There was no recorded history of Padmini who also is famous by the name of Padmavati till Malik Mohammad Jayashi wrote Padmavat in 1540, two years before his death. Note that Khilji died in the year 1316. There is a huge gap of years in between and no evidence till date has been found to justify the existence of Padmini.
All the folklore and written account of Padmini came into existence after Padmavat was written. Many historians say that Padmavat is the imagination of the Sufi poet. This post is not to shun the existence of Rani Padmini. She could have existed or not makes much different today but we should respect the fact that even if it is merely a folklore, it has inspired lacs of women to be strong, to learn to fight, to protect their honour or to never give up.
We are talking about an era when women had no exposure, were not educated, were not allowed to even go out. Folklores made a tremendous effect on their minds and they lived by those examples.
Though Padmini could be a myth, it is a recorded fact that Khilji invaded to strengthen his military power, to loot the wealth and to take away their beautiful women. Khilji had the tremendous weakness for women. He took immense pleasure in converting Hindu women and keeping them in his harem. Out of his six wives, Rani Kamal Devi (later converted) and princess of Deogarh was prominent Hindu figures.
Khilji also had a weakness for beardless boys. He was fascinated by Malik Kafur’s effeminate beauty and ended up buying the slave for a thousand Dinars during his conquest of Gujarat. Originally he was a handsome Hindu named Manik; he was captured in a raid on Khambhat. Kafur took full advantage of Khilji’s enamour for him and rose through the ranks to become the Malik Naib (deputy ruler). The passionate affair between Malik Kafur and Khilji have several written accounts and mention.
In the end, as faith had it written Khilji became very ill in the year 1316. Malik Kafur took the chance and killed Khilji to remove him from the throne. He made Khilji’s 13-year son the puppet sultan. Later he was killed as well.There was no recorded history of Padmini who also is famous by the name of Padmavati till Malik Mohammad Jayashi wrote Padmavat in 1540, two years before his death.
Note that Khilji died in the year 1316. There is a huge gap of years in between and no evidence till date has been found to justify the existence of Padmini. All the folklore and written account of Padmini came into existence after Padmavat was written. Many historians say that Padmavat is the imagination of the Sufi poet.
Nayan Chowdhury Nayan