In the early 20th century, Abanindranath Tagore, the celebrated artist and writer, drew inspiration from an unusual source: a colonial officer’s ethnographic work.
Colonel James Tod, a British army officer and scholar, had published Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan (1829–32), a monumental text that combined history, folklore, and his own romantic admiration for Rajput culture.
Although Tod wrote through the lens of a colonial administrator, his fascination with Rajput traditions of bravery and honour left a deep impression on Indian intellectuals.
Abanindranath Tagore’s Reimagining
Abanindranath Tagore reimagined these narratives in his 1909 novella Rajkahini, weaving together legendary tales of Rajput valour and sacrifice.
Written in lyrical Bengali, it brought to life figures such as Queen Padmini, who chose jauhar (self-immolation) over dishonour, and Karmavati, remembered for her courage and maternal devotion.
From History to Cultural Myth
By romanticising these episodes, Tagore transformed them into cultural myths that resonated with the nationalist imagination of his time.
Unlike Tod, who approached Rajasthan as an outsider fascinated by its ‘exotic’ past, Tagore infused the stories with a spirit of swadeshi pride.
Rajkahini as a Call to National Identity
Rajkahini became a subtle call to rediscover strength, unity, and dignity in India’s own heritage. For readers in colonial Bengal, these Rajput tales became metaphors of resistance and national identity.
Thus, a British officer’s archival curiosity was reborn as a Bengali writer’s artistic celebration of courage.
Abanindranath Tagore’s Rajkahini not only immortalised the Rajput ethos but also revealed how literature could reinterpret history to inspire collective pride.
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