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 learned to uphold traditions without question. Sita was Mother Earth's blessing to Janaka, and Ram was Agni's blessing to Dasharatha.

Ram and Laxman were the chosen princes taken to be trained by the sage Vishwamitra. He wanted the princes to help him kill a dangerous Demon Taraka Rakshasi in the forests where he used to perform his annual Yajnas. A reluctant Dasharatha let his sons venture into the dangers. Ram and Laxman learned the arts of warfare. However, something told their guru they were no ordinary princes. At such a tender age, barely fourteen, the Princes learned quickly. Their tip was perfect. Soon, they were ready. Vishwamitra had invited many Kings, Princes and other learned men to his Yajna. Upon reaching there, the brothers decided to explore the beautiful Ashrama of the learned Guru. They came to the garden and saw some princesses making garlands and picking flowers, their backs towards them. Laxman realised that all the life he had lived with brothers, his heart craved a sister he never knew he had.

The preparations were on for the Yajnas, and the eager Princess Sita was asking Vishwamitra the significance of the rituals. Standing a little distance away, the prince of Ayodhya was in awe of how this Princess was eager to know the reason behind everything he had never ever questioned. The demons were heard coming, and the learned men feared the worst. Every time, men were killed, and the Yajnas were destroyed by these demons. But this time was different. The young Princes stuck a bow on their arrow. Sita watched a brave prince chant some hymns and attack the mighty demon army. Two brothers bravely defeated the demon clans. A smile appeared on Sita's lips. He was brave but not vain.

As the Yajnas were completed successfully, Ram looked around to spot the Princesses ready to leave. He wanted to talk to her, but he had never talked to a lady before. He turned back towards his hut.
" Don't you think it's wrong?" Her voice startled him.
He turned back and saw her standing, her face demanded an answer. " You killed a woman, wasn't it Adharma?"
" What she was doing was Adharma. Punishing a wrongdoer is never Adharma. Dharma is not based on gender." She seemed satisfied with his answer and smiled. He smiled back at her, palms folded.

In the distance, Rishi Vishwamitra smiled. Destiny had spoken. He offered Janaka and the Princes of Ayodhya a trip to Rishi Gautama's ashrama. The eager parties agreed. During the journey, they crossed rivers, dangerous forests and clearings. Ram noticed how easy the princesses were in their surroundings. Urmila walked up behind her sister, " The younger one is quieter than the older one, even." She seemed displeased that, so many times their eyes met, Laxman always shied away. Never even smiled or greeted her.

Reaching Rishi Gautama's ashrama, they were greeted by a huge rock. Eager, Sita asked, " Rishi Var, what is this rock? Why is it standing here?" Ram had the same question in mind. Rishi Vishwamitra narrated the tale of how Indra tricked Ahalya, Gautama's wife, into believing he was her husband, and thus Gautama accused her of infidelity and turned her into a stone. Later, when he realised that his wife was not at fault, he repented and blessed her. That the touch of a righteous man's foot can bring her back to life. Hearing the story, the princes and princesses were stunned. Urmila had a question in mind, " Why is fidelity so important for humans? Demons and animals have more than one partner, then why not men?" Rishi Vishwamitra responded to the eager group of youngsters before him, " Because our behaviour distinguishes us from animals. We are the most advanced creatures of god, we should respect and love only one partner through life, that's humanity."
" I will always be faithful to one wife," vowed Ram.
" But what if your wife does not think the same?" Ram was about to answer it when Sita responded, " If she is righteous, humble, and a follower of Dharma, she will follow his path and be his faithful wife too." A smile appeared on Ram's face. They thought alike.

Upon Rishi Vishwamitra's request, he put his foot on the rock, and Ahalya came back to life. An embarrassed Rishi Gautama was summoned, and his forgiving wife held his hand as they started life afresh. Watching the happy couple reunite after this long separation filled Ram's heart with happiness. Sita looked back at him with a smile. This was love.

Sita's father noticed this. He invited the Prince back to Mithila to try his hand at a bow. Whoever stung it would marry Sita. However, Ram was unaware of the prize. The Princess looked on, her heart pounding in her throat, for she had already chosen him. What if he couldn't tie the bowstring? He looked into her concerned eyes and lost his concentration for a second as an excited crowd looked on. He strung it too tightly, and the bow broke in two. Till then, no great warrior could even lift the bow, let alone string it. Janaka was happy to hand him his daughter.

Sita garlanded Ram with the Jaimala. Petals were raining on them, conch shells blew, and the people cheered as he looked into her eyes; they spoke volumes. She was happy to be his. His family was called upon for the royal weddings as they stood side by side, greeting the subjects of Mithila, happy to have chosen each other, clueless about what the future held.

The separation that would be spoken of for so many years to come, Sadness, anger, agony, humiliation, war, separation, and death came between them ever since they got married, but till the last day of their lives, they were faithful to each other, respected and loved each other and were inseparable at heart.

Even today, Ram and his Sita are worshipped as a couple all across India for the strength and faith they had in their relationship. For this is what people desire, his valour and her dignity. Yet, most lack respect for each other and the immense trust they had in their strained relationship.

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...

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 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 ...

Coins, Books, Sources: History of Mewar

The books, as stated by Todd, are all in the private libraries of the Rana at the City Palace, Udaipur, along with the ancient original manuscripts preserved with their secrets to date. Here is a list of books and sources he mentioned: 1 . Khoman Rasa: Khoman was an ancient term for "Prince". It was first borne by the sons of Bappa Rawal, the founder of the Mewar Dynasty. It is claimed by Todd as a modern compilation of Mewar's history by the Ranas of Udaipur, for their own private libraries. It traces the genealogy of Mewar back to Lord Rama and also mentions important events such as the influence of the Sultanate on Mewar, the sack of Chittoor by Allauddin Khilji, Rana Sanga's bravery and the wars against the Mughals by Maharana Pratap Singh. 2. The Raj Vila s , in the Vrij Bakha by Maan Kubeswara, who is known as "The Lord of Rhyme" 3. Raj Ratnakar by Suddasheo Bhat Both of these were composed during the time of Rana Raj Singh of Mewar, who, like his...

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...

The Kaali Effect

!!BOOM!! The shopping mall echoed with a noise. The buzz grew silent. Fear crept in. Until somebody shouted, " It's just a Balloon!" The buzz grew again, the shopping continued, the romantic couples continued their walks, and the food court filled up with the aroma of the orders... A few decades back, people used to laugh carefree at a balloon bursting or a tyre booming in the streets or in various crowded areas. Now, in the back of everyone's head, a loud noise always brings the same thoughts... Another year, another city, another crowded place, Several innocent lives. They don't spare religious places either. For the sake of mankind? Religion? Politics? Power? They only know. Who are they? Nobody knows. It is said that the demon Kaali, who ushered in KaliYug, decided to reside in a few things. Addiction, Wealth, Desire, and Anger are some such things he resides in. This is KaliYug, where an innocent child's balloon makes adults fear the extremes. What is d...

The Warrior Bride

Kelwa/Kailwa is a small village situated around two hours away from Chittorgarh and an hour from Lake Pichola. It was mainly inhabited by the Rathores and ruled by the Chundawat clan, who were once the rulers of Mewar. One chief of Kelwa was Rawat Sihaji Singh Chundawat. He was a very close ally of Rana Sanga. His son Jaga Singhji also died fighting for Rana Udai Singhji in one war with the Afghans in 1555 AD. Kelwa’s heir was the minor child of Jaga Singhji and his widow, Sajjan Bai Songara Chauhan. Being from the clan of the Chauhan Rajputs, she was a warrior at heart. From the early age of about four, her only son was brought up under his uncle Naga Singhji to fight for his motherland and serve it like all other Mewaris. Fateh Pratap Singh Chundawat or Fatta (Patta), as fondly called by everyone, was a deft warrior even before he reached his teens. His name and bravery spread across the land to Rana Udai Singh’s ears in Chittorgarh. He was also the nephew of Ranaji’s close aide Rawa...

A Journey Called PrAja

Love is a relationship based on trust and understanding. It is also a bond that is made up there. People often ask, "Why them?" I end up telling them some folklore. I end up telling them about how she actually was his shadow in the forests, in bad times. Because love passes all its tests in the worst times when you don't give up on each other. So, here's to My Pratap and His Ajabdeh! Ps. This is about the show Bharat Ka Veer Putra Maharana Pratap on Sony by Contilloe Starring Faisal Khan, Roshni Walia, Sharad Malhotra and Rachana Parulkar. This is NOT their real story. The show aired from 2013 to 2015. Ajabdeh, the simple, strong yet gentle samantputri, was starstruck seeing the down-to-earth Kunwar Pratap, the crown prince of Mewar. She was clueless that he held the key to her heart, her lost mala that destiny had chosen him for. Na na na na na Chan Chan Chan Chan na na na na! A comedy of errors followed, as she threw the pail of water on him, fumbled at his presen...

Nawab E Bengal

Background: Nawab Alivardi Khan was ruling Bengal at the peak of Nawabi rule, expanding his strong empire. He had successfully suppressed the Marathas and had given a strong message to the British East India Company’s rising influence at Calcutta. Highly aware of the British Colonial policies across the globe, Nawab Alivardi Khan was strict with his policies and stronghold over Murshidabad, the then capital of Bengal (including present-day Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, and Bangladesh). He had two daughters and no sons. Amina Begum was the elder one, followed by Ghaseti Begum. Amina had three sons with her husband and courtier, Ahmed Khan. The second son, Mirza Mohammad, fondly called Siraj-Ud-Daulah (light of the country)by his grandfather, was born in 1733C.E. He was his grandfather’s favourite because he was born while he won over the Marathas. Alivardi Khan never let the “fortune child” of the family out of his sight. Siraj grew up accompanying his g...

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