ‘The Bird of Time’ (1912), and ‘The Broken Wing’ (1917) found readership in both India and England.

Sarojini Naidu had an intercaste marriage with Dr. Muthyala Govindarajulu Naidu, a South Indian doctor under the  Brahmo Marriage Act (1872)

Contribution in the Indian Independence Struggle

Naidu became part of the independence movement by showcasing her oratory skills. She advocated for women’s rights and their empowerment. 

As the partition of Bengal began in 1905, she connected with eminent leaders of the Indian National Congress.

Between 1915-1918, she excelled in delivering her oratory skills about the social welfare of women. She encouraged women to step out of their homes and fight for the independence of the country.

In 1917, Naidu accompanied Annie Beasant, the president of the Home Rule to advocate for women’s suffrage in front of the Joint Select Committee in London. She also showed support for the Lucknow Pact, a joint Hindu-Muslim demand for British better political reform.

The same year, Naidu joined Gandhi’s satyagraha and non-violent movement.

In 1919, Naidu also joined the non-cooperation movement as a part of her advocacy against British rule. 

Naidu also became the first Indian female president of the Indian National Congress in 1925.

She was also responsible for persuading Gandhi to let women join the Salt March in 1930.

In 1931, Sarojini Naidu joined the Round Table Conference in London under the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. She was, however, jailed in 1932.

For her involvement in the Quit India Movement, Naidu faced imprisonment in 1941.

After India’s independence in 1947, Naidu became the first governor of Uttar Pradesh. She retained office till her death in 1949.

Sarojini Naidu has been memorialized at the University of Hyderabad’s Golden Threshold.

In 1990, the Asteroid 5647 Sarojini Naidu, discovered by Eleanor Helin at Palomar Observatory and was named in her memory.

Sarojini Naidu has been one of the most prominent female literary laureates and freedom fighters who encouraged women to participate in politics in India.

More About Sarojini Naidu

Sarojini Naidu was a child prodigy, freedom fighter, and poet, who is known as the Nightingale of India (Bharatiya Kokila). She was the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress and the first woman Governor of Uttar Pradesh,  India’s fourth-largest state. 

As such, although her name is not as well recognised as that of the female Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, she led the way for women in Indian politics. After the arrests of Gandhi, Abbas Tyabji, and Kasturba Gandhi, she was instrumental in the Indian Independence Movement, joining Mahatma Gandhi in the Salt March to Dandi and then leading the Dharasana Satyagraha. She was a wife and a mother as well. In India, Women’s Day is celebrated on her birthday.

Sarojini Naidu Information

Sarojini Naidu Birthday – February 13th, 1879

Sarojini Naidu Birthplace – Hyderabad, India

Sarojini Naidu Husband Name – Govindarajulu Naidu

Sarojini Naidu Death Date – March 2nd, 1949

Sarojini Naidu Death Cause – Cardiac arrest

The Early Life of Sarojini Naidu

Sarojini Naidu’s birthplace was Hyderabad, India. She was the eldest daughter of Aghornath Chattopadhyaya, a scientist, philosopher, and educator, and Varada Sundari Devi, a Bengali poet. Her father was the founder of Nizam College, Hyderabad and, with his friend Mulla Abdul Qayyum, was also the first member of the Indian National Congress in Hyderabad. 

The family heritage of Chattopadhyaya was that of the Brahman class, originally from Bengal. In retribution for his political actions, he was later removed from his position as principal and even exiled. Urdu, Telugu, English, Persian, and Bengali were studied by Sarojini Naidu. P.B. Shelley was her favourite author.

At the age of twelve, she gained national renown for joining Madras University. She moved to England at sixteen, first to study at King’s College London and then at Girton College, Cambridge. She was associated with the Suffragette movement while in England. In England, too, the poets Arthur Simon and Edmond Gausse urged her to explore Indian themes in her prose, such as the landscape of India, her temples, and her people. In 1905, her first poetry book, The Golden Threshold, appeared.

Her poems featured daily scenes of Indian life, often taken from the streets and markets, so her poetry was inhabited by snake charmers and beggars and bangle sellers. It was in 1905, in protest over the partition of Bengal, that she joined the Indian National Congress. She was a strong advocate of the rights of women, a proponent of education for all, and of the unity of Hindu-Muslims.

About Sarojini Naidu Family

She met Dr. Muthyala Govindarajulu Naidu at the age of 17, while still in England, and fell in love with him. He belonged to Andhra Pradesh. A very happy one was her marriage. They were married in 1898 in Madras. Jayasurya, Padmaja, Randheer, and Leelamani had four children. Even though Govindarajulu was a non-Brahman, the marriage was blessed by her kin (rare at this time).

A noted Indian activist, Virendranath Chattopadhyaya, was Naidu’s brother. Virendranath was instrumental in forming the Berlin Committee during World War I and was one of the leading figures of the Hindu German Scheme, a conspiracy to spur an anti-British, pro-German rebellion in India. He later became committed to Communism, moving to Soviet Russia where, on Joseph Stalin’s orders in 1937, he is believed to have been executed. Harindranath, another brother, was an actor.

Sarojini Naidu Freedom Fighter

In the aftermath of the 1905 partition of Bengal, she joined the Indian independence movement. Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Rabindranath Tagore, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Annie Besant, C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, Mohandas Gandhi, and Jawaharlal Nehru were in touch with Sarojini between 1903-17. She lectured on youth welfare, labour dignity, women’s emancipation, and nationalism in India from 1915 to 1918.

To advocate for the female franchise, she helped create the Women’s Indian Association (WIA) (1917). On December 15, that year, she led a women’s delegation to meet with the British Secretary of State for India, who was visiting India, asking for women’s rights and a vote. Women were waking up to their civic obligations, the delegation told the Minister.

At the special session of the Indian National Congress that met in Bombay in August 1918, she spoke about women’s rights. She accompanied Annie Besant, President of the WIA, in May 1918 to present the case for the women’s vote to the Joint Select Committee in London debating Indian constitutional reforms, where they told the MPs that “powerful, unified and ready to change society” were Indian women.

After meeting Jawaharlal Nehru in 1916, she took up the cause of the Chappel Head Indigo workers as well. The British government passed the Rowlatt Act in March 1919, in which the possession of seditious papers was considered illegal. To protest, Mohandas Gandhi initiated the Non-Cooperation Movement and Naidu was the first to join the movement the government was trying to suppress.

In July 1919, Naidu became the ambassador of the Home Rule League to England, where the Government of India Act (1919) was passed, which constituted a legislative assembly, but with a limited number of 93 elected delegates (with 42 appointed and an upper house of 34 elected and 26 appointed members). It did not give a vote to women. She returned to India in July 1920, and Mahatma Gandhi announced the Non-Cooperation Movement on August 1. In January 1924, at the East African Indian Congress, she was one of the two delegates to the Indian National Congress. As a supporter of the needs of the dispersed Indian populations, she travelled across East and South Africa.

Sarojini Naidu as President of Congress

In 1925, eight years after Anie Bessant was elected, Sarojini Naidu was elected as the first Indian woman to serve as the President of the Indian National Congress. This place was a strong one. It is unlikely that at this point, apart from Regnant Queens, any other woman has achieved such a significant political role.

To support the cause of India’s independence, Naidu visited New York in October 1928. She also shared concerns about the unequal treatment of African-Americans and Amerindians while there. She became a member of the Congress Working Committee upon her return to India. The National Congress declared its independence from the British Empire on January 26, 1930.

Mohandas Gandhi was apprehended on May 5. Shortly thereafter, Naidu was arrested and was in custody for several months. She was released on January 31, 1931, along with Gandhi. They were arrested again later that year. Owing to her ill health, Naidu was finally released and Gandhi was released in 1933. In 1931, along with Gandhi and Pandit Malaviyaji, she participated in the Round Table Summit in London. In 1942, she was arrested and remained with Gandhiji in jail for 21 months during the “Quit India” movement.

Sarojini Naidu Works

In 1905, The Golden Threshold was published as the first volume of her book of poems. There were two additional volumes published: The Bird of Time (1912) and The Broken Wing (1917), which also included ‘The Gift of India’.

In 1919, she published the autobiography of Muhammad Jinnah, and in 1943, The Sceptred Flute: Songs of India along with Allahabad: Kitabistan was posthumously published.

In 1961, she published ‘The Feather of the Dawn’ which was edited by her daughter Padmaja Naidu. ‘The Indian Weavers’ was published in 1971. Her poetry had beautiful words which could be sung as well which led to her being called the nightingale of India.

Sarojini Naidu Awards and Honors

The British government awarded Naidu the Kaisar-i-Hind Medal for her work during the plague epidemic in India, which she later returned to protest over the massacre of Jallianwala Bagh in April 1919.

The Birthday of Naidu, i.e. 13 February, is celebrated as Women’s Day to remember the strong voices of women in the history of India.

Directed by Bhagwan Das Garga and produced by the Films Division of the Government of India, Sarojini Naidu (1960) is a documentary film about her life.

Sarojini Naidu was granted the title of “Nightingale of India” for her work in the field of poetry writing.

With a Google Doodle, Google India commemorated Naidu’s 135th birth anniversary in 2014. Sarojini Naidu was among the “150 Leading Figures”.

Conclusion 

This is all about the biography of Sarojini Naidu, the nightingale of India. Her spectacular life and courage make her the role model of Indian women. We study her contributions to India’s struggle for independence and worship her as one of the founders of the true India. 

On June 10, 1921, Prince Philip was born on the Greek island of Corfu. Philip and his family were expelled from their own land as members of Greek and Danish nobility when he was a child, and the lad spent the rest of his life in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Before Queen Elizabeth II’s ascent to the British throne in 1952, Philip married her. Prince Charles, the heir presumptive to the throne, as well as Anne, Andrew, and Edward, are among their offspring. For more than six decades, Philip was the British royal consort.

Prince Philip Information

Tenure: 6 February 1952 – 9 April 2021

Born: Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark; 10 June 1921

Died: 9 April 2021 (philip mountbatten age 99)

Burial: 17 April 2021

Spouse: Elizabeth II ​(m. 1947)​

House: Glücksburg (until 1947); Mountbatten (from 1947)

Father: Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark

Mother: Princess Alice of Battenberg

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Early Life

King Constantine I of Greece, Philip’s uncle, was compelled to quit the throne on September 22, 1922. The military government detained Prince Andrew, and a revolutionary court expelled him from Greece for the remainder of his life in December. Philip’s family immigrated to France, settling in the Saint-Cloud district of Paris. Philip’s mother was finally committed to a psychiatric facility, whereas his father moved to the south of France, keeping only sporadic touch with the entire family.

Before being moved to the Cheam School in the United Kingdom, Philip completed the MacJannet American School. In during 1930s, he transferred to a school in Germany, subsequently back to Scotland’s Gordonstoun School, which was built by Jewish headmaster Kurt Hahn after the Nazi party rose to power. Almost all Philip’s relatives, notably his sisters that married into German aristocratic circles, stayed in Germany.

Philip went on to the Royal Naval College following graduating in 1939, where he excelled. He participated in the British Navy during World War II, whereas in-law family members fought on the opposing conflict’s Axis side.

Mother, prince philip siblings and Family Tree

Prince Philip, Earl of Merioneth, Duke of Edinburgh, and Baron Greenwich, also recognised as Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, has been the only son of Princess Alice of Battenberg and Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark.  Cecilie, Sophie, Margarita, and Theodora were his four older sisters.

Philip Mountbatten has family relationships to England, although not being British. His maternal grandfather, Prince Louis of Battenberg, passed away in London shortly after his birth. During World War I, Louis became a naturalised British citizen after renouncing his German honors and adopting the surname Mountbatten. As a descendant of Queen Victoria, Philip had also been linked to the British royal family.

Marriage to Queen Elizabeth II

The Royal Naval College was visited by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (Queen Mother Elizabeth) in 1939. King Philip uk accompanied his two little philip mountbatten children, named Elizabeth and Margaret, through Queen Victoria, who would have been distant cousins of Philip’s. During the trip, Elizabeth, who was 13 at the time, got a crush on Philip. Elizabeth and Philip began writing letters to each other, that they would do for the next many years.

After purportedly proposing to Elizabeth first, Philip sought King George for his daughter’s hand in marriage in the summer of 1946. The king agreed on the condition that any official engagement be postponed until Elizabeth turned 21. To prepare for the declaration, Philip gave up his Greek and Danish royal titles, acquired his mother’s surname Mountbatten, converted to Anglicanism, and became a British subject.

On July 10, 1947, Philip and Elizabeth confirmed their relationship and engagement to the public. On November 20, 1947, they married at Westminster Abbey in a ceremony that was aired live across the world on radio. Philip was made Earl of Merioneth, Duke of Edinburgh, and Baron Greenwich on the morning of the wedding.

Charles, Andrew, Anne, and Edward were his four children with Elizabeth. Their oldest child, Prince Charles, is the heir presumptive to the throne. On February 6, 1952, King George expired, leaving Elizabeth as his heir. While travelling in Kenya, Philip and Elizabeth learned of his death. The topic of the royal house’s title arose with Elizabeth’s accession to the throne. Elizabeth declared that the monarchy will remain to be recognized as the House of Windsor, a title initially adopted by her grandfather George V, on the recommendation of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Official Activities and Family Affairs

Philip was the queen’s consort for over six decades, accompanying her on official responsibilities and public appearances all around the world. He also contributed to the work of a number of organisations, with a preference for those concerned with athletics, environment, and education. In the mid-1950s, Philip established the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which focused on youth success. He was a polo player until 1971, and he also engaged in carriage and boat racing, as well as oil painting, piloting aeroplanes, and art collecting.

Philip was noted for his outspoken temperament and inflammatory words, although mainly avoiding personal troubles. In 2011, the Daily Mirror posted a series of “90 legendary gaffes” ascribed to Philip over the years in honour of his 90th birthday. Philip interjected himself into personal connections within his family, which often resulted in conflict. He put a lot of pressure on his son Charles to marry or divorce Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. Philip and the queen allegedly attempted for reconciliation after their subsequent marriage became problematic.

When Princess Diana died in a vehicle accident in 1997, Philip attended her funeral, participating in the procession alongside his grandsons William and Harry. Mohamed Al-Fayed accused Philip of becoming a racist that engineered the vehicle accident that killed Mohamed’s son, Dodi Fayed, and Diana months later. However, an official investigation found no proof of collusion, and the disaster was considered an accident.

Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren:

Prince William, Peter Phillips, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice, Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor, Princess Eugenie, and James, Viscount Severn are Prince Philip’s eight grandchildren. Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, and Archie were among his ten great-grandchildren.

Health Issues

Philip had exploratory abdominal surgery in early June 2013, just days before his 92nd birthday, after earlier dealing with maladies including a clogged coronary artery and a bladder infection. After spending more than a week in the London Clinic, he was launched on June 17. For his decades of royal service, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott knighted Philip in the Order of Australia in early 2015. Philip, the longest-serving royal consort in British history, declared in May 2017 that he would retire from development and progress and the engagements of the public in the summer. He was admitted to the hospital again a month later with an illness, but had been claimed to be in “excellent spirits.”

Philip was taken to King Edward VII Hospital in London for hip replacement surgery in April 2018, after missing the regular Maundy and Easter ceremonies. The operation went well, and the prince was released from the hospital after eight days.

Philip was taken to a London hospital in February 2021 as a “precautionary measure” after feeling unwell. He was transported to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London two weeks later, “where doctors will keep treating him for an infection, and also conduct tests and surveillance for a pre-existing heart issue,” according to the hospital. On March 3, he had a “successful” operation for his cardiac problem.

Death

Philip died at Windsor Castle on the morning of April 9, 2021. He was 99 years old at the time. On Saturday, April 17, he was laid to rest at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. Due to COVID-19, only 30 members of the royal family were there, who remained socially separated and wore masks. 

Philip’s casket had been taken to the church in the back of a custom Land Rover, rather than a typical hearse, as he requested. His nautical cap, a sword given to him by his father-in-law, a flag signifying his Greek and Danish origins, and flowers chosen by the queen were placed on top of the casket, along with a letter she allegedly signed with her nickname, “Lilibet.” In the half-mile parade from Windsor Castle to St. George’s Chapel, members of the royal family, notably King Philip’s children and a few of his grandsons, walked behind the Land Rover.

Aurangzeb’s full name was Muḥī al-Dīn Muḥammad. He was the third son of the Fifth emperor of the Mughal dynasty, Shah Jahan. His mother was Mumtaz Mahal. He was born on November 3, 1618, in Dhod, Malwa, India. He was the sixth emperor of the Mughal dynasty and under him, the empire rose to its greater heights. Aurangzeb was given the title of Alamgir which means conqueror of the world. Aurangzeb was considered to be the most ruthless leader who went on to create a “golden age” of Indian civilization. 

Aurangzeb was the sixth ruler of the Mughal empire who ruled over the entire Indian subcontinent for 49 years. He was an orthodox religious Sunni Muslim ruler and was a very good administrator. He compiled the Fatawa-e-Alamgiri and established Sharia law and Islamic economics throughout the Indian subcontinent. He is praised throughout history for being the most accomplished military leader but he is also considered to be the most controversial one. Aurangzeb ruled the Mughal empire from 1658 to 1707 and he died on March 3, 1707 Bhingar, Ahmednagar, India.

Basic Information about Aurangazeb

Aurangzeb Full Name: Muḥī al-Dīn Muḥammad

Aurangzeb Date of Birth: November 3, 1618

Aurangzeb Date of Death: March 3, 1707

Age (At the Time of Death): 88 

Aurangzeb’s  Early Life 

Aurangzeb was the third son of the fifth Mughal emperor, Shahjahan. His mother was Mumtaz mahal who later in Shahjahan’s life inspired him to build the famous Taj mahal. Aurangzeb’s full name was Muḥī al-Dīn Muḥammad and he was born on November 3, 1618, in Dhod, Malwa, India. He was a very serious-minded child as he grew up. H was a devoted Sunni Muslim who was very orthodox in nature. Earlier in his life, Aurangzeb developed military and administrative abilities. These qualities of him were admired by many people in the kingdom. These qualities along with the taste of power brought him into a rivalry with his elder brother for the throne of the Mughal empire. 

When Shahjahan fell seriously ill in 1657, the race for the succession of the throne began and Shah Jahan favoured his elder son Dara, but many advisors of the kingdom saw him as unworthy as he was too worldly. Aurangzeb, a much more committed son than his elder brother was favoured by people. The tension rose between the two brothers for the succession of the Mughal empire and it seemed that war was inevitable. Aurangzeb showed struggle for power in between the period of 1657 to 1659 and during this period Aurangzeb showed ruthless determination, great powers of dissimulation, and excellent tactical and strategic military skills against his brother Dara for the throne. With plan and strategy, Aurangzeb defeated Dara at Samudarh in May 1658. While the war was going on between the two brothers Shahjahan recovered and was again on the throne but as Aurangzeb defeated his brother he confined his father in his own palace at Agra. After coming to power Aurangzeb caused one brother to die and had two other brothers, a son and a nephew executed. 

Aurangzeb Rule

Aurangzeb’s 49 years of reign is known as the longest reign in Mughal Empire. Aurangzeb ruled the Mughal empire from 1658 to 1707 and his reign fell into almost two equal parts. The first part lasted until 1680. He was a monarch and a religious Sunni Muslim who was generally disliked for his ruthlessness but was feared and respected because of his exceptional military and administrative skills. During the early days of his rule, he safeguarded the northwest from the Persians and central Asian Turks and also had a conflict with the Maratha Chief Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. he had stolen the great port of Surat twice in 1664 and in 1670 from Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb followed his great grandfather’s tactics of conquest which were to defeat the enemy, reconcile them and place them in imperial service. And so Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was defeated and was called for reconciliation in 1667 but he flew away and later died in 16680 as the independent ruler of the Maratha Kingdom. 

After the year 1680, there was a change in the attitude and the policies with which the Mughal empire ran. Aurangzeb, being an orthodox Muslim ruler replaced the seasoned statement of the mixed kingdom. Hindus were colleagues during previous rulers’ reign but now under Aurangzeb, they were subordinates. The first sign of change in the way the kingdom ran was the reimposition of a poll tax or jizya on non-Muslims in 1679. In the past, the tax was abolished by Akbar. This led to religious tension in the kingdom which led to many Hindus serving the emperor but were never loyal to him. Because of this, there was a Rajput revolt against the Mughal emperor in 1681. The war with Marathas started in 1687 and soon his son Sambhaji was captured and executed in 1689 and his kingdom was also taken. After the death of Sambhaji, the Marathas fled towards the south and were inactive for some time. Aurangzeb then went on and captured forts of the Maratha hill country. 

Aurangzeb then went on and expanded the Mughal empire in both south and north but his military campaigns and the religious intolerance he showed towards people annoyed many of his subjects. He started losing control of the administration in the north to and as the matter worsened the empire became over-extended and Aurangzeb imposed higher taxes on the agricultural lands in order to pay for the wars. 

The agricultural revolt of the Sikh began as he started taking additional taxes on the land. Many Sikhs revolted in Punjab and in 1675 he executed the Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur, who refused to work under his name. Guru Govind Singh, the new leader of the revolt, was an open rebellion for the rest of Aurangzeb’s reign. 

In general, Aurangzeb was considered to be very ruthless and a militant orthodox Sunni Muslim. He forcefully tried to make his beliefs and morals be accepted by his subject which led to many revolts and in the end his fall. 

Aurangzeb maintained the empire for half a century and he also started extending the territory in the south and came as far as Tanjore and Trichinopoly. While Aurangzeb was busy expanding the territory in the south, the Marathas drained all imperial resources in the North. The rebellion started by the Sikhs and the jat also added extra pressure in the north. Aurangzeb’s orthodox religious behaviour and the imposition of religious policies towards the Hindu rulers seriously damaged the stability of the Mughal Empire.

Death of Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb was 88 years old when he died in central India on March 3, 1707. He died of natural causes, those being terminal illnesses that had gotten to him. His 49-year-old reign came to an end without him declaring a crown prince which eventually led his three sons, Bahadur Shah I, Muhammad Azam Shah, and Muhammad Kam Baksh to fight amongst each other for the vacant throne. When he died the Mughal empire was at its breaking point as it was filled with the many rebellions who were against him and his beliefs. Under his son, Bahadur Shah 1 the Mughal empire slowly started declining and finally ended with British rule when the last Mughal emperor was sent into exile in 1858. 

Legacy of Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb is considered to be “The last Great Mughal emperor” and he ruled it for 49 years. Many critics say that his ruthlessness and religious behaviour made him unsuitable to rule the mixed population in his empire. The imposition of the sharia and jizya religious taxes on non-muslim and the doubling of the custom duties on Hindus and the destruction of temples caused the birth of a religious rebellion against him which led to his fall.