Description
“Sultan Raziya: Her Life and Times: A Reappraisal” is a definitive historical study that re-examines the tumultuous four-year reign (1236–1240) of the first and only woman to sit on the throne of the Delhi Sultanate. Written by acclaimed author and historian Jamila Brijbhushan, this work goes beyond traditional medieval chronicles to dismantle the gender biases and myths that have clouded the historical legacy of Razia Sultan.The book sets the stage in 13th-century India, a volatile period dominated by military expansion and the strict aristocratic control of the Turkish nobility—known as Chahalgani or the Forty Amirs. When Sultan Shams-ud-din Iltutmish bypassed his incompetent sons to nominate his daughter, Raziya, as his successor, he challenged the deeply entrenched patriarchal norms of Islamic medieval governance. Brijbhushan meticulously traces Raziya’s rise to power, highlighting her astute political maneuvering, military leadership, and her deliberate choice to shed the veil (purdah), don male attire, and rule in open court as “Sultan”—never “Sultana.”At its core, this book is a “reappraisal.” Brijbhushan critically evaluates the writings of contemporary medieval chroniclers, such as Minhaj-i-Siraj, who praised Raziya’s immense leadership qualities but ultimately concluded that her gender doomed her to failure. The author argues that Raziya’s downfall was not a result of personal weakness or romantic indiscretions—such as her alleged favor toward the Abyssinian slave Jamal-ud-Din Yaqut—but was rather the tragic outcome of an innovative ruler trying to break the monopoly of a powerful, conservative ruling class.Through meticulous research, Brijbhushan presents a vivid, multi-dimensional portrait of an extraordinary administrator, a fierce warrior, and a tragic heroine. The book serves as a vital exploration of power, gender politics, and the medieval state, restoring Sultan Raziya to her rightful place in history as a visionary monarch born centuries ahead of her time.
