About the Book
These stories of chivalry and romance that cover several centuries are based both on history and the epic poetry of the great bards. Great literature enhances the appeal of history and the bards gave complete freedom to their fervid, imaginative verse about war, bravery, love, great deeds, glory, sacrifice and death.
The historical events and bardic legends in these vignettes relate generally to Rajasthan, central and western India, but some cover a larger geographical canvas of the country. In this saga of the heroic men of history and legends, which often converge, you also meet fascinating women like the Rani of Jhansi, the beautiful Mastani and the Ranis and Begums of Bhopal. The author's approach in this book makes us revisit the turning points in Indian history that add to our rich heritage and culture.
About the Author
E. Jaiwant Paul has eclectic tastes ranging from writing and researching on aspects of India's history and ancient weapons, building a successful career in the corporate world, to playing cricket and tennis. He has authored nine other books and is on the expert panel on weapons for several museums of Rajasthan.
The author initially worked for Hindustan Unilever and was later a director of Brooke Bond, India. After this he headed the National Mineral Water Company in Muscat, Oman. Presently, he lives in Delhi and serves as the director of a few companies.
Introduction
This collection of stories ranges from prehistoric times to as recently as the last century. Those of ancient times are based more on bardic legends, but as we progress in time, there is greater historic fidelity of events. These accounts are not arranged in a chronological order as each has a flavour independent of the other. The common link however is that they are all based on dramatic events of history or on epic poems of great bards like Chand Bardai, Lal Kavi, Sukhdharma and others. Some however are sourced from a combination of both history and bardic legends. The markers of history are kept in mind even when these accounts are enlivened by bardic poems.
The discovery of historical facts is scientific in method. But history tends to be dry, unless it is embellished and supported by great literature. On the other hand ballads can be soul stirring and bring tears to your eyes, which history seldom does.
Bards were attached to the courts of Indian kings. In Rajasthan, Bundelkhand and Saurashtra, bards were even considered a sacred order and as hereditary guardians of history and pedigree. They were treated with great respect by the kings and were esteemed higher than Brahmins. As Colonel Tod says in his Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, "The Rajput attends more to the martial song of the bard than to the litany of the Brahmin. In some states rulers used to rise when one of their order entered or left an assembly. Bards often accompanied kings during wars and thus their reporting was first hand.
Bards have been called 'the historians of mankind". They are essentially historians, genealogists and reciters of warlike poetry. Much would have been lost but for the bards and charuns whose epics are passed down from generation to generation. Thus traditions have been kept alive.
