CHITTOR: Amidst the ancient walls of Chittorgarh, where history recalls the valour of Rani Padmavati, the wife of Raja Ratan Singh, before the Mughal emperor Alauddin Khilji, conversations about the Lok Sabha elections seamlessly transition into debates over the history, reigniting controversies that have simmered since 2018 and the scenes in the film Padmavat.
The question of whether Alauddin Khilji saw Padmavati through a mirror unfolds as The New Indian team travels in Chittorgarh to understand the electoral fervour of Rajasthan’s heartland.
Standing in front of the iconic fort of Chittorgarh where a song of Waheeda Rehman and Dev Anand, ‘Aj phir jeene ki tamanna hai’ was also shot, Rohan Dua encounters a diverse voice of the youth of Chittor, who clearly oppose any attempt to change their ancestral history.
“BJP’s policies have brought satisfaction to everyone here,” said Kuldeep Pari, a local speaking to The New Indian, citing the development initiatives undertaken, including resolving the long-standing parking issue at the Chittorgarh Fort.
“CP Joshi has improved train infrastructure,” adds Shiv Prajapat, highlighting the incumbent’s development contribution to the region.
Yet, amidst the inclination towards the BJP leader, others express dissatisfaction with the claimed development. “We want development. We don’t see it, we want the development of our fort and tourism, and locals also lack job opportunities,”
Also Read : “Rajasthan village that treats ‘bhoots’, ‘spirits’ predicts BJP win, backs Dushyant”
Shantanu, foreseeing a substantial lead for CP Joshi, says, “Today, votes are cast based on present scenarios and issues, not historic events.”
Meanwhile, a local resident expressed scepticism, stating, “I don’t think he will win. The victory will be decided on the day of the result, and he has done nothing for development. During his campaign, he only tried to defame and deteriorate the Congress manifesto. Discussions about Padmavati and Khilji belong in history; we should focus on the present.”
The conversation then takes a rhetorical turn as Kuldeep Pari emphasises the importance of discussing history. “If we don’t discuss history, then who will? Our ancestors made history and if someone tries to change that by writing that Khilji watched her through a mirror, then I ask, was a mirror present at that time? In 1955, when Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru came, he put the mirror to settle the ‘Gadiya Lohar’ so they could enter the fort.”
The New Indian team then ventures to the fort to find out the reality of the mirror, to which a fort security guard answers, “It’s a fake story that has been told, just to glorify the Muslims due to the differences in government and its preferences.”
