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The stories from Rajasthan have a different gallantry and poise. We intend to tell you one such story today. The story of Rani Padmavati also known as the Rani Padmini. She was famed to be one of the most beautiful women in the late 1300s. She was the Queen to Mewars Raja Ratan Singh. She used to live in the Majestic Chittorgarh fort. Chittorgarh is the biggest fort in India. It was a city more than a fort. There were about 100 thousand people living within the fort. The fort was ecologically self sustaining city. At the time Allaudin Khilji was ruling Delhi. He heard of the immense beauty of Rani Padmini and got enticed to acquire the all so beautiful Queen and hence he marched with his army towards Chittorgarh. Allaudin Army was much more sophisticated as well as outnumbered the Mewari army but conquering the fort was a difficult task. But the Chittorgarh fort had a strategic advantage as it was well fortified and was on a hill. Hence Allaudin camped outside the fort for days. Waiting that the fort will run out of resources and the Mewaris will have to surrender. But weeks passed as the fort was self sustaining the Mewaris did not give up. Allaudin had to think of another strategy in order to fulfil his vicious dreams. He sent a messenger to the court of Raja Ratan Singh with his wish to see the Queen Padmini just for one time and then he would go back to Delhi with his army. But as per the Rajput traditions married women do not show their face to men and it would also mean demeaning the kings valour. They knew that they were running out of resources and in case of a war the Mewaris were a step back to the massive army of Allaudin Khilji. Hence there was a truce that was thought of – Rani Padmini will show herself in the mirror to Allaudin. Hence this will ensure that Allaudin has not seen her directly but he has seen her too. We visited the Chittorgarh fort and saw the unique positioning of the mirrors and how Rani was shown to Khilji. Rani was standing in the Jal Mahal which was far from the palace where Allaudin was taken. She had to stand on one of the outer stairs to the Jal Mahal and Allaudin was shown her refection in the mirror. The positioning was so brilliant that even if Khilji turned around to see the queen he couldnt. Once that was done Khilji was expected to leave. Just one glimpse of the queen and he was mesmerised by the Queens beauty. He was even more determined to acquire her now. Hence he thought of another vicious plan. He asked Raja Ratan Singh to see him off at the main gate, Raja Ratan Singh obliged him. As soon as the last gate passed Khilji captured Raja Ratan Singh and deceived him. \r
Khilji now sent a messenger to the court of Raja Ratan Singh that they may send Rani Padmini with him to Delhi else they see their beloved king dead. They had a plan. They sent a messenger that they will send the Queen but the Queen intends to see Raja Ratan Singh for one last time alone. And the queen will be sent with a convoy of her friends and her maids. Khilji did not have a problem with that request. And soon enough the Queens convoy was on its way to the first gate of the Fort. There were about 100 Chariots. Now the queens Chariot stopped in front of the tent of Raja Ratan Singh. Queen steps out to meet him; all the guards left them alone. But when the Queen opened her veil. It was not the queen. It was a little boy in Queens clothes. Raja Ratan Singh was astonished to see him. The boy told Raja that all of the convoy were men dressed in women clothes; the best of his warriors. As soon as Raja would reach the top of the fort they will attack the Khilji army. The king was escorted uphill to the fort and long then Khilji realised that he has been tricked. He attacked the Mewari warriors with full fury. His army easily outnumbered them. His furiosity knew no bounds as he had been cheated. He marched uphill the fort and killed Mewari Army. When Rani Padmini got the news that it was close to impossible for the Mewaris to defeat the Khilji army. She ordered a Jauhar and massive pyre of fire. When we were at the Chittorgarh fort we saw the pyre – it was now filled up with concrete but there was still something appalling about the site. Rani Padmini and a number of other women Jumped into the pyre to death. The Rajput women preferred to die than to surrender to another man. So that day saw the death of number of Brave Mewari warriors as well as valiant Mewari women who would no way give up.\r
Such was the sad but inspiring tale of Rani Padmavati