Observe the image and answer the following question.
The Kishangarh painting below is linked with Sawant Singh.
Who was accorded the title ‘Bani Thani’ in Sawant Singh’s life?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → A young singer and poetess
Option (1) Radha — Incorrect. Radha is Krishna’s beloved. Bani Thani is shown as Radha in the paintings, but the title was given to a real woman.
Option (2) The wife of Raj Singh — Incorrect. Bani Thani was an attendant of Raj Singh’s wife, not the wife herself.
Option (3) A queen of Sawant Singh — Incorrect. Bani Thani was a young singer and an attendant of Raj Singh’s wife. She later retired with Sawant Singh to Vrindavan; no queen is named here.
Option (4) A young singer and poetess — Correct. The title ‘Bani Thani’ was given to a young singer who was also a gifted poetess.
NCERT (2026-27):
“Bani Thani Sawant Singh composed devotional poetry on Krishna and Radha in Brajbhasha under the pen name Nagari Das. He is said to have been passionately in love with a young singer, who was accorded the title ‘Bani Thani’, the bewitching lady of fashion, because of her unparalleled beauty and elegance. She was an attendant of Raj Singh’s wife and a gifted poetess, singer and dancer.” |
