Date/Time
Date(s) - 16/03/2026 - 17/03/2026
12:00 am
Location
server room
Categories
National Seminar
on
The Warrior of Gondwana: Celebrating Rani Durgawati
at
IIAS, Shimla
Revised Date- 16 & 17 March, 2026
Concept Note
The proposed seminar on Rani Durgawati seeks to enhance historical understanding of her life and legacy as a 16th-century ruler of Gondwana, distinguished for her leadership, military acumen, and resistance to Mughal expansion. The seminar aims to foreground her contributions as a regional and indigenous leader, thereby enriching mainstream historical narratives with perspectives that are often marginalized. It also intends to critically examine her role as a woman ruler in a patriarchal socio-political context, contributing to scholarly discourse on gender, governance, and leadership in pre-colonial India.
Further, the seminar will provide an academic platform for interdisciplinary engagement among historians, scholars, and students to explore themes such as resistance movements, indigenous political structures, and cultural identity. By fostering rigorous discussion and research, the seminar aspires to generate new insights, strengthen gender and cultural studies, and reaffirm Rani Durgawati’s enduring relevance as a symbol of courage, cultural pride, and national unity.
Each of these titles captures aspects of her legacy, whether focusing on her bravery, leadership, cultural impact, or the inspiration she provides today.
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“Rani Durgawati: Warrior Queen of Gondwana – Unveiling the Legacy”
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“Forgotten Voices: Celebrating the Heroism of Rani Durgawati”
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“Courage Beyond Kingdoms: Rani Durgawati’s Legacy and Leadership”
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“Warrior, Leader, Icon: Exploring the Historical Impact of Rani Durgawati”
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“From Reign to Resistance: Rani Durgawati’s Role in India’s Heritage”
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“Strength in Sovereignty: The Remarkable Story of Rani Durgawati”
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“Echoes of Gondwana: Rani Durgawati and Her Enduring Influence”
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“Power, Resistance, and Identity: Understanding Rani Durgawati’s Legacy”
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“Rani Durgawati’s Sword and Shield: A Seminar on Valor, Governance, and Heritage”
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“Rani Durgawati: The Warrior Queen of Gondwana”
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“Unbowed and Unbroken: Rani Durgawati’s Fight for Freedom”
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“Legacy of Valor: The Heroism of Rani Durgawati”
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“Beyond the Crown: Rani Durgawati’s Impact on Indian History”
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“Strength and Sovereignty: The Life of Rani Durgawati”
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“Women in Power: Rani Durgawati’s Role in History”
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“Echoes of Courage: Rani Durgawati’s Legacy Today”
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“From Royalty to Resistance: Rani Durgawati’s Journey”
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“Rani Durgawati and the Mughal Challenge: A Story of Defiance”
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“Feminine Strength in the Face of Conquest: Rani Durgawati’s Story”
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“Gondwana’s Braveheart: Understanding Rani Durgawati’s Leadership”
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“Rani Durgawati and the Power of Indigenous Resistance”
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“Heritage of Bravery: Rani Durgawati in Indian History”
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“Voices of Valor: Rani Durgawati and Her Role in Cultural Identity”
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“History’s Forgotten Queens: Spotlight on Rani Durgawati”
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“The Sword and the Shield: Rani Durgawati’s Battle for Her Kingdom”
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“Celebrating Rani Durgawati: A Symbol of Strength and Sacrifice”
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“Rani Durgawati and the Spirit of Gondwana: Inspiring Generations”
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“Resilience and Valor: The Life and Times of Rani Durgawati”
Aims and objectives-
The aims and objectives can center around promoting historical awareness, deepening understanding of her legacy, and fostering discussions on leadership, cultural heritage, and gender studies. Here’s a detailed outline-
To Celebrate and Recognize the Legacy of Rani Durgawati it is important to highlight her contributions as a ruler, warrior, and historical icon, emphasizing her bravery and leadership in resisting Mughal expansion. Bring attention to the often-overlooked histories of Gondwana and other regional powers, contributing to a more inclusive understanding of Indian history. furthermore, to use her life story to inspire values of resilience, dedication, and cultural pride, resonating especially with youth and emerging leaders. It also aims to Examine Rani Durgawati’s role as a female ruler in a patriarchal society, contributing to broader discussions on the role of women in history, politics, and warfare. The seminar’s major objective is to provide a platform for scholarly discussion and research, facilitating in-depth discussions among historians, scholars, and students about Rani Durgawati’s life, legacy, and historical significance. The seminar aims to expand knowledge on resistance movements in Indian history, exploring her resistance against the Mughals for instance, examining the political and
strategic aspects of her defense and the broader implications of such resistance movements. It also seeks to analyze gender dynamics in leadership through Rani Durgawati’s. It Discuss the challenges and achievements of women leaders in history, with a focus on Rani Durgawati, to understand gender dynamics in governance. To encourage interdisciplinary approaches to historical study, and inspire new research on her contributions to Indian heritage. Furthermore, the seminar will examine the cultural and social implications of her legacy today, enhance awareness of indigenous contributions to Indian history, and showcase her as a symbol of national pride and unity, reinforcing her relevance in discussions on unity, pride, and national identity.
This aims and objectives can create a seminar that not only honors Rani Durgawati’s legacy but also encourages meaningful contributions to the fields of history, cultural studies, and leadership.
Significance of the Seminar -How it will create new knowledge or contribute to the discipline-
A seminar on Rani Durgawati holds great significance in contributing to historical and cultural knowledge, as well as enriching the discipline of history and social studies. Rani Durgawati was a 16th-century queen and warrior from Gondwana, known for her leadership, resistance against Mughal expansion, and dedication to her people. Studying her life and reign offers invaluable insights into themes like regional leadership, gender roles, and indigenous governance structures in pre-colonial India.
Here’s how the seminar could contribute to knowledge and the discipline:
1.
Highlighting Regional and Indigenous Histories: Rani Durgawati’s legacy is often underrepresented in mainstream historical narratives. A seminar can bring attention to regional histories and the contributions of indigenous leaders, helping to expand historical narratives beyond dominant accounts. This inclusion promotes a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of India’s past.
2.
Fostering Gender Studies in History: Rani Durgawati is a powerful example of a woman leader in a traditionally male-dominated era. Exploring her life allows for critical discussions about women’s roles in historical governance, warfare, and resistance. Such studies contribute to gender history, illustrating how women navigated and shaped political landscapes.
3.
Encouraging Interdisciplinary Approaches: The seminar could foster interdisciplinary research that combines history, sociology, anthropology, and literature. This approach could deepen our understanding of Gondwana’s social, political, and economic systems and of how they interacted with neighboring regions.
4.
Inspiring Leadership and Cultural Identity Studies: Rani Durgawati is often celebrated as a symbol of courage, resilience, and cultural pride. Discussions on her legacy can inspire research into cultural identity formation, the valorization of local
heroes, and how history shape’s contemporary identity and nationalism. These studies would be valuable in social and cultural disciplines.
5.
Providing Fresh Perspectives on Resistance Movements: By focusing on Rani Durgawati’s resistance against Mughal rule, the seminar can enrich the study of regional resistance movements. Analyzing her strategies and motivations could provide new insights into the dynamics of resistance, which is relevant not only to historical studies but also to the study of resistance in political science.
In summary, a seminar on Rani Durgawati can illuminate lesser-known aspects of history, broaden our understanding of indigenous governance, and contribute to gender and cultural studies, making it an invaluable addition to academic and cultural scholarship.
Call for Papers A limited number of scholars of repute are invited for the IIAS Seminar. Those interested in participating should send (preferably by email) an abstract (300 words) of the proposed paper in English along with their C.V. (One page) directly to Convenor Dr. Jyoti Yadav Email: 07yadavjyoti@gmail.com, and copy to the Academic Resource Officer, Indian institute of Advanced Study, Shimla on his Email: seminar@iias.ac.in Tel: 0177-2831385 The abstract should clearly state the objectives, methodology, and relevance of the proposed paper including 4–6 keywords. The last date for submission of abstracts is 31th January 2026 by 05:00 PM. The Institute intends to send Invitation letters to selected participants by the 15th February, 2026. It is the policy of the Institute to publish the papers not proceedings of the seminars it organizes. Hence, all invited participants will be expected to submit complete papers (in English), hitherto unpublished and original, with citations in place, along with a reference section, to the Convener and copy to the Academic Resource Officer, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla– 171005 by 28th February, 2026.
Guidelines for submission Font- Times New Roman Font Size- 12 Paragraph spacing- 1.5
Bibliographical References
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Bibliographical references should be in a consistent style. For detailed instructions we refer to either of the following 3 books: The Chicago Manual of Style, Hart’s Rules, or Butcher’s Copy-editing. Please cross-check references to see that each reference makes sense and matches the relevant bit in the main text.
Books
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Single Author
Chaudhuri, Amit, Afternoon Raag, London: Heinemann, 1993. p72.
Surname, First name, Title of Book, Place of Publication: Publisher, (date) and page.
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Multiple Authors
Basu, Tapan, Pradip Datta, Sumit Sarkar, Tanika Sarkar, and Sambuddha Sen, Khaki Shorts Saffron Flags (Tracts for the Times/1), Hyderabad: Orient Longman, 1993 and page.
Surname of first Author, First name of first Author and First name of second Author, Surname of second Author etc., Title of Book, Place of Publication: Publisher, (date) and page.
Edited Volume
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Single author
George, K.M. (ed.), Modern Indian Literature: An Anthology, Plays and Prose, Delhi: Sahitya Akademi, 1994 and page.
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Multiple authors
Ashcroft, Bill, Gareth Griffiths and Helen Tiffin (eds), The Empire Writes Back [1989], London and New York: Routledge, 1995 and page.
Translated Volume
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Kemal, Yasher (trans. from Turkish by Thilda Kemal), The Wind form the Plain [1960], London: Harvill Press, 1989 and page.
Paper in Edited Volume
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Single Author and Single Editor
Masselos, J.C., ‘The Khojas of Bombay: The Defining of Formal Membership Criteria During the Nineteenth Century’, in Caste and Social Stratification among the Muslims, Imtiaz Ahmad (ed.), Delhi: Manohar Book Service, 1973.
Surname, First name of Author, ‘Title of Paper’, in Title of Book, First name of Editor Surname of Editor (ed.), Place of Publication: Publisher, (date) and page.
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Single Authors and Multiple Editors
Salomon, C., ‘The cosmogonic riddles of Lalan Faqir’, in Gender, Genre and Power in South Asian Expressive Traditions, A. Appadurai, F. Korom, and M. Mills (eds), Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1991 and page.
Surname of Author, First name of Author, ‘Title of Paper’, in Title of Book, First name of first Editor Surname of first Editor and First name of second Editor Surname of second Editor (eds), Place of Publication: Publisher, (date) and page.
Paper in Journal
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Single Author
Bouiller, V., ‘The Nepalese State and Gorakhnathi Yogis: The Case of the Former Kingdoms of Dang Valley, 18th-19th Centuries’, Contribution to Nepalese Studies, 20 (1), 1993, pp. 29-52.
Surname, first name, ‘Title of Paper’, Name of Journal, Volume number (Issue number), (date), pp. 000-0.
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Multiple Authors
Murty, M. N. and R. Ray, ‘A Computational Procedure for Calculating Optimal Commodity Taxes with Illustrative Evidence from Indian Budget Data’, Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 91(4), 1989, pp.655-70.
Surname of first Author, First name of first Author and First name of second Author Surname of second Author, ‘Title of Paper’, Name of Journal, Volume number (Issue number), (date), pp. 000-0.
Paper in Edited Journal
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Single author
Gaborieau, Marc, ‘Life-Cycle Ceremonies among Converted Muslims in Nepal and Northern India’, in Islam in Asia, Yohanan Friedmann (ed.), vol. I, South Asia, Jerusalem: Magnes Press, Hebrew University, 1984 and page.
Unpublished Papers/Mimeographs/Discussion Papers/Working Papers
Chander, P. and L. Wide, ‘Corruption and Tax Compliance’, mimeo, New Delhi: Indian Statistical Institute, 1989.
Surname of first Author, First name of first Author and First name of second Author Surname of second Author (1991), ‘Title of Paper’, mimeo, Place: Organization, (date).
Newspaper: Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Name of Newspaper (City and Province/State of Publication, if not Included in Name), Date of Publication. https://doi.org/DOI Number or Name of Database.
Website/URL:
With author:
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Author Last Name, First Name. “Page Title.” Website Name, Month Day, Year. URL.
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Example: Schallhorn, Cathlyn. “Chicago.” Britannica, December 17, 2021. https://www.britannica.com/place/Chicago
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Full Note: First Name Last Name, “Page Title,” Website Name, Month Day, Year, URL.
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Example: 1. Jack Caulfield, “A Step-by-Step Guide to the Writing Process,” Scribbr, April 24, 2020, https://www.scribbr.com/academic-writing/writing-process/
If there is no author or date:
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Bibliography: “Title of Page.” Website Name, accessed Month Day, Year. URL.
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Example: “About the UvA.” University of Amsterdam, accessed July 24, 2018. http://www.uva.nl/en/about-the-uva
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Full Note: “Title of Page,” Website Name, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.
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Example: 1. “Catholic News Agency,” accessed March 25, 2025, https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/
Citing blog posts and blogs
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Citing blog posts and blogs Blog posts are cited like—quotation marks; the title of the blog, in italics; the date of the post; and a URL. Blogs that are part of a larger…clear from the titles, the word blog may be added in parentheses after the title of the blog. Blog posts can often be cited in…2. William Germano, “Futurist Shock,” Lingua Franca (blog), Chronicle of Higher Education, February 15, 2017, https://www…
News sites and blogs
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News sites and blogs Titles of news websites and blogs, like the titles of newspapers and other…along with the title. Titles of articles and blog posts should be placed in quotation marks (untitled posts…Wasted Food; “Food Waste Stump Speech,” in Wasted Food, a blog by Jonathan Bloom Huff Post; “The Best and Worst…
Titles for websites, blogs, and social media
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Titles for websites, blogs, and social media Whether they are mentioned in the text or…quotation marks) may be used for generic or descriptive titles. Blogs are treated like periodicals, their titles set in italics…Merriam-Webster.com CMOS Shop Talk; the Shop Talk blog YouTube.
The IIAS, Shimla will be glad to extend its hospitality during the seminar period and will reimburse, rail or air travel (economy class) expenses from the place of current residence in India, or the port of arrival in India, and back. Kindly ensure booking of tickets through IRCTC/Ashoka Travels/Blamer & Lawrie as per Govt. of India specifications.
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