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60 / Bhai Vir Singh
And yetinthis afflicted, hypnotized state she springs to life, to
reality when she is presented with a fake letter meant to be
from Rana Surat Singhurgingherto marrythe ruler of a sister,
but rival, state. She no longer is a fairyland character, but a
human being of flesh and blood.
There areotherpalpable, solidpersonsinthestorydrawn
with a remarkable sureness of touch. Most charming of them
is Raj Kaur's mother--gentle, affectionate, sorrowed beyond
words for her daughter's sake. She follows her everywhere
and leaves no stone unturned to retrieve her from gloom. An
atmosphere of deep pathos which adds a distinctive strain to
thestoryis built aroundherfigure. Thenthereis theloyal, selfabnegatingmaidRadha.
The ministeris a typicalstate courtier­
- smooth-tongued, well-versed in state-craft and intrigue.
He hasa Rajput's prideofcasteandnursesa sneakingcontempt
for the Rana, a Punjabi, who had married into the aristocratic
family of his master and succeeded to the gaddi. The queen
motherhadto explainthatRana Surat Singhwas of no inferior
blood, but a Kshatriya by caste.
Rana Surat Singhwas a man of action--warrior as well as
ruler. But equally strong was his spiritual commitment. His
papers which posthumously come into his widow's hands
contain his sermons on the ultimate purpose of life. But mixed
with these are letters of worldly business. The satsangwhich
is a meansofnuminousilluminationandtransporthasits formal
code, its prescribed prayers, ritual and liturgy. Spirituality is
made tangible by the externals of religiosity. Both are
complementary to each other. Man fulfils his destiny by
acquitting himself well in the world and by cultivating the
essential element of his nature. Neither of these can be
neglected. Full-faced participation in existential reality was
notinconsistentwiththesearchafterbeyond. This is the truth
Rana Surat Singh had realized. With the breaking of this truth
uponher, Raj Kaur overcame hertribulation. Shewasbornto a
new, more meaningful life.
For the sheer force of its poetry Rana Surat Singh is
incomparable. The narrative is breathtakingly gripping. Ithas
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