The story is traced back to the Malwa Sultanate and its last king, Baz Bahadur, a great patron of the arts, who fell in love with the euphonious voice of a beautiful girl. She would often come to the forest with her friends to sing near the Narmada River. One day, while hunting, Baz Bahadur heard the melodious voice of Rupamati as she sang praises of the Narmada River. Her voice was as enchanting as her beauty. Intrigued, he approached her. Thereafter, they continued to meet for some time in the wilderness, where Rupamati would captivate the surroundings with her voice and beauty. Baaz Bahadur, mesmerized by her singing and appearance, eventually confessed his love for her. Rupamati agreed to marry him but expressed her wish that a palace be built in a location where she could view the Narmada River daily, sing its praises, and see her beloved Baaz Bahadur from that vantage point.
Baz Bahadur promised to fulfill her wish and built her a palace, known as Rewa Kund, located at a distance from his own palace. Soon after, they were married.
Photo sourced from Wikipedia
Sultan of Malwa,Baz Bahadur and Rupamati .
However, as they say, not every love story is meant to be completed, and tragedy awaited them. The Malwa kingdom had detached itself from Mughal rule during Humayun’s flight from India during Sher Shah Suri’s reign. By 1560, when Akbar ascended the throne, he claimed the territory of Malwa. Adham Khan, the foster brother of Akbar and son of Maham Anga (Akbar's wet nurse), had his evil sights set on both Malwa and its Queen Rani Rupamati. Encouraged by his mother, Adham Khan decided to capture Malwa and secure Rupamati for himself. Akbar, preoccupied with his other campaigns, was unaware of Adham Khan’s intentions.
On March 29, 1561, the Battle of Sarangpur ensued between the mighty Mughal forces led by Adham Khan and Baz Bahadur’s much smaller army. Baz Bahadur, who had spent more time indulging in art and his love for Rupamati than preparing for war, was defeated and fled to Khandesh. Adham Khan, victorious, marched to capture Rani Rupamati. Rather than fall into his hands, Rupamati chose to embrace death and poisoned herself, marking the tragic end of a fairy-tale romance.
Adham Khan, however, did not escape his own tragic fate. When Akbar learned of his actions, he marched to Malwa and seized the spoils of Adham Khan. Stripped of his governorship, Adham Khan was replaced by Pir Muhammad. Later, in 1562, when Adham Khan killed Akbar’s favorite general, Ataga Khan, Akbar personally threw Adham Khan from the Agra Fort twice, leading to his death. As for Baz Bahadur, after years of evasion, he eventually surrendered to Akbar, who granted him a mansabdari (rank) of 2,000.
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