Gora Badal

Gora and Badal are legendary warriors, whose story appears in Gora Badal Padmini Chaupai (1589 CE) and its later adaptions. According to the legends of Marwar and Mewar including Muhnot Nainsi's historical documents 'Marwad ra pargana ri vigat 'and other documents they were an uncle-nephew duo who came from the ruling family of Jalore. Gora and Badal served Ratan Sen, the ruler of Chittorgarh. They fought the Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khalji for the rescue of Ratan Sen at the request of his queen Maharani Padmini Guhila.^[1]

Legend

In 1303 Alauddin Khalji by deceit had taken Ratan Sen, ruler of Chittorgarh, as prisoner. In ransom Khalji wanted nothing else but Padmini. A war council was held in which Padmini herself decided that Ratan Singh had to be rescued. The heroics were left to Gora and his nephew Badal who devised a plan for Ratan Sen's liberation. Word was sent out to the Khalji camp that Padmini would be delivered to him the day his army pulled out of their trenches. But there was a catch – her entourage of female servants and friends would accompany Padmini in 800 palanquins.

The palanquin's were armed with the best of the Rajput warriors with two swords each. When Padmini's palanquin, which was occupied by Gora reached Ratan's tent, he asked Rawal to mount the horse and go back to the fort. Then Gora gave a signal and all the Rajput warriors came out of their palanquins and attacked the soldiers cutting them to pieces. Gora reached Khalji's tent and was about to kill the sultan when Khalji moved his concubine in front of himself. Gora, being a Rajput, could not kill an innocent woman and these few seconds were enough for Ghazi Malik to kill Gora from behind.

The story of Gora Badal has been depicted on a wall painting in Eklingji temple in Udaipur. Two dome shaped houses have been constructed in their name known as Gora-Badal Mahal, south of Padmini Mahal, in Chittor Fort.

References