30/01/2025
To understand this poem one has to have some basic knowledge of life, background and roots of Rani Jinda and certain more genres of poetry other than basic rhyme and refrain genres. This genre of poetry is called short prose poetry.
The poem is penned for true lovers of Sikh military history, and for folks having delved in to some basic poetic appreciation. As far as Rani Jinda and this poem go, this short poem brings out that,
(i) Maharani Jinda belonged to Aulalkh subcaste of Jatt Sikhs who originally came from Suryavanshi Rajputs of Rajsthan. This is simple genealogy of Aulakhs, also mentioned in Encyclopedia of Jatts.
(ii) Rani Jinda was a victim of character assassination during her life time, a well designed and vicious campaign launched against her by Britishers and other enemies of Lahore darbar to destroy her image as part of a larger conspiracy to destroy Sikh Raj and legacy of Ranjit Singh.
(iii) Her royal Highness, Maharani Jinda, although not born amongst royalty, was an extremely talented, courageous and highly efficient lady who successfully survived to a ripe old age in spite of very adverse circumstances. She ultimately succeeded in not only meeting Maharaja Daleep Singh, forcefully separated from her as a child, but also succeeded in shifting to London and converting highly anglicised Daleep singh back to Sikhism and Indian culture in spite of extreme difficulties.
(iv) Fourth point is that the poet wants to correct the unjust wrong done to great Sikh ladies like Rajmata Sada Kaur and Rani Jinda of Lahore darbar as not only the poet knows the history well but also understands the great role played by these two ladies in Sikh History, Mata Sada kaur in establishing Khalsa Raj and Rani Jinda in trying as best as she could to save it. ॐतत्तसत्त, सत्तश्रीअकाल। Guru Balwant Gurunay.
