Restore the lost honour of Prithvi Raj

Restore the lost honour of Prithvi Raj
S.C. Parmar

The diatribe Lalit Mohan launched against the legendary Prithvi Raj Chauhan (`Why make a big deal of Prithvi Raj Chauhan, anyway?' November 27) has left many questions unanswered. Although he has tried to delve into historical events, the authenticity of his version raises doubts. The only source of some authority on the history of the Rajasthan of that period is Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, a set of two great books by Lt Col James Tod, once the British political agent to the western Rajput state. The facts about Prithvi Raj Chauhan cited here are diametrically opposite to those expressed by Mohan.

To trace the history of the feud between Prithvi Raj Chauhan and Jai Chand, the mention of the name of Anangpal, who was then termed as paramount sovereign of Hindustan, is necessary. The Chauhans of Ajmer owed homage to Delhi at this time, although Bisaldeo had rendered it almost nominal. And to Some-swar, the fourth in descent, Anangpal was indebted for helping him fob off the threat from Kanauj. For this, he obtained Tuar's daughter -- who later became Prithvi Raj's mother -- in marriage.

Prithvi Raj was only eight years of age when he ascended the Delhi throne. Jai Chand of Kanauj and Prithvi Raj bore the same relationship to Anangpal, because Bijaipal, the father of the former, as well as Some-swar were married to the daughters of Taur. Thus began the rivalry between the Chauhans and the Rathores which ended in the destruction of both houses.

When Prithvi Raj mounted the throne of Delhi, Jai Chand not only refused to acknowledge his supremacy but set fourth his own claim to throne. In this he was supported by the prince of Patan Anhilwara and Parihars of Mandor. In order to weaken the supremacy of Prithvi Raj Chauhan, Kanauj and Patan took recourse to the dangerous expedient of entertaining bands of Tatars, which helped the sovereign of Gazni -- Mohammad Gazni -- take advantage of the situation. In fact, Prithvi Raj's closest ally, who jointly faced the repeated onslaught of the invader, was his sister's spouse, the prince of Chitor named Samrasi. This relationship lasted until the last fatal battle on the Gaggher.

The tradition of holding swayamvars for the marriage of the king's daughter was part of the culture of those days, and Sanyukta's swayamvar was part of that tradition. The only difference was that Prithvi Raj was not invited to it. It was a deliberate affront on the part of Jai Chand, since he well knew that his daughter had vowed to accept no other man to be her husband.

Prithvi Raj was bound by his word of honour to his beloved. By his act, he he saved her from the dishonour of elopement and showed himself to be a brave and chivalrous knight before a mute crowd of kings and princes. It was not libido that made him do this. He was enamoured of Sanyukta's various attributes, especially her spirit, and gladly risked his life to win her. How many of us in the 21s century could have done this?

The cause of Prithvi Raj Chauhan is a national cause because the remains of the last ruler of Hindustan lie buried in Afghanistan. It is a national shame that it has taken us almost 800 years to even learn about this. Every endeavour must therefore be made to bring his remains to India and conduct his last rites according to Hindu ritual, so that his soul may rest in peace.

There is also no reason to initiate unsavoury controversies about this legendary person, without adequate knowledge of the times he lived in and the compulsions and imperatives that drove him. The Prithvi Raj-Sanyukta legend will continue as long as there is life on earth. Chand Bardai is credited with writing 69 books comprising one hundred thousand stanzas relating the exploits of Prithvi Raj and his account is accepted as a truthful rendition.

If Mirza Ghalib's contributions to literature could have moved the Supreme Court to direct the Central government to preserve his house in Delhi as a heritage site, it is only fitting that the Centre now declare the palace of the heirs of Prithvi Raj Chauhan at Neemrana in Rajasthan as a national heritage site and restore its lost honour.