India has a glorious past and rich cultural heritage.

The past centuries have seen

several rulers establishing their empires and dynasties. These rulers were not only
great warriors but some way or the other they have contributed to the development of
the country. Let us have a look at some of the most influential rulers of India whose
presence can still be felt:
Ashoka (265-238 BC): The last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty, Ashoka is still known
for his reign. He played a pivotal role in expanding Buddhism in the country. Following
the conquest of Dharma, he spread the preachings of Buddhism through inscriptions
on rock and pillar edicts. One of the finest examples of his contribution is Sarnath,
which is also the emblem of the present day India. Ashoka is considered to be one of
the ideal rulers of the country. With Ashokas death, the empire lost an idealistic ruler
and it ended within 50 years.
Samudragupta (335-375 CE): He was considered as an epitome of an ideal King
and the Gupta era is referred to as the golden age of India. Samudragupta was a
great warrior and a generous ruler. The qualities of Samudragupta could be proved from
the fact that he was chosen as the successor by his father Chandragupta I, although he
was not his eldest son. During the reign of both father and son, art and science reached
its peak in India. They also formulated a full-fledged currency system with minted gold
coins.
Harshvardhan (590-647 AD): Popularly known as Harsha, Harshavardhan ruled
North India from his capital in Kanuaj. He is believed to have consolidated central India.
The founder of the Empire of Harsha, he was known to have expanded his empire in
North and Central India. At the confluence of three rivers (Ganga, Yamuna and
Saraswati), Harsha began to celebrate a festival every five years. During the
celebrations, he donated all his personal belongings. The occasion is said to be the
beginning of the Kumbha Mela which is still celebrated in India.
Prithviraj Chauhan (1166-1192 AD): One of the greatest warrior kings in the
history of India, Prithviraj Chauhan is known for his valour and heroic nature. The
gallantry he showed in the battle of Tarain made him victorious against the Muslim ruler
Muhammad Ghori. Although, he was defeated in the second battle of Tarain, Prithviraj
Chauhan is still remembered for his gallantry. Interestingly, Prithviraj Chauahns
elopement with Samyukta, the daughter of Jai Chandra Rathod of Kannauj, is one of the
most romantic tales in the history of India.
Razia Sultan (1236-1240 AD): The first and the only woman ruler during the Delhi
Sultanate and the Mughal era, Razia Sultan was an efficient ruler and a strong Monarch.
She succeeded her father Shams-ud-din Iltutmish. During her reign, she tried to
improve the infrastructure of the country and built roads, wells and encouraged trade.
She also established academic centres, schools and public libraries. The brave and
fearless lady is still remembered as one of the strongest women rulers in the history of
India.

Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529 AD): The third ruler of the Vijaynagar Empire,

Krishnadevaraya was one of the greatest rulers of southern India. During his reign he
had defeated many rulers such as the Sultans of Bijapur and Golconda, Bahmani
Sultanate and the Raja of Odisha. He is known for his military tactics as it is said that
on several occasions, he would change the battle plans instantly and turn a losing battle
into a victory. He was a ruler who had faith in different religions and love for several
languages and cultures (he had encouraged literature in different languages).
Akbar (1556-1605 AD): One of the greatest Mughal rulers, Jall al-Dn Muammad
Akbar aka Akbar has ruled the country for almost half a century. With his warfare
tactics he had won many battles which resulted in expansion of the Mughal rule in
almost the entire Indian subcontinent. He believed in cultural integration as he
respected all religions. The reforms and programmes introduced by Akbar in
administration and financial systems brought a change in the lives of the people of
India. The Patwari system introduced during his reign is still practiced in the Indian
subcontinent. The architectural marvels built by Akbar are the gifts to the country and
are still admired and recognised worldwide.
Shivaji (1674-80 AD): The founder of the Maratha Empire and popularly known as
Chhatrapati Shivaji, he is also considered the greatest King of the empire. Under his
rule, which was based on religious toleration, the entire country was united. He was one
of the few leaders to lead resistance movement against the Mughals and the Adishahi
Sultanate of Bijapur. Shivaji invented and introduced a new technique of fighting known
as Guerrilla Warfare, which is useful in attacking enemies without the knowledge of
their location.
Tipu Sultan (1782-1799 AD): The sultan of Mysore, Tipu Sultan was a famous ruler
of southern India in the late 18th century. During his reign, he introduced some
innovations such as a Mauludi lunisolar calendar, coinage and a new land revenue
system which led to the growth of the Mysore silk industry. He is well-known for his
innovative use of rocketry in his military tactics. He used a 2 km missile against the
British army during the Third Anglo-Mysore war at the end of the 18th century.
Ranjit Singh (1801-1839 AD): Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the founder of the Sikh
Empire in India. The foundation of his empire was based on Khalsa but non-Sikhs too
were given commanding positions. Although he suffered an eye loss during childhood,
he overcome this barrier and made an empire on his own. The gold and intricate marble
work at Harmandir Sahib, the holiest gurudwara was conducted by Maharaja Ranjit
Singh. He also built other gurudwaras which are considered sacred temple for the Sikhs
worldwide, even today.