A ballad of Sir Pertab Singh

-Sir Henry Newbolt

Introduction:

This poem is a short episode from the life of Maharaja Pertab

Singh of Jodhpore. It reflects the power of friendship against barriers like country,
caste etc.

Summary:

In the very first year of sir pertab singh as the king of Jodhpore, a rider came to
his Rose-red House. The rider was a striking young British soldier. The Maharaja
being a brave warrior himself was struck by the personality of this English soldier
and soon they both became good friends.

Both warriors used to enjoy riding together sharing their experiences of wars,
women and other countries. However, they agreed with each other that their
profession as a soldier was above all else. They continued to enjoy themselves
until suddenly one day, the English soldier passed away.

The body of the Englishmen was lying in the coffin awaiting the final rites. There
were only three people of the Englishmans castle in all of Jodhpore and in those
days, no one in India would touch the body of a person from another caste due to
the rigid belief in caste system and untouchability. Therefore , it was suggested
that a sweeper be called to lend a fourth shoulder to the coffin so that the final
rites may be completed. The priests claimed that, as a sweeper belongs to the
lowest possible caste in the cadre, he has nothing to lose by carrying the coffin
of the Englishman.

However, the kind hearted Maharaja plunged into grief by the death of his friend,
decided to lift the coffin along with others. He believed that he had nothing to
lose by lifting a friends coffin. When he announced this decision, his advisors
intervened by saying that once the Maharaja lifts the coffin and lose his caste, he
will never regain it

To this, the grief-stricken Maharaja replies that the loss of his caste is nothing
when compared to the real and colossal loss he has had due to the death of his
friend. And he also announces that no one else other than him shall be the fourth
bearer of the coffin. And then the final rites of the Englishman were performed as
the Maharaja along with others bore the coffin away.

The Maharaja was so sad that, the next morning, as soon as he awoke, he
remembered the death of his friend. While he was still in his bed awake and
mourning his friends death, the priests softly called to him thinking that he was
asleep. The Maharaja who was just out of bed and draped in white saw the
priests bowing to him. The priests then told the Maharaja that a terrible and
fearful thing happened in Jodhpore, the previous day. The Maharaja assuming
that they were referring to his friends death responded that he knows about it.
Then the priest replied that an even more terrible thing that happened the
previous day was that the Maharaja lost his caste in front of all of Jodhpore. The
Maharaja expected this topic the least, as his mind was completely occupied with
the death of his friend. He responded very angrily to the priest by saying that the
castes of Brahmins and Rajputs are nothing but dust compared to one caste- the
caste of a soldier.

ERC

And a soldier, hilt and heel, And he struck fire in pertabs heart As the steel
strikes on steel.

a) Name i) The poem A ballad of Sir Pertab Singh

b) ii) The Poet- Sir Henry Newbolt
c) Explain the first line in the above extract

Ans) The young British soldier looked professional (ie) he was a soldier from
head to foot.

d) What is their friendship compared with?

Ans) The British soldier and pertab singh got along so well that sparks of
their friendship flew. Their rapport is compared with the fire produced when
steel strikes steel.

Q and A

1) How did the English soldier and Sir Pertab singh become friends instantly?

Ans) The English soldier and sir pertab singh became instant friends because
of the common interests shared by them. Both considered the profession of a
soldier supreme because it involves constant risk of life and laying down life
for someone else. Soldiers stay away from their families for many months,
sometimes several years together to fight wars. The fellow soldiers they live
with become their friends and they fight and die together on the battlefield,
mourn each others losses and celebrate their victories together. Both of them
being warriors, they became friends very quickly.