Mommal and Rano

Mommal and Rano

Mommal and Rano is one of the seven tragic love story from Sindh. Sindh is the birthplace of many love stories. Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai has written  the love story of Mommal and Rano in his collection of poem book,Shah Jo Risalo. Mommal and Rano is claimed to be part of Rajasthan and Sindh.

 The protagonist of the story Mommal was well known beauty in Lodhruva. She lived with her sisters. Some say that she had seven sisters whereas some say she had nine. Some even say that they weren’t sisters but slaves who accompanied Mommal.

In the sixteenth century, Sukkur district of Sindh near Mirpur Mathelo, there was a King named Nand, who had nine daughters.  Mommal was the most beautiful daughter of all. Soomal was the most intelligent and clever one of them all. Natir was well known schemer.

Once while he was on hunting trip, he chanced upon a swine on the bank of a canal. He was amazed to find that when swine entered the water, it parted and made way for the swine. The King wanted to have the magical swine so he followed the swine and killed it. He threw the body parts one by one into the river but when he threw the front tooth into river. The waters receded and parted to make way. King Nand was happy to get the magical tooth of the swine. He used the magical tooth to bury all his treasures in the bed of the canal and no one knew about it.

However, there was a magician who learned the truth of the tooth and while the King Nand was away. He arrived in disguise of a sage at Mirpur Mathelo. He met Moonmal and lied to her that he has a serious illness which could only be cured by the tooth of swine which her father has kept.  Mommal was gullible and ignorant of the fact that swine tooth was the key to her father’s treasure hands it over to the sage.

The king Nand was very furious to know that he had lost his treasures because of Moomal. He took his sword and wanted to kill Moomal but Soomal stopped him promising him that she would get back his lost treasure.

Soomal was not only clever and wise but she also knew magic. She built a Palace using her magic in Ludano in the district of Jaisalmer. She made the kaak palace wiith illusionary lake with rippling water made from glass at the front.  The kaak palace had artificial lions to guard it and the roar of the lions shook the earth and sky. The kaak palace also had beautiful gardens. She also had developed a maze. She made a living room which had seven identical beds out of which only one was real and others were illusion anybody who would choose an illusion would end up in a well.

Moomal and soomal both went to reside at the Kaak Palace. Soomal sent out a proclamation that whosoever was successful in accomplishing the task set to him may claim the hand of beautiful Moomal. Moomal beauty was well known and many suitors came from nearby and distant places to try their luck at Ludano.

 A big drum was placed outside the palace. Anybody who wanted to test his luck to claim Mommal hand would beat the drum. Natur would come and take them to the Garden and he would lose himself in the garden as it was a labyrinth. Sometimes few reached forest and became yogis and few died in the forest or killed by animals. Their wealth was stolen by servants of Mommal and Soomal. Soomal used the wealth to pay her father for not killing Moomal.

The Thar Desert was ruled by Soomras and the last ruler of the clan was Hameer Soomro. Hameer Soomoro was the king of Amarkot (now it is located in the South- East of Sindh Province in Pakisthan). Hameer Soomoro along with his three ministers, Rano Mahendhra Singh, Seenharro Dhamachanni and Daunro Bhatyanni used  to go hunting into distant places in Amarkot.  The three of them belonged to the caste Rajput Sodhas. They liked to cross their country boundaries for sake of adventure. Once on such hunting expedition they came upon a person. They didn’t reveal their details but the new fellow was a prince from near Kashmir. He came to this place hearing the beauty of Mommal. He had set out to win the heart of Mommal but he was overpowered by her beauty and fell to the tricks of her seven sisters who robbed him of his wealth and he had to run to save his life. None of the suitors had been able to reach the Palace Unharmed. Many have died or fled from Ludano in order to save their life. Mommal, Sommal and Natir worked collectively to ensure none of the suitors was successful.

Hameer soomoro was fascinated and wanted to have an adventure so he and his ministers set out towards Ludano (North east of Amarkot). Mommal Lived with her seven/ nine sister/ slaves in Kak Mahal.

The four of them reached Moomal’s Kak palace and beat the drum one after another and entered the maze. The three of them lost their path in the maze and Rano Mahendra singh alone reached the palace of Moomal and met her. Moomal was enchanted by the handsome and intelligent Rano. Rano was so taken by the beauty of Moomal. It was love at first sight for them and they had fallen for each other. Moomal accepted Rano as her husband and spent the night together with him. His three comrades were jealous of him and treacherously forced him on a camel and returned to Amarkot and he was jailed to prevent him from meeting Moomal. After some time Rano Mahendra singh was released from jail as they were once long buddies with a condition that Rano must never visit Moomal. Rano Mahendra singh was also the brother in law of Hameer Soomoro.

Moomal was grief-stricken as she was not sure when Rano could be back. She was heartbroken and waited for him in the evening in hope that he would come and see her. Rano was in love with Mommal so he could not heed to his brother in law ‘s imposition and he could not openly protest. So he set out to meet Mommal at night stealthily. Rano would visit Ludano and return to Amarkot in the morning. The secret meetings went on for some time without anyone’s notice.

The news that Rano was sneaking to Ludhano at night and reaching Amerkot at daybreak reached the ears of the King. The king was jealous that his minister was able to catch the eye of a legendary beauty when he was not able to. He put him into prison again but with Queens insistence the king was forced to free Rano again.

Moomal was sad at heart that Rano hadnot come to meet her. She felt empty so she asked her sister, Soomal to dress up like Rano and stay in the room.  Rano who was freed reached Ludano to meet his sweetheart. When he reached her bed chamber, he saw someone dressed like him sleeping next to her. Rano felt betrayed  and left his walking stick behind as a proof of his visit. Mommal woke up and saw the walking stick left by Rano and understood that he had misunderstood Soomal as another man and had left in ager that she had betrayed him. Moomal was heartbroken and sad that she had done such a foolish thing.

Moomal waited for a long time for Rano to come back so she could explain everything in detail but Rano never came back.

Moomal disguised as a man and left to Amerkot to find Rano. Moomal passed herself as a rich merchant and  got a palace opposite to Rano’s palace and settled in. Rano was the minister of Commerce. Soon Rano and Moomal became friends. One day when Moomal and Rano were playing a game of dice. Rano notices her birthmark on her arm and discovers that the merchant is Moomal. He leaves the palace even after Moomal explains the situation and pleaded for forgiveness. Rano is haughty and obstinate to forgive her. Moomal is heart- broken and so she decides to end her life.

Moomal builts a pyre and sacrifices herself. When Rano heard the news he was convinced about her love and chastity and he also jumped into the pyre. Rano and Moomal both were consumed by the fire. The lovers who could not live together on earth were finally united in Immortality.

It is said that Death does not have the power to kill love nor Prisons can separate love.