Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Passed by Chittorgarh on the way from Jaipur down to Ahmedabad. No time to stop, but I'll use the opportunity to narrate two of the famous stories from Chittor
Most of us might have studied in school about Rana Pratap. When he was crowned King, Chittor and the kingdom of Mewar had fallen to Akbar. Rana Pratap never acceded to Mughal rule and fought the famous Battle of Haldighati. Stories of bravery and heroism abound in that battle, but Ran Pratap was unable to overcome the superior forces of the Mughals. He retreated and fought a guerrilla war and regained much of the Mewar territory, but never Chittor. He and his famous horse Chetak are immortalized in Rajput folklore.
Even earlier is the story of the legendary beauty Queen Padmini of Chittor. Married to the king, Rawal Ratan Singh, her famed beauty attracted the attention of Sultan Allaudin Khilji who wanted to add her to his harem. Attacking Chittor, he could not win as the fort was well defended. By trickery he abducted the King, but he was freed by the Rajputs . A long siege ensued and when it became obvious that Chittor would have to fall, Padmini and all the women chose death to dishonor and jumped into the fire. Smeared with their ashes, the Rajputs stormed out of the fort and were killed to a man. Allaudin Khilji entered Chittor to find only ashes.
Perhaps extraordinary beauty is a curse. Helen of Troy and Sita from Ramayana, to name two examples, have seen abduction, war and much death. Maybe being a plain Jane is not so bad after all.
The long drive from Jaipur has brought me to Ahmedabad. No time to visit Law Garden , alas. Miles to go still ……
The seat of Rajput bravery
Monday, March 03, 2014
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
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2025-05-22
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Suja
2014-03-04
Lust and greed : an impossible-to-please hunger to which countless lives have been sacrificed throughout history, haven't they? Chittor is a land of gallant history, I too hope to visit it one day. Is it time for you to head back? Safe travels!
Vincy
2014-03-04
Interesting story.
Throughout the ages, men ( pardon me for gender inequality here!) have befallen the greed for three vices in life - Land, Lustre ( as in Gold), and Lust. Translating it literally from the regional language Mannu, Ponnu, Pennu :-)
Guess it gives them a false sense of Pride and Power maong their fellowmen to have conquered these by any means. Even today there are so many present day leaders and entreprenuers who have had their downfall from these vices - the one who caught the tiger by his tail, obviously for his greed for land, and more recently a pony tailed journo, for his lust. If only we learnt from our past and ancestors!
asha
2014-03-04
historical stories with lessons for mankind.
These stories we used for our lifeskill classes for high school children. And yes, children love history when dramatized and narrated with modulation instead of q an a.
indigoite
2014-03-06
@Suja - Yes, of all the vices, those two are probably the worst. Rajasthan abounds with recent history - not ancient, but recent. Yes, on my way back. Thanks for the wishes
@Vincy - That's an interesting one - Mannu, Ponnu, Pennu !!! Yes, from time immemmorial, temptations have led to the downfall of man.
indigoite
2014-03-06
@Asha - If only we could teach history better .... I remember in school it being the most boring of subjects because it was taught awfully. How interesting and lively it can be made out with a bit of imaginative teaching...
Sandhya Sriram
2014-03-09
There is a serial that runs in I think sony that talks about the heroics of Rana Pratap and there is a serial that runs in Zee tv that shows Akbar's take on Rana pratap and why he wasn't fully wrong. I feel both super exhagerrated for trp reasons.
But the real lesson goes back to the Darwin world of survival of the fittest.
indigoite
2014-03-09
@Sandhya - Yes, man will always fight against man and will claim the moral high ground for doing so. Fundamental law of nature, it appears.