Unwinding of Mind: A braid of flowers

The white pigeon flying high in the clear blue sky looked like a floating feather from distance. The hill top fort of Barmer seemed remote beyond the golden dunes at the southern horizon. The barren desert dominating the landscape inspired awe and sense of enormity. It was a long, solitary voyage for the tiny flier to further north at the Palace of Maharawal Lunakaran; the ruler of Jaisalmer.

The soft glow of twilight flooded the private terrace of princess Madhushri, the beloved daughter of King Lunakaran. Madhushri, merely a girl of fifteen possessed a celestial beauty, rare even among the royals. That tall shapely form, perfect complexion and exquisite features compelled anyone to look back; her natural grace and endearing smile reflected a distinguished charisma.

The Princess stood at the parapet watching sunset beyond the Fort Township. Gentle breeze swayed her dupatta away, the long locks and Kundan jhumka dangled in unison with the rhythm of the wind. Shubha the lady in waiting; a pretty girl also in her teens rushed to the princess, flushed with excitement.

- “Princess, a messenger pigeon has arrived just now. Would you like to see it?”

Madhushri, composed in all situations, showed no apparent curiosity.

- “Did Yashoda Dei attend to it?” She enquired.

- “Yes, she says it is from Barmer.” Shubha, ready to divulge further; just stopped at that.

- “I shall join Yashoda Dei at the Baithak.” The Princess proceeded towards the enclosure.

Yashoda, Madhushri’s wet nurse was entrusted with her guardianship, not uncommon among royalties. The two shared a unique bond of deep affection and mutual respect more of a mother and daughter; far beyond the call of duty.

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It was an antechamber at the outer segment of Madhushri’s apartment, tastefully decorated with rugs and drapes. Yashoda Dei was seated at the balcony window fondling a white pigeon. Madhushri entered, Yashoda looked at her with an indulgent smile; a silent communication took place between the two. She handed over a parchment, carefully tied with silk ribbon. Madhushri withdrew gradually to her bed chamber with the letter in hand.

A large oil lamp burnt at the bed side; the princess resting against a bolster looked absorbed, holding a gold ring engraved with a miniature portrait of a handsome Rajput. The letter lied open on her lap.

The letter came from Kunwar Suraj Bhan Singh, the prince of the neighboring kingdom Barmer. Suraj Singh, a friend of the Crown prince Maldeo was no stranger to the Golden fort. Maldeo’s young bride Parvati was his sister.

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Few months earlier…..

It was Shravan Poornima, the auspicious day of Rakshabandhan. A mass of grey cloud congregated around the eastern sky. Parvati, the pretty bride of Maldeo was busy in the last minutes arrangements of the festival at a private chamber of her apartment. Madhushri joined her sister in law with Shubha by her side. The two royal ladies smiled at each other, divulging a deep camaraderie of love and care.

A dashing young Rajput stepped inside the chamber escorted by Kunwar Maldeo. His gentle countenance, refined persona radiated a magnetic charm. Parvati introduced her brother Suraj Bhan Singh; Madhushri, unaccustomed to such encounters turned crimson.

- “My sincere apology to the Princess for causing inconvenience.” Suraj Singh acknowledged Madhushri with an enchanting smile. His intelligent eyes, masculine yet courteous presence impressed her greatly.

- “You are mistaken Kunwar, the presence of an honorable guest can only cause happiness. Please, take your seat and grace the occasion.” Madhushri regained her composure.

Time passed by in celebration, much awaited desert rain enhanced the fiesta. The sweet smell of Jasmine and the melody of the dancing droplets created a romantic aura.

Two young royals, bright and graceful did not take long to reach to each other.

Maldeo sensed the situation, but remained silent. He genuinely admired his friend; charming, brave and a man of honor.

There had been subsequent encounters in a few occasions for which Parvati was instrumental. She invited her brother in some pretext and took care to arrange for private meetings between the two.

In one of such meetings, Suraj Singh offered a ring with his miniature portrait to Madhushri. With her hand in his hands looking straight into her eyes he uttered,

- “I pledge to be with you for my entire life whatever the consequence is; will you be my bride?”

Madhushri remained silent for a long moment then replied,

- “It is my honor Kunwarji, do I need to say more?” Two drops of pearls appeared in her luminous eyes.

- “And what do I get from the princess?” A mischievous smile appeared in his handsome face.

With trembling hand, Madhushri took out a braid of flowers from her tresses and dropped it in his open palm.

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Parvati insisted her husband to initiate an alliance between Madhushri and Suraj Singh, Maldeo agreed to do so at opportune moment.

King Lunakaran was a man of few words; his strength of character and commitment towards the countrymen distinguished him among the contemporaries.

One day after the usual court meetings he called Maldeo to his private chamber for discussion. He was contemplating an alliance with the powerful Rathore clan of Bikaner to keep away the imposing Jodhpur. The only way to do that was a nuptial between Madhushri and Kalyan Singh, the Crown Prince of Bikaner. He expressed his wish to his son in clear term.

Maldeo was in no position to oppose his mighty father; nor could he divulge the growing affinity of his sister that would damage her reputation. The only thing he did was passing the news to Suraj Singh of her impending marriage.

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The letter that reached Madhushri carried a message from Suraj Singh in response to the news of her proposed alliance. The festival of Holi was due in a fortnight when the entire fort would sink in the celebration of color and music; that included the Royalty too. He intended to take opportunity of the distraction and kidnap the princess on Vasant Purnima; the night of eternal romance. In an earlier communication, Maldeo discretely revealed a secret passage of the Fort to the Prince. Madhushri was to keep the passage door open and wait for him at midnight.

Next day morning at the dressing room, Yashoda was busy in attending to the lustrous long tresses of the Princess.

- “Is it not cowardly to runaway unannounced?” Madhushri confided; her young mind was caught in the dilemma of pride and passion.

- “Is he the first Rajput to kidnap his bride?” Yashoda replied with a smile;

- “Don’t worry; he will come prepared to face the army if required. Let’s hope the situation doesn't arise for that.” This time a tinge of worry escaped her voice.

A strong determination removed the frown from the beautiful face,

- “Send the pigeon back; I trust Kunwarji’s judgments.” The Princess blushed at her own decision.

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- “Amir Ali sounds sincere in his peace talk with us. Do you think it is wise to be friendly with the Pathans?” The king asked his minister Bhim Rao.

Amir Ali Khan a neighboring Pathan Chieftain initiated peace talks with Jaisalmer. As a goodwill gesture, he asked for the Maharawal’s permission to send the ladies of his harem inside the fort to witness Holi celebration.

- “War with the Sindh chieftains never benefited Jaisalmer in the past, but their friendship might. It will secure our North Western frontier.” Bhim Rao was clear in his opinion.

With the unanimous consent of the royal court the Maharawal granted permission to allow the Pathan ladies to enter the Fort premises on the day of Holi.

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The morning light dazzled brilliantly on the golden walls of the fort. A large battalion of Pathan Army was visible at some distance, faltering idly in the desert. Bee line of a hundred tightly veiled palanquins moved inside the Fort wall at a slow pace. The Fort guards also seemed relaxed with the festivity in the air.

‘Allah hu Akbar’ the battle cry raised from distance as soon as the last palanquin entered the fort. All the veils opened up at the same instance and fierce Pathan soldiers sprang out of the carriers magically. The unpretentious Rajput soldiers took time to measure the situation; as a consequence failed miserably to defend the outer wall.

The entire Pathan army crossed the first of the three barriers in no time; facing the utterly unprepared army of Rajputs defending the second and the most crucial boundary of the Fort.

The festival of color took a different turn for the people of Jaisalmer; played by the color of blood. Battle cry from both the sides replaced the enchanting music of ‘Vasant Bahar’; the celebration of love turned to be a bereavement of death.

The battle continued till the nightfall, Pathan Army clearly falling heavy on the Rajputs. It was only a matter of time for them to overtake the second wall and then the fall of the third wall would expose the civilians including Royal palace to the enemy.

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The commanders including Maldeo were assembled at the Royal court to decide on the last minute battle strategy while the outcome was inevitable. King Lunakaran, stern and determined addressed his officers,

- “We all know our position in the battle, at this moment. We are left with no choice but saka. Let us fight our last battle devastating the infidels. Maldeo, announce for the Jauhar among ladies of the Palace. May Lakshminath ji provide us courage.”

- “My lord, there is not enough time to prepare for the mass funeral pyre. It is a matter of few hours for the day break when the battle will resume.” Bhim Rao argued.

- “Then we have to take it upon us to kill our ladies.”

Everyone remained dumbfounded with the ferocity of the idea; except Maldeo.

- “Rajput ladies know better use of the dagger, when there is no funeral pyre. We do not need to kill them father.”

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The preparation for the mass suicide commenced. King Lunakaran visited his queens at his private chamber for the last time and true to his word, ended their life with his own sword. His order was taken to each of the princesses and their entourages to end their life; with enemy at the doorstep and honor at stake.

The bed chamber of Prince Maldeo poorly illuminated with very few lamps added to the somber air. The young couple embraced like never to depart. Parvati, at last took out a saffron scarf and tied over Maldeo’s turban; Maldeo in turn handed over a carving knife to his wife. She looked into his eyes and urged,

- “Would you fulfill my last wish Kunwar?”

- “Anything for you my love.” He choked.

- “Then let me die at your feet.” Tears rolled down her loving face.

She slit her throat with a quick stroke and fell on his chest. Maldeo placed a kiss tenderly on her forehead and whispered,

- “We will meet very soon dear, wait there for me.”

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‘Har Har Mahadeo’, the battle cry reverberated within the fort at little past midnight. The vigor of courage and optimism overpowered the haunted silence of mourning and despair. The determined Suraj Bhan Singh followed by an army of vigorous cavalrymen galloped out of the secret passage to join the depleting Jaisalmer Force.

Their enthusiasm stimulated the battle torn Rajput Army, preparing for suicidal mission. A larger cry exploded in the silent night that eventually spread across the frontier.

The reinforced army charged the Pathans in the semi darkness of thousands of torch lights. The half awakened Pathans did not expect such vigor from the defeating army, therefore, succumbed within a few hours. Amir Ali fled the fort fearing the worse; Bhim Rao chased him with his choicest of men.

Finally, two friends Suraj Singh and Maldeo faced each other at the palace entrance. Maldeo, tears in his eyes embraced his friend warmly.

- “I have no word to thank u my friend; you are a man of honor. I wish you were a little early.” He spoke with a deep sigh.

- “What do you mean?” Suraj Singh wondered.

- “Maldeo, what’s the matter? Where are Parvati and Madhushri, are they safe?”

Maldeo shook his head in silence. Suraj Singh stormed towards Madhushri’s Apartment like a possessed man.

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The inner segment of the palace looked haunted with lamps still burning at random; the deathly silence prevailing across the rooms added to the atmosphere. Not a single soul was noticeable in the ever bustling corridors of the ladies enclosures; no one appeared to interrupt an intruder either.

Suraj Singh reached the antechamber of Madhushri’s apartment, only to find it abandoned. He ran through the other chambers all deserted and finally reached the bed chamber.

There was not a trace of light coming out of the enormous bed chamber, Suraj Singh stopped at the doorstep for a few moments and entered. The tip of a blade pressed his throat from the darkness.

- “Don’t take a step further, if you care for your life!” A voice hissed.

The Prince acted in reflex overpowering his unknown assailant. A cry of warning released from the voice of the captive while being dragged out to the light. It was Yashoda, trembling, disheveled, a bundle of nerves. Suraj picked up the lamp and barged into the room to search for the Princess. She was hidden behind the bed with a dagger firmly placed on her swan-like neck.

- “I will end my life in a moment, if you come forward!” She declared in a voice of steel. Her eyes blazed with hatred.

- “Madhushri!”

This one word transformed the hostility to a delicate bliss in a magical moment. The dagger slipped out of her hand, Madhushri ran into Suraj Singh’s arms.

The twilight of the dawn fell on her lovely face, radiating the modesty of a newly wed bride.

- “I knew you will come, my faith kept me alive.”

- “Madhushri, no one can take you away from me; not even a war.”

- “You helped my father to win over the Pathans?”

- “Yes, and what do I get as a reward?” A mischievous smile appeared in his exulted face.

This time the reward was something more than a braid of flowers.

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Epilogue

Amir Ali was captured soon by the Rajput soldiers and executed by blowing up with cannon ball within the Fort.

King Lunakaran rewarded Prince Suraj Bhan Singh with the hand of his beloved daughter.

Maldeo ascended the throne of Jaisalmer after his father.

Note:

The unique Jauhar took place in Jaisalmer Fort during the treacherous attack of Amir Ali Khan. The Jauhar is termed as half Jauhar, since; the suicidal fighting of the men did not take place. Outside reinforcement through the secret passage of the fort saved the war in the last moment, though not the ladies. King Lunakaran, Price Maldeo, Crown prince Kalyan Singh of Bikaner, Amir Ali Khan, are all historical characters. Rest is my imagination which justified the sequence of events.

Terminology:

Golden Fort – Jaisalmer fort is made of golden sand stone, giving it the name of Golden Fort

Kundan Jhumka – Danglers, fitted with gems; an artistry of Rajasthan.

Baithak - An antechamber, used for private meetings

Saka – The Act of mass suicide, common among Rajput clans on the verge of defeat. Their sense of pride did not allow them to surrender.

Jauhar – The commitment of suicide by Rajput ladies by jumping in the mass funeral pyre, a part of the Saka.