From Disability to Invincibility: How Queen Didda Became the World’s First Military Revolutionary
Born disabled and abandoned by Maharaj Simharaj in the Lohar kingdom, Princess Didda embodied Brahmacharini’s relentless devotion, transforming ridicule into resilience, practicing combat with twigs until even the Commander-in-Chief surrendered to her determination. Like a phoenix rising from rejection’s ashes, she became history’s greatest warrior princess.
When Prince Kshemagupta of Kashmir encountered this extraordinary woman during a hunt in 950 AD, destiny orchestrated a divine union. Despite initial social rejection due to her disability, Didda channelled Chandraghanta’s fierce energy, directly connecting with Kashmir’s oppressed masses. Her administrative brilliance so impressed the king that he issued coins reading “DiddakshemGupt”, the first ruler in history to be identified by his wife’s name first.
After Kshemagupta’s death, Didda embodied Durga’s multifaceted power, becoming history’s first queen to oppose Sati while revolutionizing warfare. She created the world’s first paid army, counter-intelligence network, commando squad “Ekangi,” and Paralympic precedent. Most remarkably, her strategic genius twice defeated the dreaded Mahmud of Ghazni, the only defeats in his lifetime. For more on her life and times, you may read the sole biopic on her life titled ‘Didda The Warrior Queen Of Kashmir’ by Ashish Kaul
Like Siddhidatri blessing generations, Didda’s 43-year reign (960-1003 AD) transformed her name into synonymous strength. During Navratra’s celebration of divine feminine triumph over adversity, Queen Didda stands eternal, proof that Shakti transforms every wound into wisdom, every rejection into resurrection.
The story, information and image are copyright protected with Ashish Kaul
About The Author
