Wings of Fire - The Forgotten Tradition of Jauhar

The 12th-century Mass Self-Immolation Practiced by Rajput Women

Wars create fractals of a broken world, one within the other, like a house of mirrors. It creates a never-ending loop of atrocities looking onto itself for eternity. However, hidden within those obscure echos of the dark past, the stories of devotion, sacrifice, and bravery slowly reclaim the world. Medieval India was raided frequently by cruel invaders from different parts of the world who tried to bend the law of the land which belonged to the indigenous clans. A land of spirituality and peace, the Indian subcontinent seemed like easy prey for the cruel conquerors both from the east and west. However, every time the darkness blanketed the future, brave heroes awakened to protect the motherland. This might paint a vivid image in your mind of armed warriors. But, not all heroes were men, and not all wars were fought on the battlefield. In the ancient world, considering the traditional gender roles, women rarely had the privilege to learn fighting skills. With the enemies at their thre…