Monalisa of India: A great love legend

A fascinating Indian painting by an unknown artist of the Kishangarh School of Art in Rajasthan is said to display Indian femininity at its best and is fondly referred to as the Mona Lisa of India.

It features a maiden with a long chiselled nose, little quivering lips, tranquillising lotus eyes, bow-shaped eyebrows and a broad forehead on an elliptical face supported by a cylindrical tender neck.

I came across an interesting romantic legend revealed by Indian freelance writer Bimal Saigal linked to this painting in an old issue of India Perspectives Magazine and cannot resist sharing it with readers.

Bimal reveals that the Indian Mona Lisa is an 18th century painting and a tribute to a tender romance — the passion of Rajasthani King Sawant Singh for a talented and beautiful commoner popularly known as Bani Thani (well made-up and dressed).

SENSITIVE POET

Sawant was not just a caring monarch but also a sensitive poet, gifted musician and a romantic linguist. His poetical compositions are cherished even to this day.

Bani Thani was an entertainer with exceptional talents. She initially charmed connoisseurs at the court of Mughal King Mohamed Shah Rangeela. Her golden voice and ability to sing songs in praise of Lord Krishna mesmerised one and all. It was her fancy with make-up that earned her the title Bani Thani. This charmer swayed the mind of young Sawant. But his intense love for the singer faced tough resistance from all quarters.

Finally, love triumphed as he abdicated his kingdom for love and moved on to Brindaban, the holy place for Hindus. Here, in the company of his beloved, he composed poetry and sang holy hymns in praise of the Lord.

Bani also sharpened her poetic skills and wrote verses under the pseudonym Rasik Bihari as she continued to sing, enhancing the religious fervour of the devotees. Sawant also portrayed himself as Krishna and his beloved Bani Thani as paramour Radha.

The artists, commoners and devotees of Krishna were inspired by the king and his consort playing the divine couple, and created miniature paintings embodying it.

Bimal writes that Bani Thani departed for her heavenly abode in 1763 and Sawant, unable to bear the separation, followed her soon afterwards. The couple has left behind a love story and a devotional literary treasure which is cherished to this day in Rajasthani households, and the artists of the day left for posterity a creative work that epitomises the femininity, and is fondly referred to as the Mona Lisa of India.