IAS Gyan

Daily News Analysis

Raja Suhaldev, Rani Bhabani          

21st December, 2021 Agriculture

 

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Context

  • Modi referred to several historical episodes including the battle between Salar Masud and Raja Suhaldev and the conflict between governor-general Warren Hastings and Raja Chait Singh.
  • He also mentioned the contributions of historical figures like Rani Bhabani from Bengal.

 

Raja Suhaldev

  • Suhaldev was a legendary king from Shravasti, popularly known to have defeated and killed the Ghaznavid general Ghazi Miyan at Bahraich in 1034 CE.
  • He is mentioned in the 17th century Persian-language historical romance Mirat-i-Masudi.
  • Since the 20th century, various Hindu nationalist groups have characterized him as a Hindu King who defeated a Muslim invader.
  • During the reign of Jahangir (r. 1605–1627), Abd-ur-Rahman Chishti penned Mirat-i-Masudi, a Persian hagiography in praise of Ghazi Miyan, a Turkic commander.
  • Suhaldev is mentioned in the same chronicles, as the eldest son of King Mordhwaj of Shravasti and Miyan's chief antagonist in the Bahraich region.

 

Chait Singh

  • Chait Singh was a ruler of Kingdom of Benares in northern India. He belonged to the Narayan dynasty of Bhumihar Brahmins
  • Maharaja Balwant Singh's elder son, Rafa'at wa Awal-i-Martabat Raja Sri Chait Singh Sahib Bahadur, succeeded to the throne as the next Raja of Benares in 1770.

 

Rani Bhabani

  • Rani Bhabani was a Hindu zamindar, also known as the 'Queen of Natore' during the British colonial era in what is now of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
  • She was married to Maharaja Ramkanta Moitra (Ray), 'Zamindar' of Natore estate.
  • After the death of her husband, Rani Bhabani of Natore Rajbari, expanded both the estate and the palace.
  • A woman as a zamindar was extremely rare in those days, but Rani Bhabani managed the vast Rajshahi zamindari most efficiently and effectively for over four decades.
  • Rani Bhabani became a household name among the common people for her philanthropy and general generosity, combined with an austere personal life.
  • The number of temples, guesthouses and roads she constructed across Bengal is believed to be in the hundreds.
  • She also built numerous water tanks, alleviating the acute water problem of her subjects.
  • She was also interested in the spread of education and donated generously to many educational institutes.
  • During the era of Rani Bhabani, she made some great contributions for the development and renovation of Bhabanipur temple.
  • Bhabanipur is a shakti-peeth which is located at Sherpur Upazila of Bogra District.

 

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/salar-masud-raja-suhaldev-battle-historical-episodes-pm-modi-kashi-7674668/