Tarabai Bhonsale: The fearless Maratha queen of swarajya

Tarabai Bhonsale: The fearless Maratha queen of swarajya

Tarabai Bhonsale occupies a rare place in Indian history, a woman who stepped into a collapsing empire, reorganised its resistance, and ensured that the vision of Swarajya did not fade even under the overwhelming pressure of the Mughal state under Aurangzeb. Often remembered in legend as a “lioness of the Deccan,” her real historical significance lies not in exaggeration, but in her extraordinary political and military leadership during one of t…