Gond kingdoms
Also called: Garha-Katanga · Topic: Regional Resistance: Rajputs, Ahoms, Sikhs · NCERT: Class 8, Ch 2 "Reshaping India's Political Map"
Meaning
The Gond kingdoms were states set up by the Gond people, a large tribal community of central India. Several of them rose between c. the 15th and 18th centuries, including Garha-Katanga, Deogarh, Chanda and Kherla. They show how tribal chiefdoms grew into full kingdoms with rulers, forts and armies. They also resisted being taken over by the Sultanate and the Mughals.
Example
Garha-Katanga was centred near present-day Jabalpur. Under Rani Durgavati it became rich and kept an army of 20,000 soldiers and 1,000 elephants. In 1564 a general sent by Akbar attacked it. Durgavati fought in person, and when she was wounded she took her own life on the battlefield rather than be captured.
Don't confuse with
- Gond tribal groups in general: not every Gond community formed a kingdom. Many lived in forest and hill areas and kept some freedom without a state of their own.