None can distort legends

As a student we had a history teacher who made the classes very interesting. He used to teach with lot of involvement and fervour, especially while dealing with the Muslim conquest, the Moghul Dynasty and the Empire of Krishna Devaraya. He was at his best while teaching seizure of Chittor fort by Khilji and the Jauhar committed by Rani Padmavathi and how Rana Pratap held his head high against the mighty Mughal Empire.

This was the history which was taught to us for more than half a century in our history books and as a nation we have believed this. I am sure even as on date the history books might not be any different. Twenty years later, I had an occasion to visit Chittorgarh Fort and the tourist guide there with equal fervour and zeal took me around and showed the Rani Padmavathi Palace, where Khilji saw Rani Padmavathi through a mirror and the place where she committed Jauhar.

Now, suddenly we are told that all this is untrue and un-historical and it is part of a poem written by Malik Mohd Jayasi in the 16th century who is a Sufi saint. Every nation needs icons of valour, strength and sacrifice to get inspired in the process of nation-building. Countries like USA which do not have a long history also have created their own icons as a source of inspiration in the process of nation-building.

India has no dearth of such icons – both mythological and historical – starting from Bharath who gave his name to this country , to Ambedkar and Gandhi of the modern world. Rani Padmmavathi and Rana Pratap Singh are such icons of valour, sacrifice and bravery. Now to suddenly say all this is fiction and historically not true would be deceiving ourselves.

In fact, ballads do signify and portray historical incidents in a popular form, especially incidents of valour and sacrifices of those who might not have won the battle. The same is true of ballads which are very popular in our own State like story of Katamaraju who fought Manumasiddhi of Simhapuri (present day Nellore) or Balachandrudu of Palnadu area.

The epic story of Padmavathi written by Malik Mohd Jayasi could be one such. It is neither fair nor correct to dismiss what is not reflected in the mainstream historical accounts of any particular period since certain incidents which might not get reflected in the contemporary writings for a variety of reasons become part of ballads, folklore and poems.

In all probability, the story of Rani Padmavathi could be once such. So to deny its historical existence just because it is not mentioned in contemporary writings of those days may not be correct. Now comes the medium of celluloid which would like to exploit every possible story commercially to its advantage. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has the Midas touch of making a success of a film like “Devadas” which is more set in the rural Bengali Jamindari cultural milieu by transporting it to opulent settings with grandeur and pomp.

But trying to take liberties with a story which has become part of national psyche as an example of valour and ultimate sacrifice and expect people not to react would be foolish. I am neither supporting nor condoning the threats that are being made by fringe elements. As the story of Rani Padmavathi was told to us across the nation in a particular manner for such a long period, now to portray it in a different manner would definitely be hurting the sentiments of the nation as such.

If what the filmmaker wanted to present was a grand spectacle he could have, like Bahubali, taken an imaginary story and dealt with it the way he wanted. Why he wants to take the name of Rani Padmavathi and then distort it the way he desires is understandable because the name of the Rani Padmavathi sells. Rani Padmavathi – whether historical or legend – is part of our national ethos now and he has no right to distort it the way he wants.

In fact, by now we are successful in compartmentalising our national heroes and heroines. Rani Padmavathi who should have been a national figure we have made her a symbol of Rajputs. Hence Karni Sena reacts on this issue. Sivaji, a national hero, becomes a symbol of Marathas and on any issue concerning him, Marathas react so on and so forth. Rani Padmavathi is a national icon and by trying to distort the story, the filmmaker is hurting the sentiments of the nation as such, not of any one region or community.