Razia Sultan and Rudrama Devi were two remarkable historical figures who ruled

during different periods and in different regions of the Indian subcontinent. While
both were women rulers who defied societal norms of their times, they had distinct
backgrounds, challenges, and legacies.

Razia Sultan:

Time Period: Razia Sultan ruled in the 13th century. She ascended to the throne in
1236 as the Sultan of Delhi, during the Slave Dynasty, which was of Turkish origin.

Background: Razia was the daughter of Sultan Iltutmish, who chose her as his heir
due to her capabilities, despite the existing norms against women rulers.

Challenges: She faced significant opposition from the nobility, as her rule was
seen as a deviation from the traditional male-dominated leadership.

Legacy: Razia Sultan's reign was short-lived, lasting only about four years.
Despite her promising qualities, she faced political intrigue and was eventually
overthrown. Her reign is often celebrated as a symbol of women's empowerment in
medieval India.

Medieval Chronicles: The earliest historical accounts of Razia Sultan's reign can
be found in medieval chronicles and historical texts. These sources often provide a
narrative of her life and rule. Some of these texts are authored by contemporary
historians like Minhaj-i-Siraj, who provided valuable information about her rule.
Rudrama Devi:

Time Period: Rudrama Devi ruled in the 13th century as well, but in the Kakatiya
dynasty, which was a South Indian dynasty based in the Deccan region.

Background: Rudrama Devi was the daughter of King Ganapatideva and succeeded to the
throne after her father's death. She was a native ruler and not of foreign origin
like Razia Sultan.

Challenges: Rudrama Devi faced external threats from neighboring Chalukya and Chola
kingdoms, as well as internal opposition due to her gender. However, she adopted a
male persona and title to strengthen her position.

Legacy: Rudrama Devi is known for her role in preserving and expanding the Kakatiya
kingdom. Her rule is celebrated as an example of a strong and capable woman leader
in South India. She was known for her military and administrative skills.

Comparison:

Both Razia Sultan and Rudrama Devi ruled in the 13th century and faced challenges
related to their gender in male-dominated societies.

They both made significant efforts to overcome these challenges and prove their
capabilities as rulers.

Both left a legacy of being trailblazing women rulers in the history of India.

Contrast:

Razia Sultan ruled in North India and belonged to the Turkish-origin Slave Dynasty,
while Rudrama Devi ruled in South India as part of the native Kakatiya dynasty.
Razia Sultan's reign was relatively short and marked by internal political
instability, while Rudrama Devi's rule is known for her military achievements and
the preservation of her kingdom.

While Razia Sultan openly embraced her gender and did not adopt a male persona,
Rudrama Devi took on a male identity to consolidate her power.

In summary, Razia Sultan and Rudrama Devi were both exceptional women rulers who
defied societal norms of their times. They ruled in different regions, faced
different challenges, and left distinct legacies, but their stories continue to
inspire people as symbols of women's empowerment in history.

. Marco Polo, a Venetian traveller, visited Orugallu during Rudrama’s reign

and described her as a lady of discretion who ruled with justice and equity.
In 1280 Rudrama passed the crown to her grandson, Prataprudra, as she was
growing old and had no male children of her own. However, in 1285 the kingdom
was faced by a new threat from a Kayastha chief, Amba Deva who had allied
with the Pandyas and Yadavas to destroy the Kakatiya empire. At this instance,
despite her old age, Rudrama undertook the charge of an army but was killed
in the ensuing battle. The Katakiya empire collapsed in the following years but
Rudrama’s legacy stands tall in Southern India.According to historian Cynthia
talbot , there are 52 inscriptions among 62 which show that she was referred as
Maharaja or king . This gives a clear meaning that The public and his father too
used to call her as Maharaja . In some of her sculptures,she had worn the male
costume magnificently . But these things were wrongly interpreted by some
historians by saying that Ganpati Dev had concealed The Identity of Rudramadevi as
female.

According to them she was introduced to the public as a male, not as a female .One
must have to understand the Controversy that “ how is it possible for a king to
hide the identity ( gender ) of his child from the public since birth ? “ And
without introducing the background of his successor , do you think the public will
accept him/her as the protector of the kingdom?

Traveller Marco Polo who came here during the reign of Rudramadevi didn’t mention
anything like that .

An eminent traveller named Marco Polo Who visited her Kingdom was in shock when he
found that a woman is leading the kingdom . He was even more shocked to know her
great skills in each of the sectors . He had written many praiseworthy documents
for her which indicates Rudramadevi’s great power and compassion of running the
Kingdom

Tremendous amount of talent are being lost to our society just because talents wear
a skirt " - Shirley Chisholm.