Free Essay About Umrao’s Romantic Relationships Throughout Her Lifetime

In the novel Umrao Jaan Ada, written by the Urdu writer Mirza Hadi Ruswa, portrays a romanticized version of a courtesan, Umrao Jaan, and her romantic relationship with different kinds of men that she encountered in her lifetime. Umrao has the enviable beauty, extraordinary performing skilsl, and creative talent, but unfortunately she still has a hard time seeking for true lover with whom she can spend the rest of her life. Grew up in a brothel, Umrao has a different definition of true love. She seeks for a warm family because she was separated from her family since she was young. Money is also an important measurement of true love. In Umrao’s point of view, a man who truly loves her should spend tons of money on her. Even though money is a crucial criterion, spiritual connection is also of a high importance to her. She wants to find someone with whom she has similar tastes. Due to her high expectation of true love, she does not find anyone whom she can love for real. Umrao has more than five lovers in her lifetime. Some of them she loves back, some of them she does not. In this essay, I will examine Umrao’s relationships with Gauhar Mirza, Navab Sultan, and Faiz Ali, and argue that even though Umrao encounters many different men in her life, she never finds a man who can meet her expectations of true love: giving her security, money, entertainment, and can also have spiritual connection with her.
Gauhar Mirza, Umrao’s childhood friend, promises to marry her, and also is deeply appreciated by Umrao due to his talent in singing; however, he cannot provide Umrao what she wants: entertainment and money. Gauhar Mirza is fairly good looking: “Although he was somewhat dark, his features were perfectly chiseled. He had charm and dressed very smartly. In addition he was saucy; his eyes were always sparking with mischief.” Gauhar Mirza’s appearance is fits with Umrao’s standard of true love. At least Umrao does not hate his appearance. “The boy had music in his soul. We had this passion in common and whenever the Maulvi Sahib was away we used to have lots of fun. Sometimes I would sing and he would interpret my song with gestures; at other times he would sing while I beat time with hands. ” Just like Umrao and Sultan, Umrao and Gauhar Mirza both share the same interests. It satisfies Umrao’s expectation of spiritual connection: “He talked to me of love. I used to tease him and he teased me return. I believe he was in love with me and at that time he did in face behave as if he was I treasured it for a very long time.” This quote shows Gauhar Mirza is fond of Umrao, and how Umrao treasures their relationship. Even though Gauhar is not as wealthy as Umrao’s other client, he still gives Umrao money within his capability. Umrao is a beautiful lady, and men are willing to spend money on her. Most of theь are wealthy, noble, and independent. However, Gauhar Mirza is not one of them. After his father dies, his allowance stops. So Umrao has to support him financially. Instead of being a wealthy man, Gauhar Mirza “had been a pet boy of the prostitutes. They all doted on him.” Umrao states: “Gauhar Mirza was indeed my lover but his love was of a different sort and did not give me the something which my heart sought. He was wanting in manly courage and high-mindedness. From his mother he had inherited the characteristic of a singing girl: he was grasping and grabbled whatever he could lay his stand on. He never gave me anything but except one rupee about which I have told you. My heart sought a man who would love me enough to fulfill my slightest whim or fancy, one who would spend money on me and entertain me.” For Umrao, Gauhar Mirza is not good enough to be her true love because Umrao seeks for an independent man who is ready not only to spend money on her, but also entertain her.
Umrao meets Navab Sultan with whom she believes she can spend the rest of her life, but Navab Sultan ends up marrying someone else, because he cannot provide Umrao with a warm family. Nawab Sultan is indeed a good looking man. Umrao says: “I began to flirt with him and told him that I loved him passionately. This was not entirely untrue. He was so handsome that it was difficult for any woman his eyes were like those of a gazelle; his nose aquiline; his teeth like a row of pearls.” Appearance is also a measurement of true love of Umrao, and Nawab Sultan is definitely satisfies her. Nawab Sultan also shares the same interests with Umrao. “There is no doubt that I loved Nawab Sultan and he loved me. Our tastes were so similar that if we had had to spend the rest of our lives together, neither would have had any cause for regret. Newab Sultan loved poetry to which I had been addicted since my infancy.” Nawab Sultan and Umrao appreciate poetry. Their similar taste makes Umrao feel they have perfect spiritual interaction. Nawab Sultan is one among many wealthy men. He is “like a delicate hot-house plant sheltered from the world’s villainies under the protective mantle of his parents.” He even has a loyal manservant who protects him after he murders a jealousy client of Umrao. Somewhere deep inside her being, Umrao has a dream of a husband, a family and a home. However, they still do not end up together because Nawab Sultan cannot give her a family. Therefore, even though Umrao and Nawab Sultan are passionately in love, Nawab still does not correlate with the Umrao's image of a true love.
Umrao basically has three criteria of true love: security, money, and spiritual connection, but Faiz Ali also does not meet all her requirement. Instead, his relationships with Umrao remind more of one-sided love. During Sultan’s absence, Umrao catches the eye of a wealthy Faiz Ali. Faiz Ali gives her tons of jewelry, gold and other things: “I had only been with him for four weeks, and my box was already brimming over with jewels and necklaces of all descriptions.” Not only does Faiz support her performance, but also he also supports Umrao’s life financially. It makes Umrao more into him because Faiz Ali can provide Umrao with money and luxury. Unlike the romantic relationship with Nawab Sultan, that begins a passionate romance, Umrao’s feelings towards Faiz are not a spontaneous attraction. In Umrao’s relationship with Nawab Sultan, she is attracted not only with his appearance, but also with his taste of poetry. However, in Umrao’s relationship with Faiz Ali, they does not have much spiritual connection. The feature of their relationship is dictated more out of need than desire. Each of them takes what they need from each other. Faiz wants to run away with Umrao because he is captivated by her beauty. When Faiz Ali asks Umrao to elope to Farrukhabad, he is dedicated and determinate: “I have given him my word, can I really honor it? Should I change my mind? When I thought of Faiz Ali’s love and my promise, my heart would say, ‘You must go.’” This quote shows that Faiz Ali’s love for Umrao is a big bonus for their relationship because it provides Umrao security. However, Umrao does not accept his request immediately. Her final decision to elope is triggered by Gauhar Mirza’s untimely arrival and Bua Husaini’s insistence. “Before I could answer, she got up quickly and left. I was furious with her, and all sorts of bad thoughts went through my mind.” Even though she knows that it is “not unusual” and “always happening”, it still pushes her to Faiz’s side. On their way to Farrukhabad, Umrao figures out that Faiz Ali is a highway robber. All the luxurious jewelries and money that she receives from Faiz Ali are stolen. At this moment, her relationships with Faiz Ali instantly collapse because Faiz Ali’s promise and money were all gone. After Faiz Ali is revealed to be a dacoit, Umrao thinks: “My heart began to thump. I thought that I had got rid of him where the fight had taken place, and now he had tracked me down to Unnao.” Umrao tries to get rid of Faiz Ali instead of being with him. If Umrao truly loved him, she won’t run away from him. Therefore, Faiz Ali and Umrao do not end up well because Faiz Ali does not meet Umrao’s fantasy of true love.
At the end of the story, Umrao declares: “My poor, simple prostitutes! Never entertain the false hope that any man will ever love you with a true heart.” In my point of view, this statement does not apply to any of the relationships mentioned above.