The padmavat which is a literary work by malik Mahmud jiyasi was written in the 16th century. Over the years this historical work has become a symbol of rajput’s bravery and courage , and rani padmavati is considered the epitome of rajput women whose bravery lies in her ability to uphold the honour of her kin by choosing to commit jauhar rather than fall prey to the intruder.
historical and Cultural significance of this ancient text-
(1) It reflects on the decline of the rajput power in the wake of the sultanate invasion. It showcases the rajput way of life and their courage by describing the attack of alauddin khilji on the chittor fort of raja rattan singh which was considered as the seat of rajput power.
(2)In the sixteenth century, when Padmavat was written, it was common for the Sufi pirs to provide religious legitimation to the ruling elite in return for the patronage the rulers gave them. “The choice for the story of the siege of Chittor and the role of the Rajput queen Padmavati as the main theme of Padmavat makes the poem particularly relevant in this context.
3) From the fifteenth century new rajput ruling lineages claimed lineal and political descent with predecessors who were defeated by khilji. This was probably done to revive the rajput prestige that was on a decline.
4) The jauahar performed in padmavat is representative of the psychological warfare used by the rulers of rajputana. A similar event occurred in chittor in the 16th century and might have given jayasi the inspiration to link contemporary events to history
5) The glory of india’s past became a strong force of nationalism during the colonial period. The old customs like sati, purdha etc which came under attack during the british rule were often upheld through narrations of such powerful texts.
6) The story of padmavati continues to influence the way of life of rajputs in the country. Every year a festival is held in chittior to celebrate the great sacrifice made by rani padmavati, besides padmavat is revered as the proof of rajput’s bravery even today.
Conclusion- The circulation and transmission of the Padmavat has been an ongoing process. The cultural memory of a community hardly ever distinguishes between the real historical events and fictional concepts. The fact that jayasi himself at the end mentions that his work is that of fiction makes one question the credibility of such texts which are used to extrapolate the past
