India has a long and storied history, full of great kings and queens, battles and treaties. But among all the tales of heroism and valor, there are also stories of love. Some of these love stories are so famous that they have been passed down through the generations, becoming part of the country’s collective consciousness. If you’re looking for a little romance in your life, look no further than these 11 tales of love from Indian history.
Shivaji and Jijabai
It is said that the great Maratha king Shivaji was born of the love between his mother Jijabai and his father Shahaji. Jijabai was a beautiful and determined woman, who was instrumental in shaping the character of her son. She instilled in him a love for his country and a hatred for the tyranny of the ruling class.
Shivaji grew up to be a brave and bold warrior, who fought against the oppression of the Mughal Empire. He carved out an independent kingdom for himself, and became one of the most famous rulers in Indian history.
The love between Shivaji and Jijabai is one of the most inspiring stories in Indian history. Theirs was a true partnership, in which each one supported and inspired the other to achieve great things.
Mirza Ghalib and Umrao Jan
1. Mirza Ghalib and Umrao Jan
One of the most famous lovers in Indian history, Mirza Ghalib and Umrao Jan were united in love despite belonging to different social classes. Ghalib was a wealthy nobleman while Umrao was a courtesan, yet their love for each other knew no bounds. Unfortunately, their difference in status meant that their relationship was not looked upon favourably by society and they were often forced to meet in secret. However, nothing could stop the power of their love and eventually they were able to overcome all obstacles and be together forever.
Lala Lajpat Rai and Gulab Kothari
Lala Lajpat Rai and Gulab Kothari were two of the most famous lovers in Indian history. Lajpat Rai was a prominent leader of the Indian independence movement and Kothari was a well-known journalist. The two met while they were both working for the Hindustan Times.
Their love affair was the stuff of legend. Lajpat Rai was married, but that didn’t stop him from falling head over heels for Gulab Kothari. The two would meet in secret, often using code names to communicate with each other. They wrote love letters to each other which were full of passion and longing.
Sadly, their love affair was not to last. Lajpat Rai died in 1928 and Gulab Kothari remarried soon after. However, the legend of their love affair lives on and continues to inspire lovers all over India.
Subhas Chandra Bose and Emilie Schenkl
Subhas Chandra Bose was an Indian independence leader who was born in 1897. He was a brilliant student and excelled in his studies. He was also a very passionate nationalist and was greatly influenced by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. In 1921, he joined the Indian National Congress and quickly rose through the ranks.
Bose became one of the most important leaders of the independence movement and helped lead the Quit India Movement in 1942. However, he disagreed with Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence and believed that violence was necessary to achieve independence from British rule. Because of this, he left the Congress Party in 1939 and formed his own party, the Forward Bloc.
In 1943, Bose escaped from house arrest in India and went to Europe. There, he met with German leaders and asked for their help to overthrow British rule in India. The Germans agreed to help Bose and provided him with money, weapons, and military training.
Bose returned to India in 1944 and raised an army known as the Indian National Army (INA). The INA fought against British troops in several battles but ultimately failed to defeat them. Bose himself died in an airplane crash in 1945 while trying to escape from arrest by British authorities.
Emilie Schenkl was an Austrian national who met Bose when he was studying in Europe. The two fell in love and Schenkl eventually moved to India to be with him. She remained loyal to Bose throughout
Jawaharlal Nehru and Edwina Mountbatten
Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, was deeply in love with Edwina Mountbatten, the wife of Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last British Viceroy of India. Their love affair caused a great deal of scandal at the time, as Edwina was married and Nehru was a married man himself. However, they continued to see each other secretly until Edwina’s untimely death in 1960.
Nehru and Edwina first met in London in 1946, when they were both attending the Labour Party Conference. They soon became close friends, and their friendship turned into a passionate love affair. Although they were both married to other people, they could not resist their feelings for each other.
Nehru was a widower at the time, while Edwina’s husband, Lord Louis Mountbatten, was away serving as the British Viceroy of India. This made it easier for them to see each other without raising too much suspicion. However, their affair was an open secret among their friends and colleagues.
Mountbatten was greatly concerned about the scandal that would ensue if their affair became public knowledge. He feared that it would damage his wife’s reputation and make her an outcast in society. However, Nehru was more than willing to risk everything for his love for Edwina.
Their affair continued until Edwina’s untimely death in 1960
Rabindranath Tagore and Victoria Ocampo
Rabindranath Tagore and Victoria Ocampo were two of the most famous lovers in Indian history. Their love affair has been widely documented and was the subject of much gossip at the time.
Tagore was a Nobel Prize-winning writer, philosopher, and social reformer from Bengal. He is considered one of the most important figures in modern Indian literature. Ocampo was an Argentine writer, editor, translator, and publisher. She was highly influential in Latin American literature and intellectual life.
The two met in Buenos Aires in 1925 and their affair began shortly thereafter. Tagore was 53 years old at the time and Ocampo was just 27. Despite the age difference, they were drawn to each other immediately. They continued to see each other whenever Tagore visited Argentina and corresponded regularly when they were apart.
In 1929, they decided to formalize their relationship with a marriage contract. However, Tagore’s wife refused to give him a divorce, so the marriage never took place. Nevertheless, their love for each other remained strong until Tagore’s death in 1941.
Ocampo continued to write about Tagore long after his death and even translated some of his work into Spanish. She also established a foundation in his memory that promotes cultural exchange between India and Argentina.
Sarojini Naidu and Govindarajulu Naidu
Sarojini Naidu, also known as the Nightingale of India, was a renowned poet and political leader who played a pivotal role in the Indian independence movement. She married Govindarajulu Naidu, an administrator and scholar, in 1898. The couple had five children together.
Govindarajulu Naidu was supportive of Sarojini’s involvement in politics and her fight for India’s independence from British rule. He stood by her side through thick and thin, and their deep love for each other was evident in everything they did.
The Naidus were one of the most famous couples in Indian history. Their story is one of true love and dedication, and serves as an inspiration for all those who believe in the power of love.
