Sad Story of Jauhar Smarak of Chanderi Madhya Pradesh

It is always sad to lose a loved one but how does one explain the sorrow over loss of brave women who died centuries back to save their honor from invading Mughal armies.

Sad Travel Destination

Here, at the memorial of nameless brave women – Jauhar Smarak of Chanderi, as it is locally called – our hearts sank, as we stood in silence listening to its sad story from the tourist guide.

The feelings of sorrow not comparable by any means with a personal tragedy yet they had similar devastating effects on mind. And that probably was because of the gruesome manner in which the death took place.

One is a tearful sadness while this is of reverent silence! No tears flow yet the heart is gripped with shocking pensive sadness, feet immobile, you stand rooted at the spot trying to imagine the compelling situation and the pain they have been through.

Do read: Tragic Stories of Chittorgarh Fort

Jauhar Smarak of Chanderi Madhya Pradesh

Jauhar in Chanderi

Wiki defines Jauhar as an act of mass self-immolation by women in parts of the Indian subcontinent, to avoid capture, enslavement and rape by foreign invaders, when facing certain defeat during a war.

In history of India maximum number of Jauhar has taken place in Rajasthan, followed by Madhya Pradesh. Brave Rajput women choose the process of dying by burning themselves to ashes.

To my question why not by poisoning themselves or hanging by neck, guide Muhammed Ansari replied – women didn’t want the Islamic men to lay hands even on their dead bodies. And that was possible only by burning and reducing themselves to ash.

Do read: Travel Guide of Chanderi

Second Battle of Chanderi

This particular jauhar incident happened during the second major battle for Chanderi between Babur and Medini Rai in 1528.

Before the attack Babur offered Shamsabad to Medini Rai in exchange for Chanderi as a peace overture, but the offer was rejected. Babur’s main motive was to weaken Rana Sanga’s army.

Medini Rai was a well known brave warrior of his times. Babur personally led the war against him. When Babur’s army was closing in defeat seemed certain.

Jauhar Smarak of Chanderi

Medini Rai’s army didn’t have enough weapons because prior to this they lost the Battle of Khanwa. Residents of Chanderi were trapped in a precarious situation.

On one side the army was closing in and the other end there was no escape route, behind the fort area was a deep ravine. Men folk knew they were outnumbered and would die fighting.

It was a cold wintry morning of 29^th January 1528. Just before setting out on saka, the last stand of battle, Medini Rai organized the jauhar for their women and children.

Some estimates state that 1500 women and children took part in this heroic act of jauhar.

Babur narrates this incident in his memoirs:

Men advanced towards my army with weapons in hand but na ked. They didn’t have enough wood to burn their women. Unable to see the suffering of the womenfolk in the semi burned state they sacrificed their clothes to speed up the burning.

A small number of soldiers also collected in Medini Rai’s palace and proceeded to kill each other in collective suicide. I never expected this situation. Even before my attack people here chose to die.

Note that Babur terms this incident as suicide! He specifically mentions – I did not kill anyone, they all killed themselves!

When he entered the state, Chanderi Fort was burning. Not a single resident was alive. Entire Hindu and Jain community had wiped themselves off. Babur died 3 years later on 26 December 1530 at the age of 47.

Jauhar and Sati

Jauhar and Sati are different customs of Hindu religion. While Sati was committed by a widow by burning herself in the pyre of her dead husband, Jauhar was done in the presence of their husbands.

Before setting off for war the men stand in a circle around their women and children when they immolate themselves. After the act the men are mentally prepared to accept death during war in hands of their enemies.

Jauhar Smarak Chanderi

This stone memorial was constructed over an old memorial in 1932. The panels spell out the significance and historical event that happened here in 1528.

Locals come to pay their respects at this memorial. It is a holy place for them and not a picnic spot.

This panel with image of Sun, Moon, Stars and a hand has a strong message from the women who committed the jauhar – As long as sun, moon and stars exist don’t forget us! What we have done is in those compelling situations is also important!

Notice that just as Medini Rai is addressed as Shri, Babur too is addressed as Shri in the panel. (Shri is a title as a mark of respect.) This shows culture of the people here. The respect that has to be given over rides the fact that he was an enemy, cause of several deaths in that same place.

Exit Jauhar Memorial

As we moved on the questions remained – how do they know they will face defeat for sure? What if jauhar is done and they emerge victorious? Human mind is like that… we keep hoping and wishing what if the other possibility happened!

Mr. Muzaffar Ansari our guide for this tour explained – when the ratio of warrior men is 1 is to 6 the defeat is certain. Numbers mattered a lot in those days.

With a lump in throat we moved on. Did you feel sad? Have you been to a sad travel destination? Please share in comments below.

Do read: Chanderi Things to Do

Sati Stones

Such Sati stones are found in different parts of India. Since medieval times Sati Pratha (practice of self immolation on husband’s pyre) continued till Dec 4 1829. Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a social reformer from Bengal worked relentlessly for its abolition. The ruling British helped abolish this cruel practice.

What was once a practice to save their honor from invading Mughals, it slowly seeped into Hindu culture and practices to such an extent that even though there was no threat to honor of the widow she was forced in to the pyre of her husband. The last known occurrence of this act was in 1984 by a young widow Roopkuvarba Kanwar in Deorala village, Rajasthan.

Location of Jauhar Smarak

This memorial is within the Chanderi Fort complex.

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