Kumbhalgarh Hides

The Young Prince Udai 

 

 

 

The fortress of Kumbhalgarh stretches its boundary walls

across the imperious Arravalli Hills

 

I reached Kumbhalgarh on the 1^st October.  The sun was white and brilliant, so extremely clear and powerful that it left one breathless.  The walls themselves were forbidding and with the thickness that seemed impenetrable by any human force.  I began my climb upwards, stopping every few yards to redeem what ever breath was possible to inhale.  I stopped, I paused, I wondered as the story of how those same forbidding walls had enveloped the young heir of the throne of Mewar Udai, protecting him from slaughter for many years from other family members who had set their eye on the throne. 

 

It was the impressive strength of the boundary walls as those above that kept

the young Prince Udai in safety

 

 

I opened my book Rajput at Chapter Eleven, and began to read one of the many incidents that took place inside these walls: here’s an extract:

 

“Banbir’s eyes flashed furtively scrutinizing all eyes upon him.  This was his moment, the moment he had waited for, ever since his father Crown Prince Prithvi had been poisoned and uncle Sangram was placed on the Ghaddi instead.  Being Regent was not exactly being the Maharana, but that, Banbir promised himself, would come later after the little business of getting rid his two cousins first- Vikramditya would be no problem, no obstacle would bar his way- little Udai’s case may present a little more difficult.  “I’m not so sure Banbir is quite the right choice, Kanji murmured to himself as the Sardars, much to Banbir’s exultation, proclaimed him Regent.

 

Being confined to Palace arrest did not prevent Vikramaditya from enjoying those pleasures that a life of irresponsible debauchery could offer and it was during one of those occasions when the disgraced Maharana was frolicking in the Zenana among his concubines that Banbir seized his chance to put a sword through Vikramaditya’s body several times.  “At least he died happy!” Banbir sneered as he pulled out the sword for the last time while the concubines fled screaming.  However, Banbir was not satisfied, as he had claimed, there were t-w-o heirs too many to the throne of Mewar and immediately set himself to search out young Udai.

 

One of the Nautch girls (dancing girls) dashed into the rawala where Panna Dhai, the nurse maid had just put her own son and Prince Udai to bed.  When he was an infant she had breast fed him having had a child herself when Udai was born.  Breathless and in terror the Nautch girl told Panna Dhai what had happened in the Zenana.  Immediately Panna Dhai ordered the girl to bring to her the strong manservant to take a basket down to the river.  In the basket she placed the young Prince and told Udai it was a game of hide and seek and under no account was anyone to find out he was inside the basket.  Broken hearted she instructed her own son to go into the Prince’s bed and covered him with the royal blanket.  When Banbir burst into the room he thrust his sword immediately into the body that lay in the royal bed while the nursemaid looked on in horror as Banbir murdered her son. 

 

Anguished, Panna Dhai packed some clothes, then attended the quick cremation of her son and with tears still stinging her eyes she ran down to the river where the servant was waiting with the basket.   Her aim was to reach Kumbhalgarh through the perilous rocks of  the mountainous Arvallis, North West of Chittor.  However, when they came to a town, the voice had spread that an unruly servant and her son had stolen from the house of Mewar and was not to be given aid, penalty the wrath of Maharana Vikramaditya.  So all doors were shut upon Panna Dhai and her royal charge.  Only the Bhils, always faithful to the Mewar Crown offered shelter and food as she struggled with the young Prince on the rugged paths that made their feet bleed, through the infamous Aravalli Range, past Gogunda and still further onwards through rough mountainous wilderness that even soldiers found it hard to overcome.

 

 

It had been no easy task for the nurse, Panna Dhai to travel across the formidable

Arravalli Hills for more than 150 miles

 

 

Once at Kumbhalgarh, the immensity overcame the solitary exiles: the width of the wall could easily accommodate six carriages and horses, the wall itself was second to none in dimension but to the Great Wall of China.  Asha Depura Shah, a Jain merchant who was the governor of that area, when discovering the real identity of the young Prince offered his protection and spread the misleading news that Udai was Asha’s own nephew.”

 

In the meantime, Jait, the son of the much loved Sajja who died at the Ganesh Pol during the 2nd Sack of Chittor, had settled in Marwar where he had taken his wife, two daughters and the quiet, dutiful heir, Man Singh.  The alliance between Jait and the Ruler of the Marwar Rathore Rajputs, Rao Maldeo was sealed by the latter bequeathing Jait with the Jagir of Kherwa.  In return Jait gave his eldest daughter, Swarup Devi, in marriage, but she was still too young for marriage. 

“You have my promise, when the time comes I will give her to you,” Jait said to the impatient Maldeo while striding in the Ruler’s darbar waiting for the other chiefs of Marwar to arrive. 

 

                “You know, I like them young!” Rao Maldeo said maliciously. 

                “She’s only five years old!” Jait said striding away leaving the insufferable Rao to entertain the rest of the party.

“Ah, here come the Chauhans Rajputs from Jalore,” the Rao said looking in the direction of the main gate and went to greet them as the party dismounted from their horses.  “Akhey Raj Songara, You are welcome, honourable neighbour.  How are things on the Golden Mount?”

                “The Fortress holds fast, my esteemed Rao Maldeo,” the Raj said as they embraced.

 

There are signs this fortress is much populated as in centuries past

Throngs of school children and turists visit it each day

and the locals have made their abodes around it

as the washing on the clothing line shows

 

 

 

                “And your daughters?”

                “All spoken for?”

                “How do you mean?” Rao Maldeo asked not hiding his disappointment.

                “Is this not the question why we have assembled here today?” The Raj reminded,  “My marriage!”

                “Marriage indeed, but not yours!  Or are you forgetting the throne of Mewar is in need of an heir and that heir is in need of a wife?”

                “The marriage of Banbir!”

                “That scoundrel is not an heir, he is a usurper!” The Raj paused.  “The throne of Mewar has been empty long enough it is time for the real heir to return.”

                “But there is no other heir!” Rao Maldeo protested, “Banbir was the unofficial son of Prithvi Raj, who never made it to the throne because he died before his father- so Banbir should have had the throne instead of his uncle Sangram.”

                “Like you said, Banbir is not the official son and bastards do not inherit thrones,” Raj Akhey paused, “That is why this question of marriage that we are here to discuss today is so important.”

                “First we must have a legitimate heir,” Rao Maldeo objected.

                “We have one…”

                “An adopted one?”

                “Indeed not…”

                “Who then?”  Maldeo said exasperated.

                “No less than a son of the Great Sangram,” Raj Akhey announced triumphantly. 

                “Impossible!” Maldeo said laughing cynically.  Sangram’s sons are all dead, Banbir saw to that.

                “Banbir thought he had killed all of Sangram’s sons, but Udai was spared.”

                “How is that possible?” Maldeo said incredulous, “I had word from Karamchand himself that Banbir had put the sword through Prince Udai the same night he had put the sword through Vikramaditya.”

                “But things did not go as they appeared.”

                “No?” Rao Maldeo prodded irritably, “And pray, how did things go?” he asked impatiently, “would you care to explain?”

                “I had word from the governor of the town of Kumbhalgarh that an illustrious guest has been staying at the fortress for a few years now…”

                “Yes, his nephew… my dear Raj you are not telling us anything new…”

                “With a wet-nurse from the Mewar Royal Family?”  As the Raj finished speaking, Maldeo’s eyes switched back and forwards intuitively.

                “Has… has anyone recognized this woman?”  Maldeo asked in a whisper.

                “I am going there myself after this assembly…”

                “Do you know this woman…? Can you recognize this wet-nurse?”

                “Panna Dhai, her name is Panna Dhai… No, not I personally, I have never met her- that is why I am not leaving alone.”

                “Oh?” was all Maldeo could say.

                “I am taking Jait Singh with me… the son of the honourable Sajja of Delwara.  Jait Singh not only knows Panna Dhai like his own mother but he knows Prince Udai like his own brother- should he have had one.”  Akhey Raj Songara looked in front of him and said, “Here comes Raj Jait himself!”

“When this business of recognition is over,” Rao Maldeo said turning to Raj Akhey, “maybe you could spare one of your daughters for me.”

                “Take no heed of our honourable friend,” Jait said, “I’ve already promised him my eldest daughter but she’s still a child.”

“Your Jeevant Kunwar is of child bearing age, is she not?” Maldeo asked Akhey. 

                “Yes, but as I said, all my daughters are spoken for, especially Jeevant Kunwar,” Akhey answered irritably.

                “Ah, I see,” Maldeo said opening his eyes wide, “You plan to marry Jeevant Kunwar to the heir of Mewar… is that not the plan?”

That was indeed the plan and the whole assembly approved of it joyfully grateful that there was a strong probability that a son of the Great Sanga had survived, and who better would know than the Jhala Raj Jait who had spent the whole of his childhood at the court of Mewar?  As Jait rode alongside Akhey Raj Songara, the excitement inside him grew.  “I pray the magnificent sun to look down kindly on this offspring of Sisodia,” Jait said to his companion.  “And that it has not been just an illusion.”

                “Aye to that,” Akhey said, “otherwise my plans to be the grandfather of the heir to the throne of Mewar have been but vain thoughts.”

                “Had you not better aim to be the father-in-law of the present heir to the throne of Mewar first before counting the chikens that have not hatched yet?”  Jait said gamely. They rode on in silent expectation across the Marwar border into Mewar and then plunged south towards Kumbhalgarh. 

“Do you not think it was rather a hasty decision to bring Jeevant Kunwar with you?” Jait asked.  But Raj Akhey shook his head emphatically.

                “No, I do not.” 

                “What if it isn’t Udai?  What if Panna Dhai lied and it was her son she saved and not the Prince?”

                “We shall see in a few days when we get there, won’t we?”

                “He was fourteen when I last saw him,” Jait said pensive.

                “So?” the Raj asked, “He’ll be seventeen now, is that a problem for you?”

                “No, no I don’t think so,” Jait said with a smile, “faces do not change in three years!”

                “If the boy that the Governor of Kumbhalgarh is protecting is indeed the heir to the throne of Mewar then there is no time to lose- Udai must have a son immediately!”  Raj Akhey looked at the column following behind.  “Hence, the needful presence of my child bearing daughter.”

                “Let’s hope he likes her!” Jait commented as he tried to get a glimpse of Jeevant Kunwar through the heavily curtained carriage windows in the train behind. 

Some weeks later when the party had at last reached the immense walls of Kumbhalgarh, from the roof top, Udai saw the procession, “Uncle Asha, here they come,” Udai cried.  The Governor hurried to the boy’s side. 

                “Are you ready, your Highness?” the Governor said with solicitude, “Remember, you are the rightful heir to the throne of Mewar and those people need to see that.”

 

Udai could see the retinue of nobles bearing his bride

as they walked along the path of the great wall

 

                “You have taught me a multitude of things in these years…”

                “They must see those royal qualities that are inborn and not the arrogance of your brother Vikramaditya.”  The Governor smiled, “But I need not worry about that, you are gentle of heart.”

                “Yes, my noble uncle, I try to be.”

                “I know that,” the Governor said and then irritated added, “And stop calling me uncle… I am no uncle of yours!” 

                “Look, uncl… I mean Shah Asha, there’s the carriage… is that…

                “Jeevant Kunwar- your future bride.  As soon as you have been recognized as the heir of Mewar you will be married and have a son…”

                “Immediately?”  Udai asked.

                “Immediately!”

                “And I have to do that… what you told me?”  Udai glanced to his lower limbs.

                “Without question!”

                “What if I have a problem…?”

                “Don’t call me!” was the Governor’s swift reply.  He looked at Udai’s puzzled face. “You just try and try again until you get it right.”  And of course Udai did get it right because he managed to father at least twenty sons and even more so daughters, but that’s jumping ahead of time.  The Governor placed his hand on the Prince’s shoulder, “Go now,” he admonished, “go to the darbar, you must meet them on your own.”

As the procession of horses, carriages and elephants poured through the immense main entrance into the darbar of Kumbhalgarh, Udai approached the first horsemen who promptly dismounted.  The servants took the horses and Raja Jait neared the Royal Figure, took a lasting look and bowed, then turning to the party claimed in a loud voice, “His Royal Highness Prince Udai of Mewar.”  Raja Akhey Songara neared, bowed and proclaimed:

 

 

It was probaly in an open court as this that Udai was proclaimed Maharana

 

 

                “His Royal Majesty Maharana Udai Singh of Mewar!” the whole court bowed and paid the newly acknowledge king homage.