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The day in Kumbhalgarh started with grey clouds and the pitter-patter of the rain. The Kumbha palace entrance saw a movement of horses and soldiers. Palanquins, decorated with royal Rajput motifs, made their way through the Pol Gates. To an onlooker, the fort was going about its usual business in Kumbhalgarh. People were praying at the Mahakal Temple. Cowherds took their buffaloes out of the fort. Peacocks roamed the courtyards. The marketplace buzzed with people buying and selling things. The movement of the entourage towards the Kumbha Palace, horses, palanquins and soldiers, was unusual.
The curious eyes of a fifteen-year-old princess peeped from behind the curtain of the palanquin. Her eager eyes spotted the domes and jharokhas of the Kumbha Palace with a smile. Jaivanta Bai was accompanying her father, Akshay Raj Songara, to a significant meeting she knew very less about. All she knew was that her father said it could change their political alliance with Mewar. Ever since Banbir was on the throne, Jallore, once a friend of Rana Sanga's, united the Rajput front against Babar at Khanua and refused to be part of the alliance. Jaivanta wondered what could change her father's mind.
A young man greeted her father at the threshold of the Kumbha Palace, in one of the arched doorways. The seventeen-year-old was tall, fair, lean and had a thin moustache. His wavy hair came down to his neck. He wore a simple yellow angrakha and a red pagri. Akshay Raj looked overwhelmed as he blessed the man.
For four years, Udai Singh has been presumed dead, killed by Banbir. Akshay Raj of Jallore had accidentally met him at Kumbhalgarh a few months ago. He was on a diplomatic trip to Kumbhalgarh to meet its chief when he spotted the boy whom he presented as his nephew. Akshay Raj was in the fort when he saw the young man practising swordsmanship. His stance, the eagerness in his eyes and his politeness made him seem familiar. He behaved like a prince. He looked similar to Rana Sanga. Before the news of his survival spread like wildfire, Akshayraj wanted to meet the young man himself, pledge his allegiance to him.
Jaivanta's younger brother, Maan Singh Songara, seemed rather excited as he rode a horse into the premises. He got down to greet the man. The princess followed, her face covered with a Dupatta, as she eyed the young man briefly. A maid led her into the empty palace room. As she removed the dupatta from her face, Jaivanta Bai was curious about the place. She went to the jharokha. The wall of Kumbhalgarh could be seen from the window. She sat down, lost in thought. Once, the glorious Mewar used to house so many bravehearts whom she read about . Ever since Banbir took the throne, Afghans from the west had successfully encroached on the place. Kumbhalgarh was one of its rare protected premises.
The courtroom, not far from the place, was clamouring with people. Eager eyes, nervous people. Thirty-six chieftains sat there, in highchairs, surrounding Udai Singh, on a throne. The map of Chittorgarh lay in front of them. From a Jharokha that looked over the room, Panna Dhai watched.
"The sixteen major Rawats of Mewar will soon be revolting against Banbir's cruel ways." Rawat of Salumber spoke. His pointed beard and thick moustache were what set him apart from the others who nodded at him. "We will soon coronate and declare Kunwar Udai Singh as Rana." Maan Singh Songara eagerly smiled at his father. "Jallore will support Rana Udai Singh." Akshay Raj agreed.
The meeting went on till the wee hours of the night. People debated different ways to breach the invincible fort of Chittor and win over Banbir. The Kumbha Palace was lit. The meeting ended with everyone agreeing in unison. " We will all support Rana Udai Singh to end Banbir's cruelty."
"We will march to Chittorgarh!" They roared together.
"Get the troops ready." Rawat of Salumber said in confidence.
"But first", the chief of Kumbhalgarh suggested, "as a guardian to the throne, I must remind you all... The prince must marry before being crowned the king."
The chieftains exchanged glances under pin-drop silence." Who will give a daughter to such an unsure future?" Someone asked.
"I am afraid a rule in Mewar cannot be changed." The Chundawat chief shook his head. The young, clueless prince frowned. "All I know is I need to avenge the death of my brother. The many hurt by the cruel acts of Banbir!" He tightened his fist on his sword. He looked angry. "Easy, Kunwarsa." Panna Dhai whispered from the jharokha. " I told you, patience is the key." She held her hand close to her bosom, as if to pray.
"Let's discuss the armies first. Who is supporting us?" Rawat Chundawat spoke up.
"Gwalior. Bikaner. Jaisalmer. Jallore." The respective heads of state nodded their heads in agreement. Udai Singh was grateful to his father's strong allies. "The approximate army will be enough to..." Udai Singh asked his chieftain, "Yes, Kunwarsa. Most of Banbir's army is also with him reluctantly. Seeing you alive and well, they might change sides."
"We hope so." He looked sceptical.
Udai Singh did not want to take chances. The throne of Chittorgarh was waiting for him. He could not wait to conquer it. He looked up at the Jharokha where Panna Dhai sat. Her sacrifice would not go in vain.
"I have a proposal." Akshay Raj spoke, clearing his throat. His son, Maan Singh Songara, frowned. "Yes, Rao Akhshayraj Songara Ji?" Rawat Ji seemed eager."I would like to propose Kunwarsa the hand in marriage with my eldest daughter, Jaivanta." People exchanged unsure glances. Giving away your eldest daughter to a weak alliance could not be a wise political move. Panna Dhai smiled from behind the Jharokha, knowing this decision was an emotional one. From a friend to a father. Udai Singh stared at his father's friend. "Are you sure?" He asked with a frown.
"Yes, Kunwarsa," He nodded in approval.
"If she agrees, the marriage will be held in two days. The coronation is in three. We don't have much time!" Rawat Chundawat's words were unanimously agreed upon.
"And we will keep the ceremonies simple. We do not want to alarm Banbir." Akshay Raj suggested.
"After all, if he hears the princess of Jallore is being married to a chief's nephew in Kumbhalgarh, it may raise eyebrows." Rawat of Salumber agreed.
"Jija! Jija!" Maan Singh ran down the empty corridor of the palace and entered the ladies' chambers, where she sat silently in her evening prayers. Jaivanta was sitting cross-legged. Her hands were folded, eyes closed in prayer. In front of her was a marble idol of Lord Krishna. "Did you hear..." He stopped. Her maid nodded affirmatively."Don't do it, Jija. Who knows what is in store? What if he is in life danger there? What if there is no future?" Maan seemed restless. He was pacing the room behind her. "Jija?"She opened her eyes and ordered, "Ekanth." The guard and maid bowed and left the room.
"Jija." Maan seemed worried as she smiled. He looked confused.
"Daata came to me; he wanted my consent." She said, giving him the Prasad. "You said no, right?" He feared, knowing how his Jija was. She smiled. "He told me this is your time, to sacrifice for the motherland and her glory. How could I say no, Bhai?" There was a hint of pride in her voice.
" But Jija!" Maan seemed shocked. He did not want his sister to sacrifice her dreams for the sake of Mewar.
"It is all going to be all right, Maan, trust me! Every sacrifice has a greater result. Remember?" She nodded at him and walked away. Maan stared at his sister in disbelief.
"What great can come out of such a union, Jija?" Maan followed her down the corridor."I don't know." Her voice trailed off. "Only Kanha Ji can answer that." She smiled. Truth be told, even Jaivanta wondered where fate would take her. She strongly believed in the purpose of life. She trusted in god that this was somehow leading her to her purposes.
"Rajkumarisa." A maid interrupted. "Kunwarsa has asked for a meeting." She nodded in agreement as Maan walked away.
Udai Singh was pacing the length of his room, hands behind his back. Jaivanta stopped at the threshold. The guard announced. "The princess of Jallore is here." Udai Singh stopped pacing and looked up at her. Her face was covered in a dupatta. He tried to smile politely. Lamps flickered around them as they walked up to each other. This is how his forefathers looked? She wondered. She was nervous. "Rajkumaarisa?" He asked, unsure of what to say. He noticed her hands rubbing together, nervously.
"Yes?" She spoke rather softly.
"Dhanyavaad. For the alliance," he said. His voice was formal. Jaivanta noticed how he did not care to observe the fact that she had been dressed up for the occasion. It made her sigh. The union was a necessary alliance. Not a marriage out of love. Jaivanta had dreamt of love all her life. But she knew better. Princesses were not supposed to have such dreams. Their lives were sacrificed to the motherland through alliances. She tried to compose herself. "I am doing this for Mewar, Kunwarsa." She smiled, "So are you." He nodded.
" You should know that once I become Rana, you will be the Maharani of Mewar, and that will mean...." He stopped. He was unsure. His brows furrowed slightly.
"I know that will mean keeping my people before me, preparing for the Jauhar if needed..." She smiled firmly, "I am a Rajputani, that is an honour."
"And... if anything happens..." He said. "I will always protect Mewar's honour."
Two days later, Kumbhalgarh witnessed a quiet wedding. No Shehnai or flowers decorated the outdoors, and no announcements were made. The enemies could not be alerted. In one of the halls, inside the palace, before the Havan Kund, Udai Singh filled Jaivanta Bai's hairline with vermilion. Only her father, brother and Panna Dhai witnessed the union.
A troop was being assembled at Kumbhalgarh. Jaivanta watched her brother, eager to participate in his first war. Her father took command of a wing of the army. The lawn of the palace had soldiers marching, princes practising sword fighting and spear targets. The horses and elephants were led out of the stables. The weaponry was being sharpened. Cannons were taken out of the shed and cleaned.
The coronation was quiet. Panna Dhai put the crown jewel of Mewar, studded with a pearl, on Udai Singh's red pagri and blessed him. She wiped her tears of joy. It was finally time to avenge Chandan.
Jaivanta did his Tilak and sat on his left as the Maharani of Mewar. She was now the queen of Mewar. The weight of a title once carried by Rani Karnawati, Rani Padmini and others before her made Jaivanta feel responsible. People showered their love, blessings and trust on them. Soon, every village and every fort across Mewar came to know that Udai Singh was alive. People were hopeful. Banbir sat on the throne in Chittor as a guard read out a message. Banbir looked petrified. He pumped his fist in the air and asked his men to follow him to war. He was not going to be defeated by Udai Singh.
Jaivanta spent her days in the palace, hearing stories from Panna Dhai. She read the Ramayana. She prayed to Lord Krishna. The absence of her husband bothered her. At night, she would wait for Udai Singh to come from the practice, tired and bruised. Jaivanta put Haldi balm on his wounds. She smiled and reassured him.
Banbir was growing his army. His horses and elephants marched out of Chittorgarh to guard the fort. In Kumbhalgarh, a meeting was held. Udai Singh looked worried. Rawats debated around him. He finally made a decision.
"We should have attacked before we planned to. Surprise him."
Jaivanta sat worried in her room, praying. She knew what he was thinking. If he didn't attack soon, Banbir would attack Kumbhalgarh to finish him instead.
"Ranaji." She placed down the Haldi Chanch at his bedside table. He sat in thought. He looked up at her worried face. "Can I ask something?"
"About?" He looked up at her.
"The War." Jaivanta nodded. Udai Singh saw worry on her face.
"Jaivanta Bai Ji. We need more troops." He looked worried. "I am worried about that."
"I might know where you can..." Her words made him sit up eagerly.
"I'm all ears." He sat beside her on the bed.
"Ranaji, I read Bappa Rawal's tale. The Solankini clan are bound by a promise to Bappa." She spoke up."To let the Rana of Mewar marry their princess?" She said with a faint smile.
"But I don't get it, Jaivanta Bai Ji...." Udai Singh frowned.
"Ranaji." She placed her hand on his. "An alliance with the Solankhinis will bring a troop from them!" She smiled as he looked at her face. Udai Singh stared at her proudly.
"But.... I just married you! What will your father say?" He looked unsure.
"A union for the motherland, Ranaji. One more won't harm!" She reminded him before taking her hand off his. She looked away and sighed.
Maharani Jaivanta Bai welcomed home her husband's other wife. She did her aarti as the young bride stood shyly at the door.
The Solankhini princess, Sajja Bai, was childlike and innocent. She was just fifteen. Unlike what Jaivanta imagined, she was not jealous. Sharing her husband with another woman did not upset her. She was not spending her days alone anymore. She had a sister she had always wanted. They shared laughs. They made garlands together. They shared their favourite mangoes. Jaivanta realised how much she missed Jallore. She shared the tales of their childhood with the new bride. Panna Dhai was happy with the two queens bonding like sisters. She blessed them and made her way to Vrindavan to spend the rest of her life there. Udai Singh was sad to see her leave. But Panna reminded him that her duty was over. Udai was not a child anymore. He did not need to be protected. He was soon going to protect Mewar. Panna Dhai reminded him. She had promised not to go back to Chittorgarh. With tears in their eyes, the king and queen watched Panna Dhai leave.
As uncertainty loomed, Udai Singh asked Jaivanta one day, "You have been brave for Mewar. Is there anything you want from me?" Jaivanta smiled.
"I think we should have an heir, Ranaji." She said, "To protect Mewar and your legacy in case we are ever in trouble." Udai Singh nodded in agreement. Every king should leave behind an heir if he is going to war. By autumn, Kumbhalgarh celebrated the news of Jaivanta Bai expecting Mewar's future king.
By spring, the troops from Kumbhalgarh moved to Salumber. Then they marched towards Chittor. One spring day, the troops were facing each other. The arid land of Mewar turned into a battlefield. There was blood everywhere. War calls filled the air.
"Har Har Mahadev."
"Jai Mewar."
"Jai Eklingji."
"Rana Banbir Ki Jai." "Rana Udai Singh ki Jai."
Elephants ran over soldiers. Horses kicked down men with swords. Men slashed each other's throats. Udai Singh had managed to lead his first successful war against his uncle. Banbir ran away before Udai marched into the fort. The people of the fort welcomed Udai Singh. He was their true king. People cheered Udai Singh's victory. Streets celebrated and made merry.
The good news reached the ladies in Kumbhalgarh. They prayed in the Mahakal temple for the king. Sajja Bai insisted that they celebrate the Godh Bharai Rasm of their Maharani in grandeur. Noble women from across Mewar joined the celebration. They blessed her with gifts. Mewar's future was in her womb. Jaivanta was a glowing young mother-to-be. She nursed her womb. Jaivanta promised herself to protect the heir of Mewar with all her strength. She was going to teach him to be brave like his forefathers. She read the Ramayana out loud to her womb every night. She waited for Udai Singh to come home.
But news arrived that the Afghans had attacked Chittorgarh. They found the opportunity when they heard that Chittor once again had an inexperienced teenager as its king. Their battles seemed far from being over. Scared of the implications at first, Jaivanta and Sajja prayed for Rana Udai Singh's safety at the Mahakal Temple. Jaivanta was scared. She wanted the war to be over before the heir was born.
Udai Singh's army was tired from the long battle. After much deliberation at court, he decided to have a conference with the Afghans. Accepting defeat was the only way to save his throne. The Afghans, headed by Shams Khan, signed a treaty with Udai Singh. They did not want Mewar or the entire fort. They wanted a place to camp out and protect their areas outside Mewar from invaders. One part of Chittorgarh was given away to the Afghans to camp in. The Afghans raised their green flag, putting Mewar's red flag with a golden sun down. Udai Singh was devastated. He decided to go back to Kumbhalgarh for some time. Although he was now king of Mewar, he had yet to conquer it.
He arrived in Kumbhalgarh in the scorching summer heat. He was greeted by his queens. They could see how worried he was. Sajja Bai tried to divert his mind from politics with worldly things in vain. Jaivanta informed him, "It is a boy, Dhai Ma told me." Udai Singh smiled faintly at her words. There was hope.
"This boy will bring glory to Mewar." He made her nod as they both stared at her womb and smiled. They could not wait to be parents. It was then that Udai Singh received the news that Sajja Bai was expecting her first child. Jaivanta's joy knew no bounds.
"Finally, my son will have a brother or sister to play with." She gushed. "They will be best of friends."
"I wish for a son. A son who would protect the heir of Mewar. Be the Laxman to his Ram." Sajja Bai wished as Jaivanta hugged her.
Who’s your favourite character in Mewar besides Kunwar Pratap, and why? I’d love to hear your thoughts, share them in the comments below!