Umade Bhattiyani

Umade Bhattiyani (d. 1562; other names Umadeo, Uma Devi) was the second wife of Maldeo Rathore, the renowned Rathore ruler of Marwar (r. 1532 – 1562). She earned the epithet of Roothi Rani — the Irate or Aggrieved Queen, or 'the Queen-who-Sulked' due to her strained relationship with her husband.[1]

Umade Bhattiyani
Rani of Marwar
Tenurec. 1537 – 1562
Died10 November 1562
Kelva, Mewar, India
SpouseMaldeo Rathore
DynastyBhati
FatherRawal Lunkaran Bhati
ReligionHinduism

Family

Umade was a princess of the Bhati Rajput clan of Jaisalmer and was the daughter of Rawal Lunkaran Bhati, the ruler of Jaisalmer (r. 1530 - 1551).[2]

Marriage

Maldeo Rathore was expanding his territories westward and besieged Jaisalmer in 1537. Rawal Lunkaran was forced to sue for peace by giving Maldeo his daughter Umade in marriage to him.[2] The marriage was not a happy one. Lunkaran had given some davris (maidservants) to his daughter in her dowry. One of them was called Bharmali who was apparently very beautiful. Maldeo was greatly attracted by her beauty and on the first night of his marriage he delayed visiting Umade because he stayed too long with her maid, Bharmali.[3] Umade felt insulted and decided not to speak to her husband throughout her life. She also refused to have any conjugal relations with him. Her attitude towards Maldeo earned her the title Roothi Rani (displeased or unhappy queen). Umade decided to leave her husband's main palace in Jodhpur and after living in Ajmer for a while, relocated to her step-son's residence in Mewar, a mere year after her marriage in 1537. Umade never returned to Jodhpur during Maldeo's lifetime.[4]

Death

When Umade came to know of Maldeo's death in 1562, she immolated herself at Kelva in Mewar. She did so because while Maldeo had been alive she had the status of Rani of Marwar. After her husband's death, her status changed. She also felt that Maldeo's successor, Chandrasen Rathore, who was the son of another wife of Maldeo, would not accord her the respect due to her, as she had supported the cause of another son of Maldeo instead of Chandrasen. Neither did Umade expect to receive good treatment at the hands of the other wives who had played an important role in creating further differences between her husband Maldeo and her. So, instead of facing possible humiliation, she chose to immolate herself.[3]

Of note

There is similar story about another Roothi Rani in Jaisamand area![6] The Hawa mahal near Dhebar Lake or Jaisamand Lake here is also known as Roothi Rani ka mahal.

References
  1. Hooja, Rima (2006). A history of Rajasthan. Rupa & Co. p. 520.
  2. Kothiyal, Tanuja (2016). Nomadic Narratives: A History of Mobility and Identity in the Great Indian Desert. Cambridge University Press. p. 85, 87. ISBN 9781107080317.
  3. Mathur, Kanchan (2004). Countering gender violence : initiatives towards collective action in Rajasthan. New Delhi: Sage. p. 81. ISBN 9780761932451.
  4. Chatterjee, Indrani; M. Eaton, Richard, eds. (2006). Slavery and South Asian History. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. p. 145. ISBN 0253116716.
  5. Chopra, Rukmini (June 22, 2014). "Mreenal Deshraj to be a part of Maharana Pratap?". Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  6. https://udaipurtimes.com/blog/places-of-udaipur-roothi-rani-ka-mahal/c74416-w2859-cid101860-s10701.htm
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