When, however, centuries of foreign (Moghul) domination have left the people as virtuous, truthful and refined as any free people to be found anywhere in the world, what further evidence is necessary to prove the high national character of the ancient Hindus, whose lives were regulated by ethical principles of the highest order! Maharaja of Marwar even beyond the grave, commanded that his infant son, Ajit, should be surrendered to his custody. "Aurang offered to divide Maroo (Marwar) amongst her nobles if they would surrender their prince, but they replied 'our country is with our sinews, and these can defend both it and our lord.' With eyes red with rage they left the Am-ekhas. Their abode was surrounded by the host of the Shah," A fearful battle ensued. The first care of the Rajputs was to save the infant prince, and to avoid suspicion, the heir of Marwar, concealed in a basket of sweetmeats, was entrusted to a Moslem, who rigorously executed his trust and conveyed him to the appointed spot, where he was joined by the gallant Durga Das and his Rajputs, who had cut their way through all opposition, V. CHIVALRY. Let laurels, drench'd in pure Parnassian dews, -Cowper. THE innate chivalry of Hindu character is wellknown to those who have studied their history, or lived with them and studied their manners and customs. Their treatment of the female sex, their unwillingness to injure or take away life unnecessarily, their magnanimous treatment of their fallen foes, their unwillingness to take advantage of their own superiority to their adversaries, prove the chivalrous character of the Hindu race. The undaunted heroism and the unequalled valour of the ancient Hindus, their magnificent self-confidence, their righteousness of conduct, and, above all, the sublime teachings of their Shastras, containing the loftiest spiritual ideals yet conceived by humanity, made them the most chivalrous and humane people on the face of the earth. So much is the warrior caste of the Hindus even now identified with chivalry that Rajputi and Chivalry have become convertible terms.' Rajputana is eminently the land of chivalry, and the Rajputs, the descendents of the ancient Kshatriyas, have preserved some of the latter's virtues, prominent among which is chivalry. Rama, Arjuna, Karna, Krishna, Bhima, Bali, 1See Tod's Rajasthan, Vol. II, p. 601. Baldeo (Hercules) Sagara, and others were ideal characters: but coming down to modern times we find that Rana Pratap of Mewar, Durga Das of Marwar and Prithvi Raj of Ajmer were characters for whose equals in chivalry and patriotism we may search in vain the annals of other nations, European or Asiatic. The annals of no nation record instances to outshine the romantic chivalry displayed by Sadoo, heir of the lord of Pugal, till lately a fief of Jaisalmer, or the chivalrous conduct of his bride, Kurramdevi, daughter of the Mohil chief Manik Rao, who "was at once a virgin, a wife and a widow."1 Colonel Tod says: "Nor is there anything finer in the annals of the chivalry of the West than the dignified and the heroic conduct of the Raja of Duttea," who met with a glorious death in defence of the laws of sanctuary and honour, when on the death of Madhaji Scindhia, the females of his (Scindhia's) family, in apprehension of his successor, Daulat Rao, sought refuge and protection with the Raja.2 than pays The author of the Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthe highest tribute to the valour and chivalry of the Rajputs when he says: "Coeur de lion (King of England) would not have remained so long in the dungeons of Austria had his subjects been Rajputs."3 Professor H. H. Wilson says: "The Hindu laws of war are very chivalrous and humane, and prohibit the slaying of the unarmed, of women, of the old and of the conquered." 1 See Tod's Rajasthan, Vol. II, p. 629, The innate chivalry of the Hindu character has given rise to a peculiar custom observed among all classes of people, irrespective of caste, nationality or age. It is the Rakhi (Rakshabandan), by which Hindu ladies command loyal, disinterested, and whole-souled service of men, whom they deign to adopt as their brothers, though in most instances they never behold them. "There is a delicacy in this custom," says Colonel Tod, "with which the bond uniting the cavaliers of Europe to the service of the fair in the days of chivalry will not compare. took Sadri and Rai Mal met the The following incident will show the character of the Rajputs and the nature of their warfare. During the reign of Rana Rai Mal of Chitor, his younger brother, Suraj Mal, whom the prophetess of Charuni Devi at Nahra Mugra had promised a crown, made several attempts to gain one. With the help of Muzaffar, the Sultan of Malwa, he Baturo and attempted even Chitor. attack on the River Gumbeeree. The second son of the Rana, Pirthi Raj, "the Rolando of his age," as Colonel Tod calls him, selected his uncle, Suraj Mal, whom he soon covered with wounds. Many had fallen on both sides but neither party would yield: when worn out they retired from the field, bivouacked in sight of each other. Tod's Rajasthan, Vol. I, p. 581. "It is one of the few (customs) when an intercourse of gallantry of the most delicate nature is established between the fair sex and the cavaliers of Rajasthan.... The Rajput dame bestows with the Rakhi (bracelet) the title of adopted brother; and while its acceptance secures to her all the protection of a 'cavaliere servente', scandal itself never suggests any other tie to his devotion."p. 312. Colonel Tod continues:-"It will show the manners and feelings so peculiar to the Rajpoot, to describe the meeting between the rival uncle and nephewunique in the details of strife perhaps since the origin of man. It is taken from a manuscript of the Jhala Chief who succeeded Suraj Mal in Sadri. Pirthi Raj visited his uncle, whom he found in a small tent reclining on a pallet, having just had 'the barber' (nae) to sew up his wounds. He rose and met his nephew with the customary respect, as if nothing unusual had occurred; but the exertion caused some of the wounds to open afresh, when the following dialogue ensued: "PIRTHI RAJ.-Well, uncle, how are your wounds?' "SURAJ MAL.- Quite healed, my child, since I have the pleasure of seeing you.' "PIRTHI RAJ.-' But, uncle (kaka), I have not yet seen the Dewanji.2 I first ran to see you, and I am very hungry; have you anything to eat?' "Dinner was soon served, and the extraordinary pair sat down, and ate off the same platter;' nor did Pirthi Raj hesitate to eat the 'pán' presented on his taking leave. "PIRTHI RAJ.-' You and I will end our battle in the morning, uncle.' "SURAJ MAL.- Very well, child; come early!' "They met, and the rebels were defeated and fled to Sadri. Pirthi Raj, however, gave them no rest, pursuing 'Tod's Rajasthan, Vol. I, p. 296-97, 2The Rana is called Diwanji. |