Raja Suhaldev, Rani Bhabani     Â
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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.