Summary
The finale of Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is tragic and meaningful but also rewards viewers for their patience.
The ending of Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar was always going to be tensions of the revolution spilling over, but by the time the credits roll, it has more meaning than just the significance of Indian history. Suddenly, the sense of freedom and Independence takes hold of all the characters in Episode 8. The pride of Heeramandi is merely a whisper of the past. Pre-Independent India is at stake. It means more. I wish that the entirety of this series focused on reaching this finale, as the story is worth it by the end.
I’ve broken down the key points of Episode 8 and given my thoughts on each.
Heartbreak for Alam, but there is hope
Unsurprisingly, Alam is in shock and heartbreak after learning Tajdar is dead. Saim refuses to let Alam fall into a less desirable life and encourages her to visit Tajdar’s grave to grieve. Meanwhile, Tadjar’s father is outraged, blaming Cartwright for his son’s death. The British claim that the rebels killed his son, and the funds for weapons come indirectly via the Heeramandi.
Alam is heartbroken in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar Episode 8 (Credit – Netflix)
However, Episode 8 shows that there is always hope after death. Alam may have lost the love of her life, but she is pregnant with Tajdar’s child, bringing the commonly used theme of “life after death” into play. Tajdar’s mother also gives Alam an heirloom that she wanted to give to her after the wedding that never happened. It’s a moment that seals Alam’s existence; she’s accepted outside the life of a tawaif.
Enemies Mallikajaan and Fareedan Unite for Freedom
In an unexpected moment, Mallikajaan and Fareedan decide to put their past behind them, which has been rooted in betrayal, murder, and toxicity. There’s more at stake—freedom. Mallikajaan and Fareedan blame each other for Alam’s death, leading to Mallikajaan offering to give her the keys to Heeramandi. She sees Fareedan as deceitful and vile as she is and believes that makes her the rightful heir (which is slightly flawed logic, I guess).
Bibbo, the transformed Freedom Fighter
With tensions continuing to brew, the rebels have no choice but to stash the weapons in Heeramandi in the middle of the night. This leads to more deaths, as Rizwan martyrs himself to distract the authorities.
There’s little time to mourn, though, as the nawabs make a decision to boycott Heeramandi — not only is freedom under threat, but the courtesans’ identity hangs by a thread, too. In a passionate speech, Bibbo tells the women of Heeramandi that they should no longer be slaves to anyone and fight for their freedom. This is a telling moment; it strengthens the idea that these women want to be seen as more than tawaif.
Bibbo transforms in Episode 8, as she assassinates General Henderson during a gathering between the British authorities and the Nawabs. The news of Bibbo’s actions spreads, and Mallikajaan is proud of her daughter. Sadly, Hamid was killed during the aftermath, highlighting the true nature of a growing revolution. Nobody is safe.
Bibbo is captured and tortured in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar Episode 8 (Credit – Netflix)
Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’s Ending is Filled with Tragedy and Meaning
As we reach the end of Episode 8, the series provides a slow, tragic, but poignant conclusion. Bibbo’s fortunes have run out, and she is tortured and interrogated by the British. She bravely repeats “freedom” to every question asked. Sadly, the decision made by the British is to execute Bibbo. Meanwhile, desperation takes hold, and Ustaadji asks the pregnant Alam to seduce Cartwright and then kill him.
The ending sees the women of Heeramandi protest down the streets with flamed torches, singing about freedom. The courtesans face the nawabs, refusing to back down until they reach the prison walls in time for Bibbo’s execution. Before Bibbo is executed, she shouts, “Long live…” and the women respond with “the revolution,” bringing the series’s best and most powerful moment. Silence falls as Bibbo is executed. Meanwhile, Alam finishes her mission by killing Cartwright.
The Courtesans fight for their freedom in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar Episode 8 (Credit – Netflix)
The ending of Heeramandi concludes with a narrator explaining how tawaif understood the importance of freedom; sadly, their fight was forgotten. Even after 15 August 1947, when India gained Independence, women’s struggles continued in the new world.
The series finale was far more meaningful than I expected, and despite my complaints overall, I am happy that my investment was rewarded at the end. The show ends with a progressive message—not to forget the fight brought by the perceived lesser women in society in a key historical event and how, even in the modern world today, women are still let down by societal frailties.
I’d love to know more opinions of Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar Episode 8. Join the discussion below.
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