Through this award-winning novel, the author has attempted to illuminate a lesser-known chapter of Meerabai’s life

Meera

By Debasree Chakraborti

“Chittor is now silent — silent like a haunted city. Only the heavy footsteps of guards can be faintly heard from far away near the fort walls. With her face buried in Meera’s chest, Panna is sobbing softly. Meera has no words of comfort; she slowly strokes Panna’s head. Through her tears, Panna says, ‘I safely delivered Uday to Sawar Mal in a basket. In his place, my son…’ Before she could finish the sentence, Panna Bai broke down in tears. Placing her cheek on Panna’s head, Meerabai looked towards Giridharji and said, ‘Panna, your sacrifice will not be in vain. In this dark chapter of history, your name will be written in golden letters.’”

Location: Chittorgarh Fort

All around, there is deep darkness. On other days, torches are kept lit along the fort walls, but tonight, not even those are burning. An eerie stillness pervades the surroundings. From various corners of the fort, faint murmurs drift in the air — as if the scent of conspiracy hangs everywhere.

From Meera’s palace, one could usually see the main gate of the fort, where guards stand watch on either side with torches in hand. Tonight, no one is there. The silence is overwhelming, making it hard for her to breathe.

Earlier this evening, through one of her trusted aides, she learned that all guards would be removed from the palace at night. The moment she heard this, suspicion arose in her mind — never before had Chittor been left unguarded like this.

She didn’t have to wait long. Before sunset, another loyal aide arrived and informed her that while passing near Banveer’s palace, he had witnessed a fierce quarrel between Kunwar Sa Ratan Singhji and Banveer. Banveer was being told by Ratan Singh, “This is wrong. I could never commit such a heinous injustice.”

When Kunwar Sa Ratan Singh tried to leave Banveer’s palace, Banveer placed a sword across his chest and said, “And is it not wrong when Uday Singh is being made crown prince by deceiving you?”

Ratan Singh looked straight into Banveer’s eyes and said, “How dare you place a sword on my chest?”

From a shadowed corner of the chamber, Ratan Singh’s maternal uncle Maldev stepped forward, placed a hand on Ratan Singh’s shoulder, and said, “All this while, we have been moving pieces for your benefit. Now we cannot let everything be ruined because of you. That is why the sword must indeed rest upon your chest.”

Ratan Singh, having never seen this side of his uncle before, asked in astonishment, “Mama Sa, you too!”

Maldev twisted his lips into a smirk and said, “In the arena of politics, no one belongs to anyone.”

We have entered a battle for power — here, whoever stands against me is my enemy. And if I spare my enemy’s life, it will be my own downfall.

The moment her trusted aide mentioned Uday’s name, it was as if a terrible earthquake erupted inside Meera’s chest. How many times had she told Babu Sa to take Uday away, but Babu Sa never listened. Now how would she protect Uday? But if not Ratan, then Vikramjit could claim the throne — so why was Uday’s name being mentioned instead of Vikramjit’s? Meera realised that Ratan Singh was being ensnared in a terrible false conspiracy.

Darkness — tonight, there was too much darkness all around. The inner walls of the fort, where torches were lit every day, were pitch black. No guards anywhere. Meera walked slowly towards Karmet Bai’s palace. In the entire fort, not a single guard was in sight — yet in front of Karmet Bai’s palace, there were quite a few guards. When they saw Meerabai, they stopped her.

Meera turned and said, “Since Ranaji is not in the palace today, you cannot stop me like this. Ask your own conscience — will you stand by those who have been with your family in both happiness and sorrow for so long, or will you take refuge in injustice?”

To look at Meera was to see a living yogini — the sight of her stirred devotion in one’s heart. Indeed, since the day Meerabai first set foot on the soil of Mewar, she had been giving, standing by the common people of Mewar in their joys and sorrows. Such a woman was equal to a living goddess — to insult her was to commit a sin.

Thinking thus, the guards said, “Rani Sa, whatever you have to do, do it quickly and go back. Your presence here for too long is not safe for anyone.”

Meera entered Karmet Bai’s palace and saw Uday Singh and Udabai sleeping on the bed, while Panna Bai sat in a corner of the floor, rocking her son Chandan in her arms to sleep.

Seeing Meera, Panna Bai laid the sleeping Chandan on the bedding spread in one corner of the room and came towards her.

Meera placed her hand on Panna Bai’s shoulder and said, “Panna, listen to me carefully Listen to me. Do not be afraid — now is the time to be strong. Sawar Mal is waiting for you in Atabagan, beside the Kunj Shyam temple. Uday is in great danger, Panna. You must save him at any cost. Take Uday to Sawar Mal, and from there, take him to seek refuge in the fort of Dewar Singh Rao. Hurry — there is no time. I am taking Udabai with me.

Panna Bai stared blankly and said, “But there’s heavy guard all around. How will I take Uday out?”

Meerabai replied, “Dress Uday in Chandan’s clothes, then put Uday’s clothes on Chandan and leave him in Uday’s place before you go.”

Without waiting any longer, Meera lifted the sleeping Udabai into her arms and left Karmet Bai’s palace. Walking barefoot over the icy-cold floor, she disappeared into the darkness. Then, taking the northern path from Jhali Rani’s palace, she quickly reached her own palace. The little three-year-old Udabai was still sleeping. Meera laid her safely on the bed and went to stand before the jharokha.

Right in front of Meera’s palace stood Karmet Bai’s palace. It was dark — which meant Panna had extinguished all the lamps. From another part of the fort came the sounds of wailing. A maid came and said to Meera, “Rani Sa, Banveer’s men are killing Surajmal’s men. We are terrified — they may not spare us either.”

Meera said, “Do not be afraid. I am here. As long as I am here, you are safe.”

Meera could sense that someone was approaching Karmet Bai’s palace; the clanging of swords rang out. For a moment, all was silent. Then came the loud cry of a child. After that, silence again.

After quite some time in that stillness, the sound of weeping floated from Queen Mother Ratan Jhali’s palace — the Queen Mother was crying out her younger grandson Uday Singh’s name. Meera wondered how the news had reached her. But then again, it was not so strange — for apart from Meera, the only other person highly active inside the fort was the Jhali Queen.

Meera felt as if someone was approaching her palace. Stepping away from the jharokha, she took something out from beneath her bed and quietly stood in a corner of the room. Just then, someone entered.

In a very calm voice, Meera said, “Banveer, you here?”

Banveer Singh turned around and saw Meerabai standing with a sword in her hand.

Banveer said, “Bai Sa, I did not know that you support us.”

Meera gripped the sword tightly and said, “I’m on your side? May I know what suddenly made you think that?”

Banveer replied, “My men have been keeping you under constant watch. Through a messenger, I received news that you went to Karmet Bai’s palace and, instead of bringing Uday, you brought Uda. Even if you had not brought Uda, we would not have harmed him.”

Before Giridharji, a lamp was burning, and in its light Meera saw the bloodstains on Banveer’s sword. Seeing the blood, Panna Bai’s face flashed before her eyes.

Forcing herself to stay composed, Meera asked, “You say I support you — but suppose I didn’t, then what would you do?”

Banveer replied, “If you didn’t listen to us, you would face lifelong imprisonment, the temple being built for your Giridharji would be demolished, and all your jagir lands would be confiscated. So, as long as you’re in a good position, try to remain so.”

Meera asked, “Then who will be Rana — Ratan Singh?”

Banveer laughed and said, “He is just for show. The real Rana will be me. The kingdom will run on my word.”

Meera asked, “And what will I get for supporting you?”

Banveer said, “Your jagir will be doubled. But not so easily “No — for that, the Rathore chiefs of Merta must pledge their support to Ratan Singh in the royal court.”

“They will,” Meera said, “but then I’ll have to send word to my uncle through a messenger.”

Banveer replied, “Bai Sa, our messenger will take our written message to the Rathores of Merta. You only need to give your signature.”

Meerabai said, “Let Ranaji return to Mewar first, then Ratan can be declared Rana.”

Banveer burst into loud laughter, the sound shaking the surroundings. He said, “My men will never let Rana Sa enter Mewar again — he will live in exile for the rest of his life.”

Meera said, “Very well. Tomorrow, after Giridharji’s worship, have your messenger depart with the temple offerings. I will send Thakur’s blessings for my brother Jaimal.”

After Banveer left, Meera placed two trusted maids with Udabai and rushed to Karmet Bai’s palace. There she learned that Panna Bai had taken the dead Uday Singh to the royal cremation ground beside the Samadhishwar Temple.

Meera hurried off, running through the dark pathways, unaware of direction — her breath came in gasps, and the swish of her garments could be heard. Climbing down the cold stone stairs, she reached the outer gate — only to be stopped. The guards there were all Banveer’s men, instructed never to let Meerabai leave the fort under any circumstances.

Meera stood there, waiting for Panna Bai.

Then, in the distance, she saw the glow of torchlight. As it drew nearer, she recognised the exhausted Panna Bai approaching with two guards.

When Panna came close, Meera embraced her, and together they slipped away again into the dark passage. Taking the northern route of the fort, they reached Rana Kumbha’s palace, where Meera was currently residing.

She seated Panna Bai before Giridharji’s idol, then quickly went and shut the door.

Chittor was now silent — silent like a haunted city. Only the heavy footsteps of guards could be faintly heard from far away near the fort walls.

With her face buried in Meera’s chest, Panna was sobbing softly. Meera had no words of comfort; she only kept gently stroking Panna’s head.

Through her tears, Panna said, “I safely delivered Uday to Sawar Mal in a basket. In his place, I left my son…” Her voice broke, and she collapsed into tears before she could finish the sentence.

Placing her cheek upon Panna’s head, Meerabai looked towards Giridharji and said, “Panna, your sacrifice will not be in vain. In this dark chapter of history, your name — and that of the martyred Chandan Singh — will be written in golden letters.” (Continues) 

Click here for Part-1, Part-2, Part-3, Part-4, Part-5, Part-6, Part-7, Part-8, Part-9, Part-10, Part-11, Part-12, Part-13, Part-14, Part-15, Part-16, Part-17, Part-18, Part-19, Part-20, Part-21, Part-22, Part-23, Part-24, Part-25, Part-26, Part-27, 

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Debasree Chakraborti is a renowned novel writer of Bengali language. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, she has done Master’s in Modern History from the Kolkata University, and authored some thirty books, mostly the novels, with historical perspective and themes. Her novel is ‘Maharaja Dahir’ that covers the history of Sindh from 662, the year of first attack on Sindh by the Arab armies till date, was published last year and translated by Nasir Aijaz into Sindhi language.