The First Maratha Queen

This story is a fictitious representation of the life of Saibai Nimbalkar. There is very little historical information on her.

Saibai Nimbalkar came into the prominent household of the Bhosales as a gratitude gift from her father to his for saving his life. She was a nine-year-old girl being married to the eleven-year-old warrior son of a noble. Her Sasubai (mother-in-law) always treated her like a daughter and helped her learn her duties in the household. She was the ultimate word in his life, and she spent her days helping her son run the state as well as managing the household.

He was learning to become a warrior. He was waiting for the day he could join his father and brother on the battlefield. Her dreams were smaller. Decorating the Palace with colourful rangoli or helping her sasubai braid and decorate her hair could make her happy. She waited for him patiently with the food every day as he practised his sword skills and told her tales of his father's bravery. She often got amused at his wise behaviour and laughed to make him angry. They slowly became friends, he her Raje and she his Sai.
" Do you know what Swaraj is, Sai?" He asked her one day while returning home from the temples. She looked at him, clueless.

"It is the dream of my mother. It is our rule over our forefathers' land without any emperor's influence, without the emperor's torturing our villagers." His eyes lit up as he looked at her. Her face was tensed.
"Raje, is that really possible? Many have tried and failed and lost their kingdoms and lives."
"I will make it possible. I will dedicate my life to my country and its freedom from slavery."
"Raje, your dreams are too big...." She was smiling. Indeed, her man was special.

Years passed by with his dedication towards becoming a warrior, she's towards his household. They were in their teens. His sword skills were praised everywhere, and her kindness was blessed. Friends became partners. Their silly fights and quarrels, he pulling her leg, her angry nose flare, and his apologies. Everything lit up the palace.

He used to go out at night with her help to help the villagers in distress. The poor and needy loved their knight. He helped his mother with state affairs in his father's absence. Any stress or good news, his first call was "Sai..."

That was a time when polygamy was prevalent among royals. His mother thought it was the right time for a second bride. Soyara Bai was younger than her. The palace rejoiced at the arrival of another Laxmi. Saibai accepted her as a sister. But he... His heart already belonged to Saibai. He knew she was hurt and helpless, yet ever smiling. The teenage boy who was too busy with plans of taking lives had fallen in love with his childhood companion and first wife. She fed him when tired, caressed his wounds and supported him without expectations. While all other girls her age desired jewellery and love, she stood by him through thick and thin and advised and encouraged his dreams.
Despite having five other marital alliances, she was his only wife. Her positive and good nature brought peace to the household. He carried out many operations across the Deccans and captured forts. He was thus called Chatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosale by his subjects and a mountain rat by his enemies. He knew the mountains like a child knows its mother. She fasted and prayed for him while he was away in the wars.

Shivaji and Saibai Paintings from the 18th century.

Finally, they were old enough, and their mother decided it was time to consummate their marriage. She travelled from the room she shared with his other wives into his Palace Chambers.
His dreams, thoughts and aspirations did not need to be told to her in words. He understood her just like his mother. Their affection was not that of any political union but that of love and respect. She gave him three beautiful daughters and a son, the future king.
She died at the age of twenty-six, leaving behind her two-year-old son in the care of his grandmother, Jijabai. Their nineteen years of marriage not only shaped his character but also his political decisions. After her death, he shunned himself from love again, although he unwillingly consummated his marriage with Queens, he could not love like he loved her. He died aged fifty-three, facing dysentery problems. He suffered for a few days before breathing his last, and such was their love that his last word was "Sai".

She was that part of his warrior self that helped him remain generous and humble. She was the luck in his life. The string that tied his household together with love. Her prayers spelt his success, and her smile made his days. Saibai was Shivaji Raje's personal life.
Political turmoil, wars, marriages, children and responsibilities at such young ages gave them no time to confess their untold love to each other. She was his one and only love, and yet somewhere the story remains incomplete. Their love remains unspoken and ignored.

Sisodiya: Kings, Queens and Princes (1538 - 1597)

I am back with another History post, this time it is on the wives and sons of Rana Udai Singh II of Mewar, his son and heir Maharana Pratap and Rana Amar Singh. This is a continuation of the Sisodia Family History I posted some time back. The information has been taken from Annals of Mewar by James Todd, Maharana Pratap by B.N. Rana, and Maharana Pratap by Rima Hooja. Udai Singh II was the son of Ranisa Karnawati and Rana Sangram Singh. He was born on 4th August 1 522, at Chittorgarh and died on 28th February 1 572 at Gogunda . He was the Ruler of the Sisodia Dynasty. He is believed to have 56 sons and 2 5 wives, apart from the many insignificant queens in his Rani Mahal. Here is a list of his main queens and their sons. Maharani Jaivanta Bai Songara of Jalore was his chief queen and consort. Her son is Maharana Pratap. He was married to her before he went to war with Banbir, as her father, Akshayraj Rao, was a friend and ally of his father, Rana Sanga. Saj...

A Chivalrous Emnity

“Ranisa. Hukum” There was a hint of urgency in the maid in waiting’s voice as she rushed to the clearing where the tents were set up. Rani Pur Bai Solanki, the second queen, frowned at her sudden, alarming voice. “Hush, Rama, the children are...” She checked the children’s tent, alarmed. They slept during the day and stayed awake at night, because the forestland was not safe, neither from animals nor the enemies. “Ranisa, forgive me, it's Kunwarsa... He is back... but...” Pur Bai’s face lit up with a smile of hope that didn’t last long. “But?” “What is it? What’s wrong?” The Maharani of Mewar had walked out of her camp, with the other queens in tow. The maid bowed before her. “It’s Kunwarsa.” “He is back?” She frowned. He was not supposed to be back so early until his father reached Dholan. “So is Ranaji.” The maid looked scared. “There is a court called in an emergency. I came to inform you that Ranaji wanted everyone to be present.” “Jija...” Pur Bai could see the tension mountin...

The Annals of Rajputana

Col. James Todd’s Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan describes Rajputana through History, Geography, Mythology, Folklore, Veer Gathas, Traditions, Cultures, Heritage, Rules, Valour and its people. However, one must remember that he was commissioned to write the narrative and his resources are not based on historical evidence. However, it is worth a read and very interesting. The following excerpts are from his book. Please take note that Todd's accounts are based on hearsay, stories, and commissioned by royals and hence aren't treated as historically accurate. However, his book is important as it is the first English-language book to have extensive work done on Rajputana. Rajputs are commonly believed to be people from Rajasthan; however, their branches have spread far and wide into Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and even parts of Bengal. The initial origination-based clans/tribes had been subdivided first in the book Prithvirajraso by Chand Bardai; howev...

The Reva Cries

Roopmati had watched the troops leave. She had stood behind the chief queen as she traditionally bid goodbye to her sons. She had waited for the Sultan to come to her. He did. He was confident that the sudden advancement of Akbar’s foster brother Adham Khan could be curbed. It was not war, just precaution. He reassured her. Malwa would never bow to the Timurids. And he would not let anything happen to her. To Her. Roopmati felt suffocated by her husband’s affectionate hug. She felt trapped in the scrutinising eyes of all the people in the palace. Angry, blaming eyes. She tried to pace herself and sing, but her voice cracked in fear. Her melody was drowned in tears. Every evening, a messenger would come to the chief queen with the news of war. Roopmati was kept in the darkness. She was not told about anything. She knew the rumours. She was a witch. A temptress who caused doom to the Sultan of Malwa. She was a spy of the enemy planted in his life to destroy him. She wondered if he came b...

The Mastermind

The Prince was sitting on the Balcony of the palace. There was a worried look on his face. He sighed. He was treated as the most intelligent person in the whole of Aryavarta, yet he could not find a solution to this problem. His thoughts were interrupted by his mother. Her eyes showed that she had not had a wink of sleep for the last two days. She informed, " The gifts and flowers have been arranged, the chariots have been called on, and the journey will begin tomorrow morning." Her voice was distant. " Maata, is there any way...?" " Saubala Putra, I forbid you, our own happiness is not greater than that of the subjects. Their securities matter the most. So please do not use any Maya on the Emperors to anger them. Your sister has accepted her fate; you, too, do so." " But how, Maata? She is Intelligence personified; she has boons from Lord Shiva himself. How can we give her away to a blind man?" " That blind man is the most powerful person ...

Sisodiya Family History

Many of you have requested a historical and chronological account of Chittorgarh since Rana Sanga. Let me start by telling you this is just an outline of the events as per history. The family name was originally Guhilot from Guha, a Rana of Mewar. But after one of the kings bravely killed a Sisod, a wild boar, the family name came to be Sisodiya. The Maharana of Mewar, Sangram Singh , was father to Maharaj Kumar Bhoj Raj, his heir apparent and prince who was married to Saint Poetess Meera Bai , the princess of Merta. While Bhoj Raj died in the battle of Khanua, Rana Sanga died of wounds that did not heal from his battle with Babur and the invading Mughal army. He had fought 17 wars against Babar. When both Bhoj Raj and Sanga died, Rani Karvawati, the favourite queen of Rana Sanga, asked Meera Bai to leave the fort of Chittorgarh. It is believed that luck left Chittorgarh with Meera. The year was 1528 AD . Ratan Singh, the brother of Bhoj Raj, had been coronated when he suspe...

How Agni Became Auspicious

The great Rishi Saunak and his students had once gathered at the Naimisharanya at the beginning of the Kali Yuga to save themselves from the effects of this age. Here, Ugrasrava Sauti, the great Sage and son of Sage Lomharshana, came to meet them. He surprised them with stories of King Janamejaya's strange Swarpa Yagna and the strangest tales he heard from Maharshi Krishna Dwaipayana Vyas Dev there, at this strangest of events. The eager Rishis asked Sauti about the story of Bhrigu and Agni. Bhrigu was a powerful Rishi. His wife was Puloma, the Daughter of Daksha Prajapati and granddaughter of Brahma. One day, when his wife was pregnant, he left her in the darkness of the awaiting dawn to go for a dip in the holy Ganges far away. She was alone in the hut when a Rakshasa attacked her. Scared and alone, Puloma cried helplessly for aid. Her beauty had mesmerised the animals who wanted to marry her by force. The demon leader took her into the hut and shut the door. But inside the hut, ...

The Righteous Wife

Rao Nahar Panwar made Mandore the capital of Marwar, Rajasthan, until Rao Jodha shifted to the Mehrangarh Fort. Mandore, a few km from the blue city of Jodhpur, now stands as a tourist spot with an archaeological park of ancient temples. Dated back to around the 6th Century and older, these temples are an example of wonderfully curved stone architectural wonders. Amongst them stands a temple to an unusual deity. The King of Lanka, the demon devotee of Shiva, Ravana. Surprised? The Brahmins of this place religiously worship him twice every day. Why? Temples at Mandore During the Puranic times, Maya Danav, the architect among Demons, son of Rishi Kashyap and his wife Aditi, used to rule Madnore, with his consort, the Apsara queen Hema. They had two sons, Mayavi and Dhundhuvi, but yearned for a daughter. Devotees of Shiva prayed to him for a daughter. Once an Apsara, Madhura visited Kailash in the absence of Devi Parvati and tried to seduce the Lord. Angered at her action, the Devi h...

The Emperor's First Wife

Ruqaiya Sultana Begum was born to Babur's second surviving son, Hindal Mirza, and his wife, Sultanam Begum, in 1542 C.E., merely a few months after Hamida Banu gave birth to the heir Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar. She was well-versed in Persian, Urdu and Arabic and was attracted to poetry and music. Being a proud descendant of the Timurid clan, most of Rukaiya's childhood was spent in Kabul, near the Bagh E Babur, built by Babur himself. From early childhood, she had seen the struggle of her family to regain their lost power in Hind. In 1551 C.E., just after her father died young at a battle for Humayun, leaving her and her mother in the harem of the emperor, it was Hamida Banu who wanted the marriage of Rukaiya to her first cousin, Akbar. Theirs was the first in-house marriage of the Mughals, soon to be followed by many more in the generations to come. At the mere age of nine, she had married the crown prince, and when Humayun won back Lahore, she was fifteen. At the mere age ...

The Warrior and Princess

Dasharatha was very protective of his sons. He had got them after almost a lifetime of waiting and yajnas, so they were his lifeline. Ram, the eldest, won hearts with his humble, generous ways. Bharata, the second, was his favourite queen's brave son, and Laxman and Shatrughan were the twins to the lesser queen, who followed their brothers like shadows. They were a peaceful, happy family. Sage Vasistha was their Kulaguru, teaching them the Vedic hymns and the righteous ways of life. The Princes grew up in the luxurious, protected premises of the palace. The King of Mithila, too, was childless. Mother Earth granted him a daughter. Sita grew up learning and curious, followed by the king's second daughter, Urmila and their cousins Mandavi and Shrutakirti. They grew up knowing the natural ways of life, and their father took them to learn from men to know more about man and his natural instincts. The princesses were curious and always questioning the traditions, and the Princes lear...

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