FOLK TALES OF KUMAON
Neelu Kathaiyat’s tale is a classic story of betrayal and vengeance and is full of elements of deception, disloyalty and double-dealing. Just like in Greek myths it has tragic shades. Whether real or imaginary the story has been shaped by the happenings of yore that have come down to us through the oral tradition
By Anjali Nauriyal
Neelu Kathaiyat was a powerful soldier in the court of King of Champawat, Gurudachandra. He was known for his military genius and advised the King on military strategies. Courageous and fearless he was known far and wide for his lionheartedness.
The king enjoined Neelu Kathaiyat one day to reach out to the regions in Terai Bhawar and attach them all to his Kingdom of Kumaon.
Immediately responding to the wish and command of the king, Neelu Kathaiyat fought and drove away the barbarians from the adjoining regions and annexed their land to King Gurudachandra’s empire.
Delighted by his prompt accomplishment the King offered Neelu Kathayiat a Nazir. He was conferred a large chunk of land as reward by the King.
This development made a malicious man green with envy.
His name was Jassa Kamkekhi who was an important part of the King’s Darbar. His Qila or Fort was well known in Kamkekh Gaon. He was given to sycophancy and flattery and known to keep the King happy with his fawning, wheedling ways. Jassa, instead of being competitive nurtured intense animosity against Neelu Kathaiyat. He was resentful and envious of Neelu Kathaiyat’s bravery, name and fame.
Jassa approached the King one day and advised that Neelu Kathaiyat should be made Pradhan of Madua Maal as he was instrumental in winning over that area for the King. The King did not wish to send Neelu Kathaiyat far away, but he was some how hooded-winked into taking that decision against the directive of his heart.
The King announced a decree and Neelu Kathaiyat was ordered to take over command of the Bhabar region of Madua Maal. At this Neelu was devastated. He did not understand why the King had rewarded him thus for his bravery, as the Bhabar area fell in the plains and was dry and barren being bereft of rains. No one wished to live in the plains.
Neelu Kathaiyat soon learnt that Jassa was instrumental in influencing the King’s decision. He was furious. Without wearing the traditional Darbari Pawshak or attire, he presented himself before the king.
At this Jassa instigated the King and commented that Neelu was downright insulting as he had dared to come before the king in casual attire. He further added that this behavior showed that Neelu Kathaiyat had a massive ego. The King was easily influenced by Jassa’s logic and did not respond to Neelu’s greetings and turned his face away. Without uttering a word Neelu returned to his village.
At home, seeing him quiet and sad Neelu’s wife asked him what was fretting him. Neelu revealed to her how the King had insulted him after being instigated by Jassa. His wife advised Neelu not to be influenced by the comments or actions of people with ulterior motive. Instead he should ensure that the King remains happy with him always, as they would require the King’s help and obligation always. This was really sound counselling.
She then decided to send her sons, Sujju and Veeru to serve the King. Neelu does not approve of the idea. He feared that his enemy Jassa would kill them. So his wife sent her sons to her brother’s home. The sons embarked on their journey and could not locate their Uncle’s home and were waylaid by Jassa. The wicked Jassa conned them and persuaded them to stay in his house. The gullible boys easily agreed and just as they arrived at Jassa’s home, he imprisoned them.
Jassa then appeared before the King and deceitfully informed him that Neelu had sent his sons to kill him but he got the better of them and imprisoned them.
Infuriated, the King ordered Jassa to bring Neelu’s sons to his darbar. He then ordered his men to gourge out their eyes. The executioners took the sons to Giralchaurd and performed the gory act double quick.
When the sons’ maternal grandfather learnt of this heinous act he wrote a letter to Neelu Kathaiyat, lambasting him for his inaction and ineffectiveness despite being a warrior.
When Neelu Kathaiyat learnt of his sons fate he became ballistic and mad with rage. He gathered all his friends and well-wishers and marched to the King’s Darbar. The King and Jassa escaped from the palace and hid in a cave. Neelu hunted for the two in the entire palace but could not find them. Then someone informed him where the two were hiding.
Neelu Kathaiyat reached the cave without losing any time. When he came face-to-face before the King he greeted him and said, “I will not cause any harm to you as that would be against my sense of allegiance and service to the king and his palace, and my entire clan would earn a bad name. But I will not spare Jassa.”
So saying he rushed to Jassa’s Kamlekhi Qila and destroyed it, after brutally killing Jassa and his protectors. He looted his Qila and returned to his village. The King too returned to his palace.
Some days later the King sent a message to Neelu Kathaiyat, stating that he harbored no animosity against him and was only instigated by Jassa. He asked for Neelu’s forgiveness.
The King made Neelu Kathaiyat his Senapati once again. But in his heart of hearts, the King was annoyed with Neelu for insulting him and found it difficult to forgive him for his misdemeanor.
One day the King planned to mix poison in Neelu’s food. When Neelu Kathaiyat learnt of this betrayal he confronted the King and said, “My loyalty will be tainted if I kill you. Therefore I forgive you once again and will not soil my hands with your blood.”
The entire village community criticized the King for his duplicity and two-facedness. He went on to rule for over 45 years and left for his heavenly abode in the year 1416.
So this was the tale of the brave warrior, Neelu Kathaiyat.
The source of this narrative is Badridutt Pandey’s History of Kumaon.
