Samudragupta (reigned 335-380) is the second ruler of the Gupta Dynasty, who ushered in the Golden Age in India. He was a benevolent ruler, a great warrior and a patron of arts. Samudragupta, son of Chandragupta, was perhaps the greatest king of Gupta dynasty. His name appears in the Javanese text ‘Tantrikamandaka’. But the most detailed and authentic record of his reign is preserved in the rock pillar of Allahabad, composed by Harisena, the court [...]
Razia Sultana was South Asia’s first female Muslim ruler and daughter of Iltutmush. She was talented, wise, brave, excellent administrator, and a great warrior. Razia Sultana was born in 1205. She belonged to the Turkish Seljuks ancestry. Like the Muslim princesses of the time, she received training in fighting, leading armies and also learned to administer kingdoms. She had all the qualities of an efficient ruler and was more competent than her brothers so Iltutmush [...]
Rajaraja Chola’s rightful heir, Rajendra Chola was an able ruler (reign: 1018-1048). He expanded the Chola Empire northwards. It was during his reign that the kingdom was called the “Golden Age of Cholas”. He conquered upto the banks of Ganges and assumed the title of “Gangaikonda” (the victor of the Ganges). He established a new capital and named it Gangaikondacholapuram. The conquest of the Andaman and Nicober islands was his greatest achievement. The functioning of [...]
Raja Todar Mal was a warrior, an able administrator and an exemplary finance minister. He was one of the ‘Navratnas’ of Akbar’s court. He introduced an excellent land revenue system. In 1582, the title Diwan-I- Ashraf was bestowed upon him by the Emperor. Born to a Khsatriya family of Uttar Pradesh, he joined the services as a clerk in Akbar’s court. Akbar was impressed with his administrative capability and presented him the post of ‘Wazir’. [...]
Chhatrapati Shivaji was the famous Maratha king who had the utmost courage to stand against the vast ocean of Mughal rule, single-handedly. Although his original name was Shivaji Bhosle, his subjects lovingly gave him the title of ‘Chatrapati’ or the ‘Chief of the Kshatriyas’ for his undaunted ability to protect them all under the safe shelter of his leadership. Born on 19th February 1680 at the Shivneri Fort to a valiant Maratha regent Shahaji Raje [...]
Birbal, the famous historical character, was born as Mahesh Das, in 1528, in a very poor Brahman family, in a place called Trivikrampur, situated on the banks of river Yamuna. He was a prime member of the group of nine members, known as the ‘Nava Ratnas’, the inner council of advisors, for the Mughal emperor Akbar. Birbal was mostly entitled to the administrative and military duties but was very close to Akbar who loved his [...]
