New Delhi: Every year on February 14, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in almost every part of the world. It is the day of love, an occasion to express romantic feelings and spend quality time with partners. While Valentine’s Day is fairly a modern concept, love is not. It has existed since ancient times, from the days of early men and women. Hence, there are several examples of famous love stories in the pages of Indian history. By turning those pages, we will take a look at some of the renowned love stories in the annals of our country.
Famous love stories in the Indian history
Shah Jahan-Mumtaz Mahal
Shah Jahan, as we know, was the fifth Mughal Emperor and Mumtaz Mahal was his beloved wife, the love of his wife. The Taj Mahal, one of the most awe-inspiring monuments in the world located on the right bank of the Yamuna river in Agra stands as the symbol of their love. The ivory-white marble mausoleum was commissioned in 1631 by Shah Jahan to house the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal and it also has the emperor’s tomb. Apparently, after Mumtaz’s death, he went into secluded mourning for a year and when he made a public appearance again, his hair had turned white, his back was bent, and his face worn. In 1983, Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bajirao-Mastani
Peshwa Bajirao I of the Maratha Empire is one of the greatest names in the Indian history. He is considered to be the most charismatic and dynamic leader in Maratha history after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Considered to be one of the greatest military generals, his reported and alleged love affair with Mastani, his second wife has become the stuff of legends. So much so, a Bollywood film named ‘Bajirao Mastani’ was released in 2015 starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone.
Heer-Ranjha
Heer Ranjha is a traditional Punjabi folk tragedy with many historic poetic narrations. In the 1600s, Damodar Gulati penned the first one on the preexisting oral legend and Waris Shah wrote the most famous one in 1766, in the form of an epic. As per folklore, Heer was a girl from the upper class and Ranjha came from lower class, and their love was opposed due to difference in social class. The tale follows the journey of love, forced separation, and their eventual demise at the same time.
Anarkali-Salim
While this tale is widely believed to be fictitious, it is nevertheless very popular. Anarkali was a Mughal courtesan who was in love with Mughal Prince Salim, who later became Emperor Jahangir. While some accounts state that Anarkali was the nickname of the courtesan Sharf-un-Nisa, this opinion has been dismissed by others. As per legends, Anarkali had an affair with Salim, and his father Emperor Akbar had her executed by immurement.
Mirza-Sahiban
In the 17th century, poet Pilu wrote traditional Punjabi tragedy Mirza-Sahiban. The story is set in a village in Jhang and follows the romance between two youths, belonging to chieftain families of their respective clans, their elopement and eventual demise. The story is immensely popular in the Indian folklore and has been adapted in the popular culture.
Prithviraj Chauhan-Samyukta
Prithviraj Chauhan was a famous Rajput ruler in medieval India and Samyukta, was the daughter of Jaichand, the King of Kannauj. They got married against all odds and the love between Prithviraj and Samyukta is one of India’s most popular medieval romances, with Chand Bardai composing it in ‘Prithviraj Raso’.
This article explores renowned love stories from Indian history, showcasing the enduring power of romance across different eras and social classes. From the iconic Taj Mahal to the tragic folk tales of Heer Ranjha and Mirza Sahiban, we delve into these compelling narratives, revealing the depth and complexity of love in India’s rich past. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
