GOTW - July-1St Week - Historical Characters - Page 2

Reopening a remarkable chapter lost in the by-lanes of Bharuch and passed on as a legend by mothers to their daughters in Gujarat, Zee TV brings you 'Shobha Somnath Ki', a historical drama that narrates the awe-inspiring story of India's unsung heroine Shobha who stood tall and strong in the face of a fiery invasion by Mughal emperor Mahmud of Ghazni. No! She didn't wield the sword, she wasn't exactly the master of guerrilla warfare ... but she held an army of over 2 Lakh plunderers at ransom with the dexterity of a shrewd, agile mind.

Born to a mother who succumbs to the pain of delivering her, Shobha is bereft of parental love all through her childhood, particularly from a bitter father who holds her solely responsible for her mother's death. But the eternally hopeful and bright-eyed Shobha isn't one to give up easily. The story follows her journey as she learns all about love, life, valour and sacrifice from her closest relatives, the noble King Daddachalukya and his beautiful wife Maharani Gayatri Devi of Bharuch. The beauty of her bond with cousin Chaula as the two girls blossom into strikingly attractive women and the twists and turns of fate that drive Shobha to emerge as a torch-bearing heroine of her time form the crux of this tale. Her shrewd game-plan for saving her beloved homeland from the clutches of Mahmud Ghaznavi will be remembered by generations in the land of the Narmada.

The incomplete Bhojeshvara Temple at Bhojpur, Madhya Pradesh

Bhoja (also gurjar Bhojadeva) was a philosopher king and polymath of medieval India, who ruled the kingdom of Malwa in central India from the early 11th century to 1055 CE. Also known as Raja Bhoja Of Dhar, he belonged to the gurjar partihar dynasty.^[1] The name Bhoja means "bountiful, liberal" and appears as the name of a tribe, the descendants of Mahabhoja, in the Mahabharata.

Bhoja established numerous temples, including the Bhojeshvara Temple at Bhojpur, a city he founded,^[2] about 30 km from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh on the banks of river Betwa. He also established the Bhoj Shala which was a centre for Sanskrit studies and a temple of Sarasvati in present day Dhar.

Karna was the son of Surya (a solar deity) and Kunti. He was born to Kunti before her marriage with Pandu. Karna was the closest friend of Duryodhana and fought on his behalf against the Pandavas (his brothers) in the famous Kurukshetra war. Karna fought against misfortune throughout his life and kept his word under all circumstances. Many admire him for his courage and generosity. It is believed that Karna founded the city of Karnal.^[1]