Lady of the Lotus: The tragic love tale of Roopmati-Bazbahadur

She is called the Lady of the Lotus and, like countless tragic love tales of the world, is celebrated in the love poems of the region. This love affair lives in the folk lore of Malwa -in Madhya Pradesh, India- through many of the books written on the subject, the miniature paintings depicting the lovers, the ruins of small town of Mandu and many of the films made on her tragic ending. One reason for my attraction to the story is that the hauntingly forlorn, Bharat Vyas written song 'Aa lot ke aa ja meray meet' -'come back! return to me, my love', sung separately by Mukesh and Lata for the film 'Roopmati', has been a personnel favourite. This sixteenth century story is about Roopmati and her prematurely aborted love affair with Baz Bahadur, enacted in the green enchanting landscape of town of Mandu, located on the Malwa plateau along the northern banks of River Narmada, the traditional dividing line between north India and Deccan. The love story was first recorded in poetry by Ahmad-ul-Umri in 1599 during the last years of Emperor Akbar's reign. It is translated from the original Persian to English by LC Crump under the title 'The Lady of the Lotus: Rupmati, Queen of Mandu'. The book also contains 26 poems reportedly written by Roopmati herself. The initial Mughal rule in the sub-continent was embittered by Afghan-Turkish rivalries. Babur had defeated and ousted the Lodhis, an Afghan dynasty. His son Emperor Humayun was evicted from the throne by the Afghans led by Sher Shah Suri. When Akbar was consolidating his rule, he sent expeditions against Afghan rulers in the sub-continent who had been sympathetic to the Suri dynasty. One such ruler was Baz Bahadur of Malwa, about 700 kilometres south of Delhi in a region where the state boundaries of Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra merge. Bazbahadur's father, Shujaat khan, had served as governor of Malwa under Sher Shah Suri and died in 1555, the same year that saw Humayun return from his exile and win back his empire from the Suri descendents. Baz Bahadur inherited his State and refusing the Mughal sovereignty, declared independence. Many people of Afghan origin, who had come to India as fiercely orthodox mercenaries, quickly lost their ferocious edges and succumbed to the civilizing influences of plains of India. Unlike his warrior predecessors, Bazbahadur too was an accomplished poet and musician, indulging his passion even as the ruler. Roopmati was exceedingly beautiful. Umri describes the beauty of Roopmati in the same style as used by Waris Shah to describe the beauty of Heer. One paragraph is quoted here for reference "The beauty of her stature was in the height thereof. Her head was as the tent of Laila, as the great Ka'ba of Mecca, as a haven of beauty, wherein the king of the country of beauty had set a bunch of blue lilies? And of the dividing line of her hair what shall be written? It was as the river Ganges in the land of Hind. Strange outshone the parting of the hair of her head, even as a flash of lightning that cleaveth the midmost hour of night. The parting of her hair was a ray of sunlight or a strand from the rosary of Sulaiman or the dividing of night in twain. " One version of the story states that Bazbahadur had gone hunting in the dense woods along the Narmada River. Pursuing an animal, he heard an alluring voice singing to the river, the deer and the birds. Following the melodious tune, he came upon a maiden of about fourteen years of unusual beauty, who was playing her flute accompanied by her friends. He sat down to talk to her. He told her who he was and offered to marry her and take her to his capital Mandu. The girl loved her surroundings and especially the river where she used to come every day to pay her homage. On his proposal, she replied that, "When Rewa shall flow through Mandu, I will be your bride." Narmada is known as Rewa in the local dialect. Here I will introduce a bit of folk tale that adds a bit of mysticism and spice to the love story. Bazbahadur was impressed by the poetic reply of the girl and went down to the river to request it to climb the mountain and flow through Mandu, 20 kilometres and 1000 feet higher. According to the popular lore, the river directed the prince to go back to his capital, look for a certain sacred tamarisk tree. The river informed that at its roots, the prince would find a spring that is fed by the waters of Rewa. Sure enough, Bazbahadur found the tree, dug at its roots and discovered the spring. He filled a lake with its waters and thus fulfilled the condition of the girl. More mundanely, as depicted by Ahmad-ul-Umri in his book, Roopmati was the daughter of Jadu Rai, a Brahmin in Sarangpur. This town was granted as a jagir to Bazbahadur by his father. The prince was on his first visit to his estate and was invited for to a feast by Jadu Rai. There, while in his home, Bazbahadur heard Roopmati and later came across her in person. He was dazzled by the sublimely gorgeous girl and mesmerized by her sweet singing. After assuming power on the death of his father, Bazbahadur asked for the hand of her beloved and, in return, granted Jadu Rai the jagir of Sarangpur. The marriage was conducted according to Muslim as well as Hindu rites in 1555. When Roopmati entered the palace, she wished to be close to her sacred river. From a hill top near the royal palace, one can still see a slivery streak flowing in the distant south which is the Narmadda. Bazbahadur built a two domed pavilion for her to view the river. He named the lake that he had created as Rewa kund. An elevated aqua duct provides water from the lake to Baz Bahadur's palace. The lovers lived in bliss for six years. Today, their abode is called 'Rewa Kund Group', consisting of Rewa Kund, Baz Bahadur’s Palace and Roopmati’s Pavilion in the Citadel of Mandu, and is a popular tourist attraction that speaks of the enduring love of two sweethearts. Every tragic love story has a villain as does this one, and he is Adam Khan. Adam Khan Koka was the son of Maham Anga, the senior wet nurse of Akbar and a woman of great power and intrigue in the royal household. Akbar had appointed her son a general of the Mughal Army after the death of Bairam Khan in 1561 and sent him to capture Malwa. The small force of Mandu had no chance of standing up to the large Mughal force. Bazbahadur was defeated on 29th March 1561 at the battle of Sarangpur; an incredible four hundred and fifty seven years ago this month. Bazbahadur fled, leaving behind his army, treasures and his beloved. He headed for south west, across the rivers Narmadda and Tapti, to Khandesh -now in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Adam Khan took possession of all treasures. According to the historian Badauni, both the commanders, Adam Khan and his deputy Pir Muhammad Khan, perpetrated acts of barbaric cruelty, massacring the prisoners and killing even their wives and children. After the victory, Adam Khan sent the emperor Akbar a report of victory along with only a few elephants and himself appropriating the rest of the spoils. He would subsequently lose his command, and his life, for insolent and arrogant behaviour. However, that was later. For now he turned his attention towards the harem. By now he had heard about the beauty of Roopmati and was eager to take her into his custody. Adam Khan summoned Roopmati to his presence and demanded to transfer her love to him willingly. According to Umri, Roopmati at first tried to advise Adam Khan, "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". However, Adam Khan made it clear that if she didn't give herself up willingly, he was prepared to force his way. Her honour at stake, Roopmati disguised herself as a flower seller and fled the palace in the hope of reuniting with her husband. Adam Khan sent fifteen of his best cavalry men in pursuit. Roopmati hid herself about thirty kilometres from Sarangpur and called over her brothers for help. The Mughal cavalry, however, caught up with the fugitive and in the ensuing battle, Roopmati's brothers were killed. Brought back to him, Adam Khan renewed his overtures. She made clear that, "There is no hope that, what I gave to Baz Bahadur, the same I should give unto thee." She was now well guarded and had no hope of escaping again. She formulated a plan to escape the awaiting dishonour. She conveyed to Adam Khan that she will submit to him after three days. Adam Khan was delighted. On the third day, Adam Khan ordered a grand feast to be arranged. Roopmati bathed herself and wore the dress that Bazbhadur had presented her on the day of wedding. She then took her flute and sang songs that had melted her husband's Pakhtun heart. Then very calmly, she swallowed powdered diamonds. An intoxicated Adam Khan entered the bed chamber with licentious expectations, only to find a lifeless Roopmati lying on the bed. Such is the tragic end of this story that began in love and happiness, and ended in grief. Roopmati died, but she died a martyr to faithfulness and an example to the tribe of lovers. She was buried in Sarangpur. Bazbahadur subsequently accepted Mughal sovereignty and continued to serve under Emperor Akbar but only after Adam Khan had been killed for defiance by Akbar himself. Bazbahadur too now lies buried besides her beloved. Mandu is a celebration in stone of life and joy, of the love of Prince Bazbahadur for Rani Roopmati. The balladeers of Malwa still sing to the romance of these lovers. High up on the crest of a hill in Mandu, Roopmati's Pavilion continues to gaze down at Bazbahadur's Palace on one side and the Rewa on the other. I end this tale with verses of Roopmati. They who are wise, Avoid love's lure Yet tempted once, There is no cure Save to press on, With banners high Resolved to win, Or fighting die. This article was published in The Friday Times dated 30 Mar 2018. Parvez Mahmood retired as a Group Captain from PAF and is now a software engineer. He lives in Islamabad and writes on social and historical issues. He can be reached at parvezmahmood53@gmail.com.