Hadi Rani Sahal Kanwar was a queen from Rajasthan who famously sacrificed herself to motivate her husband for battle. Her story is remembered in folklore, literature, and public monuments in Rajasthan.
Early life
Hadi Rani Sahal Kanwar was a daughter of the Hada Chauhan Rajput family. She married Rawat Ratan Singh, a Chundawat chieftain of Salumbar in Mewar.
Life and work
According to legend, when Raj Singh I (1653–1680) of Mewar called Ratan Singh to join a rebellion against the Mughal governor of Ajmer, the commander, newly married, asked his wife for a memento to take to the battlefield. Hadi Rani cut off her own head, placed it on a plate, and a servant presented it to her husband. The commander tied the severed head around his neck by its long braided ponytail and later, after the rebellion, he cut his own neck.
Legacy and memory
Hadi Rani is worshipped in Rajasthan and her story is sung by folklore singers as an example of chivalry and courage. Her tale appears in the curriculum, poems, and songs of the region. Hadi Rani Ki Baori, a stepwell in Todaraisingh, Tonk district, is believed to have been built in the 17th century CE. The Rajasthan Police have also formed a women's battalion named the Hadi Rani Mahila Battalion.
Based on: the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0) — facts from that source; edited and translated by Times of Rajasthan.