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In Indian history, we
find only a few women actively participating
in government affairs. In the early
medieval Muslim period Razia was a solitarywoman
who conducted the affairs of government
for a short time but she suffered early
death mainly because of the weakness
of her sex. During the Mughal period
the inmates of the Emperor's harem lived
in seclusion excepting Nur Jahan. And
in later times, Rani of Jhansi flashed
into prominence for a while, during
the uprising of 1857. But, strange enough.
the short span of Sikh history is replete
with the remarkable role of Sikh women
of princely families. Guru Nanak had
preached quality and respect for womenfolk
and the Guru's observations in favour
of women went a long way in getting
them an honourble status and share in
the various fields of life.
The Sikh ranis (queens) as and when
an occasion arose, actively participated
in state affairs. They occasionally
took charge of state administration
and their contribution. to the Sikh
polity as rulers. regents, administrators
and advisers has been creditable indeed.
"The Sikh ladies ruled with vigour
and diplomacy," says General Gordon
In the words of William Francklin,
"Instances indeed, have not unfrequently
occurred, in which they (women) have
actually taken up arms to defend their
habitations, from the desultory attacks
of the enemy, and throughout the contest,
behaved themselves with an intrepidity
of spirit, highly praiseworthy
To quote Griffin, the Sikh women "have
on occasions shown themselves the equals
of men in wisdom and administrative
ability." Usually the dowager ranis
were up to commendable works. A passing
reference of the role of some of them
towards the end of the eighteenth century
and in the first half of the nineteenth
century may not be out of place here.
Rani Sada Kaur, widow of Sardar Gurbakhsh
Singh Kanaihya and mother-in-law of
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was well versed
in the affairs of the state and commanded
her soldiers in the battle-field. She
was a very shrewd lady with a thorough
grasp of statecraft. Mai Desan, the
widow of Charhat Singh Sukarchakia,
was a great administrator, an experienced
and a wise diplomat who conducted the
civil and military affairs dexterously.
Rattan Kaur, the widow of Tara Singh
Ghaiba, was a brave and an able lady
who kept the Lahore Durbar forces at
bay for a sufficient time till the gate-keepers
were bribed by the Lahore army. Mai
Sukhan, the widow of Gulab Singh Bhangi,
strongly defended the town of Amritsar
against Ranjit Singh for some time.
Dharam Kaur, wife of Dal Singh of Akalgarh,
after her husband's imprisonment by
Ranjit Singh, mounted guns on the walls
of her fort and fought against the Durbar
forces. She was a brave and a wise lady
who was able, for some time, to foil
the designs of the Lahore ruler on her
territory.
After Sardar Baghel Singh's death in
1802, his two widows, Ram Kaur and Rattan
Kaur, looked after their territories
very well. Ram Kaur, the elder Sardarni,
maintained her control over the district
of Hoshiarpur which provided her a revenue
of two lakh ruprees and Sardarni Rattan
Kaur kept Chhalondi in her possession,
fetching her an annual revenue of three
lakh rupees. She administered her territory
efficiently. Similarly, Rani Chand Kaur,
widow of Maharaja Kharak Singh, and
Rani Jindan, widow of Ranjit Singh,
played important roles in the Lahore
Durbar polity.
From the Patiala house also many names
like that of Rani Fato, wife of Baba
Ala Singh,Rani Ranjinder Kaur, Rani
Aus Kaur and Rani Sahib Kaur may be
mentioned. In the words of Lepel Griffin.
"Rani Rajinder (Kaur) was one of
the most remarkable women of her age.
she possessed all the virtues which
men pretend are their own—courage
perseverance and sagacity—without
mixture of weakness which men attribute
to women."'9 Sahib Kaur was proclaimed
as Prime Minister of Patiala at the
age of 18. She managed the affairs,
both in office and in the battle-field,
wonderfully well. Later, when her husband,
Jaimal Singh Kanaiyha, was imprisoned
by his cousin, Fateh Singh, she hastened
to Fatehgarh at the head of a strong
force and got her husband released.
In 1794, when the commander of the Maratha
forces coming northwards sent a message
to Sahib Kaur of Patiala house for submission,
she preferred to settle the issue in
the field of battle. Hurriedly sheformed
a league of the neighbouring chiefs,
Bhag Singh of Jind, Bhanga Singh and
Mehtab Singh of Thanesar, and rushed
forth to check the advance of the Marathas-
The two armies came to Frips near Ambala
She infused new spirit in her disheartened
soldiers, led a surprise night attack
on the Marathas. In the words of John
J. Pool, "With mingled feelings
of fear and respect they (Marathas)
turned their forces homeward and gave
up the expedition. Thus, Patiala was
saved by the skill and daring of Rani
Sahib Kaur." Rani Desa of Nabha
and Daya Kaur of Ambala's role, in shaping
the destinies of their territories was
no less noteworthy. Daya Kaur, wife
of Gurbakhsh Singh, ruler of Ambala,
succeeded to her husband after his death.
In the words of Lepel Griffin, "She
was an excellent ruler and her estate
was one of the best managed in the protected
territory.'' These ladies were well
known for their administrative acumen,
grasp of political situations, and dexterity
in handling arms and organising defence.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Copyright © Bhagat Singh "A
History of Sikh Misals"
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