Kota Rani

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 3

Kota Rani

More than a landscape, Kashmir has been a mindscape or rather an ideogram representing an
amalgamation of varied cultures whose meanings echo far beyond its physical borders even in
distant lands. In the glorious years of the ancient past of Kashmir, women have played a
significant role in shaping Kashmir and Kashmiri culture, yet seldom have their contributions
received the recognition they deserve. One such outstanding woman is Kota Rani, who ruled the
hearts and minds of the people of Kashmir and even today remains embedded in the larger sub-
consciousness and the Kashmiri psyche. She is the woman who ruled the hearts of her subjects
and demanded their respect through her strong character and exceptional abilities as a ruler. Her
role is considered pivotal in the larger scheme of things in Kashmir’s past and this is why she is
deeply remembered today also as one of the great Hindu rulers of Kashmir.

Kota Rani was the last ruler of the Lohara dynasty ruled in Kashmir. Kota Rani was an
intelligent, a warrior on the field, a tactical administrator, a diplomatic military strategist, and the
nurturing mother of her empire in the 14th century AD. She was the crusader against the Central
Asian invaders and all the forces that terrorised Kashmir. As the last Hindu ruler of Kashmir, and
a woman, Kota Rani’s reign was a series of troubles and turmoil but she persevered against all
odds.

Kota Rani was daughter of Ramachandra who was the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief
of King Suhadev of Kashmir. Her brother was Ravanchandra. This was also the time when
Ladakhi prince Rinchan in the war of succession lost the battle to his uncle and fled Ladakh.
Suhadeva, not only gave him a refugee but also appointed him as a minister. Shahmir was a man
who also sought refuge in Kashmir during King Sahadev’s rule. Some historians believe he was
a Turk and some say he was a descendent of Arjun, one of the five Pandavas. Shahmir was gifted
a village by King Sahadev, allowing him to have a strong foothold in Kashmir. Here Rinchen
became friends with Shahmir. As Soon Rinchan and Shah Mir became good friends, their
togetherness changed the political, cultural, and religious contours of the history of Kashmir.

Kota Rani’s father, Ramchandra was Prime Minister and commander-in-chief of King Suhadev
of the Lohara dynasty. When Kashmir was invaded by the Mongol leader, Zulju (Dulacha),
Suhadeva was defeated and he fled to Tibet. Because of extreme weather conditions and heavy
cost to maintain expenditure of his large army, Dulcha left behind Kashmir in chaos and
destruction, and sensing the mood of the public, Ramachandra, occupied the throne and
appointed Rinchan as an administrator, but Rinchan betrayed him. His men, in the guise of
merchants, killed Ramachandra and took his family as prisoners. Following the deceit, Rinchan
took over the throne of Kashmir and appointed Shah Mir as his most trusted courtier. Aware of
his limitations, Rinchan tactfully won support from Kashmiris. So, first, he won over
Ravanachandra, the son of Ramachandra, and appointed him as his chief advisor, bestowing on
him the title of Raina, and offered him Ladakh and Lar as his jagir (property). He also compelled
Kota Rani, Ramachandra’s daughter to marry him. Kota Rani was practical enough to understand
the situation on the ground and, therefore, was wily enough to consort with her father’s killer and
transmuted her curse into vengeance.

Rinchan was killed in a rebel attack in 1323 AD. After his death, Kota Rani was firstly appointed
as a regent for Rinchan’s young son. Later she was convinced by the elders to marry
Udayanadeva in 1323, younger brother of Raja Suhadeva. Then, Udayanadeva became the ruler
of Kashmir, but it was Kota Rani who practically ruled the Kashmir. Around that time, Kashmir
was once again invaded by a Mongol-Turk, Achalla, and Udayanadeva fled to Tibet. Kota Rani
fought and killed Achalla and drove away his troops. After Udayanadeva died in 1338, Kota
Rani became the ruler of Kashmir in her own right. In these 15 years, Kota Rani with the support
of Rinchen’s trusted Wazir, Shahmir, gave Kashmir stability and order. Together he and Kota
Rani were a force not to be reckoned with.

Kota Rani had two sons. Rinchan’s son was under the charge of Shah Mir and Udayanadeva's
son was taught by Bhatta Bhikshana. Kota Rani appointed Bhatta Bhikshana as her Prime
Minister and kept her subjects united through her love and protection. All her decisions and
duties were in interest and welfare of Kashmir and its people. One such instance was her idea to
construct the canal KutKol (named after her) to prevent Srinagar city from flooding. River
Jhelum moves through the canal at the entrance of Srinagar and the water moves out to merge
with the River at the city’s periphery.

In 1339, the power-hungry and offended Shahmir one day deceitfully floated rumours of being
sick, Kota Rani out of concern delegated his Prime Minister Bhatta Bhikshana pretended to be
sick, and when Bhatta Bhikshana visited to inquire about his health. But deceitful Shah Mir
sprung out of his bed and killed him. After killing him through deceit, he staged a coup, and
asked Kota Rani for her hand in marriage. According to the historian Jonaraja, she committed
suicide and offered her intestines to him as a wedding gift. Shah Mir killed both of her sons also.
Thus, Shahmir went on to become the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir- and was called as Sultan
Shams-ud-Din. With the death of Kota Rani, there started beginning of women’s downgrading in
Kashmir.

Even during the reign of the benevolent Zain-Ul Abe-Din also called as or Badshah in Kashmir,
women were deprived of basic rights and privileges that erstwhile rulers freely bestowed upon
them.

Although Kota Rani’s tale is full of battles and personal compromises for the State, she still
emerges as Goddess incarnated for her people. Her courage, bravery, intelligence, and diplomacy
have set a benchmark. Though her misfortunes never allowed her a moment's peace, she always
had her maternal hand extended over Kashmiris as protection.

Kota Rani was an exceptionally beautiful woman who besides being valiant was also a great
administrator and a military strategist in the 13th Century AD. She protected Kashmir against the
central Asian invaders and used her warrior spirit with a lot of perseverance who threatened
Kashmir. The last Hindu ruler of Kashmir Rani Kota had to face intrigue and deceit most of her
time as ruler. There was a consistent effort by her opponents to capture and seize the State but
she and her loyal ministers acted as obstructions and resisted takeover to a large extent during
her tenure. She did partly succeed in her mission of not allowing the kingdom to slip away. But
many people do not know the circumstances under which she came into prominence and played
her role perfectly. Kashmiri historian Jonaraja in his Sanskrit poem Dvitiya Rajatarangni, which
is a continuation of Kalhana’s Rajatarangni showers praises on Kota Rani:

“ As the canal nourishes cultivated fields with water, so did the Queen nourish the people by
bestowing much wealth on them. She was to the kingdom what the moon is to the blue lotus, and
is to the enemy she was what the luminary is to the white lotus.”

When Kota Rani committed suicide and offered her intestines to Shah Mir as his wedding gift.
Jonaraja writes:

“Even as fire burns grasses, all masterpieces of architecture produced by the Kashmiri Shilpa
Shinas/architects were destroyed and pillaged. There was no city, no town, no village, no wood
where the temples of the Gods were unbroken after the death of Kota Rani.”

And even in the times of the famous humane King Zain-Ul Abe-din, who is known to
“Kashmiris as Badshah, the pathshah (the most benevolent King) temples were demolished to
construct the King’s mother mausoleum and to rebuild the banks and bunds of the Vitasta,”
writes Mohini Qasba Raina in her book Kashur -The Kashmiri Speaking People-analytical
perspective. With the death of queen Kota Rani, the special status enjoyed by queens and the
freedom of women, in general, got a death knell. Women were gradually and increasingly
deprived of the privileges that they have acquired and enjoyed over a thousand years.

Being a one-woman show it is surprising how well she handled the final years of Hindu reign in
the state. The Kashmiri historian Jonaraja sings his praise for Kota Rani in one of his poems:

“As the canal nourishes cultivated fields with water, so did the Queen nourish the people by
bestowing much wealth on them. She was to the kingdom what the moon is to the blue lotus, and
is to the enemy she was what the luminary is to the white lotus.”

You might also like