CHITTORGARH: Nikki Chauhan and Jayshree Rathore are both college students and were at the Chittorgarh Fort on Sunday morning, wearing turbans and with swords in their hands. They are here with 200 other women who are threatening to commit Johar (self-immolation) if ‘Padmaavat’ is released on January 25. Like other young women here, they also pose for photos, take selfies and post them on social media.
“Do you see the anger and enthusiasm among Rajput women here? They can take any extreme step,” says Mahendra Kunwar, the woman leading the Johar Smriti Sansthan in Chittorgarh and the one organising these protests. Giving her competition in bringing in women here is a BJP leader and organiser of Johar Kshatrani Manch, Sangeeta Chauhan. Men from the Karni Sena sit in one corner of the garden inside the fort, letting the women hog the media limelight. Last week, the Karni Sena had said some 1,800 women had signed up to commit ‘Johar’ on January 24, but only about 200 women were present on Sunday for a protest march.
“Johar is the last step. It may be required as our men tried their best but could not stop the movie’s release. We are writing a letter to the PM and President asking for Ichha Mrityu (permission to commit suicide),” said Sangeeta Chauhan.
The Rajput priest, called specially for the purpose, justifies the thin crowd, saying Rajput women generally do not come out in the open so much.
Police allow the Karni Sena to bring a jeep and sound system inside the fort to let the 5-km march start till the office of the Johar Smriti Sansthan where the women pay obeisance at Johar Jyoti Mandir here.
Slogans like ‘Khoon Se Tilak Karo, Goliyon Se Aarti’ and ‘Shatranion ke Samman Mein, Har Nari Maidan Mein’ rent the air as cops watch. At the Padmini Mahal, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has now covered its plaque which earlier said Rani Padmini’s reflection was shown to Allaudin Khilji in a mirror here.
The mirror room is also closed after being vandalised by the Karni Sena a couple of months ago. Chittorgarh Fort is bracing up for a showdown on January 24.