SINDHI FOLKLORE

UMAR MARUI
.... The immortal Sindhi heroine Marui, who is chaste and pure like Sita, is also the symbol of patriotism. Her loyalty towards her country and her way of living very representative way of life of Sindhis of those days - are two main under- currents of the folk tale.

Marui was betrothed to Khetsen when she was a mere child. She grew up to be the Belle of the village. Her servant Phogsen was attracted to her and asked for her hand. But he was refused. Infuriated, he went to Amarkot, the capital of Sumra rule and described the matchless beauty of Marui to the Sumra King, Umar. He ignited of Curiosity of the king in such a way that the king became restless to see the feminine-charm incarnate, marui, for himself. He also informed the king that Marui went to fetch water from the village-well every day, early in the morning.

Umar proceeded to the village on a swift camel and seeing the enchanting beauty of Mauri kidnapped her and brought her to his palace. But Mauri was not of loose principles. She was made of such sterner stuff that Umar could imagine. She refused to succumb to the lure of ornaments and jewellary, finely designed dresses and silken wardrobe, scented oils and rich food-stuff, offered to her.

She preferred her straw-thatched hut to the palace of Umar, rough berries to the choicest sweets,throns and threads to the ornaments bedecked with dazzling diamonds. When Umar failed to attract her attention by persuasive means, he used threads. But, she was not to be cajoled by the pressures. Instead, she requested Umar to treat her like his sister and send her back to her people-Marus. She taunted Umar by saying, "You should be ashamed of your behavior. You are a ruler, but instead of protecting your subjects and the modesty of the women-folk, you are kidnapping them. Instead of looking after the people you are robbing them of their daughters, their honour.

Marui pined for her people. She used to stand at the verandah for long hours, waiting and to see someone from her village who could help her. She requested Umar that in case she died at his palace, her corpse should at least be handed over to her folk.

When her dead body would feel touch of the dust of her land, she would regain her breath and come back to life! At last, Umar relented.

He sent her back to her people with several gifts and presents which a sister receives from her brother. However, she was not accepted by her people at her place. She had to hold a hot iron bar in her hand in order to prove her chastity.

When Umar heard about it, he brought his army to her village. He was himself willing to undergo any ordeal to prove her chastity by going through the ordeal and was taken back in the fold of her village-folk..