Mohna de gori kayina

The story of Mohna De Gori Kayina (Chhattisgarhi: मोहना दे गोरी कईना) is the romantic and humorous story of Radi Mai Batau Tura (Chhattisgarhi:राडी मई बटऊ टुरा) alias Chhail Batohi Kunwar (Chhattisgarhi: छैल बटोही कुंवर) of Delhi and queen Mohna De Gori Kayina of Avdhe Nagar (present-day Jaijaipur^[1]), district Janjgir-Champa, Chhatisgarh. This historic town of Jaijaipur is 29.3 KM from the nearest railway station of Baraduar^[2]. This story with similar characters like Chhail Batohi and Goriyá Ráni has been compiled in the book titled 'In quest of Indian folktales: Pandit Ram Gharib Chaube and William Crooke'^[3] by Sadhana Naithani. The narration and story line are very different than the Chhattisgarhi version as Pandit Ram Gharib Chaube appears to have taken the content of Bihari version of the story (as then Bihar was his hometown).

Plot

Five Fakirs (Chhatisgarhi: पांच फकीर) from the state of Delhi under the emperor Akbar the Great started for alms and reached the town of Avdhe Nagar, Chhatisgarh in a duration of six-months. On their arrival to the town, they were welcomed by the queen Mohna De Gori Kayina and gifted with lot of alms and gifts. Before their departure, the queen asked them, "If I give you some entrusted item (Hindi: अमानत) to be delivered to someone, will you deliver it honesty or use it for your own purpose?"

The Fakirs replied, "बई (मैडम), पूत औ थाथी" meaning the item entrusted to us will be like our son and we will take all measures to deliver it to the person concerned. Then the queen asked for crafting of two 3-D models (Chhatisgarhi: दपकी) of herself made of gold and silver and asked the Fakirs that these be delivered to King Akbar (Chhattisgarhi: राजा बादशाह). On their return to Delhi in a period of six months, Five Fakirs wondered if they should visit their homes first or deliver the gold and silver models of 'Mohna De Gori Kayina' to the King. After deliberation, they decided to go to the court first considering the segregation of duties and reached the court (Hindi: दरबार) at Diwan-e-Aam at Lal Qila. They traditionally greeted the King and presented the gift from queen wrapped in some cloth at the feet of the King. The king ordered the wrapping to be opened. When the wrapping was opened, the lustre of the models flashed like lightning in the sky and King Akbar was left to wonder looking at the beauty of the model. After few minutes, the King asked the Five Fakirs, "How beautiful in reality is that woman whose mere image itself is so beautiful?" The Five Fakirs, without any thought, replied, "तोर पान खाए जीभ ता ओकर एडी के तरुवा !!!" meaning your tongue after eating paan is like the lower portion of her heel!!!

The King immediately spitted the paan and exclaimed in anger, "साला, हमारे अन्न खाने का मुखारवृन्द और एक त्रिया के एडी के उसका भी तरुवा को जोड़ दिया.. जेल में डालो इन पांचो को.." Immediately the Five Fakirs were sent to Jail. The King was left to wonder about the thought as to how beautiful would be that woman whose image he had seen in the court. He shared his anxiety with नेगी बीरबल (Birbal). Finally the King announced that anyone who will go to Avdhe Nagar and bring the सूरत-मूरत (literally a portrait without wearing any cloth)^[4] of the Queen, the King will share half of his dominion and treasury with that man. The नगाड़ा (drum) was sounded in the city of Delhi announcing King's challenge and a tray of बीड़ा paan (leaf with betel) was circulated in the royal court and the city. Anyone who eats the paan accepts the challenge. No one dared to receive the paan and the tray was moved to outside the court into the city, saying "बीड़ा ले.. बीड़ा ले". The people wondered as to who will dare to ask a queen in her own kingdom that I want to make a portrait of you!

Late in the afternoon, Radi Mai Batau Tura, the cowboy (Chhatisgarhi: चरवार) of King Akbar who used to tend the young cattle (Chhatisgarhi: पररू) of the royal palace, was returning from his duty. He was fond of eating paan from the fellow girls of the city who would go to collect cow-dung (Chhatisgarhi: गोबर) and ask his favour to allow them collecting the dung from the cattle this boy (of age about 18–20 years) would tend. He thought that King has observed some celebration (Chhatisgarhi: ऊछा-मंगल) and is distributing paan on that occasion. He thought that everyone else in the city has received the share of his paan and he alone is left due to returning late from the work, therefore only one piece of paan visible on the tray. Without giving any further thought, he picked the paan from the tray and put it into his mouth. Immediately, Negi Birbal took told of this boy's hand and asked, "बीड़ा म लाज हे?" meaning is the eating of paan meaningful and responsible act? The boy answered, "बीड़ा में लाज क्यों नहीं है, क्या मैं मरद का बच्चा नहीं हूँ!" meaning I am also son of a man and I am fully responsible for the act of eating the paan. Negi Birbal said, " तोला अवधे नगर जाये ब पडही" meaning you will have to go to Avdhe Nagar. The boy replied, "चाहे अवधे नगर भेज, या कोनो नगर भेज, लेकिन मैं ह पडहे लिखे नई अ" meaning send me to Avdhe Nagar or any city but I am not literate.

The boy was brought to the King by Negi Birbal and after seeing the boy the King's heart sunk with disappointment evident on his face. The prime-minister Birbal noticed the King's disappointment and said, "अगर मैं हा औ कोनो ला लातें त तोर मन हा गदगद हो जातिस औ जब मैं तोर खुद के पररू-चरवार ला लाने ह तो तोर मन ह फसफस होगे.." meaning if I had brought some other person, you would have delighted but when I have brought your own cowboy, your heart has sunk with remorse!

Is 'Radi Mai Batau Tura' capable of going to Avdhe Nagar? Will he dare to approach the queen for making her portrait? What about his illiteracy? What about dangers imminent on the way and at Avdhe Nagar? Will he return back alive to Delhi?

Story

The story of 'Mohna De Gori Kayina' can be presented as compendium of parts, much like scenes in a drama. The division may differ based on the folktale popular in various parts of Chhattisgarh. The division presented below is from the area of Baraduar, district Janjgir-Champa, Chhattisgarh.

Radi Mai Batau Tura

Batau was survived by only his grandmother (मई means mother) who was a widow (Chhattisgarhi: राड़ी). The old lady was meeting her ends by grinding and winnowing(चुकिया-पिसिया) of grains at the royal palace and the boy used to tend the young ones of the cattle flock. They had a small hut. After accepting the task, the boy was taken under King's care in royal palace. The King called five learned Brahmin men (पांच पंडित) from Kashi who were given the task of teaching the boy round-the-clock except for essential breaks like eating, sleeping and daily chores. He was made to learn reading, writing, archery, swordsmanship, playing tricks, language skills and master of trades of that time. At the end of his studies, he was equipped to count the grains of sand (कुधरा के माटी) of river Yamuna after holding in his fist. When he was almost complete with his studies, the King ordered his goldsmith for male-ornaments to be specially made for Batau. The King also renamed Batau as 'Chhail Batohi' (meaning probably Clever or Shrewd Traveller). After Chhail Batohi was adorned with ornaments and royal wardrobe, the King ordered for Five Fakirs. When they arrived, the King asked, "How do you rate this man with respect to Mohna De Gori Kayina?" The Fakirs pondered for a while and then said, "Maharaj, if the queen is at 20, this man reaches only 14." Surprised by their reply, the King ordered the goldsmith to further make up Chhail Batohi. More ornaments were made and Chhail Batohi was adorned to the extent that even his eyelids were decorated with fine gold. Five Fakirs were called again, and this time they rated him 19 against 20 for the Queen. The King said, "It is acceptable (इतना चलेगा). A man can never compete with a woman on beauty and make-up!"

After this, the king gave him one sword^[5] named चन्द्रभान खाड़ा and a Kabul horse मंदराज घोड़ा and two silos (थोकड़ा) of gold coins and a royal departure ceremony was conducted.

Chhail Batohi Kunwar starts from Delhi

Chhail Batohi returned his home from the king's palace sitting on the horse. When the horse stopped, it sounded like "खट-खिट" and his grand mother shouted from inside their hut, "कोन घोड़ाघिल अस ते ह घरे म पेला दे थस.. मोर बटऊ ह नई इ नि तो तोला बतातिस!" (Who are you horseman who is directly entering into the house.. If my Batau would have been here then he might have seen you!) On this the boy replied, "दई, मैं ह तोर बटऊ तो अ ओ" (Mom, I am your Batau). After listening this reply, the old woman instantly got very anxious and said,"बेटा, काकर घोड़ा म बैठ गे हस, कहू कनिहा-मुड़िया ह लचक जही त टाटक मुड़ कटवा दिही.. उतर उतर बेटा.." (Son, whose horse are you riding? If the back of horse gets sprained, we will not be spared by the owner..). Then Chhail Batohi told her that he was commissioned by the king to go to Avdhe Nagar. The old lady started weeping after hearing of this task. Then Batau consoled her and next day started for Avdhe Nagar at 4 O'clock morning. His grandmother wanted to give him गुड़-चिवरा^[6](jaggery with pressed boiled dried rice also called poha) but he had already started. So she threw a connected पोटली having the jaggery on one side and flattened rice on the other side which got hooked behind him on the back of the horse but he did not realize the same. Before his departure, Batau also gave her five मोहर^[7](gold coins) that if she dies before his returning, her last rites may be performed by others respectfully.

Chhail Batohi Reaches Sarlanka

Chhail Batohi Reaches Parlanka

Chhail Batohi Reaches Avdhe Nagar

Chhail Batohi's Stay at Sodi Mahal

Finally, Chhail Batohi decided to stay at 'Neela Mandir' which was house of Sodi Kalaar (सोड़ी कलार). Their profession was to make desi wine (देसी दारु) from Mahua (मऊहा). Sodi-couple was married for last twelve years but yet to have any child. It was 2-3 days to Deepavali and Avdhe Nagar was in the mood of gambling. Sodi was away from home to gambling camp outside the village for last two days and his wife was alone at home. When Chhail Batohi reached Sodi's house (which was a pecca house made of kilned bricks and mortar), appearing like a king, Sodi's wife, Sodiyain thought that it is king who has wrongly came to her house thinking this is Raj Mahal as when he had left for business, all houses were of mud except his palace. Offering him a maachi (माची) to sit, she immediately tried to go out taking a slip-road outside her house to inform the royal palace about king's arrival. On seeing this, Chhail Batohi said, "जनमजली, मोला पिटवाए ब डउका बलाए जा थस?" (Are you going to call men to beat me up?) On hearing this, Sodiyain replied, "न ही महराज, तूं ए गां के राजा साहेब नो ह" (Are you not the king of our village). Chhail Batohi replied, "हत जनमजली, ह मन काबा राजा गोजा होबो, हम तो दारु खाने वाला है.." Realizing that Chhail Batohi was a customer, she immediately exchanged the maachi on which Chhail Batohi was sitting with her पिडहा. Chhail Batohi said,"जनमजली, अपन बईठए हे माची म औ हमला दे हे पिडहा ल!" She returned back the maachi to him, and asked what he would like to have. He said whatever wine is there, give me. She gave the newly fermented wine, which he said was 'पझारी', meaning it did not appeal him. So Sodiyain asked him, what kind of wine he desired. Chhail Batohi replied, "इभरा ने नां तिभरा, भाठी के नां भवरजाल, मंद के नां गरीबा, बाप पियए त बेटा ल लग जाए औ बेटा पियय त अरोसी-परोसी ल, औ टेटका ह पी के टुटहा बारी म मूत दय त भंग ले आगी बर जाये॥ एसने दारू ल दे।" (summary: If father drinks that wine, the son will get drunk; and if the son drinks then neighbours get drunk; and if a lizard drinks it and pees on a broken garden then it immediately gets full of flames!)

Chhail Batohi Sees Glimpse of Mohna De Gori Kayina

Chhail Batohi at Kankan Kuinya

Chhail Batohi at Ranivaas

Chhail Batohi at Kankan Kuinya - II

Chhail Batohi Dies

Chhail Batohi is Made Alive Again

Chhail Batohi Returns to Parlanka

Chhail Batohi Returns to Delhi

Release of Five Fakirs

Epilogue

In Popular Culture

Many idioms of day-today talk in Chhattisgarh are taken from this story. Some of these idioms are:

1. Gaay La Nai Dekhe An Ta Ka Okar Dharsa Na Nai Dekhe An (I haven't seen the cow, but have I not also seen the way through which it walks?)
2. SatGatVa Bhaat (A Brahmin who is acting so only for namesake)
3. Tola To Kasno Kar Ke Khusaar Lebo, Tor Haathi Sahi Ghoda Ke Taapu Ha Nai Samavaye (We can pull you in a hole but how canwe pull your horse whose even hoof would not enter concerning the size of hole)
4. Ka Mor Jaat-Saga Ha Mor Sange Sang Kindarathe (Are folks of my caste walking along with me to watch over me?)

References

1. ^ "Jaijaipur"
2. ^ "Baraduar Station"
3. ^ In quest of Indian folktales: Pandit Ram Gharib Chaube and William Crooke
4. ^ "Story of Chhail Batohi and Goriya Rani, Page 181"
5. ^ "Sword of The Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556 - 1605 A.D.) at Rao Jodhaji's Falsa"
6. ^ "Vel Avil (Beaten rice with Jaggery)"
7. ^ "Mughal Coinage, Mughal Empire- Muhar"