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Famous by the immaculate purity and matchless beauty of the
Sri Lanka-born, Padmini (a close relative of Gora and Badal,
two of the most fearless warriors), immortalised by her
sacrifice; Maharana Pratap, who knew no appeasement and
surrender to the Great Moghul Akbar; Mira Bai, the saint poet,
whose divine poetry is remarkable for its deep emotional touch
and simplicity of expression; Panna Dai, who sacrificed her
son to save the heir to the throne, Udai Singh, the founder of
the present Udaipur, the kingdom of Mewar, holds a fascination
for all lovers of art, architecture and Rajput chivalry and
the unique traditions of the people and their sovereigns.
Spread over
23 chapters, the book embellished with striking photographs of
the Maharanas, palaces, monuments like Victory Tower (Vijay
Stambh), and temples narrates in a dramatic style the episodes
of the unsuccessful quest of the treacherous and infatuated
Sultan Allaudin Khilji for the possession of the supremely
beautiful Padmini and how Padmini saved her husband, Rattan
Singh, from captivity and finally committed jauhar, Maharana
Jawan Singh, bohemian and a debauch ruler and the curse of a
nautch girl, who was successfully walking over a tied rope
across Pichola lake for the bet of half the kingdom but was
drowned by a Minister who cut off the rope because the
fulfillment of the promise might make her a half ruler. Before
she could breathe her last she cursed that Maharanas would
have no sons as heirs to the throne (there were eight
adoptions); Panna Dai's unique sacrifice; Maharana Pratap's
unyielding spirit and the financial help of the Bhils, etc.
The history
of Mewar is not free from intrigues, murders, debauchery and
vainglory although some kings led spartan lives.The episode of
Mira Bai is described in a brief sketchy manner, not fitting
her unique position in Vaishnav bhakti tradition. She was not
treated harshly for her devotion to Krishna but for her free
mixing with commoners, mendicants and wandering sadhus. The
writer's narrative power deserves appreciation.
Few people
know that Maharana Pratap had 11 wives and 17 sons. The writer
quotes Maharana Bhagwat Singh of Mewar to describe the unique
position of Maharana Pratap in the history of Chittor:
"There were times when almost the whole of northern India
was our kingdom, and times when not even the rock or piece of
earth on which the ruler sat was his. That is why Maharana
Pratap Singh is called the light and life of the Hindu
community. There were times when he and his family and
children ate bread made of grass. A couplet of one of the
bards says that Maharana Pratap was so busy fighting for
freedom that he had no time for his children. When they were
starving they went to their father's famous horse, Chetak, and
hugged it and cried out: "Our father has no time for us
and we are hungry. Do something to help us!"
Maharana
Pratap was the 52nd ruler but 51 rulers before him had done
the same thing.There is a graphic description of Maharana
Pratap's battles against the Mughals, showing the greatness of
the man, unique in the history of the Rajputs. She writes:
"Pratap who had learnt lessons in warfare from his early
childhood and was conscious about the danger for Mewar from
Akbar, worked from the first hour of his enthronement to
gather around him brave soldiers. He strengthened the forts of
Mewar, especially Kumbhalgarh and temporarily made Gogunda and
Chawand his capitals. Pratap was filled with the desire to
recapture Chittor; from his youth he had roamed in the valleys
and hills of the Aravalli. In this way he had won the respect,
love and confidence of the Bhils who later proved a greater
help to Pratap."
The writer
has tried to present a true account of the events, neither
flattering nor over-critical in a most dispassionate manner,
with no bias. She is bold enough to criticise Indira Gandhi
for being adamant and overzealous in cutting the wings of the
maharajas by abolishing their privileges. About Maharana Fateh
Singh she tells us that he never bowed before the British
authority, was most adamant in his decisions, but the British
colonial rulers admired him for his straightforward nature.
"Maharana Fateh Singh showed the British several times
that he was not a puppet of the British. In 1888, the
Government of India asked Maharana Fateh Singh to raise a
special force for the imperial defence. Fateh rejected".
The Maharana did not attend the Delhi darbar in 1903 even
though Lord Curzon, the Viceroy, personally came to Udaipur to
persuade him.
She quotes
Colonel Tod to describe the great humanitarian qualities of
the most remarkable builder and a charitable ruler: "Jagat
Singh was a highly respected prince, and did much to efface
the remembrance of the rude visitations of the Mughals. The
dignity of his character, his benevolence of address and
personal demeanour, secured the homage of all who had access
to him and are alike attested by the pen of the emperor, the
Ambassador of England and the chronicles of Mewar".
She describes
also the sportsman qualities of Maharana Bhagwat Singh, who
was president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association. He was
adopted by Maharana Bhupal Singh in 1940. Maharana Bhupal
Singh was instrumental in leading many states, including his
own, to the Indian Union after independence and was made Raj
Pramukh for lifetime.The present scion of the ancient house of
Mewar, Maharana Arvind Singh, is a thoroughly modern
businessman with traditional values, a builder, a hotelier and
chairman of several foundations. He is a deeply religious man,
humanitarian, dedicated to the worship of Sri Eklingji Maharaj.
He manages his hotels and personally oversees construction
work. He calls himself a servant of Eklingji (Lord Shiva).
Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur writes about the present
Maharana of Udaipur: "Today Arvind Singh Mewar, 76th
custodian of the House of Mewar, believes that a great deal
can - and should be - preserved from the past but it is the
future, far more than the present, that concerns him."
This remarkable work with
numerous photographs, bibliographic references and a glossary
will be a useful addition to the literature on Rajasthan,
especially Udaipur. It is a feast for the eyes and gives a new
look at Indian history, especially the medieval India. Written
in a chaste and racy style, the book presents in a
cinematographic manner the picture of the Mewar history, full of
its glory and tribulations.
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This book
traces the history of the Kingdom of Mewar (Udaipur) spreading
over 1400 long years. The Mewar family (Sisodias, the former
clan of Guhilots) is the oldest royal family in the entire
world. They trace their descent to Rama's son, Luv, and the
sun (it figures on the crest along with Maharana Pratap and a
Bhil chief). Known for their valour and sacrificing spirit,
tolerance towards non-Hindus (though themselves staunch
Hindus), they were great reformers, connoisseurs of arts and
builders of remarkable buildings, temples and palaces.
Although it is certain that none can compare with the sheer
beauty and authenticity of Colonel Tod's "Annals and
Antiquities of Rajasthan", Irmgard Meininger has tried to
present the history of Mewar in a chronological order. She has
drawn from various sources like the works of Brian Masters,
Cameron, Charles Allen, Somani, Virginia Fass, Majumdar,
Suresh Goyal, Dhananjaya Singh, besides the most remarkable of
all, Col James Tod. The present Maharana, "Shriji"
Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur; the 76th in the line of
succession, inheritor of a glorious tradition, a personal
friend of the writer, has provided her with useful
information. Her four years of research and study has provided
her with interaction with the nobility and access to the
useful archaeological data.
