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1997: First Indian Woman to go in Space: Dr. Kalpana Chawla (November 1997) Kalpana (pictured on right) had no
interest in make-up, hairstyle or
cooking like her contemporaries. When her elder sister got
married, she wore the same suit for three consecutive days saying "
it did not matter at all." Her aunt, Amrit Kaur, is proud of her
year-and-half rigorous training regime at NASA...
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1994: First Indian Woman to perform a solo flight: Harita Kaur Deol
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1974: First Indian Woman IPS Officer: Kiran Bedi
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1970: First Indian Woman to win an Asian gold: Kamaljit Sandhu
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1954: First Indian Woman Union Health Minister: Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
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First woman President of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee
(SGPC): Bibi Jagir Kaur
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1748: Women in Mir Manoo's Prison, tortured,
oppressed, endured slave labor
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Mata Nanaki was Guru Nanak's sister and perhaps the first Sikh. She
played a vital role in sustaining and spreading Guru Nanak's spiritual
message.
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Mata Tripta was Guru Nanak's mother and encouraged Guru Nanak to
pursue his life long mission.
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Mata Khivi was Guru Angad Dev's wife and she occupies a special place
in Sikh history. She played a critical role in the second Guru's life.
Her most important contribution is that she made the concept of langar (community kitchen), a
reality. She helped create a new social consciousness in Sikh
women.
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Mata Ajit Kaur, the only wife of Guru Gobind Singh, has also been
referred to as Mata Jito, Mata Jeeto (derivatives of Ajit) and
Mata Sundri (a term of endearment). These multiple aliases have
attributed to dissemination of misinformation on the web regarding Guru
Gobind Singh's wife. In fact, Guru Gobind Singh had only one wife and
not three.
Mata Ajit Kaur nurtured and guided the Khalsa for forty years after
the Guru's death. She was deeply spiritual, as well as intellectual, and was
responsible for making scholarship a central part of Sikh life. helped
provide leadership for the Sikhs in a very difficult and tumultuous time
following the passing away of Guru Gobind Singh. She helped maintain the
sanctity of the Guru Granth Sahib as the successor of Guru Gobind Singh and
dealt strictly with pretenders and other aspirants of Guruship.
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Mata Gujari was an illuminating force behind her husband Guru Tegh
Bahadur (the ninth Guru) and her son Guru Gobind Singh (the tenth Guru).
After the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, Mata Gujari guided and inspired
her son Guru Gobind Singh. She was responsible for the training of the
Sahibzadas (the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh) who gave up their lives for
Sikhism while they were still very young. Mata Gujri was an inspiring force
during one of the most difficult times in Sikh history.
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Mata Sahib The Spiritual Mother of the Khalsa. During the first Amrit
ceremony of the Khalsa on Vaisakhi 1699, She added sugar wafers (Patasae) in
the preparation of the Holy nectar (Amrit) in order to infuse mercy and
benevolence into the preexisting properties (courage and strength) of the
Amrit. Sikh Women are vital to the foundation and the future of the
Sikh way of life. On this auspicious occasion, let us be inspired by
Mata Sahib Kaur’s courage and compassion and continue to stay involved in
our communities.
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Bibi Bhani has a unique position in Sikh history. She was the
daughter of the third Guru (Guru Amar Das), wife of the fourth Guru (Guru
Ram Das), and mother of the fifth Guru (Guru Arjan Dev). Bibi Bhani was an
inspiration during the formative period of Sikh history and symbolizes
responsibility, dedication, humility and fortitude.
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Sada
Kaur described as a first woman commander-in-chief and a leader of
unprecedented qualities. She along with her son in law Ranjit Singh
defeated Zaman Shah, son of Abdali near Amritsar and established the Khalsa
Kingdom. She became a young widow when her husband was killed in
battle.
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Rani
Jind Kaur married to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, mother of Maharaja
Dalip Singh, first female freedom fighter in the struggle to drive out the
British from India. She tried her best to stop British from annexing
her kingdom.
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Mai
Bhago Fought side by side with Guru Gobind Singh, was the lone
survivor of the battle in which Fourty Mukte defeated Mughals. She
led and fought in many battles for Guru Gobind Singh, and also served as his
bodyguard. She led a battalion of 40 men in the battle of Muktsar.
Mai Bhago kaur survived to remain a member of the Khalsa army.
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Bibi
Khem Kaur A general of Sikh forces that supported a revolt against
British in 1849.
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Bibi
Sahib Kaur Phulkian A Princess of Patiala. She led armies into
many battles and was the only woman in Indian subcontinent to win a battle
over a British General.
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Bibi
Rajinder Kaur Princess of Patiala and displayed her chivalry in
numerous battles.
Guru Amar Das trained missionaries to spread Sikhism throughout the country.
According to one account, of the 146 missionaries Guru Amar Das trained and
sent out, 52 were women. At one time the religious seats in the country of
Afghanistan and Kashmir were under the jurisdiction of women. These women had
complete jurisdiction in decision making as well as preaching to
congregations.
Additional Sikh History Resources and
acknowlegement
Submissions by Sodhi Singh
Style of the Lion: The Sikhs
by Jasprit Singh, A Glimpse of the Sikh by Jasprit Singh
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