LOYAL MOTHER PANNA

Hindi

(It’s a looking mirror and this art is known as Mirror Engraving)

In this painting the artist have shown three people Panna Dhai, queen Karmawati and prince Udai Singh. We can see in this painting that Panna Dhai is beholding prince udaising and queen Karmawati.Panna Dhai was born in Kameri village of Rajasthan. Panna Dhai was the nursemaid to Udai Singh, the fourth son of Maharana Sangram singh 1(1509-1527). She had been given charge of young Udai Singh, breast feeding him virtually from his birth 1522, along with her own son Chandan (also known as Moti) who was of similar age and Udai’s playmate. Even though Panna Dhai was not from the Royal Heritage family but she brought up and looked after Udai as her own son and for this reason she was called as her Loyal mother who sacrificed her own son’s life for saving Udai Sing’s life. Panna lived in the Kumbha palace of Chittor. Invited by the nobles to be the guardian of Vikramaditya(elder brother of Udai singh), Banvir, wanted to be the ruler of Chittor.Banvir one by one killed all the members of Maharana’s family. Now he felt only two obstacles between him and the throne- Vikramaditya and his brother, Udai Singh. He secretly conspired to kill both. After he had assassinated Vikramaditya, Banvir was spotted by a maidservant and seeing his crimson sword, she promptly informed Panna of the cruel deed and said that Banvir was now coming for Udai Singh. Panna’s mind began racing. She had to save the only heir to the throne of Mewar.She concealed Uday Singh in the basket and covered him with the used plates, fruits and vegetables and the future Maharana of Mewar was smuggled out of the reach of Banvir. Panna placed her own sleeping son Chandan, on the bed of Uday Singh.When Banvir came, and asked about Uday Singh she pointed towards her own sleeping son, Banvir unknowingly slew Chandan, thinking that it was Uday Singh sleeping in his bed.Panna who could not even mourn for her son obeyed her duty for the king took Udai Singh far from Banvir and went here and there for the shelter but could not get any because of the fear of Banvir among the other kings. Atlast the Rao Asha Shah of Kumbhalgarh was ready to give them shelter. Then at the age of thirteen Umrao accepted Udai Singh as her king.In 1542 Udai Singh officially became the king of Mewar as Maharana. Even today with the pride when Maharana’s name comes along with him with the equal pride come the name of Panna Dhai who proved her loyalty towards her king and son Udai Singh by sacrificing her own son.