Sushant Dhar
Author : Rakesh K. Kaul
Publisher : HarperCollins India
Pages : 412
Price : Rs 399
The prologue of the novel ‘The Last Queen of Kashmir’ introduces us to a girl living in the Battal Balian Refugee Camp, (Udhampur J&K) with her grandmother. She has been selected by an American University under full scholarship for studies. As she prepares to leave, her grandmother narrates to her the story of Queen Kota that happened in Kashmir in 1313.
Kota is Angaraka and the greatest queen of Kashmir. She is a free spirited woman and follows higher truths. She is indomitable, charismatic, alluring, brave and beautiful. She believes in traditions and karma. She cannot be won through fear. The story of Kota begins thus.
Suhdev is the King and Kota’s father is the commander-in-chief of Kashmir. Kota is looked after by Saras, her caretaker who provides timely wisdom to Kota in difficult situations. Kota was endowed with transcendental knowledge when she graduated from Shardapeeth, a seat of learning. She believes and asserts that dharma is her duty and dharma will protect her.
The Turk invader Dalucha attacks the fort of Kashmir; Kota helps her father Ramachandra in preventing the enemy from taking over the kingdom. She demonstrates her war skills at a crucial time and with the help of Rinchina, a deposed king of Ladakh, they push back Dalucha. Dalucha on his journey back to the plains through dangerous passes of the mountains is hit by the blizzard avatar of Rudra and thus lay on the ground, lakhs of Daluch men, frozen to death. Dalucha falls from the cliff.
As Kashmir prepares to rise again from a long fought war spanning months, Rinchina betrays the kingdom. He pierces his sword into king Suhdev’s heart. Rinchina’s greed knows no bounds and his stealthy aspirations to acquire the throne result in destruction and bloodshed in the valley. Rinchina breaks through Fort Lar, deceives the watchman and guides his sword into the chest of commander -in -chief of Kashmir, Ramachandra. Kota cries with heartrending sobs watching her father die. Kota sets aside her personal grief and takes a leap forward towards justice and welfare of her people and decides to marry Rinchina. Kota becomes Kotarani, the Queen of Kashmir. Kashmir gets back on its feet.
A dervish rises in the kingdom of Kashmir; Baba Bulbul Qalandar. Rinchina is rejected by Devaswami as his student. Rinchina accepts Islam and becomes the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir. Kota gives birth to a son. He is named Chander Haider. Udyandev, brother of the deceased king Suhdev hatches a plan and sends an emissary to Tukka advising him to rebel against Rinchina. Rinchina succumbs to his head injury on 25 November 1323.
Kota marries Udyandev. They begin their rule of the ravaged kingdom with zeal and care. Shah Mir is appointed Kampanesa and foreign Minister of the Kingdom. Kota gives birth to her second son, Jatta Bhola Rattan. Achala, a Tartar plans to attack the kingdom of Kashmir. Achala’s soldiers bring doom and destruction. Udyandev runs for life. Fear runs through the entire kingdom. Kota commands Manzim to meet Achala and convey to him that if he withdraws his army, he can become the new Maharaja of Kashmir. Achala agrees to the demands and valley prepares for the wedding.
A loud conch is sounded from inside Khir Bhavani. The palanquin bearers carrying Kota reach the spot and rest their load in front of Achala. Manzim raises the veil from Kotarani’s head. Kota’s skin is dark, her tongue is lolling out like that of a mad dog and her hair is hanging loose. Kota in an instant grabs the trident from Devaswami, shouts Jai Kali and buries it into Achala’s heart.The kingdom of Kashmir celebrates the victory of Queen over Achala. Shah Mir fortifies the Chakradhara plateau and strengthens his army to show his might to the people. Fakir and Shah Mir address people to convert to Islam. Fakir brainwashes Shah Mir and takes control of his actions. They provoke people to throw Mahararani out from the seat of kingdom and place Haidar as the king. Rani smells civil war and prepares to confront it.
Udyan suffers a massive stroke and passes away on 7 February 1339. The ailing Shah Mir bathes in blood of Brahma and Avatar who had come to inquire about his health. Fakir and Shah Mir succeed in their plans to further their ascendancy to throne. Kota’s two sons Jatta and Haider are murdered by Shah Mir’s sons. Shah Mir takes over the fort and sends Manzim to ask Kota Rani to marry him. Kota understands the plot of Shah Mir. She looks up and there is the signal, the rising moon. Kota slits her waist and wrist open with the sharpened knife edge of dejhoor, which slashes her fair skin with the full force of its dharmic mission. There is a pool of blood around her. Shah Mir draws back and stands shocked. On 17 July 1339 Kashmir’s star falls from the sky.
In the epilogue, the girl from the camp graduates successfully and receives many academic honors in America. On the day of her graduation ceremony, she drives to a beautiful valley in North America and spots a majestic temple of mother Sharda Devi on the mountain. She sits on the hill holding Kotadevis’s dejhoor and diary which her grandmother had sent her. She reads from the diary. She spots a mighty Indian phoenix, half eagle and half man, appear on the eastern horizon. It is speeding towards her like a meteor. With Kota’s diary secure in her right hand and her hair flying like a red banner, her bionic Vir takes her up over the lactating bosoms of the Poconos hills and straight back to her roots in the verdant valley of Kashmir.
The Last Queen of Kashmir leaves you mesmerized. It is a gripping and inspiring read written in a serene prose. The flow and continuity of the story holds you close to it. This book is important in understanding the history of Kashmir and introduces people to the heroics and fervent will of Kota Rani in protecting Kashmir against its invaders. The Queen of Kashmir, Kota finds a place in the heart of the reader from the very beginning of the book. The Last Queen of Kashmir is a very rich piece of literature, impeccable, entangling the reader in a tapestry of events happening in the kingdom of fourteenth-century Kashmir. The author’s effort in writing this voluminous book can be well traced in his vivid and poignant description of every event happening in the life of Kota. The author presents a riveting narrative. The book contains much for its readers. There is dance, drama, deceit, politics, love and war.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
