Once upon a time, there was a merchant who lived in a quiet village in Assam with his beautiful and kind-hearted daughter, Tejimola. Life seemed simple and happy, but after losing his first wife, the merchant remarried, and his new wife was far from kind. Though she pretended to love Tejimola in front of her husband, the stepmother harboured deep resentment towards her stepdaughter. Tejimola’s grace, beauty, and the affection her father showed her only added to the stepmother’s jealousy.
One day, the merchant had to leave home for a long journey to tend to his business. Before departing, he bid farewell to his daughter and wife, promising to return as soon as possible. As soon as he was gone, the stepmother’s façade of kindness vanished, and she began to mistreat Tejimola, forcing her to do all the household chores, denying her food, and scolding her relentlessly.
Despite Tejimola’s gentle nature and hard work, nothing she did could ever satisfy her stepmother. As time passed, the stepmother’s envy festered into a darker plan—she decided to get rid of Tejimola once and for all. Tejimola was growing into a fine young woman, and soon, her marriage would mean a significant dowry. Rather than see her stepdaughter marry and receive a fine dowry, the stepmother thought it better to kill her and keep the riches for herself.
One day, Tejimola received an invitation to a friend’s wedding. She was thrilled and hoped it would offer some escape from her difficult life. Much to her surprise, the stepmother encouraged her to attend and even gave her a parcel of clothes and jewellery for the occasion. The only condition was that she should not open the package until she arrived at the wedding. Tejimola, innocent and hopeful, thought her stepmother might finally be softening towards her.
However, when Tejimola arrived and opened the parcel, her heart sank. Inside were nothing but tattered clothes and broken jewellery. She was devastated, not only because she would look out of place at the wedding, but also because she feared her stepmother’s wrath when she returned home. A kind friend lent her some clothes, but upon returning, her fears were realised.
The stepmother flew into a violent rage and, in her madness, led Tejimola to the dheki—a traditional Assamese rice pounder made of heavy wood. As Tejimola worked at the dheki, the stepmother cruelly trapped her hands under the wooden pestle, crushing them. She then forced Tejimola to use her feet to pound the rice, only to crush them too. Finally, in her blind cruelty, she slammed Tejimola’s head under the pestle, killing her instantly.
The stepmother buried Tejimola’s body in the garden, thinking her dark deed was done. When the neighbours asked about Tejimola, she lied and said that she had gone to visit a friend.
Days passed, and soon, a curious thing happened. In the very spot where Tejimola was buried, a beautiful lau (Assamese gourd) creeper began to grow. One day, an old beggar woman came to the house and asked the stepmother for permission to pick some of the lush gourds. Reluctantly, the stepmother agreed.
But as the old woman reached for the gourds, she heard a soft, sad voice singing from the plant:
“Don’t pick my fruit, oh beggar woman,
For I am Tejimola, buried here,
In the fine clothes of Assamese tradition.”
Shocked, the old woman fled and told the stepmother what she had heard. Horrified, the stepmother chopped down the vine and threw it into the river, hoping to rid herself of the haunting presence.
However, not long after, travellers passing by the river noticed a beautiful plum tree growing on the bank where the vine had floated away. When they approached to pick some of the fruit, the tree began to sing in Tejimola’s voice, recounting her tragic fate. The travellers, scared by the singing tree, ran to tell the stepmother.
Furious once again, the stepmother chopped down the tree and threw the remains into the river. Little did she know that her husband was returning home by boat that very day.
As the merchant sailed down the river, his eyes fell upon the most exquisite lotus flower floating on the water. The lotus was large, bright pink, and unlike any he had ever seen. Thinking of his daughter, he reached out to pluck it for her.
But just as his fingers touched the petals, the lotus began to speak:
“Don’t pluck me, father, for I am your Tejimola. Your wife killed me, and now I am this lotus.”
Shocked and heartbroken, the merchant realised what had happened. He challenged the lotus, saying,
“If you really are Tejimola, turn into a bird and fly into this cage.”
Before his eyes, the lotus transformed into a beautiful white dove and flew into the cage. The merchant brought the bird home, and when he arrived, he asked his wife where Tejimola was. The stepmother once again lied, saying she had gone to visit a friend.
The merchant then spoke to the dove:
“If you are truly my Tejimola, transform back into your human form.”
The dove flew out of the cage and, in a flash, turned back into the beautiful Tejimola. The stepmother, seeing her wickedness exposed, fled the house in fear and was never seen again. Tejimola and her father were reunited, and they lived happily ever after.
Tejimola’s story carries deep cultural significance in Assam, symbolising the victory of goodness over cruelty. It speaks to the resilience of the human spirit, the consequences of envy, and the enduring hope that justice will prevail. In Assamese homes, Tejimola is not just a folktale but a piece of cultural identity, passed down through our beloved grandmothers.
For children growing up in Assam, the story of Tejimola is often their first introduction to the world of morals and values, taught through the tales of Buri Aair Xaadhu (Old Grandmother’s Tales). These stories remind us that kindness and goodness will eventually triumph, even in the darkest of times.
When you visit Assam, don’t miss the chance to hear the local versions of Tejimola’s story. Every community adds its own unique twist, shaped by the oral traditions of their Aaita (grandmother). It’s a perfect icebreaker and a way to connect with the people you meet on your travels. Ask them about Tejimola—you’re sure to be captivated by their retelling!
