LEGENDARY FOLK TALES OF SINDH MOOMAL- RANO
During sixteenth century in the Sukkar district of Sindh near Mirpur Mathelo area Gujjar
chieftains used to rule. During that time a king named Nand ruled there. He had nine
daughters but amongst all Moomal was most beautiful and Soomal was most clever.
Once while hunting he came on the bank of a canal. He was following a swine. To his
utter amazement when the swine entered the waters of canal, water in front of him
parted and made a way for him. Thus following his prey he also reached on the
opposite bank of the canal. There he killed his prey, cut it into parts and started
throwing them into the river one by one. When he threw the front tooth of swine into
water it started receding. He collected that tooth and safely secured it and brought it
back with him. Through this stratagem he buried all his treasure in the bed of the canal
and no body knew anything about it.
Perchance one magician came to know that King Nand has such a tooth and he
came to Mirpur Mathelo to get hold of that tooth. Once king Nand embarked on a
long journey. Taking this opportunity the magician came in the guise of a medicant
(Jogi) and raised his cry for alms. Hearing his piteous wails Moomal came out and asked
him what he wanted. He said that he suffered from a terrible disease and he has been
advised by healers that a special type of tooth of a swine would heal him. “You are
rulers you must be having many such things with you†he said. Moomal recollected that
her father indeed had such a tooth. She did not know anything about the secret quality
of that tooth. She searched for the tooth, found it and gave it to the Jogi. Taking it he
ran from that place post haste.
Soon thereafter King returned from his sojourn. One day he wanted to see his treasure
and searched for that special tooth but he did not find it. On enquiring he came to
know of the true incident that had taken place in his absence. He was very angry and
in this wrathful mood he was about to kill his daughter Moomal but Soomal restrained his
sword and promised him that by any means she will restore his lost treasure to him.
Soomal herself was expert at magic and creating illusions. She thought of a plan
whereby they would be able to continuously amass wealth. She left Mirpur Mathelo and
settled in Ludano city of district Jaiselmer. There through illusion she got a castle of Kaak
built, got it surrounded with thick gardens and the path that led to the palace was
designed as a maze where anyone would loose himself. In the front of the palace she
got illusionary water lake made which was actually made of a glass but created an
illusion of a lake with rippling water. In the front main door of palace were kept artificial
lions whose roars would shake the sky and the earth. In the drawing room there were
seven identical looking beds covered in the same way but six cots were made of flimsy
strings and any one sitting on them would fall into deep well specially made for the
purpose, only one of them was proper bed.
She came to reside there with her sister Moomal and her maid servants. She sent out the
proclamation, “Anyone who would succeed facing all the obstacles and undergoing
all the ordeals and sit on the special cot would win the hand of Moomal.†It goes
without saying that the fame of the beauty of Moomal had already spread far and
wide and many were prepared to take the risk. During those times many business men
and men of fortune used to frequent Ludano. On hearing this proclamation many
princes from far and wide would come rushing to Ludano.
Those who offered a stake to win a beauty,
Attracted fragrance end up in a raging fire…
A big drum was kept outside the palace. Any one wanting to meet Moomal would
strike at the drum and a maid servant named Natur would come and escort him inside
and loose him in the garden from where the person was supposed to find his way on his
own. Servants of Moomal and Soomal would take away all the belongings and precious
belongings of that person and disappear. Some such seekers would grope in the way
would be taken in a forest and abandoned there who would often become Jogis or
beggars and some would be killed and buried near Kaak. In this manner Soomal
collected lot of wealth and paid to her father as per her promise.
Moomal would kill Aristocrats, bind arrogant
Sodi made many envious, holy men, Scholars…
Would pierce them with an arrow,
Who wore a precious Jewel on their head…
During that period Thar used to be ruled by Soomras. Last ruler of that clan was Hameer
Soomro. He had three ministers named, Donro Bhatti, Sanhro Dhamachi, and Rano
Mendro. The ruler as well as ministers were friendly therefore spent most of the time
together. One day while on hunt they came across a Jogi in the forest. Jogi had a royal
appearance; he wore gold chain in the neck and was wearing a sort of crown. During
the course of conversation they came to know that he was also a prince and was
reduced to this state in the love for acquiring hand of Moomal about whose beauty
every one had heard. All the four started for Ludano to try their luck. But it was not a
joke to get hand of Moomal. Reaching the door of Moomal’s palace the foursome
wanted to try their luck and one by one struck the drum. Three persons preceding Rano
Mendro were lost in the maze and were treated in the same manner as others were on
such previous occasions. Rano Mendro due to his ability, wisdom, intelligence and
daring could break all the illusions and thus succeeded in meeting Moomal. Moomal
also was enchanted by the handsome and intelligent Rano and they got together. Thus
two fond hearts met each other and enjoyed the fruits of their love. In the meanwhile
his three friends wanted to return to their place Umerkot. When Rano came to bid them
farewell they treacherously forced Rano on the camel and rode to Umerkot. The ruler
Hamir Soomro felt jealous of Rano and he was imprisoned by the ruler while Moomal
anxiously waited for Rano. When he did not return Moomal was distraught and could
not bear the separation. This state nearly broke her heart. Every evening she would
expectantly wait for him to return. At Umerkot the ruler freed Rano only on the condition
that he would not set his eyes on Moomal ever again. But Rano would stealthily go on a
fast camel to Ludano and would return before daybreak. Thus lovers continued to meet
suspiciously. After some time when the ruler came to know this breach of solemn word
by Rano he was again consigned to prison.
In the evening when Rano did not reach Moomal’s palace again she was devastated.
In order to console her by make belief she persuaded her sister to dress like Rano and
sleep in her bed chamber.
Actually in relation Rano was brother in law of the ruler Hamir Somoro. Rano’s sister who
was reining queen again persuaded him to free Rano. On thus being freed he again
quickly rode to Ludano and reached Kaak palace. Reaching there he saw that
Moomal was asleep deep in slumber and near her was another person identically
dressed like him. He grew suspicious and rejected. He wanted to kill them both in fit of
rage, but then wiser counsels prevailed, after all he had loved Moomal with all his heart
how could he end her life. He left her to her own fate but as a proof of his visit he left his
beautiful walking stick.
When Moomal got up in the morning she saw Rano’s stick. She understood the entire
thing. She repented on her foolishness but a deed once done can’t be undone.
Rano Mendro felt betrayed and was very sore about the insulting behavior meted out
by Moomal and was horrified to think of her infidelity. On the other hand Moomal every
moment continued with her wails of separation.
O Rana! I who am spurned wait for you daily,
The memories of time spent with you
Is etched in my memory as lines on my palm,
My heart is pierced by your love O my beloved!
She would shed tears whole day and would send messages to Rano through bird like
crow and sparrows and would say to herself:
Mendra if you return to Ludano,
I would sacrifice my home and everything,
I don’t want anything but Rano,
I am requesting Sodo, due to my love,
She would burn the lamps with scents in expectation of Rano but all in vain. At last she
entreated:
Only your name is on my lips O! Mendra!
Abdul Latif says that God will fulfill my desire,
After a long futile wait Moomal put on a disguise of a rich merchant and came and
settled at Umerkot. She got a palace built opposite the palace of Rano. As Rano was
commerce minister of Umerkot both became quite friendly. One evening they were
playing a game of chess. While throwing a dice a part of Moomals’ arm was exposed
and seeing the birth mark there Rano could see through this disguise and found himself
with face to face with Moomal. He immediately wanted to leave that palace, seeing
herself thus exposed Moomal tried to explain the reality of the situation and begged his
forgiveness and for the same love. All this failed to move Rano. He haughtily left her.
Thus without any hope and in the depths of gloom Moomal built a pyre and sacrificed
herself on the burning pyre. When Rano heard of this he was convinced about her love
and chastity he also jumped into the burning pyre and thus both lovers attained
immortality. It is said:
Death does not kill love, nor do prisons prevent love!
