Bhavashankari
| Bhavashankari | |
|---|---|
| Maharani of Bhurishrestha | |
| Predecessor | Rudranarayan |
| Successor | Pratapnarayan |
| Spouse | Rudranarayan |
| Father | Dinanath Chaudhuri |
| History of Bengal |
|---|
 |
Bhavashankari (Bengali: মহারানী ভবশঙ্করী, romanized: Bhavaśaṅkarī) was a ruler of Bhurishreshtha kingdom of Bengal, who resisted the Lohani Pathan sultans of South Bengal and established hindu sovereignty in her kingdom.[1][2] [3]
Early Life
Bhavashankari was born in a Brahmin family to Dinanath Chaudhuri, a Nayak. She was the first of child of Dinanath. Her mother passed away while giving birth to her younger brother, leaving her at a young age[4]
Coronation and the Battle of Bashuri
Bhavashankari returned to the capital early next morning and assumed control of the affairs of the State.[5] In absence of hard evidence, she couldn't try Chaturbhuj Chakravarti, she instead demoted him in the pretext of security breach. Raja Bhupati Krishna Ray, the commander of the Pendo fort, was promoted to the post of Sarbadhinayak, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Apart from that she took immediate steps to strengthen the army in terms of numbers as well as infrastructure. She herself took the responsibility of their training.
Relationship with Mughals
Mughal emperor Akbar, who was always wary of a Pathan resurgence in Bengal, decided to strengthen the alliance with Bhurishrestha. He sent Man Singh, the then governor of Bengal to the court of Bhurishrestha as the representative of the Mughal Empire. Man Singh arrived at Garh Bhawanipur with the Mughal seal. In a special ceremony, the charter of alliance was signed between the Kingdom of Bhurishrestha and the Mughal Empire. Through this treaty, the sovereignty of Bhurishrestha was formally accepted by the Mughal empire. The treaty required the former to send a gold coin, a goat and a blanket to the latter as a token of alliance. Maharani Bhavashankari was bestowed with the title of Raybaghini and the Mughals never ever interfered with her Kingdom of Bhurshut.[6]
Legacy
Maharani Bhavashankari became famous by her title Raibaghini, who gradually came to denote a courageous or sometimes rebellious woman and became a part of Bengali proverb. Her story of valour became a part of folklore and were immortalised by ballads and village poets. In February 2012, the West Bengal government inaugurated the annual Raybaghini Rani Bhavashankari Smriti Mela to commemorate her.[7]
References
- ^ Ghosh, Paschimbanger Sanskriti, Volume II, pp. 224
- ^ Ghosh, Anil Chandra. বীরত্বে বাঙালী [Heroism of the Bengalis] (in Bengali) (9th ed.). Kolkata: Presidency Library. pp. 48–50.
- ^ "Bengal's Rani Bhavashankari, called Raibaghini by Akbar was no less than Rani Lakshmibai!". Get Bengal. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ Tanima (14 September 2020). "Known Famously As "Raibaghini", This Queen Of Bengal Was No Less A Fighter Than Rani Laxmibai". lifebeyondnumbers.com. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ Sarkar, Suphal (31 July 2006). উদয়নারায়ণপুরে ধ্বংসের মুখে প্রাচীন মন্দির. Kolkata: Anandabazar Patrika. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
- ^ Sarkar, Suphal (31 December 2008). রায়বাঘিনীর স্মৃতি পরে রয়েছে অবহেলায় (in Bengali). Kolkata: Anandabazar Patrika. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
- ^ Gangopadhyay, Ramaprasad (15 May 2012). সংস্কারের অভাবে হারাচ্ছে ইতিহাস. Anandabazar Patika (in Bengali). Kolkata. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
Bibliography
- Bhattacharya, Bidhubhusan (2009). Raybaghini O Bhurishrestha Rajkahini. Kolkata: Nababharati Prakashani.
- Ray, Bharat Chandra. Raibaghini.
- History of Bengal
- Rulers of Bengal
- Indian female royalty
- Indian women in war
- Hindu monarchs