Chivalry and Romance: Vignettes from Indian History and Bardic Legends

These stories of chivalry and romance that cover several centuries are based both on history and the epic poetry of the great bards. Great literature enhances the appeal of history, and the bards gave complete freedom to their fervid, imaginative verse about war, bravery, love, great deeds, glory, sacrifice and death. The historical events and bardic legends in these vignettes relate generally to Rajasthan, central and western India, but some cover a larger geographical canvas of the country. In this saga of heroic men and legends, which often converge, you also meet fascinating women, such as the Rani of Jhansi, the beautiful Mastani, and the Rani and Begums of Bhopal. The author’s approach in this book prompts us to revisit the pivotal moments in Indian history that contribute to our rich heritage and culture.