Historical Romance: Dewal Devi and Khizr Khan

In 1299, Sultan Ala-ud-din Khilji (r: 1296-1316) launched a military campaign against Gujarat. He entrusted this task to his brother Ulugh Khan and general Nusrat Khan. Rai Karan, the ruler of Nahrwala, fled from his capital with his daughter, while all his treasures were seized by the invaders, including his beautiful wife Kamla Devi.

Nusrat Khan then proceeded to Cambay (Khambhat) and got possession of a large booty. Among the spoils was Kafur, a handsome slave who would later gain great distinction under the title of Malik Naib Kafur Hazar-dinari.

As time passed, when Ala-ud-din began to consider marriage for his son, Khizr Khan, Kamla Devi suggested her daughter, Dewal Devi, who was with Rai Karan, as a suitable match for the prince. Ala-ud-din agreed to the proposal.

After being defeated, Rai Karan sought asylum at the court of Raja Ramadeva, also known as Ramachandra Yadava at Devagiri (also known as Daulatabad). Ala-ud-din dispatched Malik Kafur with an army to retrieve Dewal Devi.

Capture of Dewal Devi

Meanwhile, with the aid of Ramadeva's forces, Rai Karan managed to reclaim Baglana near Gujarat. However, when the Delhi army approached, Rai Karan once again fled. Ala-ud-din also sent his brother-in-law, Alp Khan, to join Malik Kafur.

During this time, Singhana, Ramadeva's eldest son, dispatched his younger brother Bhimadeva to Rai Karan with a proposal to marry Dewal Devi. It was suggested that if Rai Karan consented to this union, the formidable Delhi forces would retreat in despair. Under duress, Rai Karan agreed to the proposal, and Dewal Devi was delivered into Bhimadeva's care.

Alp Khan, however, was determined to secure Dewal Devi before she could be taken away. Some of his soldiers stumbled upon Bhimadeva's troops escorting the princess to Devagiri. In the following engagement, Bhimadeva's troops were defeated, leading to the capture of Dewal Devi. She was then sent to Delhi, where she was reunited with her mother, Kamla Devi.

We first hear of prince Khizr Khan on the occasion of Ala-ud-din Khilji's conquest of Chittorgarh in 1303. After the conquest, Ala-ud-din appointed Khizr Khan as the governor of Chittor. Khizr Khan's life took an unexpected turn when he met Dewal Devi, and they fell in love.

Ala-ud-din, however, changed his mind and arranged the marriage of Khizr Khan with the daughter of Alp Khan, who was the brother of Khizr Khan's mother Mahru. Despite this, Khizr Khan continued to meet Dewal Devi in secret. When the queen mother discovered their clandestine meetings, she took decisive action, banishing Dewal Devi to the Red Palace, where she was held in confinement.

Marriage of Dewal Devi and Khizr Khan (1312)

The wedding of Khizr Khan and Alp Khan's daughter took place with great pomp. However, Khizr Khan's love for Dewal Devi remained steadfast. He sought the help of a trusted confidant to present his case to his mother, urging her to consider his wishes. After much persuasion, the queen finally relented, granting her son the permission to marry Dewal Devi, his true love.

Malik Kafur's Plots

Towards the end of Ala-ud-din's reign, he fell under the influence of Malik Kafur, who had been harboring ambitions for the throne for some time. Ala-ud-din handed over control of the government to Malik Kafur, who then set about planning the downfall of the Sultan's family. Kafur spread false rumors to poison Ala-ud-din's mind, claiming that Khizr Khan, his mother, and Alp Khan were conspiring against him.

When Ala-ud-din fell seriously ill in 1312, Khizr Khan vowed to proceed barefoot on a pilgrimage to revered Sufi shrines if the Sultan recovered. As the Sultan's health improved, Khizr Khan began his journey to Hastinapur, but his feet became blistered, causing him to ride a horse instead. Taking advantage of the situation, Malik Kafur convinced the Sultan that Khizr Khan's inability to fulfill his promise was a personal insult. As a result, the Sultan ordered Khizr Khan to go to Amroha and return the royal insignia.

Kafur also turned Ala-ud-din's mind against Alp Khan and secured orders for his execution.

After Khizr Khan was exiled to Amroha, he returned to Delhi in distress just days later, only to find a weakened Ala-ud-din on the verge of death. Ala-ud-din embraced him and welcomed him back to the palace.

However, the malevolent Malik Kafur was displeased with this reconciliation and plotted to have the Sultan imprison Khizr Khan in Gwalior Fort. Although Ala-ud-din reluctantly agreed, he made Kafur swear not to harm Khizr Khan. Consequently, Khizr Khan was confined, and Dewal Devi remained by his side to comfort him during his imprisonment.

Death of Ala-ud-din Khilji (1316)

As Ala-ud-din's condition worsened, he summoned Malik Kafur, instructing him to bring Khizr Khan to the palace in order to declare him as the heir-apparent. However, Kafur, motivated by his own ambitions and a dark desire to retain power, deliberately delayed at every turn. Whenever Ala-ud-din inquired about his son, Kafur would simply reply, "He is just coming," and he kept saying this until the Sultan died.

Death of Prince Khizr Khan (1318)

With the passing of Ala-ud-din Khilji, Malik Kafur swiftly moved to impose his will by installing the Sultan's youngest son, Shihab-ud-din Omar (r: 1316), a child of 5-6 years, upon the throne and assuming the role of his regent. He then sent an eunuch named Malik Sumbul to Gwalior to blind Khizr Khan and his brother Shadi Khan. The queen mother and Mubarak, Ala-ud-din's third son, were also imprisoned.

Although Kafur intended to blind Mubarak as well, he failed in his attempt. Ultimately, Malik Kafur met his end the hands of Ala-ud-din's guards, leading to Mubarak's release from captivity and his appointment as regent for the young Shihab-ud-din.

Shortly after, Qutb-ud-din Mubarak Shah (r: 1316-1321) took the throne after overthrowing his brother. He demanded that Khizr Khan hand over Dewal Devi to him. Khizr Khan refused, stating that Mubarak would have to kill him first if he wanted to take her. Mubarak then sent an assassin with orders to murder Khizr Khan and Shadi Khan.

In his historical poem, Ashiqa, the renowned Persian poet Amir Khusro tells the tragic love story of Khizr Khan and Dewal Rani. During a visit to Khizr Khan, he confided in Khusro about his love affair with Dewal Devi and implored him to immortalize their story in verse. The poem ends with the death of Khizr Khan; while the fate of Dewal Devi remains uncertain. It is likely that she was captured by assassins and taken to Mubarak's harem.

Notes

Nahrwala is also known as Anhilwara and Patan.