A Tale of Two Handsome Brothers

This was the time of political uncertainty and power struggle to take control of delhi and around region during the later part of 18th century . At the same time two handsome brothers were living in a village "Kudana", 5 KM from shamli on Sisouli road ( In western UP,100 KM from Delhi).
Farming was their occupation and mugal court designated their family as " Mukaddam"this give them responsibility of hearing village dispute and give verdict ,as well as collect the revenue and deposit it with the principality . Being Mukaddam they were "Khud-Mukthar" , one who is governed by their own rule and create rule themselves for their people.

On some distance a different story was taking shape , a mercenary soldier Walter Reinhardt Sombre . For indians title "Sombre" seems to difficult to pronounce so it becomes "Samru" in common language . Mr samru fall in love with a girl happens to be 30 years younger to him , name "Farzana" .
Mr. Samru a man of good fortune and a turncoat , with the blessing of Shah Alam , started rulling Sardhana Principality with his young wife. After some time and attaining the age of 58 Mr Samru passed away and his young wife known as Begum samru take the reins in her hand.

Life was as usual at the village .One fine day elder brother went to Bagum samru to deposit the village revenue along with chiefs of other villages . Bagum was more interested in this man than the revenue and she put forward a proposal of marriage .
Heaven broke down on this young and handsome man , who was there to deposit a village revenue of 2.5 ruppes , where as begum's estate annual yield was 90,000 Sterling pound. He took her leave with a assurance that he would think over it.
He came again at next revenue cycle , after much pondering over the issue as well as considering his personal safety and his family's future .

Begum was interested in hearing the answer , with all due respect he expressed his inability to marry her as she's a muslim , and he can't brake his relationship with his family and society for this marriage.
Begum was disappointed with this answer and specially from one of her subjects. But she pardon him.

Things was not ended here for this young chap , next time it came in different proposition.
In next revenue cycle , elder brother think of not going to meet begum so he asked his young brother to carry out his responsibility of depositing the village revenue with the begum.

Younger brother started his journey along with other village chiefs . Now begum struck at the younger brother who was equally handsome , and she made a marriage proposal to him. Begum cajoled him and remind him that he could be ruler of this principality after the marriage. Alas , this younger brother too decline the offer and went to his village.

Then she made similar offer to third person and then to fourth person . All these people decline the marriage proposal because she's was Muslim , she became furious because of all unsuccessful attempts , as a result the fourth handsome was not lucky and she got him murdered.
After these four futile attempts , she stopped this and converted to Christianity , after 2 years of her husband’s death .She has a distinguished place in history as only Christian ruler in india. She made church in Sardhana and in 1961 Pope John XX conferred the dignity of Minor Basilica to the church.

For me , she was a nice lady as she pardon the "two Handsome Brothers" , and allow me to write this blog as those brothers happen to be my great great... grandfather.

As stories passes thru generations , this story was told to me by my grandfather some years back . I forgot the name of the 3rd and 4th person and their villages and unfortunately my grandfather too not around to confirm the names...