Maharan Pratap : Person of the day : Birth : 9 may 1540

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Maharana Pratap  : The First Freedom Fighter

One the greatest warriors of Indian history, Maharana Pratap died on January 29 in the year 1597. Maharana Pratap was the ruler of Mewar, a province in modern day Rajasthan in North West India.

Pratap was the eldest son of Uday Singh II, founder of Udaipur, and Maharani Jaiwanta Bai. Renowned as a fearsome warrior and an excellent combat strategist, Pratap protected the Mewar region against the repeated onslaughts of the Mughals.

On his Birthday, we bring to you some  of facts about Maharana Pratap:

1. Maharana Pratap is revered as one of the strongest warriors India has ever seen. Standing at 7 feet 5 inches, he would carry a 80-kilogram spear and two swords weighing around 208 kilograms in total. He would also wear an armour weighing 72 kilogram.

2. Pratap's ascension to the throne was dicey. Rani Dheer Bai, Pratap's stepmother, wanted Kunwar Jagmal to be the king after Udai Singh's defeat at the hands of Mughal emperor Akbar. In 1568, Akbar had captured the Chittorgarh Fort and the Mewar royalty took shelter in Udaipur. After long conflict and debate, Pratap was made the king as the court saw Jagmal to be an unfit ruler.

3. Before fighting the Mughals, Pratap had to face the wrath of his domestic adversaries. By the time of his reign, almost all Rajput dynasties had surrendered to Akbar and had become members of his council. Akbar sent six diplomatic missions to Pratap to create a peaceful alliance between the two mighty rulers.

4. After the fifth diplomatic mission, Pratap had sent his son Amar Singh to the Mughal court to deny Akbar's proposal of peace. As he did not present himself before the Mughal emperor, it was not a fair sight. Due to his act of defiance, Akbar decided to march on Pratap.

5. Pratap's prowess in fights was proved at the Battle of Haldighati in 1576. Mughal emperor Akbar ordered Man Singh I, one of his Rajput army commanders, and Asaf Khan I to attack Pratap. Man Singh and Asaf Khan had gathered an army almost half the size of the Mughal military force and held position at Haldighati, a mountain pass around 40 kilometres from Udaipur.

6. On the other hand, Pratap had gathered Gwalior's Ram Shah Tanwar and his three sons- Rawat Krishnadasji Chundawat, Maan Singhji Jhala and Chandrasenji Rathore of Marwar, the Afghan leader Hakim Khan Sur and a small army of people from the Bhil tribe led by Rao Poonja.

7. The battle took place on June 18, 1576 for four hours. The Mughal army found a traitor in Pratap's brother Shakti Singh who told them about the secret pass.

The Mughal cavalry was led by Man Singh I but was outfought at first by the Rajput soldiers. Pratap decided to kill Man Singh on his own and rode his war horse Chetak against Man Singh's elephant. Both Chetak and Pratap were injured by Man's elephant. Seeing this the Mewari contingent lost hope. However, Pratap chieftain Man Singh Jhala exchanged armours with Pratap to confuse the Mughal army. Chetak tried to escape via Haldighati pass with a single long leap, for which it is famous, but was killed by Mughal archers.

Pratap was devastated to know about his horse's death. Realising his fault, Shakti Singh offered his own horse to Pratap, so that the latter could escape.

8. After the battle, the Mughal forces, personally led by Akbar, continued to conquer the entire Mewar region including Chittor, Gogunda, Kumbhalgarh (Pratap's temporary capital) and Udaipur. All Rajput dynasties including that of Bundi surrendered to Akbar, leaving Pratap completely alone.

9. After 1579, following rebellions in Bengal, Bihar and Punjab, Akbar loosed the noose on Mewar. Pratap took advantage of the situation and gathered an army using the money given by Dan Shiromani Bhamashah, who later became one of Pratap's ministers. Pratap recovered most of his turf-- Kumbhalgarh and the areas around Chittor. He gathered an army of 40,000 soldiers and conquered Gogunda, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore and Udaipur from Mughal ally Jagannath Kachhawa.

10. Pratap had rebuilt his capital in the city of Chavand, around 60 kilometres south of Udaipur and spent the rest of his life there. Because of his fight for freedom against the Mughals, Maharana Pratap is widely regarded as India's first freedom fighter.

The Battle of Haldighati

It was the Battle of Haldighati in 1576 when the iconic horse Chetak saved the life of his master, Maharana Pratap, the last of the Rajputs, battling the Mughals, who were led by Man Singh, another Rajput chieftain.

The Chetak wearing the false elephant trunk with his hooves on the head of the main enemy elephant, allowing Maharana Pratap to throw a lance at Akbar's general. The general was quick with his reflexes, so he ducked. The mahout wasn't, and the lance killed him instantly.

Panicking in the situation, the elephant swung about, chopping off one of Chetak's legs with the sword that was attached to his trunk. Even with a leg chopped off, Chetak managed to carry Maharana Pratap safely to his brother, Shakti Singh's horse, on which he escaped. Even though the Rajputs were defeated, the battle is held in high regard, thanks to the incredible showcase of bravery and loyalty shown by the Marwari war horses.

The Marwari breed was so integral in a Rajput's life that people would often say that a Rajput could never be separated from his horse, come what may.

Prithviraj Rathore's letter

The letter from Prithviraj Rathore was 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? O Deewan! write an answer chosing 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 Rathore be happy and put your hand on 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 Rathore, who was one of Akbar's coutiers, heard of this overture. He is said to have grown despondent and written 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 years' 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 emperor 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.

Last 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 will sleep on the floor and live in a hut despite the fact that he had reconquered almost his entire kingdom back 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.

Memorial

An impressive bronze statue of Maharana Pratap and his favorite and loyal horse, who was fiercely protective about his master and stood by him till his last breath, 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 faraway. The Memorial has the first Light & Sound Program in Rajasthan that encapsulates the glorious 1400 years of history of Mewar.