Power, Patriarchy and the Politics of Morality: Gender Discrimination in Medieval India with Special Reference to Razia Sultana (1236 CE – 1240 CE)

This article explores the deeply entrenched patriarchy of early medieval India through the exceptional yet tragic reign of Razia Sultana who was the first and only female monarch of the Delhi Sultanate. It examines how Razia’s rule between 1236 and 1240 CE challenged the male-dominated power structures of her time – not by accident or inheritance alone, but through sheer capability, diplomacy and leadership. Despite her administrative competence, military skill and progressive reforms, Razia was relentlessly undermined by the nobility through character assassination and gendered defamation, particularly via allegations about her relationship with Jamal-ud-Din Yaqut, an Abyssinian slave. The article also contrasts Razia’s elite position within the broader socio-cultural realities of common women under the Sultanate who faced limited access to education, rigid purdah norms and societal expectations rooted in patriarchal control. By critically analysing Razia’s downfall, the article highlights how morality and sexuality have historically been weaponized against women who threaten patriarchal dominance. It argues that Razia was not dethroned for being incompetent, but for being a competent woman.