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, so 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.

Bijolia: Her Home

Journey to Bijolia: Lost Kingdoms and Timeless Temples of Mewar Bijoliya translates to a stop between two cities. Nestled in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district, Bijolia sits 55km from Bundi and 105km from Chittorgarh on the well-travelled Bundi-Chittorgarh road. Once part of Mewar, this seemingly sleepy town guards a rich and layered past: it was ruled from the 11th to the 13th century by the Punwars (or Parmar Rajputs) before falling under the Chauhan dynasty, who shifted the region’s capital to Bhilwara and constructed the imposing fort there. After a brief Chauhan rule, Bijolia was reclaimed by Rana Kumbha and became an integral part of the Mewar kingdom, with the Parmars serving as local Raos, representatives and stewards of the royal house. Despite its history and the famed Bijolia inscriptions (a treasure for historians), Bijolia has never found a seat on Rajasthan’s primary tourist circuit, especially if you’re venturing out by public transport or private car. While a handful of...

Maharana Pratap: The Evolution of an Icon

On the occasion of Maharana Pratap's 486th Birth Anniversary, here is an article I have been meaning to write for a long time. While some of it is personal, other parts are researched. Some parts of this article (art subsection) are reproduced from another article written by me for UPAJ India's magazine Manthan in 2022. Ideally, this was supposed to be two parts, but I did not wish to make it so. Cenotaph at Chawand Veer Shiromoni Hinduja Suraj Maharana Pratap Singh Sisodiya, as he is officially called, the thirteenth Custodian of the royal house of Mewar, a land that now lies in the south-western fringes of the Aravallis of Rajasthan, has been, for the longest time in Indian History, regarded as the first freedom fighter. Resisting invasion into his state, holding his post as king, his life and career had been scrutinised time and again, narratives changed according to popularity rather than evidence. His idea of independence inspired many; his strategy of guerrilla warfare wa...

Chawand: The Maharana's Capital

The road from Udaipur quickly fades into quiet countryside as you head toward Jaisamand Lake and Chavand, a journey that few package tours offer, but one that is forever imprinted on my memory. Just shy of an hour and 59km from the city bustle, you reach Jaisamand (Dhebar Lake), the “Ocean of Victory,” sprawling as Asia’s once-largest man-made lake . Built in 1685 by Maharana Jai Singh, who followed his father’s legendary tradition of dam-building, this vast sheet of water shimmers in the sunlight. I watched local ferries pass, and marble stairs dip into blue shallows, imagining bygone queens slipping into cooling water beneath the massive embankment. Even today, friendly boatmen linger, eager to usher you onto the lake for a breezy ride. They tell you stories of how once a Maharana roamed these dense forests in search of freedom. Do pause here and soak in the peaceful air before venturing further southwest, toward the forgotten echoes of Mewar’s pride. The drive to Chavand, ...

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 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 mounting on...

Chandra's Choice: The Story of Dhruvasvamini

More often than not, the private lives of kings and the existence of their queens remain in the words of bards rather than those of chroniclers. Dhruvasvamini is no different, even after being the queen of the golden age of the Indian Subcontinent. She appears in the Basarh Clay Seal as the mother of Govinda Gupta (attributed as a sibling of Kumara Gupta I) and the queen wife of Chandra Gupta II or Vikramaditya. Except for one mention of Dhruva Devi, as she is popularly known, she remains a mysterious character in the Gupta lineage, with a side mention in the dynasty’s history. Visakhadatta, a famous poet and playwright, who later wrote DeviChandraGuptam as the play capturing the life of Chandra Gupta II, captured Dhruva Devi as one of the protagonists of his story. Although some scholars attribute Visakhadatta to be under the patronage of Chandra Gupta II himself when he wrote this story, many historians debate the literary work as a historical fiction written much after his time. Tru...

Maharana Pratap: The Sun of Mewar

Many of you have read my fan fiction as well as historical representations of the life and times of Maharana Pratap Singh of Mewar. I provided small details of his life in many articles. But never have I ever made a separate historical post on him. It is very difficult to put together his life without the help of folklore because historical evidence is scarce. This one was requested, and hence here it goes. Needless to say, this one is very special. This is a blend of history and folklore. Leave your love. ❤️ Background and Birth: The year was 1540. Mewar was under a cloud of uncertainty. Banbir, their ruler for four years now, was a very incompetent ruler who always spent his time in luxury, drinking and dancing with girls. The crown prince Udai Singh was rumoured to have been killed by him. Chittorgarh was in darkness. Around March 1540, Mewar once again saw hope as some trusted generals, along with Kunwar Udai Singh, attacked Chittorgarh, taking Banbir by surprise. He was soon t...

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...

The Timurid Empress

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. Miniature of Rukaiya Begum as Empress 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...

Charumati's Love

T his is written based on folklore. This is a representative work of fiction and does not claim any historical events in the conversations. This is to show the spirit of the women of Rajputana. The year 1657. Shah Jahan had taken ill and was rumoured to be dying in Agra Fort. He was about eighty, and the pressure of having an empire had taken a toll on his body. The seat of power was slowly shifting from Agra to Delhi since the prominence of the Laal Quila had increased, and if the news spread was to be believed, his sons were in a battle for the throne already. It was time each king chose sides once again. Dara Sikhoh was the eldest and the righteous Heir to the throne. He was believed to be a man who held high morals and was hence respected by both enemies and allies as well. Aurangzeb was his sibling and the youngest of the brothers. Short-tempered and cunning, he was always dreaded by the court. As Shah Jahan took ill, Aurangzeb took this as a golden opportunity to wage ...

The Suta Putra

He was born as the eldest son of the Princess of Kuntibhoj. She was unmarried and had a bright future ahead of her. She did not want to sabotage her life and future for the unwanted child. She wrapped him in a blanket and decided to float him on the River, hoping the Mother Goddess would safely deliver him to someone. His father, the Sun God himself, was sympathetic to her plight and, for the safety of his son, provided him with a set of golden Kavach and Kundal (A set of earrings and a locket/beads/armour) to protect him. These were powerful enough to save him from any weapon. The currents took the baby far away to the land of Hastinapur. The royal charioteer Adhirath and his wife Radha were bathing there and praying to the Sun God for a child. A basket floated past them with a baby in it. They picked the baby up and decided to call him their son. Growing up, he wanted to learn archery and train as a Kshatriya, much to the objection of his parents. He went to Parasurama, the teacher o...

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