Love is the funeral pyre
Where the heart must lay
It
was love at first sight. The story of Baz Bahadur and Rani Roopmati endures to
this day and resonates in the breath takingly beautiful ruins of Mandu.
Roopmati was a Hindu Rajput singer of Malwa and Sultan Baz Bahadur fell in love
with her.
To see what love is one has to go to
Mandu, 110 km from Indore, in Madhya Pradesh. Nature cradles here and waves of
river Narmada tells the love story. One a king and the other a poor shepherd
woman – Baz Bahadur and Roopmati.
Baaz
Bahadur Khan ever so fond of music, was the last independent ruler of Malwa.
Who reigned from 1555 to 1562? He succeeded his father, Shuja’at Khan.
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| Palace of Baaz Bahadur & Pavalion of Rani Roopmati in Mandu |
If
we go through a brief history of Malwa, in 1542, Sher Shah Suri conquered it
after defeating Qadir Shah and appointed Shuja’at Khan as governor of Malwa.
Bayazid
Khan (Baaz Bhadur) was the eldest son of Shuja’at Khan and succeeded his father
in 1555. After defeating his brothers Daulat Khan and Mustafa Khan and also
several other opponent’s .He declared himself as the independent ruler of Malwa
assuming the title of Sultan Baaz Bahadur.
Entry of Roop Mati in life of Baaz Bahadur: A Musical love tale.
Legend has it that once Baz
Bahadur was out hunting and he encountered a beautiful shepherdess singing with
her friends. He was instantly transfixed by her striking beauty and enchanting
voice and begged her to accompany him to the capital.
Although
he had already a large harem of women to chose from. Roopmati rani, was not
keen.
She
loved her Narmada river at the backs of which she grazed her cattle more that
the king. He begged, cried and persuaded her to come to his palace.
tears bore fruit only after he promised that he would build a bund for her in
the palace which he was going to build for her and bring the river Narmada to
her palace so she would never miss her most beloved river. This he did.
Roopmati
agreed to wed him on the condition that he build her a palace which would be
within sight of the river Narmada which she venerated and loved.
Her
wish was the smitten Baz Bahadur’s command and he proceeded to build her the
Rewa Kund reservoir which was equipped with an aqueduct to supply water to his
beloved’s palace.
Rewa
Kund is a reservoir built by Baz Bahadur at Mandu, equipped with an aqueduct to
supply Roopmati’s palace with water. Today, the site is revered as a holy spot.
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| Riva Kund-in Mandu |
Baz
Bahadur’s Palace was constructed in the early 16th century, and is notable for
its spacious courtyard fringed with halls, and high terraces which give a
terrific view of the lovely surroundings. Rani Roopmati’s Pavilion was built as
an army observation post.
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| Baaz Bahadur & Rani Rooomati |
It
served a more romantic purpos as Roopmati’s retreat. From this picturesque
pavilion perched on a hilltop, the queen could gaze at her paramour’s palace,
and also at the Narmada flowing by, below.
They were married according to Hindu and Muslim rites. But there
was no happily ever after in this love story which was doomed to end in
tragedy.
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| Jahaz Mahal–Mandu |
The
love story of Baz Bahadur and Roopmati had flourished. She wrote poems and
lyrics of love for him which were passionate and poignant. Alas, nature played
a cruel hand and the love story ended.
Akbar’s Conquest of Malwa
Their
idyllic bliss was shattered when in 1561, Akbar’s army of Adham Khan and Pir
Muhammad Khan launched an attack on Malwa and defeated Baz Bahadur in the
battle of Sarangpur.
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| Moghal Emperor Akbar The Great |
Historical accounts say that one of the triggers for Adham
Khan’s attack was his unanswered love for Rani Roopmati and his desire to
possess her at all cost.
Baz Bahadur abandoned his harem and
treasures and fled.
Wonder, what made him coward. Maybe
Socrates write in quoting, “The hottest love may have the coldest end.”
The tragic end of Rani Roop Mati – Ending the magical love
story which was steeped in music, poetry, romance, war and death.
Adham
Khan summoned Rupmati to his presence and demanded to transfer her love to him.
Rupmati at first tried to advise Adham Khan,
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| Adham Khan–Foster brother of Akbar |
“It
did not become the glory of the conqueror thus to seek to disgrace the name and
fame of the broken Afghans: for in the day of recompense heaven might bring
down that very shame on the head of the conqueror”.
Adham
Khan now decided to use force to get her. When heard of Adham Khan’s plan, she
thought means to escape. It is said that she disguised herself as a
flower-seller and fled from the palace.
But Adham Khan after three days learnt that she fled from the
palace. He sent his cavalry to capture her.
When
she realized that there is no way to escape, she promised to become his wife
after three days. She said that within those days her sorrow would lessen.
Adham
Khan, believing that she had surrendered to his importunate lust, arranged a
feast of pleasure on the second night. Rupmati saw no chance of reunion with
Baz Bahadur and had washed her hands of hope of saving her honour.
On that night, she adorned herself in
the very bridal dress which Baz Bahadur had given her. She took her bin and
sang songs of sorrow for some time. After that she went to the bridal chamber
and took poison of powdered diamond.
In
the morning, when Adham Khan reached the bridal chamber, he found her asleep.
He took her hand and tried to awaken her; but his effort was in vain; she had
already gone to the other world.
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She
was buried in a tomb located at Sarangpur in the middle of a tank.
Baz
Bahadur once again with the help of few associates captured Malwa but for a
very short period of time and escaped once more when Emperor Akbar invaded the
area yet again.
Later, after wandering for a short period
of time in the forest and the mountains he finally submitted himself to Akbar,
who made him mansabdar in his Government.
Baaz
Bahadur’s last wish was to be buried by the side of Rupmati at Sarangpur, where
she had awaited his coming for many long and lonely years.
It
is said that, if anyone call Rupmati at their tomb, the echo answers, Baz
Bahadur!! Unfortunately, the tomb is now ruined!
The fate of Adham Khan was an unhappy one too
When
he annexed Malwa, he made the fatal mistake of sending back very little of the
loot to Akbar and kept most of the spoils for himself.
The
emperor marched to Malwa and a cornered Adham Khan begged for his forgiveness.
Akbar accepted his apologies but would not entrust him with further missions.
The
enraged Adham suspected the prime minister of tarnishing his name and murdered
him in court. When Akbar came upon his body, he ordered his servants to throw
Adham to his death from a parapet.
The
legend of Roopmati and Baz Bahadur has become a part of the very consciousness
of Malwa – a story sung by women as they work in the fields or winnow their
grain. Roopmati to them, even today, remains the ideal woman – beautiful,
gifted and pure of heart.
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| Portrait of Rani Roopmati by Lexica AI |
“Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the
hour of separation.”
The End
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