Veera Vanitha Yesubai Bhonsale – A Queen Who Chose Honor Over Conversion
“She was tortured for 17 years to convert… but she stood firm – a true Veera Vanitha of Bharat.”
Yesubai Bhonsale, the wife of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and daughter-in-law of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is a glowing yet unsung symbol of courage and sacrifice in Indian history.
After the cruel execution of her husband by Aurangzeb in 1689, Yesubai and her young son Shahu were taken as prisoners to the Mughal court. There, for 17 long years, she was pressured, tortured, and emotionally tormented to abandon her faith and embrace Islam. But Yesubai never yielded. Despite pain, imprisonment, and isolation, she protected her dharma, her identity, and her pride.
Yesubai’s resistance wasn’t loud – it was silent, steady, and unbreakable.
In captivity, she raised her son with wisdom and courage, preparing him for the throne. When Shahu Maharaj was finally released, he took the Maratha Empire to new heights, a testament to the quiet strength of his mother.
Yesubai is not just a queen; she is a Veera Vanitha – a mother of the empire, a guardian of dharma, and a symbol of unwavering spiritual strength.
