Chapter 7b - Kanara ne Reesamne

[Full title: Mahiya Na Baharvatiya (Samvant 1909-1939: A.D. 1853-1883)—Kanara ne Reesamne]

This Kanaro mountain after being separated from the lap of Gir exists by having on its south side a beautiful pair of mountains named Dadarcho and Dadarchi whereas in the south east quarter there is the duo of the mountain named Raido and Raydi like a couple incessantly celebrating their marriage during day and night. Their nuptial knot of togetherness is never being disentangled. Very far on the bank of Ghed when the Sun sets; at that time luminousness created on the water of sea water is even visible sometimes to one who is standing on the mountain Kanara.

This is the Kanaro Mountain. The bold and beautiful girl of Sorath named Hothal; one day by keeping an aim of to take revenge for her father against Bhambhaniya Badshah climbed from here. On the deathbed of her father Hothal had taken an oath not to marry until she fulfils the vow of taking revenge of her father; after fulfilling her, she removed her attire of man. The pond where Hothal took a bath by unraveling her long hair is also situated in the lap of Kanara Mountain.

It is the same pond by standing on the bank of it, Oddha had beheld Hothal-

Chaddi Chhakhasar par, Odhhe Hothal Niyariyare
Bichhai bethi var, pani mathe padamni.

Clambering up Chakhasar parapet, Odha beheld Hothal
Hair fanned on the water surface, sat the angelic belle.

This is the same hollow of the lake Sankhasar now it has been covered; and this is the same mountain where at last in its panorama of the grove of wild trees—

Ran me kidho mandvo, bichhayee dadam drakh,
Odho Hothal parnije, suraj, purije sakh.

[In the witness of the sun and under the natural sunshade of fruit-laden trees draped by grapevines and pomegranate vines Odha and Hothal got tied by nuptial knot.]

Under the natural sunshade of fruit-laden trees draped by grape vinesand pomegranate vines Hothal and Oddha clasped their hands in wedlock. Is this same Sun, and is this same Kanaro, which like a right eye witnessed knotting of the bond of relationship between divine belle of Sorath and gallant man of Kuttch of mortal world? The caves of Oddha and Hothal seemed to be vanished in the horrifying density of weeds. Cattle keepers to make their cattle graze when pass by the dense wood often gets startled on hearing the sounds of birds emerging from the deep hollow of caves. Many shepherds on overhearing such sounds keep wandering in the Kanara by making wild guesses that there must be either a deep water form or any mysterious abode which must have been destroyed. The couples of woodcutters while picking up small sticks of woods talk among each other, ―Hothal is still alive at Kanara, brother she cannot die. She was a beautiful woman belonging to heavenly world.

Once in Kuttch Oddha exposed her name so that;

Chhithiyu lakhiyu char, Hothal je Hathde,
Oddha, vanch nihar; asanjo nedo etro.

Hothal shedding tears profusely penned a letter to Oddha.
She wrote only four words: Oddha our relationship ends here.

After writing the last letter of goodbye to Oddha; Hothal a gorgeous woman came back to Kanara hill.Then later on-

Bhundu lage bhoyru, khava dhati khat,
Oddha van nu eklu, kande kem revay?

Oppressive felt the cave, barren earth converging to engulf;
How to live alone without Odha in the Kanara vale?

Here in Kanda, her soul was not finding solace. As the fish pine without water, similarly Hothal stayed here.Here she must be spending her days alone. As she was immortal she could not die, she must be longing in one of the cellar.

Talking in such a manner, at the sunset when darkness overpowers at that time woodcutters and shepherds used to descend down the Kanara hill. On the other hand, twilight by offering vermillion on monumental pillars of her own deceased sons, kith and kin speechlessly slide down the Kanara by draping herself in black mourning clothes like a dejected wife and a mother suffering from pangs of sepration.

On one such evening from the south two riders climbed up the mountain.They made their horse mount on the top of the hill through the narrow track situated at the foot of the mountain. One rider thought as if few men were sleeping on the mountain and their sleep may be interrupted even with a slightest sound so with the utmost care and caution, he slowly released the saddle and by keeping a finger on nose, he made a sign to his fellow rider to keep quiet. By taking off their shoes both the young men stood in the middle of the open ground of the mountain.

The half dry studs of Team, Timber, Dudhlo, Dhramal and Kher were standing separately in a scattered form on the border. In the middle, there was a big dry or burnt tree of teak. On the trunk of that tree, there were two tridents painted by vermillion. Near the thud, there were two memorial stones; there was also one trident of vermillion on each stone. At the forefront of these two memorial stones there were, one, two, three, four, five rows consisting around 80 memorial pillars. In the first row, on the right hand side on the first two monumental pillars two rounds were engraved. (There seemed signs of two breasts of woman.) Nothing was carved on other memorioal pillars, they were simple stones founded on the earth. Only vermillion was applied on them. On looking at them, it seemed as if eartier all might be sitting in an assembly and in the earthquake suddenly the whole group got integrated into the earth.

“Brother, you sit here on this heap of stones; meanwhile I worship the mounumental pillar.”

On saying so from the two, one senior aged rider, having a big moustache searched one shell of a broken coconut, and he poured oil in it and dipped a wick into it. On the left side of monumental pillar in the recess made with pebbles, he lighted a lamp by putting the hem of a turban around the neck and he prostrated. In the other shell, he soaked vermillion and started to apply on mounumental pillars. After completing all rituals when he got up, there were tears in his two big luminous eyes. Wiping tears with the hem of his turban, he took his companion to the right side of the mountain. Pointing his finger, he showed him one ridge and asked, “Do you know the name of that ridge?”

“No.”

“Its name is Topdhar. There, the cannon balls were stuffed and targeted against us.”

“You were targated, who had targated?”

“Raj of Junagadh.”

“When?”

“Before 46 years in 1939 on Posh Suud Pancham before the sunrise in the wee hours, when no humanbeings had woke up and the birds were not twittering; at that time the massacre of our Mahiyas started. This Kanaro got flooded with the ditches of our red blood. Our 900 Mahiyas stayed here for one month by climbing on Kanara; out of them 80 were slaughtered.”

“Why 900 had invaded? Did they assault due to Outlawry?”

“No, brother the cause was not outlawry, they attacked because they were displeased and again they were weaponless. They felt that as Raj was their master they were fully hopeful that he would definitely come to persuade them. Instead of pleading, warfare continued. Our 80 men were slayed even when they were sitting silently and chanting the name of Ram.”

“Well done, very well! Bravo Mahiya! This is called the highest type of Rajputi. Then brother you please explain me the whole matter.”

Both set on the sloping cliff and then the middle aged big eyed man of Mahiya community started his story:

We are originally Mena (Meena) Rajput of Marwad. Later on, those Mer who came here were known as Mahiya. Before three hundred fifty years, our ansector Bhima Mahiya while desending down Marwad saw the golden dreams of Sorath region.

They over heard some talk that the country of Halar was very tempting.

Neela tat macchu tana, nili Vakaner,
Ek rangeela admi, Pani Valejo fer.

[The bank of Macchu River was green. The land of Vakaner was also a lush green zone. The people of that region were unanimous; such type of country was Halar. The King of that region was bright and spirited.]

Macchu Kantho ane Morbi, Vacchma Vankaner,
Nerbpattadhar nipje, pani hando fer.

Between the bank of Macchu River and Morbi there was Vakaner.
Men of this region were born hero.It is the impact of this spirited land.

Bhima Mahiya vacated his own region, brought the domestic unit, and landed down on the vigorous land producing sharp and unanimous progeny. He settled down in one village named Vanaker situated at the meeting point of the two rivers namely Macchu and Pataliyoe.

One-day one woman came and stood very close to Bhima. She was holding a child in her hand. Tears were runnig down her cheeks. Nodody was there with her to protect her.

Bhima Mahiya asked, “Sister, who you are? What brought you here? Do you have here the protection of God Shree Ram? Open heartedly tell the story of your woe, mother!”

“Brother, my religiously lawful brother. I am the queen of the King Jadeja the king of adjacent city. I am the first wife of the petty ruler but I am unfavourable. By grace of God we both co-wives were gifted with sons. The crux of the matter is that my son was born two minutes early. As he is an elder does, has he not a legal right to sit on the throne? Therefore, his stepmother is chasing us to kill him. Nobody is there to provide me shelter. I had heard that the bank of Macchu has become dwelling of Rajputs like you so I have come here to seek your support.”

“Good, good! It is my great fortune. You are most welcome. Your, King Jadeja in past might be brave but we have never retreated. We are also Rajput. You stay here without keeping any restraint and consider this house as a home of your real mother.”

The secret of giving a shelter to the queen was divulged out and from the adjoining kingdom; the King Jadeja invaded with his army to demolish Vakaner.

He stayed there in the tent with his army circumferencing the forte because it was not possible to conquer the forte.

During night around four to eight hours, young men took the permission of Bhima and asked, “Why to launch a futile battle? How it would be if we bring the original master along with the cot when he is asleep?”

“Then it would be a great, dears.”

During night four Mahiyas by violating vigilance entered into the tent of the King. They lifted a sleeping King along with the cot and held unsheathed swords by the teeth. By crossing the River of Macchu, they brought the cot in the guard’s cabin. The King was still sleeping soundly.

In the morning, Bhima Mahiya prepared an opium drink. He kept the brush and flagon ready. When the guest woke up in the morning, he promptly realized that he was lying in the hand of danger.

“Jadeja Raj please freshen yourself by brushing teeth and washing your face. The dose of Opium is delaying.”

On saying so, Bhima Mahiya made the guest brush his teeth. While serving the dose of opium he disclosed the fact that, “King, your wife is my religiously lawful sister. When she did not find any place to save herself then finally on getting offended she came to our dwelling. Now if you want to fight then we are ready to get cut into pieces. Otherwise, whatever may happen we would not send our sister in harem. Our nephew would play only here. We would gift the village Vakaner to him. Now tell, what would you give him?”

The King allotted his land to the Son of his unfavoured queen. Mahiya went away by leaving the village Vakaner. From that day onwards, the king of Vakaner started to consider Mahiya as a maternal uncle. Brother! Since the time of carnage that had happened at Kanara and before that when the dispute of Mahiyas with the King of

Junagadh was going on, at that juncture, the King of Junagadh had sent us message that, ‘why do you indulge into quarrel? If Junagadh drive you away then you can come here. I would give you three villages: you are my maternal family.’

Then we settled down in Rajkot’s sub-district called Kuwadva. They did service to Rajkot. Gorkha Bhagat of Than came in dream of our elder nephew and gave the message to accomplish the sub-district of Than. We won Than from Kathi named Naja Karpada.

“As the time passed our Mahiya’s blood mixed with the blood of Ayer.”

The guest asked, “In which way?”

“On that day, our ancestor Bhan Mahiyo in his fully bloomed, youthful age went out of station on his horse. On the extremity of the village Gundda; in the month of Asshadh when Peacock’s cooing was echoed at that time his stunned mare vaulted. Mare that looked like a dear fell down over the fifteen hands. Bhan Mahiyo who was sitting on saddle did not fall down but he became unstable and his head turban fell down and disrupted. As the turban was disrupted, the plait made of long heel touching hair became unravelled; the disrupted long matted hair also veiled the mare. As clouds tangle the Moon, similarly black locks of hair masked the face of Bhan Mahiya.”

“At the bank of well, two women who were fetching water, were dressed in embroidered clothes and were wearing Chundadi embroderied with a flat small ornamental disc;they were about to go but stopped on beholding this sight. Bhan Mahiya folded his plait and tied the turban. The mare crossed the border and vanished from the sight but one water fetcher woman out of the two glued at that place and did not move at all. Her vision dreaming about sweet future got cast-ironed in that direction. The water pot was on the head but she did not sense its weight. Alike a crow the woman started day dreaming. At last, another water fetcher woman shook her heavily; ‘what happened to you sister? Now due to extra weight of pail of pots the head palate is burning; if you want to put down the pair of pot directly by going there then please let me go.’

“That time water fetcher woman quietly walked along with sister-in-law but she did not rest in peace. The taunt of sister in law was pinching in her mind and she was visualising that dashing guy. Her heart was longing him since long. As members of the family dispersed then she once again went to fetch water by taking pair of pots. She fetched water from the same well situated at the extremity of the village and started on the way leading to Kuvadva. On reaching the village, she stood at the gate of Bhan Mahiya. On head, there was a pair of pots and over the face; there was a veil of malir, and she was in dark red long heel length apparel and Bhan Mahiyo kept on gazing at her. He told attendents,

‘Ask, who is this woman? Why she has come here?’

Attendents went to ask. They said, “The woman in veil sent a message, ‘go and tell your Bhan Mahiya that I am the daughter of Ayer Jiva Patel of Gundda; my name is Rande: by putting aside modesty and reverence, I have come here. Today either by removing the twist of moustache you give up the pride or you touch my pair of pots with your hands.”

Bhan Mahiyo reflected for a while. It was very difficult to live by inviting animosity with Ayer; but it was more disgraceful and arduous to show unmanliness. By becoming Mahiyo, how he could give up his pride of manliness. By getting up, he extended his hands to bring down pair of pots. Pretty, fascinating Ran bai in order to wear Chundadi of a heroic man accepted separation from relatives and went inside the forte. What a good character of her! Even walls of the room brightened up.

‘The father of the woman Jeeva Ayer got the news that his daughter was enthralled by Mahiya. Ayer got infuriated and wished to send an army to assail Mahiya. He twisted his moustache with pride and said: ‘If I prove him unheroic then I would get real justice as Ayer.’

‘Apa Jeeva!’ there were few wise men they advised him that, ‘Mahiyo cannot be defeated very easily; if you would attack him then you would look poor. Why are you going to loose your importance?’

‘Does Mahiya can keep my daughter?’

‘Apa, daughter has gone ultimately with a powerful man; and has she been attracted to coward?’

‘No.’

‘Then make Mahiya your relative; oh scoundrel you are fortunate that you got a strong, opulent and reputed man as a relative.’

“Thus in this way the family of Rande Ai expanded and looked more worthy and attractive with the minglingling of bloods of Mahiya and Ayars–both the families having higher social status. The equal polish of beauty and valour started getting applied to the family lineage of Mahiya. The mortal body of that Rande Ai died in the forte of our inheritor Amra bhai; it seems that the event has happened only yesterday.”

“How did you arrive in Junagadh region?”

“Brother, we came on being invited by the King. On one hand, there was a heavy pressure of Kathi on the King. On the other hand in Chorwad, Veraval Raijada Rajputs had played havoc, and; on the third side Khant of Bilkha were waging a war. To withstand against all enemies Nawab had invited Mahiya. Mahiya came thrice and everytime they went back to Kuwadva, as they could not refute Kathi and Raijada. At last, Mahiya accumulated power and Raijada’s sway loosened. Mahiya got the power to rule over 24 countries. Shergadh, Ajab and Kaneri were established as the main headquarters. Families of our progenies started to dwell in Shergadh. Even today, since the time of demolition of abode in the forte of our leader Dharabhai all the things chiefly embroderied clothes exist. At our home, there remained an army. The wavelength of thoughts of 2000 Mahiya became one. Today that time has passed away. The spirit and impact of the age has changed. The laws, agreement and court visit had exhausted us and we were completly flayed here at the mountain Kanara.”

“Ok, ok! Now please come back on the main point of discussion. It is getting dark and as if the monumental stones of these mountains are resurging. My heart is extremely excited and it is not in my control. I hear the land of Kanara lamenting.”

“Listen brother! Until A.D.1939, Mahiya was not paying any excise. There was no tariff applied to Mahiya who were smashing out living heads. But later on administration of Nagar became effective and, Mahiya got a note from King that we must also shell out some tax to Kingdom.”

“In response to this unexpected troubling notice from Shergadh our leader Amra bhai sent a written note that, ‘New tariff cannot be laid on Mahiya. We could not bear this.’”

“At that time Mohobatt Khanji was on throne, and Prince Bahadur Khan was separately ruling on Sahpur. Bhadurkhan was addressing our Amra bhai as ‘Chicha Bapu’ and he used to keep one son of our Mahiya with him. Such type of kinship and affection was there. That Bahadur Khanji sent message to our Mahiya that ‘Chicha Bapu you come to Shahpur, we would make a treaty.’”

“Our Mahiyo went to Sahpur by riding a horse. Bahadur Khanji counselled him a lot but advice went topsey turvey. One adviser warned Amrabhai, ‘migrate to Shergadh overnight along with son otherwise you would loose everything.”

“Amro Mahiya by taking his son clandestinely migrated. Bahadur Khan came to knew in the morning that Amro’ s ears were poisoned by the counsellor which grieved his mind. Mohabbat Khan died and Bahadur Khan came on royal throne. Later on he gave command that, ‘if Mahiya did not agree to pay revenue then confiscate all their thrashing places.”

‘The security was appointed to keep vigil on our thrashing place but terrific Mahiya started to shift sacks of grains stealthily from the thrashing place. Once again it was ordered to fortify their fodder.’

‘Then the limit was set in. The tyranny that was done to cattles was stopped.’

“In the month, of Magser at midnight, when we were sleeping at that time near our gate one camel had stopped; the rider made a call, ‘Brother Mahiya; wake up! This is not time to sleep.’”

“On getting startled we asked; ―brother, from where the Camel had come?”

‘The camel belongs to Shergadh. Amrabhai has sent the message that from every home each Mahiyo should reach on the mountain Kanara early with the hail of the signs of day light in the east side. I am going. Today itself by night I have to visit 24 villages.’

‘Whether to go for outlawry or; on, the cause of offensiveness?’

‘On the cause of offensiveness, go by leaving whatever weapons you have.’ On saying so, camel rider swiftly went away.

“Soon with the appearance of the signs of morning’s light, on the way to Kanara; horse, camel, carts and pedestrians started in a long row. From the 24 villages 900 Mahiya gathered on Kanara to display their unpleasantness. At the order of our leader, we ever get ready to cut ourselves; we willingly surrender ourselves and become victim of canon. Not a single home had remained without sending their Man.”

“But, what about the house where there was no grown up man.”

“Then a small boy could go. The woman of Tarshingla sent the boy of 10 years as there was no adult in her house.”

‘Is it true that along with him two women came?’

“There is mystery in it. I will tell you right now. Nine hundred Mahiya set on Kanara, one day, second day, third day, in this way they continuously set. Surrounding, there was a Kathi region. At the bank of the river Madhuvanti, there were big villages of Mendarda. The inhabitants of the village got afraid that, lest Mahiya would rob them. However, our leader Amrabhai had already given orders that; any son of Mahiya dynasty would die hungrily but would not make any loot.”

“That word was enough. There were many from us who were indulged in burglary. Our impression was that we were unscrupulous. However, at Kanara we had gathered to contemplate. It is considered as a big sin for any Mahiyo to violate vow or to breach god’s promise of the master. We on the mountain of Kanara were sitting by tolerating teeth chattering cold of the month of Posh and eating our own food from our stored provision. In heart of heart, there was a hope that our Master would come from Junagadh and try to please and persuade us. Request to make compromise started to come. Raj sent the message, ‘Disperse and leave Kanara; later on we would think about you.’”

“We replied that, Mahiya does not eat anything pertaining to charity. We take only that much land for which we paid the revenue. There should not be new tarrif tagged on us. At last, you are our master. You can snatch anything from us but we do not want to be treacherous by pulling swords against our master.”

“During that period from the village Moliya, one charan named Shamlo bhai came. Moliyu means dwelling of Nag Bai, Nag Bai was the deity of Mahiya lineage; we had an unflinchible faith in Nag Bai and Shamla bhai was the son of this Charni deity: Shamlo bhai became mediator and started to pass treaty to each other. On the last day, Shamlo Bhai to make a drink of opium brought two kg opium. In the month of Posh, on the fourth day of the bright half of a lunar month; when the cold breeze was blowing at that time, Shamalbhai had sent a hopeful message that ‘Tomorrow morning the chief officer would come to make a comprise with you. So whatever weapons you have; hide them.’”

‘Weapons, the eyes of a big Mahiya shined up due to bonefire. ‗Shamla Bhai, the government had grabbed weapons from our hands since 1929.’

Our wise leader Amro spoke; ‘Do not get tensed, we have not come here to wield weapons even if we have. We want to launch a non-violent outlawry today. Can we raise our sword against our master? Moreover, you are a holy figure for us. When Charan like you, is an arbitrator then there could not be any murder. The officers of government are most welcomed.’

‘If we wanted to wield weapons then why did we sit on Kanara? Is Gir located very far?’

One young man passed. ‘What to do, brother? Our chief is teaching us lessons of Brhaminism to us.’

‘Charan gave you an assurance that, ―Young men of Mahiyas, I have not come here to convince you unnecessarily. There does not seem any malice in the mind of King. Your obstinancy would be proved very heavy to Kingdom. Geer is at a walkable distance from here; so today, itself from Raj’ s side persuasion is expected. Please have sound sleep tonight.‘

“Since months and months they had remained awake. They had endured hunger, had faced cold weather and scorching heat. Mahiya were exhausted by worring about their soul mate who were living separately at home; and they were anxious that whether they would get back their land that they had given to other for maintainence or they would have to indulge themselves in the confict of killing or getting killed. Today all nine hundered experienced relief and fell asleep. The contentment that next day after desecending from Kanara they would get a chance to stay under the cosy shelter of their home made them sleep. We relished sound sleep but with the Sunrise, who awoke us from deep sleep? We did not wake up at the humble words of request for settlement but we awoke on hearing the hissing sound of bullets of gun. From where, such a large army surged up? They got siege over Kando. Overnight from where thousand of armed men appeared? Is that by making farmers free from their work they called them in thousand of numbers from Sandhwad to make settlement?

From a group of discontented Mahiyas, a few who were aware of their moral responsibility courageously faced them. Other by forgetting the scene escaped and climbed down the mountain. Eightyfour courageous young men stood there without speaking a single word. By pulling their long hair, they made them sit in a row. Later on, they slashed their heads not by the sword but by an axe. Brother, these are the monumental pillars of them. These monumental stones are our places of worship. Eighty four knew how to sacrifice their lives.”

“What about the monumental pillars of the two women?”

“Yes, people talked that, to look after child Mahiya of Tarshingdawala two women came. For many months, two young women sat there by protecting their child. They had only one handsome brother obtained after many lose. At the time of massacre, they were making heart rending shrieks that, ‘please do not kill our brother. Please kill us instead of him. Be gentle, and do not slay him; they yelled in this way and stood ahead, to shield their brother: they were also butchered. Some prove this information wrong. Leaders say that for one month there was no single woman in our troupe. The chief never encouraged this matter; still soldiers talk that when we were assassinated at that time one smallunmarried girl, by standing before the body of cute small child Mahiya crying for help appealed, ‗Do not kill my brother, do not kill my brother. Kill me instead of him.’ Then we murdered her also. Then later on in the cart when we were carrying all the corpses at that moment in one cart there found a dead body of one small-unmarried girl. No wound was visible on her body. There was no single drop of blood seen on her body but she was lying dead.Who knows what had happened but before reaching Junagadh the carcass mysteriously vanished. Vigiliants talked that after crossing the river they did not see her.”

“Who would be that virgin small girl?”

“Who else would it be? She must be Ai Nag Bai. If five Mahiyas die then along with them, Ai also dies. She dies frequently but one who did not die was Shamlo bhai Charan.”

“Was he a treacherous?”

“No, no, no, no! He was not like that, may the tounge cut of one who speaks against him.”

Charan was deceived, so he could not understand. The fraud game went beyond his understanding; so he kept watching helplessly and we were slaughtered.‖

“Did he want to die?”

“Yes, he wanted to die but he could not know how to die? The entire Charan community whipped him.”

“How you, all Mahiya remember this event?

“We remember this event with due respect. We do not worship these monumental pillars to instigate enemity. We worship these monumental pillars and worship to commemorate that how to embrace death with nobility. We learn the lessons of how to die with honour. Otherwise, what is vengeance? What is animousity? What a helpless man is? Why to make complaint about man whose intellect gets corrupt? The tales of history and monumental pillars are not for learning retaliation.”

“Then what had happened to Raj?”

“Our hundred women went to Rajkot. They went and gave report to the government. Arbitarators of government was formed. They played many tricks. NawabKha.B. and Baplal bhai’s administration ruined. The government got admonishment. The rule and control of some authorities on us became less and all our rights remained intact. We were taken under the rule of the Agency. It was decided that we should pay Rs. Five thousand seven hundred eighty to Raj as part of expenditure. After three years, we spared out total 32 Satti land (One satti includes 32 acres of land, total 18800 acre lands.) and no fine remained in our name. Once again, we came under the rule of Junagadh state. Today no revenue is applied to us. Thus this was the story of our misfortune.‖

“Let us go brother; the moon has risen in the sky. It is time of all these worshipped heroic monumental personalities to wake up. So let us go down.”