New Delhi, October 3, 2026: India’s lesser-known women rulers are set to receive greater attention in school history lessons, with a newly released NCERT Class 9 Social Science textbook featuring accounts of Queen Naiki Devi, Rani Abbakka Chowta and Queen Rudrama Devi. Their stories appear in a chapter on resistance and resilience, bringing regional histories and women’s leadership into the classroom.
The book, titled Understanding Society: India and Beyond – Part 2, was released on September 29, several months after the start of the academic session. Its chapter, “Resistance and Resilience”, examines episodes of political and military resistance across the Indian subcontinent between 1000 and 1700 CE.
The inclusion of these rulers highlights how women exercised political authority and participated in conflicts involving powerful regional and overseas forces. It also introduces students to historical figures whose contributions may receive less attention in conventional accounts of medieval Indian history.
Naiki Devi and the Battle Against Muhammad Ghori
The textbook discusses Queen Naiki Devi of the Chaulukya kingdom and credits her with defeating Muhammad Ghori at Kasahrada, near Mount Abu, in 1178. The account places her among the rulers who resisted Turkish incursions into the region.
The chapter also refers to resistance by the Hindu Shahi rulers, Chandellas, Solankis and Chauhans. By including Naiki Devi’s story within this wider historical setting, the book presents resistance as a series of events involving different kingdoms and communities rather than focusing only on prominent imperial powers.
Abbakka Chowta’s Resistance to Portuguese Forces
Another prominent figure in the chapter is Rani Abbakka Chowta, who ruled Ullal, in present-day Karnataka, during the 16th century. The textbook identifies her as a ruler who resisted Portuguese naval forces.
Abbakka’s reign is placed between 1525 and 1570. Her inclusion draws attention to the coastal kingdoms that confronted European expansion and highlights the role of regional rulers in shaping the history of maritime resistance.
Her story also offers students an opportunity to understand the political and strategic importance of India’s coastal regions during this period.
Rudrama Devi and the Kakatiya Dynasty
The textbook also features Queen Rudrama Devi of the Kakatiya dynasty, noting her resistance to the Delhi Sultanate. Her presence adds another example of women’s participation in governance and regional power struggles.
Rudrama Devi is among the notable women rulers associated with medieval Deccan history. Her inclusion alongside Naiki Devi and Abbakka Chowta shows the geographical range of the women’s histories covered in the new chapter.
A Wider Look at Historical Resistance
The chapter extends beyond individual rulers to discuss resistance by several communities and kingdoms, including the Ahoms, Marathas, Sikhs and Jats. It also examines the role of religious traditions and regional identities in historical conflicts.
The new textbook forms part of NCERT’s revised Social Science curriculum. Its release has attracted attention because of its expanded coverage of regional histories and figures who have not always featured prominently in school-level narratives.
For students, the inclusion of Naiki Devi, Abbakka Chowta and Rudrama Devi provides a broader view of India’s past—one that recognises women not only as members of royal families, but also as rulers involved in political decisions and resistance movements.
