The Historical Saga Of Alauddin Khalji & Padmavati

Born as Ali Gurshasp, Alauddin was the nephew and son-in-law of his predecessor Jalaluddin. When Jalaluddin became the Sultan of Delhi after deposing the Mamluks, Alauddin was given the position of Amir-i-Tuzuk (equivalent to master of ceremonies). Alauddin obtained the governorship of Kara in 1291 after suppressing a revolt against Jalaluddin, and the governorship of Awadh in 1296 after a profitable raid on Bhilsa. In 1296, Alauddin raided Devagiri, and acquired loot to stage a successful revolt against Jalaluddin. After killing Jalaluddin, he consolidated his power in Delhi, and subjugated Jalaluddin’s sons in Multan.

Alauddin

The Story of Padmavati and AlauddinKhalji comes from an epic poem Padmavat which was written by Malik Muhammad Jayasi. Rani Padmavati was Born in the Sinhala Kingdom to King Gandharvsena and his chief consort Champavati.

She was sensationally beautiful and the time of her marriage, a Swayamvar was organized, which saw many Kings and Princes. The challenge was whosoever defeated a masked royal swordsman in a fight, could marry her. No one knew the fact that it was Rani Padmavati herself in the disguise of the swordsman. She was eventually defeated by King MaharawalRatan Singh of Chittorgarh. Whom she happily married as per the condition. He was a good warrior full of love and passion for arts. His royal court was equally employed with talented and skillful people. One of them was an artist named Raghav Chetan. He was an amazing painter but he had a dark side.

He was obsessed with black magic which required animal and child sacrifice like practices. One day, he was caught red-handed by Maharawal Ratan Singh, who banished him from the kingdom, after much humiliationRaghav Chetan left Chittorgarh and went to Delhi. He was an artist and musician so he performed in various kingdoms and after a lot of tries and a few years he was able to impress Alauddin Khilji, who was a very cruel mass murderer.

Padmavati

Looking for revenge, Chetan got into Khilji’s court and he started feeding him with details of Chittorgarh and Queen Padmavati’s beauty.

Alauddin Khilji was amused by listening to Chetan and desperately wanted to see her after listening to such great details. He sent word to King Rawal Ratan Singh that he wished to see the real beauty of Chittor and see if the rumors were in fact true. Sensing no danger, Rawal Ratan Singh agreed and requested his wife Padmavati to meet him, And, under the disguise of this meeting, Khilji brought his best army men, who took notes of Chittorgarh fort’s defense loopholes.

Queen Padmini denied coming directly in front of him but she let him see her reflection, there were arrangements made and mirrors were set in such a way that Khilji could only see her reflection. However, Khilji got obsessed with Rani Padmini and fell in love with her. He now wanted to have her. With this ill motive, Khilji welcomed Rawal Ratan Singh to his camp outside the royal residence.

Accepting this open door, the wicked Sultan misleadingly captured Rawal Ratan Singh and took him as a prisoner and sent a message to Rani Padmavati to surrender herself before him, if she wished to see her husband and the King alive. Hearing this, while Rawal Ratan Singh’s nephew was preparing an army for battle, Rani Padmavati prepared a big fireKund for Jauhar I.e. self-immolation. This news enraged Khilji further, who gathered more army men and ordered a siege on the fort walls, from all sides. Rajputs tried their best and had control of the fort for as long as 8 months after the siege but their defeat was inevitable now. Khilji’s army was successful in capturing one gate of the fort.

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As soon as the Rani Padmavati got to know this, She and all the other consorts of Rawal Ratan Singh, along with wives of army men and every woman present in the state, walked down to a secret passage linked from Chittor fort into the Jauhar Kund. All the women sang praises of their men’s kindness and bravery. Then together they jumped into the fire; Rani Padmini was the first one to jump into the Jauhar Kund. The entire palace was echoed by their cries. By the time, Khiliji and his army entered the fort to claim their authority on royal treasure and women; they were welcomed by eerie sounds coming from the kind. The heat, sounds and coming out from the Jauhar Kund were so fierce and painful that Khilji ordered to permanently close the tunnel passage and never open it.

Also Read: Death Mystery of ‘The Great Maratha King’ Chhatrapati Shivaji

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