Anecdotes from Indian History

I recollect and pen down some anecdotes of Indian history from different sources.

When Shivaji maharaj got to know that the venerable Sinhagad fort has fallen but his favourite chieftain Tanaji Malsure died in the bloody battle he commented languidly “ Gad ala pan simha gela”. That means “We won the fort of Sinhagad but my lion is gone”. Simha translated to English is Lion. Shivaji maharaj lovingly called Tanaji as Simha or Lion.

When Warren Hastings attacked Awadh, the locals started to flee in fear. In hurried manner they were taking all they could with them and as it happens they made several mistakes in the flurry of activities. This is elaborated in a Hindi couplet by anonymous nicely.

“ Ghode par Hawda, Haathi par Jinn,

Jaldi bhago Jaldi Bhago Warren Hastin…”

This means that when they saw Warren Hasting they hurriedly put Hawda ( used on Elephant or Haathi) on a Ghoda (Horse) and a Jinn( usually put on a Ghoda,Horse) they put on back of Haathi (Elephant). These are mistakes made while they were busy fleeing.

When Birbal died Akbar lamented

“ Kanhai Brija Chor Giya, rahe Giya sab Ahir

  Sab shobha darbar ka har liya Bal ka bir”

This means as Lord Krishna left Brajadham, everyone was sad and desolate. Similarly Birbal’s demise took away all the joy and glory of his (Akbar’s) Navratna sabha/darbar.

When the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Jaffar II was deported to Rangoon, Burma by the British, he was imprisoned in a small cell where he wrote on the wall with charcoal the following couplet.

“Na kissi ke Ankhon ke Noor hun

Na Kissi ka dil ka karaar hun

Koi Aa ke shaama jalaye kyun

Koi aa ke char phool chadaye kyun

Main woh bekaasi ka majaar hun”

Translated this means neither am I light of anybody’s eye, nor am I desire of anybody’s heart. Who will come to my grave with flower wreath? Who will light a lamp in my honour after I am gone? Because mine is the grave of despair.

This was in 1857. Many years down the lane I read in Indian Express that President of India, Dr Abdul Kalaam visited Rangoon and Bahadur Shah Jaffar’s grave. He spread a chaddar and offered flowers and lit a lamp. And he wrote in the visitor’s book: “Sir, at last somebody from your country remembered you and came to light a lamp in your grave. At last one of your countrymen remembered you.”

When Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar helped in formulating and promulgation of Widow remarriage Act and spreading women’s education, textile designers from Shantipur presented him a Dhoti with inscription like this .

“ Benche thako Bidyasagar chirojibi hoye,

   Stri shikkha korecho prosar, diyecho bidhobar biye”

Rajkahini by Abanindranath Tagore is a shadow of Todd’s Annals and Antiquities of rajasthan replete with anecdotes from Rajasthan royals. However since it is well known I abstain from quoting many stories.

When Sri Chaitanya spread the bhakti rasa and swept people of Bengal by Vaisnava sect, a phrase indictaed his popularity - 'Shantipur dubu dubu Node bhese jai' . This means Shantipur is already submered with bhakti rasa, Nodia is also going down.

Some historical evens etch a mark on collective human memory by being part of songs or poems. When Marathas used to  invade Bengal and demand tax, the following poem was born which is still sung as a lullaby. 'Chele ghumalo para juralo, borgi elo deshe, bulbulite dhan kheyeche , khajna debo kise ?'. This means as the young child falls to sleep, the Maraha (borgi) arrives and demands tax. However the landowner pleads since the birds ate the paddy seeds how will I pay tax ?

Nice examples.