Meeting The Unmeetable

If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why?

This is a difficult prompt.

Difficult because it’s hard to make a choice.

History dazzles us with such charismatic figures!

Who to choose and who to leave?

I guess if I go way back before the British rule, it would definitely be Chanakya (283-375 BCE) – the kingmaker….the writer of Arthashastra ( 4th – 3rd BCE – considered to be a precursor to classical economics)…..the treatise on Economics …the Father of Political Science and Economics in India. Or should it be diplomacy (Kootniti) ? Chanakya successfully dethroned the Nanda kings because he felt insulted by them and enthroned Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra (now Patna). He was the royal advisor to Chandragupta and his son Bindusara. A personality to reckon with, Chanakya was instrumental in establishing the Maurya Dynasty and it’s rise to power!!

Chanakya lived an ascetic’s life. He had a forceful personality. Chanakya Neeti or the doctrines of Chanaky are taught in Universities even now. He was also known as Kautilya and Vishnugupta. He was an ancient polymath – jurist, teacher, author, strategist, philosopher, economist, royal advisor.

I would like to know why he took up the role of a kingmaker? Why he never aspired for the throne for himself?

The history of Rajasthan has always bewitched me.

The Ranas of Mewar were brave warriors. So were the Ranis who protected their self respect fiercely. The Muslim Emperor Allauddin Khilji heard about the beautiful queen Padmini or Padmavati of Chittorgarh or Chittor from one of his court singers. He was greedy of extending his empire as well as making Padmini his empress.

Rani Padmini (13th – 14th Century) was Rana Rattan Sen’s wife. She loved her husband. When Allauddin sent a request to be Chittorgarh’s royal guest Rana had no option but to be gracious and welcome him. But when Allauddin expressed his wish to see Rani Padmini he was furious. In order to handle the matter diplomatically he replied that he could only see her reflection in a pond but not meet her in person as the queens never came out in the open before strangers. Allauddin agreed.

It is said that Rani Padmini stood before a mirror. Given the placement of the mirror, her image in the mirror got reflected on the crystal clear water of a pond inside the fort. An architectural marvel of ancient fort builders who were ace engineers no doubt!! Allauddin saw her reflection in the pond.

Legend has it that Allauddin fell madly in love with the queen knowing fully well that it was just her reflection and not she in person. Allauddin couldn’t believe his eyes. Could anyone be so exquisitely beautiful ! How entrancing would she be in person?

Blinded by greed and power, Allauddin waged war against the Rana of Chittor. Rana knew that his soldiers did not lack in valour but in number. Allauddin with his huge army, tanks, artillery, horsemen, elephant riders and armed men on foot were like a sea of invaders. But Chittor was famous for dauntless courage more so to save the honour of the queen herself.

Before the battle Allauddin sent a message to Rana. He wanted to barter the queen for his army’s retreat. How could it be? Knowing well that battle meant defeat the queen still advised Rana not to give up. Honour was more precious than peace. And the men fought fiercely…

When Rana’s news of ultimate defeat culminating in his death reached the fort all the ladies of the royal family led by Rani Padmini with their heads held high sacrificed themselves to the licking flames of the Jauhar. When Allauddin reached Chittorgarh it was empty and silent like a graveyard. The women of the palace had self immolated themselves.

I have read and re-read the story of Rani Padmini. And knowing what a powerful persona she was who wouldn’t like to meet her?

Two hundred years of British rule in India intercepted by numerous battles, wars, mutiny, revolts, rebellions, movements ….a saga of bloodbaths as well as heroism. Violent upsurges and the non-violent Satyagraha! Fearless leaders, orbit shifting reformers, trailblazing thinkers, blood boiling orators, philosophers and writers and poets who moved and united the masses with a single purpose – independence of India!!

Who should I choose among the plethora of men and women who gave their entire lives to build a nation ? There are whom the world recognises. And there are many more who have gone on doing their duty quietly, obscurely – the unsung heroes and heroines.

However, the one whom I would definitely like to meet and listen to is none other than our beloved freedom fighter from Bengal – Shri Subhash Chandra Bose (1897 – 1945) – whose life is legendary enough and so is his death.

He hailed from a privileged Bengali family from Orissa. The first Indian to qualify for ICS but did not continue for long as nationalism was a higher calling for him. A vocal non-conformist of Gandhian Policy of peaceful means of earning independence. His slogan was,”You give me blood I will give you freedom.” He was a great orator, organizer and had extraordinary leadership abilities. He was also a master masquerade. He escaped from house arrest, amidst heavily guarded barricades, left India for Japan and then Germany. He strategically aligned with the Axis powers, as they were anti British, to free India of British imperialism.

He also built the Aazaad Hind Fauj or Indian National Army of men and women and came to be known fondly as Netaji. But before his dream of independent India could transpire into reality he died a mysterious death. But even long after, his followers strongly believed that his death was a deliberately created myth. He was still alive and refused to come back to public life for some unknown reason.

I would definitely like to meet him and know more about his legendary life and ideology.

These are only a few historical figures I would like to meet. The choice was difficult as history is full of heroes and sheroes of larger than life stature. However all super achievers go by simple and time tested values. They are ordinary men and women of extraordinary conviction. If only we could time travel to meet them to learn a few lessons of a lifetime.