On 5th October, the 500th birth anniversary of Rani Durgawati was celebrated.
1524: Durgavati was born in Chandel Dynasty of Mahoba in Banda, UP.
1531: She was married to Dalpat Shah, the son of Sangram Shah, who was the ruler of the Gondwana kingdom.
1542: After the death of her husband, Dalpat Shah, Durgavati became the queen regent of Gondwana as her son, Vir Narayan, was too young to rule. She constructed several reservoirs in her kingdom and moved the Capital to Chauragarh (from Singaurgarh) on the strategic Satpura Hill Range. She allowed Acharya Bitthalnath to establish a seat of the Pushtimarg Cult at Garha.
1550: Durgavati faced numerous challenges to her throne from neighbouring rulers and nobles, who sought to take advantage of her relatively weak position as a queen regent. Tarikh-i-Firishta mentions Durgavati defeated Baz Bahadur, the ruler of Malwa
1562: The Mughal emperor Akbar sent Asaf Khan to conquer the Gondwana kingdom. Durgavati resisted the Mughal forces fiercely, defending her kingdom.
June 24, 1564: In a decisive battle, known as the Battle of Narrai, Durgavati and her army fought bravely against the Mughal forces led by Asaf Khan. Despite her courage and tactics, her forces were outnumbered, and she was seriously wounded in the battle. Realizing that defeat was imminent and refusing to be captured by the Mughals, Rani Durgavati chose to end her life rather than surrender. She committed "jauhar" by self-immolation to protect her honour and dignity.
Legacy: Rani Durgavati is remembered as a symbol of courage and sacrifice. Her heroism in defending her kingdom against the Mughal forces has made her a famous figure in Indian history. The government of Madhya Pradesh has named a university and several institutions in her honour. Additionally, her story is a source of inspiration for many, especially in the context of women's empowerment.