The Lioness: Hareshwar Roy

Hareshwar Roy,
The Lioness: Hareshwar Roy

There was a small princely state near Kanpur. The king of the state, Sajjanji, was brave, courageous, and proud. He had a daughter named Taj.

Since childhood, she was fond of wielding swords and horseback riding. Because of her fearlessness and self-confidence, her father lovingly called her 'Sherni' (The Lioness). She had formed a small army of her young female friends. This army used to practice mock battles every day.

In those days, Qutb ud-Din Aibak was the Emperor of Delhi.

He was always obsessed with expanding his kingdom. His evil eye fell upon Sajjanji's kingdom as well. Therefore, he sent a proposal through an envoy asking the King to accept his suzerainty. The King was enraged. He rejected the proposal and even berated Aibak in front of the envoy.

Upon returning, the envoy reached Aibak's court. He presented the details of the entire incident with exaggeration. Aibak flew into a rage. Taking his army, he set out towards the kingdom. Ultimately, plundering along the way, he arrived at the open field right in front of the main gate of the kingdom's fort.

As soon as news of the arrival of Aibak's army reached Sajjanji, he entered the battlefield with his forces. As soon as the two armies came face to face, a fierce battle broke out. The handful of soldiers in the King's army fought the enemy forces with great valor.

One by one, the soldiers laid down their lives for the country. In a short time, only a select few soldiers remained. King Sajjanji became fully convinced that protecting their lives was now impossible. Therefore, he decided in his heart that rather than dying at the unholy hands of Aibak, it would be far better to end his own life.

Just as the King was thinking this, his eyes fell upon Sherni. He saw twenty-five to thirty young girls dressed in warrior attire following her towards the battlefield.

Swords were gleaming in everyone's hands. Seeing this sight, he was left astounded.

Sherni's army launched an attack on the enemy forces. Sherni began wielding her sword with lightning speed. Many soldiers fell to the ground. Seeing the incredible skill of this brave young girl, even Aibak was left stunned for a moment.

After a short while, Aibak came close to Sherni and roared, "Girl! Do you realize the consequence of your stubbornness?"

"Yes, yes, I know! If my army wins, there will be a celebration; otherwise, we will become martyrs protecting our motherland!" Sherni answered firmly.

Hearing Sherni's reply, Aibak was left speechless. He ordered his soldiers to halt the battle. After the fighting stopped, he said to Sherni, "Daughter, your bravery and noble thoughts have defeated me.

Accepting my defeat, I pray to Allah that every parent is blessed with a child like you."

Aibak's army returned. King Sajjanji embraced his 'Sherni'. The entire kingdom echoed with cheers celebrating her victory.
Location: B-37, City Homes Colony, Jawahar Nagar Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India
Dr. Hareshwar Roy beautifully connects global research with local literature. Born in 1964 in Jamuaon (Bhojpur, Bihar), he studied at Patna University and earned his Ph.D. from APS University, Rewa. Currently, he serves as Professor of English at Government P.G. College Satna, Madhya Pradesh. Dr. Roy bridges two worlds: in class, he explains international migration and literary history, while in his heart, he keeps the rich spirit of the Bhojpuri language alive. He has published over 45 research papers focused on Indian Diaspora Writing. As an author in English, he has written Diasporic Articulation in the Novels of M.G. Vassanji, A Study of M.G. Vassanji's Novels, Varieties of Indianity in the Works of M.G. Vassanji and Rohinton Mistry, Diaspora and Indian Diaspora: A Brief Study, Short Notes of English Literature - I and Short Notes of English Literature - II. Rooted in his soil, he is a celebrated Bhojpuri poet featured on 'Kavita Kosh' and in popular collections like Hamar Pahchan Ha Bhojpuri, Hamra Pyar Ho Gail, and Bhojpuri Kavitayein. Ultimately, his life and writings serve as an inspiring example of how academic scholarship and local roots thrive together perfectly.

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