EXAMINING WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP AND IMPACT IN THE SIKH IMPERIAL DYNASTY

Abstract

This article examines the status, leadership, and multifaceted contributions of women within the Sikh Imperial Dynasty against the broader historical backdrop of the Indian Subcontinent. Tracing women's position from the Indus Valley Civilization through the Vedic, Mauryan, Rajput, Sultanate, and Mughal eras  periods marked by oppressive practices such as sati, purdah, child marriage, and female infanticide  the study demonstrates how the emergence of Sikhism under Guru Nanak Dev and subsequent Gurus brought a revolutionary shift toward gender equality. Through institutions such as langar and the Khalsa Panth, Sikh women were empowered as religious educators, battlefield warriors, political administrators, and spiritual leaders. Drawing on the lives of notable figures including Bebe Nanaki, Mata Kheevi, Mai Bhago, Rani Jindan, and Rani Sada Kaur, the article highlights how Sikh women transcended patriarchal barriers and became enduring agents of social and religious change.