Jauhar

A practice of the Rajput women who burnt themselves in huge numbers when being informed about defeat in a war.

A defeat means that most/all Rajput men (their husbands) are dead and hence there is noone to protect them from the enemy.

Rajputs were known to hold their esteem above their lives. This is the reason why Rajput women preferred burning in fire over being raped, exploited and enslaved by the opposing clan.

Jauhar as we know it today is primarily because of the much controversial movie Padmavat which filmed one such jauhar which took place in 1303 when the Rajputs lost the war to Allaudin Khilji.

Till date there are 3 known instances of jauhar carried out by Rajput women. This means that 3 generations of all women sacrificed themselves to fire in order to conserve the prestige of the Rajputs.

As we look back it today, on one side there is a feeling of pride that this country had people with so much value for their community while on the other I feel sad for what we are today and what we once used to be.

I won’t comment if jauhar was the right thing to do or not. For it is history now. History worth remembering and taking lessons on honour and prestige on one’s own identity.

But yes I hope history doesn’t repeat itself when it comes to jauhar.

-ChoubeySahab