his is an old article- updated with two new notes: Rudrama Devis

Chandupatla inscription and John Langs India connection.

1.

Rudrama Devi & Chandupatla Inscription

2.

John Lang, the Lawyer of Laxmibai (1816-1864)

3.

Hazrat Mahal: 135th Anniversary

4.

Stree Shakti Puraskar

5.

Women in Freedom Struggle of India

6.

Mock Questions

Rudrama Devi & Chandupatla Inscription

Why in News? 2014, November was her 725th Anniversary.
1236-1240

Razia Sultan, the daughter of Iltumish, became the first and only woman rule D

1259-1289

Rudrama Devi, the first Hindu female ruler of Andhra-Telangana region.

Rudrama devi belonged to Kakatiya dynasty, Capital- Warangal, ran several

irrigation and welfare programs and defended her empire from attacks of Chola
and Yadav kings.

Telanganas Chadupatla village inscription says she died on 27th November

1289 in a battle. So 2014 marks her 725th Death Anniversary.

John Lang, the Lawyer of Laxmibai (1816-1864)

Why in news? Because Modi gifted something to Australian PM in 2014,
November.

John Lang was the first native novelist of Australia. Notable novels: Will he marry
her?, My friends wife, Forgers Wife, Secret Police, Too clever by half.
Lang in India

184
2

Came to India, learned Hindi language and ran The Moffusilite newspaper. Lang publish
jailed for libel.

185
4

Governor General Lord Dalhousie annexed Jhansi, under doctrine of Lapse- after the Kin
(Laxmibai) and his adopted son Damodar Rao behind.

After Anglo-Sikh wars, East India company did not pay money to one
contractor Joti Ram, who had supplied them war-provisions. John Lang fought
his case, and won a hefty compensation from East India company.

Impressed with his legal acumen, Rani Laxmibai asked John Lang to get
Jhansis annexation removed.

John Lang prepared a petition against the East India company. But British
government discarded it in a week. [perhaps to settle the score of earlier defeat
in that contractor case and his Anti-British newspaper articles.]

1857

Rani fought and died during Sepoy mutiny

1864

John Lang died and buried in Mussoorie.

2014

Modi gifted Langs petition against East India Company, to Australian PM Tony Abbott, t

Hazrat Mahal: 135 th Anniversary

Hazrat Mahal = 135th Anniversary, hence she automatically becomes important for
UPSC Mains 2014. Just like Maulana Azad in Mains-2013
Q.Write a note about the contribution of Begam Hazrat Mahal in Indias
struggle for Independence. (200 words)
1856 under Doctrine of Lapse, Lord Dalhousie exiled the Nawab wajid Ali shah of

Awadh to Calcutta. His wife, Begum Hazrat Mahal took the charge of the state, and
played a prominent role in the mutiny of 1857
1.

Provided Leadership to rebels of Lucknow, and fought in the name of her

minor son Birjis Qadr.

2.

In the war of Alambaug, herself fought against British troops.

3.

Assisted Nana Saheb in Kanpur.

4.

Lord Dalhousie asked the help of Nepals Rana Jang Bahadur and offered
areas of Gorakhpur and Awadh in return. Begum countered Dalhousies move
by offering the Rana three more province of Awadh apart from Gorakhpur.

5.

Assisted Maulvi Ahmedullah (Danka Shah) against attack on Shahjahanpur

(Firozabad) and defeated Henry Lawrence.

6.

British again attacked great force, she was defeated but escaped to Nepal.

7.

British offered pension to her if she gave up her claim on throne for his son.
But Begam denied and chose to live in Nepal, where she died in 1879.

Begum Hazrat Mahal fought with great fervor, showed exceptional courage and
organisational skills. She had ability to unite people from different class and
provided an instrumental leadership during Indias first struggle for independence.
~200 words.

Stree Shakti Puraskar

Every year, Women and child Development Ministry gives Stree-Shakti Purarskars.
Winners not *that* important but the historic women associated with them=
important for MCQ. Where they belong to, what time era they lived in?
Exact years not important. But chronology is

WHEN

100-300

12591289

15981674

WHERE

TN

Andhra

MH

WHO

Kannagi

Rani Rudramma

Mata Jijabai

17251795

MP

Rani Ahlyabai Holkar

18281858

UP

Rani Laxmibai

19151993

Manipur

Rani Gaidinliu
Zeliang.

WHAT

character in Tamil epic Silapathikaram

Madurais Pandyan king murdered her h

curse on the city.

ruler of Kaktiya dynasty, in Andhra Parde

defended her kigdom against Cholas and

mother of Shivaji the founder of Marat

also known as rajmata Jijabai Bhosle,

queen of Malwa kingdom, after death of

patron of Hindu temples.

we already know why she is famous

Naga spiritual leader and freedom fighte

1932: Imprisoned for life at age 16

1947: released

Nehru gave her title Rani

Got Padma Bhushan

Women in Freedom Struggle

Abbreviations used in following table:

R=rich, M=middle class, P=poor, ?=not mentioned in book, and I did not
bother googling (Because in real life preparation, a candidate wouldnt have that
much time to do Ph.D on everything.)
NV=non-violent. R=Revolutionary / violent methods.

Aruna Asaf Ali

NV

Begum Safia
Abdul Wajid

Durgabai
Deshmukh

Jyotirmoyee
Ganguli

NV

NV

NV

Breaking the social conventions, married to a Muslim

during CDM and Individual Satyagraha. Hoisted tricolor @
Editor of Inquilab a monthly journal of Congress

Rich Muslim Family, Post graduate from Allahabad Un

her participation in Quit India movement.

Middle class family, initially couldnt afford education

Studied law, practiced in Madras High court.

Jailed for salt satyagraha

Andhra Mahila sabha for welfare of women.

left Government job during civil disobedience movem

took part in the British demonstrations

Demanded the release of jailed INA soldiers. Killed by

Kasturba

Madam Bhikaiji
Cama

Matangini Hajra

Nehru

Rajkumari
Amrita Kaur

Rehana Tyabjee

NV

Took part in all the programs of Gandhi, jailed during

two years later.

herself influenced by Dadabhai Naoroji, she Inspired I

Mataram and organization free India society.

NV

NV

NV

NV

NV

Unfurled first national flag of India in Germany.

born in a poor peasant family of Bengal- exploited by

Dandi March,

campaigned for non-payment of Chowkidari tax- arres

During Quit India movement, planned an Attack on po

national flag.

Jawaharlals mom: Swarup Rani Nehru, provided mora

His sister Vijay Laxmi Pandit: jailed thrice during CDM

Wife Kamala Nehru: participated in CDM and No-tax c

Royal family from Punjab

Grad. from England, influenced by Gandhi

Jailed for quit India movement

Affluent family, her father was a Judge.

Sarojini Naidu

Cpt. Laxmi
Sahgal

NV

Kalpana Dutt
Joshi

Nanibala devi

influenced by Gandhi, joined Sabarmati Ashram, NCM

President of Youth congress

Jailed for QIM

First muslim lady to sing Vandemataram in Congress s

Graduated from London

one of the first women to participate in Freedom strug

under mentorship of G.K.Gokhale

later participated in all programs of Gandhi, including

served as President of Indian national congress.

Even her daughter Padmaja Naidu, 21, was arrested fo

young medical student

Became Captain of all-woman Rani of Jhansi regiment

Subhash Chandra Bose.

Led the troops in Burma during WW2, but caught by t

Revolutionary from Bengal.

part of Surya Sens Chittagong republication army. Cau

Brahmin family. Widowed @the tender age of 16

Preetilata
Waddedar

Rani Gaidinliu

Joined Jugandhar party, associated with revolutionary

Arrested for transporting weapons and ammunition

was the first and only woman to be tortured by the po

Calcutta jails first woman prisoner.

Part of Chittagaong revolutionaries of Surya Sen.

Organized attacks on British establishments in Bengal

Consumed Postassium cyanide to evade detention an

Naga Tribal, who organized rebellion to overthrow Bri

Jailed for 14 years, freed after independence. Given tit

Mock Questions
Q1. Which of the following statements are correct?
A.
B.

Rudramma Devi was a contemporary of Rani Laxmibai.

Rudramma Devi had signed a treaty with the French, for protection against
the British.

C.

Both A and B

D.

Neither A nor B

Q2. Chadupatla inscription is located at ____ and mentions the ____.

A.

Andhra Pradesh, Thervada Buddhism

B.

Telangana, Conquests of Chera Kings.

C.

Andhra Pradesh, Conquests of Chola Kings

D.

Telangana, Heroic death of Rudramma Devi.

Q3. Rudramma Devi belonged to ___ dynasty and her capital was located at ___.
A.

Chera, Thiruvanthapuram

B.

Chola, Hampi

C.

Pandya, Madurai

D.

Kakatiya, Warangal

Q4.Which of the following were actual queens?

1.

Kannagi

2.

Rani Rudrama

3.

Rani Gaidinliu

Answer choices
a.

Only 1 and 2

b.

Only 2 and 3

c.

Only 1 and 3

d.

None of them

Q5.Which of the following did not participate in Indias struggle for

independence?
1.

Rani Ahalyabai Holkar

2.

Rani Rudrama

3.

Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang

Answer choices
1.

Only 1 and 2

2.

Only 2 and 3

3.

Only 1 and 3

4.

All of them participated

Q6.Consider following statements about John Lang

1.
2.

3.

He was the founder of Theosophical societys Missouri chapter.

He was the editor of Annie Besants newspaper Commonweal while she
was in jail.
He was the legal counsel of Begum Hazrat Mahal and Rani Laxmibai.

Correct statements are:

A.

Only 1 and 2

B.

Only 2 and 3

C.

Only 1 and 3

D.

None of them

Q7. John Lang was born in ____ and died in ____.

A.

Australia, Mussoorie

B.

Mussoorie, Australia

C.

America, Australia

D.

Australia, Britain

Q8. Correct Pair

A.

Rani Rudramma: Kerala

B.

Rani Ahlyabai Holkar: Maharashtra

C.

Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang: Assam

D.

None of Above

Q9. Correct Chronology: (1) Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang; (2) Rani Ahlyabai Holkar; (3)
Mata Jijabai; (4) Rani Rudramma
A.

1234

B.

2143

C.

2134

D.

4321

Mains General Studies Paper-1: Answer following in 200 words each

1.

Q. Defying the barriers of age, gender and religion, the Indian women
became the torch bearer during the struggle for freedom in India. Discuss.
(Mains-2013)

2.

Critically evaluate the contribution of Begum Hazrat Mahal and Rani

Laxmibai in Indias struggle for Independence.

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