Lilan Chanesar

Lilan Chanesar

Lilan chanesar is one of the stories of Shah Jo Risalo  written by Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.

Raja Chanesar was a prominent ruler of the Soomra dynasty and he ruled Deval Kot an ancient City of Sindh near Thatta, Pakistan. He had a beautiful Queen Lilan who was very interested in jewelry, precious stones and diamonds. Raja Chanesar was very committed to his queen and had not taken other consorts. Usually Emperors have lot of wives and concubines in their palace.

Rao Khengar was a ruler of Lakhpat in Kutch in India. His wife was Mirkhi. He had a daughter Kaunru and loved her very much and spoiled her. Kaunru was very beautiful and haughty about her looks and she was engaged to her cousin Utmadi.  Utmadi had a sister named Jamni and she was friend of Kaunru. Jamni teased Kaunru that she was behaving like a Queen as if she was Queen of Chanesar. Jamni’s snide remark left Kanru’s ego was hurt and left her thinking. Kanru made up her mind that she had to get married to Chanesar. Kanru goes to Mirkhi and tells her that she would only get married to Chanesar or she would end her life. Rao khengar and Mirchi were shocked that their only daughter is asking for something impossible but they could not help her in any way as Chanesar was committed to his wife.

 Kaunru and Mirkhi came up with a plan and travelled to Deval Kot to materialize their plan. They disguised themselves as traders and entered Deval Kot.  Jakhiro was Raja Chanesar’s minister was a friend to Rao Khengar. Kaunru and Mirkhi met Jakhiro and asked him to help Kaunru to become Chanesar woman and he agreed to help them.

Jakhiro advised the King Chanesar, he should marry Kaunru the daughter of King Rao Khengar and this alliance would prove to be good for his kingdom. The King lost his temper and asked him not to mention about marriage. Chanesar told Jakhiro,” Lila is my one only love. I could not think about any other woman.”  Jakhiro approached Mirkhi and Kaunru and told them what happened at the court. He told them there was no opportunity for Kaunru to become Chanesar bride and that they should return home.

Kaunru was very adamant and had another plan to get married to Raja Chanesar. Kaunru and Mirki disguised as servants went to Lilan palace and asked for employment. They pleaded that they had abandoned their country and came here for refuge as they are poor. Lilan felt bad for them and accepted them as personal servants. They were both successful in entering the Palace. They were assigned to clean the chamber of Chanesar and make his bed. Kaunru was sad as her hope was vanishing because Chanesar never looked at her or other female in the palace.

One day Kaunru was preparing the bed for Chanesar, her unrequited love took the form of tears and it dropped on the bed. Kaunru did not notice that Lilan had entered the chamber. Lilan asked kaunru what was the reason behind her tears. Kaunru told her that that, “Once I was also a princess and I used to light my room with Naulakha Har( A necklace of  nine strands with diamonds, emeralds, and precious stones worth 9 Lakhs ruppes)”. Lilan was interested in the Naulakha Haar and after few days she was obsessed about it. Kaunru found Lilan’s weakness and baited her with necklace. Kaunru showed Lilan Naulakh Haar and it piqued her interest more. Lilan wanted to make Naulakh haar as her propert and she was ready to pay but Kaunru told her that she can have the haar for free but she has one condition.

Lilan asked about Kaunru condition for giving her the necklace. Kunru told Lilan that she wanted to spend one time with her husband Chanesar.  Lilan was shocked but she was crazy about Jewellery and she agreed to Kunru condition. Lilan talked to Chanesar about Kaunru deal hoping he would agree but he was aghast at what his beautiful wife suggested and told her to forget about the necklace and the idea. Lilan was so enticed by the necklace that she wanted to possess it at the cost of displeasing her beloved husband. One day Chanesar returned to Lilan chamber heavily drunk and lilan switched Kaunru in place of her. Kaunru spent one night in the arms of Chanesar.

Chanesar got enraged seeing kaunru instead of Lilan. When Chanesar emerged out the bed chamber Kaunru’s mother, Mirkhi revealed to him that Lilan had sold him for nine lakh necklace and Kaunru was the daughter of King Rao Khenghar. Chanesar felt insulted and humiliated that he was a mere exchange for a necklace. Lilan was over confident that even though Chanesar would be angry he would forgive her. Chanesar was irritated by Lilan’s Pettiness and wanted to teach her a lesson. He broke all his ties with Lilan and banished her from his sight and married Kaunru who had sacrificed so much for him. Lilan cried and begged for Chanesar to forgive her. Lilan promised that she would distribute her gold and jewels to poor so he should forgive her this one time. Chanesar remarked that Lilan was much interested in Jewels than him so he did not love her anymore. Lilan left to her parent’s house and she spent her days in solitude and repentance.

Jakhiro , minister of Chanesar was engaged to relative of Lilan’s family. They refused to give her hand to Jakhiro after seeing the fate of Lilan. Jakjiro approached Lilan and asked her to help him as he was in love with her cousin. Lilan intervened and her relatives agreed to the marriage. Lilan set a condition for her help that Jakhiro should bring Chanesar on his wedding and Jakhiro acceded to her request.  Lilan spent her time excited how she would see him at the wedding. Chanesar who had married Kaunru came to know about her real manners and fed up with her arrogance and boastful nature and he missed the happy days he had spent with Lilan.

On the eve of Jakhiro’s wedding Chanesar came with him. Lilan joined the welcoming girls and welcomed the bridegroom party with dancing and singing. Lilan kept her face covered with a semitransparent cloth.  Chanesar was pleased by the performance of welcome girls especially the veiled girl’s voice. The veiled girl’s voice and dance reminded him of Lilan and the happy days spent with her. Chanesar asked the girl to remove her veil.  When Chanesar saw that it was Lilan who was behind the veil he dropped down dead and Lilan also died on the spot. Even death can tear apart two conjoined hearts.

Translated verses from someone

1

By jewels tempted, necklace bright
you craved,....so satam scores did cheat;
You lost your spouse through his deceir-
your era then of weo began.

2

The jewelis no jewel-nay,
nor necklace worth to tempt your heart;
Its origin is clay and bits
of glass it doth betray;
Cursed trinket, in its fine array
made many forme the loved-one part.-

3

Pendant of sorrow was, wath you
a necklace though to be;
Your lord decked your maid with grace
which he forme you withdrew.
May no dickord part lovers true
and union break in twain.-

4

By show she slipped....and by conceir
she fell, shattered was she;
World came to her, called her a fool
reproaches she did meet.
They burnt her heart with scorn to death-
her downfall was complete.-
All her youth's blossoms, fragrant,sweet
dried up with in her heart.

5

Exalted amongst friends; I was
the wise one in the land;
Something upset the balance-and
now I must hang my head.

6

I was in chanesar's domain
first lady, and at social feasts
First was I called, and always first,
until my heart grew vain;
He thrust me off..with shame and pain
now lowest in the land I am. 

7

With chanesar's affection let
no waeton maiden play;
No place for coquetry is this
ilearnt to my regret-
His disapproval doth beget
sorrow for happy ones.

8

With zest, all lofry ones have decked,
thier necks with diamonds fine;
Hundred devices they employ
before the loved-one to shine;
But the beloved dose incline
to those who meekly walk.

9

Discard your former ways, be free
from all you learnt before;
Humility's scarf round your neck
do wear...with poverty
Do link yourself, Leela, and see
He'll never let you down.

10

Wise Leela, you have known so well
the nature of your Lord...
With diamonds round your neck, you thought
to cast on him a spell.-
In reading thoughts he does excel
Discerner He of hearts.

11

O God, let me not clever be,
clever ones sorrows see-
Loved-one all favours did to me
when I was simpleton.

12

The meeting place of twon, Elite
my house was formerly-
But when I diamonds touched, my spouse
did loathe my very sight;
All his affection vanished quite
and sorrow's reign commenced.-

13

The happiness that grows from mind
self-centred, cursed it be;
Unhappiness seek, which will find
the pricelesslove for thee!

14

Avoid to show off, argue not
with Chanesar.. beware-
To you nor me beloneth He
and many more are there,
Who once by Him much favoured were
and now weep at his door.-

15

Leela, if by beseeching Him
He won't forgive your fall-
Keep on beseeching more all more
on his compassion call-
Despair not, your pains he knows all-
immense His mercy is.-

16

Despair not, rise and cleanse the house;
prepare to sacrifice
Ancestors, 'Self' and all, there lies
the cleaning process true.-

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