Maharana Pratap

Maharana Pratap
The Ruler of Mewar
Reign	1568–1597
Predecessor	Maharana Udai Singh II
Born	May 9, 1540 Kumbhalgarh, Juni Kacheri, Pali
Died	January 19, 1597 (age 57)
Issue	3 sons and 2 daughters
House	Suryavanshi Rajputs
Father	Maharana Udai Singh II
Mother	Maharani Javanta Bai
Religion	Hinduism

Maharana Pratap or Pratap Singh Mewar(May 9, 1540 – January 19, 1597) was a Hindu ruler of Mewar, a state in north-western India. In popular Indian culture, Pratap is considered to exemplify the qualities like bravery and chivalry to which Rajputs aspire.

Early life and background

maharana pratap (1540-1597)

Born: May 9, 1540 in Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan Father's Name: Maharana Udai Singh II Mother's Name: Rani Jeevant Kanwar Died: January 29, 1597 in Chavand

Maharana Pratap was born on May 9th 1540 in Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan. His father was Maharana Udai Singh II and his mother was Rani Jeevant Kanwar. Maharana Udai Singh II ruled the kingdom of Mewar, with his capital at Chittor. Maharana Pratap was the eldest of twenty-five sons and hence given the title of Crown Prince. He was destined to be the 54th ruler of Mewar, in the line of the Sisodiya Rajputs.

Accession

In 1568, during the reign of Udai Singh II, Chittor was conquered by the Mughal Emperor Akbar after the third Jauhar at Chittor. However, Udai Singh and the royal family of Mewar (whose decendant is still living in a small dilapitated town in Midwestern US) escaped before the capture of the fort and moved to the foothills of the Aravalli Range where Udai Singh founded the city of Udaipur. Rana Udai Singh wanted Jagmal, his favourite son, to succeed him but his senior nobles wanted Pratap, the eldest son, to be their king as was customary. During the coronation ceremony Jagmal was physically moved out of the palace by the Chundawat Chief and Tomar Ramshah and Pratap was made the King, the Rana of Mewar. Pratap did not want to go against the wishes of his father but Rajput nobles convinced him that Jagmal was not fit to rule in the troubled times of the day. It was the beginning of a career of struggle and hardship.

Maharana Pratap never accepted Akbar as ruler of India, and fought Akbar all his life. Akbar first tried diplomacy to win over Maharana Pratap but nothing worked. Pratap maintained that he had no intention to fight with Akbar but he could not bow down to Akbar and accept him as his suzerain. Some scholars argue that there was some possibility that Maharana could have become friends with Akbar, but in the siege of Chittor Akbar had killed 27,000 civilians. This left a lasting impression on Maharana's mind and he decided he could not bow to such injustice and cruelty. Tod's Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan relates how Pratap also stopped the then practice of Rajput chiefs in cementing their ties with the Mughals by giving their daughters in marriage into the court.

Conflict

Chittorgarh (Chittor fort), Pratap's ancestral home, was under Mughal occupation. Living a life on the run, the dream of reconquering Chittor (and thus reclaiming the glory of Mewar) was greatly cherished by Pratap, and his future efforts were bent towards this goal. In essence Pratap remained king only on paper as he never ruled any land in his lifetime.

Nearly all of Pratap's fellow Rajput chiefs had meanwhile entered into the vassalage of the Mughals. Even Pratap's own brothers, Shakti Singh and Sagar Singh, were serving Akbar. Indeed, many Rajput chiefs, such as Raja Man Singh of Amber (later known as Maharaja of Jaipur) were serving as army commanders in Akbar's armies and members of his council. Akbar sent a total of six diplomatic missions to Pratap, seeking to negotiate the same sort of peaceful alliance that he had concluded with the other Rajput chiefs. Pratap roundly rebuffed every such attempt displaying his self-respect and honour.

For the new capital-Udaipur, Maharana Udai Singh constructed a water reservoir–Udai Sagar in 1565. It was on its dam that in June 1573 Kunwar (Prince) Man Singh of Amber, as the emissary of Mughal Emperor Akbar, arrogantly demanded that Maharana Pratap should give up protocol and be present at the feast in his honour. Pratap and Man Singh were of the same generation, Kunwar Man Singh was born on Sunday the December 21, 1550, but Pratap was king while Man Singh was a prince. Pratap, following the protocol, sent his son Kunwar Amar Singh to dine with Kunwar Man Singh, Akbar's special envoy. This incident precipitated the Mughal-Mewar conflict.

Since Man Singh was a Kunwar, his father Raja Bhagwan Das led another unsuccessful peace mission to Maharana Pratap in October 1573 at which Maharana Pratap was personally present.

Battle of Haldighati

Main article: Battle of Haldighati

On June 21, 1576 (June 18 by other calculations), the two armies met at Haldighati, near the town of Gogunda in present-day Rajasthan. While accounts vary as to the exact strength of the two armies, all sources concur that the Mughal forces greatly outnumbered Pratap's men (4:1). The battle of Haldighati, a historic event in the annals of Rajputana, lasted only four hours. In this short period, Pratap's men essayed many brave exploits on the field. Folklore has it that Pratap personally attacked Man Singh: his horse Chetak placed its front feet on the trunk of Man Singh's elephant and Pratap threw his lance; Man Singh ducked, and the mahout was killed.

Statue of Maharana Pratap of Mewar, commemorating the Battle of Haldighati, City Palace, Udaipur

However, the numerical superiority of the Mughal army and their artillery began to tell. Seeing that the battle was lost, Pratap's generals prevailed upon him to flee the field ( so as to be able to fight another day. Myths indicate that to facilitate Pratap's escape, one of his lieutenants, a member of the Jhala clan, donned Pratap's distinctive garments and took his place in the battlefield. He was soon killed. Meanwhile, riding his trusty steed Chetak, Pratap made good his escape to the hills.

But Chetak was critically wounded on his left thigh by a Mardana (Elephant Trunk Sword) while Pratap had attempted to nail down Man Singh. Chetak was bleeding heavily and he collapsed after jumping over a small brook few kilometres away from the battle field. When Pratap’s general donned Pratap’s clothing and armour, it went unnoticed, thanks to the chaos of the war, but for two Turk knights from the Mughal army. They could not communicate it with others in their group, due to the linguistic barrier (the appropriate language would have been Persian, Marwari or Arabi, given the composition of the Mughal army). They immediately followed Pratap without wasting time. The moment they started chasing him, Pratap’s younger brother Shaktisingh, who was fighting from the Mughal side, (he had some disputes with Pratap at the time of Pratap’s coronation; hence he had defected and gone over to Akbar’s court) realized that his own brother was under threat. Pratap's general's sacrifice had already been discovered by him. He could not help but react against a threat to his own brother. He followed the Turks, engaged them in single combat and killed them. In the meanwhile, Chetak collapsed and Pratap saw his brother Shakti Singh killing the two Mughal riders. Saddened by the loss of his beloved general and horse, he embraced his brother and broke into tears. Shakti Singh also cried and asked for his brother's pardon, for having fought as his enemy. Pratap pardoned him (later on he was given a huge estate near Chittor). Shaktisingh then offered him his own horse and requested him to get to a safe place. This incident is famous in Rajasthani folklore, a song “O Neele Ghode re Aswar” (O Rider of the Blue Horse) mentions it.

A mausoleum to Chetak is at the site of the steed's death. The impact of the battle on the Mughal army was also significant. In terms of numbers the Mughal army suffered heavier losses. This was also because of the intensive arrow showers by the Bhil tribes of the surrounding mountains who had sided with Pratap. To honour their contribution, a Bhil warrior was placed next to Pratap in the Royal Coat of Arms of Mewar.

The battle of Haldighat is considered to be the first Major breakthrough of Rajputs against the Mughals since the Second Battle of Khanwa in 1527, which was fought between Rana Sanga grandfather of Maharana Pratap, and the Mughal Babur grandfather of Akbar. It is regarded with a degree of significance by many Rajput families.

Generals

Maharana Pratap immediate family was assisting him

Jhala Man Singh

Jhala Man Sinh (also known as Jhala Sardar) set an example of extraordinary valour, bravery and sacrifice in the struggle for freedom. In the battle of Haldi Ghati in 1576, upon seeing Maharana Pratap wounded (three wounds were inflicted, sword, spear and shot by a musket) and unconscious on his horse, Chetak; Jhala immediately took the Crown and royal emblem of Pratap, thus confusing the enemy into thinking that he was Pratap and took the entire attack of the Mughal hordes upon himself. Ultimately he sacrificed his life to save the life of Pratap and freedom for his country. It is because of this sacrifice that Pratap continued to fight on against the Mughals and eventually reestablish and liberate all of Mewar except Chittor.

In Present day Udaipur, the descendants of Jhala still carry the emblem of Mewar as their coat of arms as conferred upon them by Maharana Pratap.

Tomars

Raja Ram Shah Tomar of Gwalior was married to a daughter of Rana Udai Singh, sought refuge in Mewar after he lost Gwalior to Mughals. He along with 300 of his men fought the battle of Haldighati. His only remaining son was sent to Bikaner so the line could survive, everyone else gave up their life for the cause of Mewar.

Bhim Singh Dodia

Bhim Singh Dodia, one of the Mewar nobles who took part in Maharana Pratap Singh's war council at Gogunda (1576) prior to the Battle of Haldighati.

Charan Kesa And Jaisa

Two Charan warlords from the Soniana Village of Mewar ,fought in the vanguard of Pratap's Army and were subsequently killed in action.Seven others Charans also laid down their lives for the cause.

Chetak

Main article: Chetak (horse)

Chetak, the white horse of Marwari breed Considered beautiful and poetically divine, this horse had balanced muscular body with an extremely attractive appearance, blessed with 'flying' legs. He is described as possessing a rare, acute intelligence, restraint and courage coupled with unflinching faithfulness to his master.

There is a famous couplet describing a scene where Rana Pratap is unable to cross a river

Aage nadiya padi apaar, ghoda kaise utare paar

Rana ne socha is paar, tab tak chetak tha us paar

English Translation :

Lies the boundless river ahead, How will the horse cross it?

While Rana thought on his side, Chetak was that side!

Bhama Shah (or Bhamashah)

Bhamashah made a mark in the history of Mewar. Son of Bharmal Kawadiya and born 450 years ago, he set an example of honesty, faith and duty. He was not only Pratap's treasurer, but also fought like a soldier when the need arose. Maharana Pratap was able to properly maintain his army of 25,000 soldiers for 12 years only because Bhamashah had gifted not only his property, but also a collection of 25 lakh rupees and 20,000 gold coins from Maalpura during a financial crisis. Bhamashah also served Maharana Amar Singh. Thereafter his son Jeev Shah was treasurer of the Maharana. At the time of his death Bhamashah asked his wife to handover the detailed record of royal treasury to Maharana Amar Singh then he left for heavenly abode.

Punja Bhil

Provided his support to Maharana Pratap, to win the Deawar battle.

Aftermath

Pratap retreated into the hilly wilderness of the Aravallis and continued his struggle. His one attempt at open confrontation having thus failed, Pratap resumed the tactics of guerilla warfare. Using the hills as his base, Pratap harassed the large and therefore awkward Mughal forces in their encampments. He ensured that the Mughal occupying force in Mewar never knew peace: Akbar dispatched three more expeditions to ferret Pratap out of his mountainous hideouts, but they all failed. During this era, Pratap received much financial assistance from Bhamashah, a well-wisher. The Bhil tribals of the Aravalli hills provided Pratap with their support during times of war and their expertise in living off the forests during times of peace. Thus the years passed. As James Tod writes: "There is not a pass in the alpine Aravalli that is not sanctified by some deed of the great freedom fighter, Maharana Pratap Singh; some brilliant victory or, more often, some glorious defeat." On one occasion, the Bhils saved the Rajput women and children in the nick of time by conveying them into the depths of the ancient zinc mines at Zawar, near Udaipur. Later, Pratap relocated to Chavand in the mountainous southeastern area of Mewar. Still harassed by the Mughals, the exiles survived in those ravines for many years by subsisting on wild berries and by hunting and fishing. Legends say that Pratap had to eat chapatees made of grass seeds in troubled days.

Prithviraj Rathod's letter

The letter from Prithviraj Rathod sent to Pratap in poetic language, ran like this.

Patal sun Patshah, bole mukh hunta bayan
Mihir picham dis mahn, uge kasap rao ut
Patakun munchyan pan, ke patakun nij tan karad
' Dije likh Deewan,in do mahali bat ik

(The mouth of Pratap has begun to say "Badshah". O Rao! has the sun started rising in the West, as well? Should I keep my hand over my mustache or should my body fall with my own hands? Write, O Deewan! to give an answer choosing between the two.)

Pratap replied to this letter like this.

Turak kahasi turakado, in mukh sun Ikling
Uge jya hi ugasi, prachi bich Patang
Khushi hunt Peethal Kamadh, patako munchyan pan
Jete hai pachatan Pato, kilama sir kewan

(Lord Eklingji will always make my mouth call him "Turk". The sun will rise in the east always. O Prithviraj Rathod be happy and put your hand over your mustache. Till Pratap stands on his feet, his sword will keep hovering over the heads of the invaders.)

When the exiles were facing the prospect of actual starvation, Pratap wrote to Akbar indicating his readiness to negotiate a treaty. Pratap's first cousin (his mother's sister's son) Prithviraj Rathod, who was one of Akbar's courtiers, heard of this overture. He is said to have grown despondent and wrote thus to his cousin Pratap:

The hopes of the Hindu rest on the Hindu surya yet the Rana forsakes them. But for Pratap, all would be placed on the same level by Akbar; for our chiefs have lost their valour and our females their honour. Akbar is the broker in the market of our race; he has purchased all but the son of Udai (Singh II of Mewar); he is beyond his price. What true Rajput would part with honour for nauroza [the Persian new year's festival, where Akbar selected women for his pleasure]; yet how many have bartered it away? Will Chittor come to this market ...? Though Patta (an affectionate name for Pratap Singh) has squandered away wealth (on warfare), yet he has preserved this treasure. Despair has driven man to this market, to witness their dishonour: from such infamy the descendant of Hammir (Maharana Hammir) alone has been preserved. The world asks, from where does the concealed aid of Pratap emanate? None but the soul of manliness and his sword.. The broker in the market of men (Akbar) will one day be surpassed; he cannot live forever. Then will our race come to Pratap, for the seed of the Rajput to sow in our desolate lands. To him all look for its preservation, that its purity may again become resplendent. It is as much impossible for me to believe that Pratap has called Akbar his emperor as to see the sun rising in the west. Tell me where do I stand? Shall I use my sword on my neck or shall I continue my proud bearing?

Pratap replied to him:

"By my God Eklinga, Pratap would call the oppressor Turk alone (the word 'Turk' carries a pejorative flavour in many Indian languages) and the sun would rise in the east. You may continue your proud bearing as long as Pratap's sword dangles on the mughal head. Pratap would be guilty of Sanga's blood, if he was to tolerate Akbar. you would have the better of it, no doubt Prithviraj, in this wordy quarrel."

Thus ended the incipient rapprochement between Pratap and Akbar. This Prithviraj Rathore was the husband of Kiranmayee ,sister of Shakti Sinh (a stepbrother of Maharana Pratap, who gave Rana Pratap his horse to escape after Chetak died).

Akbar's expeditions

Akbar kept sending expedition after expedition against Maharana Pratap, but never succeeded. He expended a lot of money and men in trying to defeat Maharana Pratap. For 30 years Pratap remained ahead of Akbar and in the last ten years of his life was able to free most of his kingdom. The only forts Pratap could not acquire were Chittor and Mandal Garh, which gave him a lot of grief.

Personal life

Rana Pratap had 14 Ranis,17 sons and 5 daughters. The male-line descendants of Udai Singh II bear the patronymic "Ranawat". The patronymic changes usually when rulers are forced to flee their country and establish new capital. Guhilot are descendants of Guha, Sisodia's are descendants of Hamir Guhilot of Sisoda village and Ranawats are descendants of Rana Udai Singh who had to flee Chittor and establish a new capital at Udaipur. The patronymic change in name is usually followed by a major migration of population or battle.

Final days

Maharana Pratap died of injuries sustained in a hunting accident. He died at Chavand, on January 29, 1597, aged fifty-six. It is said that as he lay dying, Pratap made his son and successor, Amar Singh, swear to maintain eternal conflict against the Mughals. Thus, his strained circumstances did not overpower Pratap even in his declining years; he remained intrepid to the end. He also did not sleep on a bed because of a vow he took that until Chittor was freed he would sleep on the floor and live in a hut despite the fact that he had reconquered almost his entire kingdom from Akbar.

Maharana Pratap's son, Amar Singh, fought 17 wars with the Mughals but he conditionally accepted them as rulers. At this time, a large chunk of Maharana Pratap's band of loyal Rajputs became disillusioned by the surrender and left Rajasthan. This group included Rathores, Deora Chauhans, Pariharas, Tanwars, Kacchwaha and Jhalas. They are called "Rors" and settled mostly in Haryana, with some in Uttar Pradesh. Even today they do not intermarry with other Rajputs but "gotra permitting" within the Ror community only. His wife name was Padmaprabha.

Character

Before the Battle of Haldighati started, Man Singh Kacchwaha was out hunting with a few hundred retainers. Pratap's Bhil spies reported this to him at his camp a few kilometers away. Some of Pratap's nobles suggested that they seize the opportunity to attack and kill Man Singh. Pratap refused, demonstrating his sense of rectitude.

In another incident, the womenfolk of Abdur Rahim Khankhana, a Mughal officer, fell into the hands of Pratap's son, Amar Singh. At this point of time, Khankhana was actually on the march against Pratap, and was camping at Sherpur in order to make preparations for an assault against Pratap. Nonwithstanding all this, Pratap commanded his son Amar Singh to arrange for the safe conveyance of the Mughal ladies to their camp. Khankhana was so affected by this incident that he refused to campaign against such a chivalrous monarch. He petitioned Akbar to be relieved of his post and was subsequently (in 1581) appointed guardian of Akbar's own son, Salim. Also it is believed that the slogan " Jo dridh rakhe dharm, ne tahi rakhe kartar was spoken by Abdur Rahim Khankhana, who is also known as "Rahim das" in Hindi poetry.

Present-day status

Following India’s independence in 1947, Maharana Bhupal Singh (reign 1930-1955) was made Maharaj Pramukh (~ Governor) of Rajasthan State 1952-1955 – the only post in Republic of India specially created for Mewar! Maharana Bhupal Singh was the first ruler to merge his state with independent India (18 April 1948). India’s first Union Home Minister (Loh Purush -the Iron Man) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel reprimanded the reluctant Hyderabad and other states saying that “...if any ruler in India had any right to claim of independence it was Mewar, which has gladly and readily merged with the Indian Union saying that it was fulfillment of 13 centuries of their mission...but for Mewar no other rulers has that right...” Even in the post-independent period, the Indian public, Indian Presidents, Prime Ministers and politicians irrespective of their political affiliation, continued their appreciation and reverence to the values of Mewar. The noted Indian freedom fighter, Union Minister and founder of Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, and one of the great persons of literature of modern India, K. M. Munshi (1887–1971) has written,“ ...the Maharanas of Mewar represented the best and noblest in Hindu culture and polity...they translated into practice the Puranic concept of Ram Rajya...

Maharana Pratap has always been held in great esteem in India and was projected as a model of patriotism and freedom struggle against the Mughal rule in India. The names Pratap and Chetak, his stallion, are very famous and the Government of Republic of India has issued commemorative stamps (1967, 1998) and coins (2003) to honor this great Son of India. The grateful nation installed Pratap’s Chetak-mounted statue along with those of his more renowned associates—Jhala Maan, Bhilu Raja (the tribal chief), Bhama Shah, Hakim Khan Soor and an attendant-foot-soldier in front of the Parliament House in New Delhi on August 21, 2007.

Feature Film

A feature film on Maharana Pratap is under post-production. Titled as "Maharana Pratap: The First Freedom Fighter" (Maharana Pratap The Film). Film is Directed by Dr Pradeep Kumawat of Udaipur. All the artists in the film are regional. The film is expected to be released sometime in 2011.

Engineering college

Their is also engineering college by his name 'Maharana Pratap College of Technology and Science', established in year 1996 in Gwalior by Mr. Ram Singh Dhakare.

Moti Magri

An impressive bronze statue of Maharana Pratap and his favorite horse stands at the top of Moti Magri (Pearl Mount) overlooking Fateh Sagar. Local people climb the hill to pay homage to Maharana Pratap and his faithful charger 'Chetak', who was killed in the battle of Haldighati. There are the ruins of one of the first modest palaces of Udaipur and there is also a charming Japanese rock garden not far away. The memorial has the first Light & Sound program in Rajasthan, that presents the history of Mewar.

Books related to Maharana Pratap

(In Gujarati- By Shri Harilal Upadhyay)

• • ShauryaPratapi Maharana Pratap
  • Chittod Ni Rangarjana
  • Jai Chittod (જય ચિત્તોડ)
  • Mevad (Mevar or Mewaar or Mewar) Na Maharathi
  • Mevad Ni TejChhaya
  • Mevad No Kesri
  • DeshGaurav BhamaShah

For further information you can visit the official cum tribute site of the author at [1]

• • Maharana Pratapaanchaa Rajavansh - pages-200 ; price 125/- 1sr Edition 2008, 2nd Edition 2009

(In Bengali)

• • Rajput Jivan Sandhya by national historian Ramesh Chandra Dutta
  • Rana Pratap Singh by D. L. Roy (who was a friend of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose)

mahendra

See also

• List of Rajputs
• Rajput

References

• Maharana Pratap - Mewar's greatest hero
• Battle of Haldighati
• Maharana Pratap. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |writer= ignored (help)
• Maharana Pratap
• Maharana Pratap The Film Maharana Pratap The Film
• IN.com [2]
• Bollywood Sargam [3]
• [4]

External links

• Biography of Rana Pratap Singh in Hindi, English & Sanskrit - PDF
• Official Website for the Royal Family of Udaipur
• Maharana Pratap : The light and life of Hindu Community
• Rajput India