Queen Didda…
Women have always been pillars of strength in Bharatiya culture. Since pre-Vedic era, Bharatiya woman has remained a symbol of Shakti-solidarity and We come across innumerable personalities in history, who portrayed a picture of robustness and eruditeness.
Queen Didda, daughter of celebrated minister Sardar Sobhraj of Lohar dynasty, who ruled Kashmir for Fifty plus years was a picture of diplomatic decuman. The central point of Lohar dynasty is situated currently in Poonch district of Jammu.
In the year 950 CE, Emperor Kshemgupta was crowned as king of Kashmir. Didda, with her exceptional beauty, affection, eloquence, established command over King Kshemgupta to such an extent that he found it essential to refer each matter of governance with her and her opinion was considered ultimate. From appointment of Government officials to Commanders to decisions regarding Agricultural reforms to business and industry related policies, Didda’s guidance prevailed.
Queen Didda’s unparalleled interest in governance, ignited the feeling of arrogance, unusual ambitions and inexorability in her nature. Didda had complete control over King Kshemgupta and he was absolutely under her clutches and eventually, he came to be known as “Deeda-Kshemgupta”.
For Eight years, Queen Didda kept strict dominance over the administration of Kashmir. In 958 CE, Emperor Kshemgupta expired. His other queen Chandralekha was the daughter of his Prime Minister Falgun, who was minister of king Yashaskara, who now served Kshemgupta, but she too was tamed and kept under control by Queen Didda.
At the time of Emperor Kshemgupta‘s demise, Prince Abhimanyu was very young but his coronation was done with grandeur and fanfare. The reins of governance remained under Queen Didda. She began administering the state with efficiency but iron hands. To keep stern control she was compelled to take strict actions against officials.
Her entire staff and officials were handpicked. She appointed her own trustworthy ones and replaced the ones that she felt surmised against and went to the extent of issuing Life imprisonment or death sentence to those who opposed her.
At the time of King Kshemgupta ‘s death, the other wives of the king, chose to perish with him. Queen Didda too, was advised by Falgun to follow their example but another minister Narvahana advised otherwise.
Historians have presented disparate views about Queen Didda. Few have addressed her as ruthless but the others portrayed her as an efficient ruler.
Queen Didda ruled the state for Fourteen years as guardian Rajmata till king Abhimanyu’s demise in 972 CE. Post his death, his son Nandigupta ascended the throne and Didda continued to keep the reins of governance in her hands.
Day by day, Didda was turning more and more rigorous and obdurate but the untimely death of son King Abhimanyu hit her with a huge mental lesion and her stonyhearted nature mellowed drastically. The sudden departure of young son awakened motherly suavity hidden within her soul. She diverted her vision towards growth related work of the state and she undertook implementation of various welfare and progressive programmes.
She initiated construction of a number of temples and Maths. People of different strength began migrating to Kashmir. Rajmata Didda built villages and towns for these new inhabitants. Till recently, one area in Srinagar was known as Didda Marg,where she had built a massive infrastructure named ‘Didda Math’.
In 975 CE, Rajmata Didda crowned late King Abhimanyu’s second son, Bhimgupta, to the throne of Kashmir. Unfortunately with Bhimgupta coming to power, the virtuousness and spiritual mentality began disappearing and the former debauchery as well as callosities of Didda’s nature, was back in action.
King Bhimgupta had no choice but to helplessly accept and swallow this conduct. Bhimgupta’s access to the throne was due to Didda’s favour. Rajmata Didda had a strong grip over government officials, army commanders and prestigious citizens of Kashmiri society and that was an additional reason for King Bhimgupta to follow the decisions laid down by Didda.
It is evident that Appeasement was the only route for King Bhimgupta, but the throne that had been achieved as a “gift of Propitiation”, engulfed the victim under Appeasement and Patriotic values began diminishing.
King Bhimgupta, when he could not tolerate any more, started to protest against his grandma Didda. The merciless Didda, with the help of his committed officials, imprisoned Bhimgupta. In 980 CE Bhimgupta’s eventual end came in the prison. Didda herself became the Empress.
Till now, she was guardian ruler but post Bhimgupta’s death, she turned into dictator and appointed her trustworthy officials on important posts. Tung, an ordinary army trainee, was a lover of Didda and as soon as Didda became empress, he was appointed as the Prime Minister. She did his appointment without consulting any of her advisors and keeping every other Minister in the dark. Her such dictatorial conduct enraged other senior officials and ministers but as they all were under her iron control and hence, were unable to protest. Empress Didda’s administration did not “allow” any accumulated voice or movement by the government officials. The entire system of opinions and views of officials reaching out to her as delegation had come to a halt. Tung, her confidante, used all his strength and malicious tactics to forcefully engulf people’s voice of dissent.
Shri. Gopinath Shrivastav writes in ‘Kashmir’, “Didda remained Empress for twenty five years. During this period, she plotted innumerable conspiracies, initiated unrelenting murders and expelled and exiled many. She did all these to remain in power. Even though Didda’s character was extremely blemished and life utterly profane, her governance was proficient.”
To rule with complete control for Fifty long years, depicts the success of her strength, power and unmatched will. First as an impactful and powerful queen, then as iron willed guardian of Son and Grandson and later as Empress herself, she did everything possible to keep the reins of power in her hands. She did not let the state fall apart in the calamities and led it towards prosperity.
When Empress Didda grew old, she crowned her nephew Sangramraaj, son of Udayraj, king of Lohar and gave the reins of Kashmir in his hand.
Sources of Reference:
हमारी भूलों का स्मारक : धर्मांतरित कश्मीर
नरेन्द्र सहगल
राजतरंगिनी
कल्हान
My Frozen Turbulance in Kashmir
Jagmohan
Madhvi Bhuta is the National Executive of BJP Mahila Morcha and a Columnist on various Forums.