Desperate Damsel Awaiting Her Lover

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Though not illustrating a known legend, such as Sohani-Mahiwal or Sashi-Punno, the miniature is representing a legend of love of one of those warriors of Rajasthan who barred by enemies’ swords in the battlefield could not reach his beloved in time and the desperate loved one, believing that he broke his words preferred death to her lover’s infidelity. Though in her case the situation is not that worse, the damsel’s desperation is as deep and it is wide-writ on the face of the canvas. Fearing that his loved one could resort to any desperate act, her lover, painted reaching her from her left, has accelerated the pace of his camel and the loyal animal, fully sensitive to its master’s concerns, raises its head and announces its master’s arrival.

In a single rendition the miniature reveals the whole legend, its each stage and the entire tale. The young damsel is in deep love with a young warrior she meets per chance and accepts him her lord in her heart, though her parents are adverse to her decision. Finally, she decides to go with him even against the wishes of her family. One day when he meets her in a fair in a nearby village they fix a place to meet and to never separate. Accordingly, when the nominated hour arrived, taking some of her valuables possessions in a bag and her favourite camel she leaves her parents’ house. As she was to go to her lord, this world’s, or the other world’s by ending her, in case he did not come, for disgraced she would not go back to her parents, she adorned herself with bridal jewels and costumes putting on the red bangles in particular, the symbol of a married woman.

The sun has already set and the night is unfolding its sheet of darkness, which blended with the blue of the sky is making it deeper. The young damsel has come all the way to this marshy semi-desert far away from her parental home but her lover has not come yet. Though she has let her camel to take rest but herself restless she is seated as tired supported on her right arm. Deep anxiety lurks on her face and desperate she is not able to decide what she should do, except one thing that she had left her father’s house and now that is to her a land foreign. Her bag with her personal jewels is lying close-by but she is completely indifferent to it. She had let her camel to rest but the faithful animal too looks in the direction wherefrom her mistress’ happiness was expected to come.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.