Begampura

Fictional city named in one of the
poems written by the poet-saint
Ravidas (ca. 1500). The word begam can
mean either “queen” or “without pain.”
The poem clearly shows the city as an
idealized place far from the tribulations
of ordinary human life, such as pain,
sorrow, taxes, wrongdoing, and to a
lesser extent, class distinctions.
Although Ravidas was born a tanner
(chamar), an occupation that was
looked down upon, this is one of his
only poems that speaks about social
issues, however indirectly.