Tilu Rauteli (born Tilottama Devi) was a Garhwali Rajput warrior and

folk hero A folk hero or national hero is a type of hero – real, fictional or mythology, mythological – with their name, personality and deeds embedded in the popular consciousness of a people, mentioned frequently in Folk music, folk songs, folk tales ...

ine who was born in village Gurrad Talla, Chaundkot,

Pauri Garhwal district Pauri Garhwal is a district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Its headquarters is in the town of Pauri. It is sometimes referred to simply as Garhwal district, though it should not be confused with the larger Garhwal region of which it is ...

Uttarakhand Uttarakhand (, ), also known as Uttaranchal ( ; List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2007), is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. The state is bordered by Himachal Pradesh to the n ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

during the seventeenth century. She is credited with fighting seven wars between the ages of fifteen and twenty.

Early life

Rauteli was born in the latter half of the 17th century according to some legends . She is probably the only female warrior in the world who fought seven wars, starting at age fifteen. She was one of the three children of Bhoop Singh (Gorla) Rawat. The others were her brothers Bhagtu and Pathwa. At age fifteen, her engagement was betrothed with Bhuppa Singh Negi from Ida Talla village (Near Srikotkhal) in

. In those days, Katyuri warriors of Kumaon were continuously attacking the

Garhwal Kingdom Kingdom of Garhwal ( ''गढ़वाल राज्य'' ) was an Himalayan kingdom in the current north-western Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, India, founded in 823 CE by Kanak Pal the progenitor of the Panwar dynasty that ruled ove ...

Life as a warrior

After a few days the annual Kauthig (country fair) was organised in Kanda, Rauteli wished to attend. She was unyielding in her demand. Her mother, devastated by the loss of her husband and sons, stated...

''"O Tilu! What are you! Don’t you miss your brothers? Who will avenge your father's death? If you want to go somewhere, it should be battlefield…. Can you go? Can you avenge……..? Enjoy your Kauthig after that!"''

This taunt from her mother left an indelible mark on Rauteli's mind, and she pushed aside her wish to go to Kauthig. Instead she began to prepare a battalion with her friends, and she regrouped the army. After some time she departed for the battlefield, riding her horse "Binduli", and accompanied by her friends "Bellu" and "Devali".

Battle of Khairagarh, Umtagarhi, Sald Mahadev and Kalinkakhal

According to local folktales the Khairagarh (present day Kalagarh) was her first exploit, where she overwhelmed the Katyuris of Kumaon. Then she attacked Umtagarhi, and after that she marched her army to Sald Mahadev, freeing it from the enemy. After settling the border line up to

Chaukhutia Chaukhutia is a town in Almora district of Uttarakhand. It is located on the bank of the river Ramganga, and derives its name from a Kumaoni word "Chau-khut" which means four feet. In Chaukhutia's context, 'four feet' means four ways or directio ...

, Rauteli returned to Deghat with her army. In Kalinkakhal she fought the enemy and avenged her father's death by defeating the general of Katyuri army in Saraikhet, where her father had lost his life. Her comrade "Binduli" died after receiving lethal wounds there.

Supreme sacrifice

After winning her territories back, she started marching towards Kanda. While crossing the Nayar River she stopped to refresh herself, where she gave ultimate sacrifice of her.

Legacy

'Ranbhoot' is invoked in her memory in ' Jagars'. 'Thadya' dance songs are performed in her honour across Uttarakhand.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rauteli, Tilu Culture of Uttarakhand Garhwal division People from Pauri Garhwal district