Indian History is chock-full with legends of admiration and bravery of leaders who were affluent of material possessions. However, it is really difficult to discover a leader like Maharana Pratap and his faithful supporters who possessed just adversities to proffer. Maharana Pratap was always esteemed with great respect and admiration. Constantly, he has been estimated as the leader of loyalty, liberty and sovereignty. Read more to know the interesting facts about this wonderful leader of Rajasthan.
Early stages of Maharana Pratap:
Rana Pratap was born on 9th May 1540. Maharana Udai Singh II is the father of Rana Pratap Maharani Javantha Bai Songara was his mother. He was born on (Jyestha Sudi), the 3rd day of “Vikram Era” in “Ardh” Naksatra. Despite the fact that Rana Pratap was born at Kumbhalgarh fort, a few historians assume that his exact birth place was “Juni Kacheri” near Pali region. The birth of Rana pratap was considered fortunate and forecasts said that he will bring magnificence to the kinfolk. Rana Pratap’s edification was commendable of a prince. In his early age, he mastered the combat strategies and armaments. Owing to the covetousness among the queens of Maharana Udai Singh II, MahaRana pratap was deprived from his from father’s love and crowned heads. He was forced to live in a rural community below the Chittorgarh ridge where he was raised by Akheraj Sonagar(pali), Rana pratap’s affectionate grandfather who shortly was killed in a warfare. Later, Maharana Pratap got into the matrimonial bond with Ajabade (the daughter of Rao Ram Rakh Panwar), at the age of 17. Shortly, the couple was blessed with a baby boy named Amar Singh.
Crowing Ceremony “Rana Pratap”:
Maharana Udai Singh II, father of MahaRana Pratap died at the age of 42 in Gogunda. He had 25 sons including Rana Pratap. However, leaving behind the customary Primogenitor laws of “Primogenitor”, Maharana Udai Singh II announced his much loved son “Jagmall” as his descendant before he passed away. On the other hand, a coronation carried out at Gogunda crowned Maharana Pratap as the 54th king in the ancestry of ‘Sisodia Rajputs’.
Disagreement between Rana Paratap and Mughal rulers:
In the year 1573, the Mughal king Akbar had power over Chittorgarh. However, to comprehend his vision of being the Jahanpanah of Hindustan, he had to fetch the decree of Mewar state under his control which was not possible as Maharana Pratap ruled the state at that time. So, Akbar sent 6 civil servants to Maharana Pratap seeking to discuss the same peaceful agreement that he had accomplished with other Rajput leaders to maintain the dominion and reputation of Mewar integral. On the other hand, Maharan Pratap declined and refused to accept any one of them. The final missions were led by Maharaja of Amber and Raja Man Singh, the brother-in-law of Akbar. However, Rana Pratap disdained the luxury and comfort that they had bought to the detriment of his sovereignty. He survived the mutual effects of the Mughal realm, by carrying obliteration into the plains feeding fruits of the forests to his family. Though riches and luck enticed the loyalty of his chiefs, not a single person was found enough to desert him.
Most likely, Rana Pratap was the first one to make use of “Organized Guerrilla Warfare” against a powerful opponent and fruitfully managed a catastrophic blow to the Mughal defense force. From time to time, it looked like Rana Pratap was on the brink of being triumphant. To direct his combat against the powerful Mughals Maharana Pratap possessed the courageous leaders such as, Hakim Khan Sur, Jhala Bida, Raja Ram Shah of Gwalior, Poonja Bhil, Kishandas Chundawat of Salumber, Rawat Netsi of Kanod, Ramdas Rathore of Badnore, Bheem singh Dodiya, Jhala Maan of Delwara, Shankardas Rathore of Kelwa, Jaisa Barhat, Keshav Barhat and Ram Singh Sandoo. They were some of the loyal leaders who sacrificed their precious lives for the valiant Rana Pratap in all his hard work to maintain the lantern of Independence ablaze.
The valiant Bhils Tribe:
Maha Rana Pratap had the brawny support of the native tribal community of Mewar who were called the Bhils. Bhils tribe fought with Rana Pratap till the end and laid their lives for the nobility of their monarch. Also, Rana Pratap made his inheritors promise that until they re-establish the splendor of Chittor, they would eat off a ‘Pattras’ (leaf Plates) and sleep on the straw beds. Unfortunately, the great patriot Rana Pratap could not conquer Chittor. So, even today, numerous Rajput tag along the earlier vow and keep a leaf beneath their plates and a straw underneath their bed.
Haldighati Skirmish:
In 1576, the well-known encounter of Haldighati took place with 20,000 Rajputs warriors against the Mughal military of 80,000 soldiers. This war was led by Raja Man Singh. The skirmish was ferocious though irresolute to the Mughal military’s amazement. The army of Maharana Pratap was not conquered but Maharana Pratap was bordered by Mughal warriors. One more victim of this war was Chetak, the loyal horse of Maharana Pratap who sacrificed its life while trying to save his chief.
Final Stages of Maha Rana pratap:
Subsequent to the great Haldighati warfare, Akbar made recurring efforts to imprison or slay Maharana Pratap. However, he failed to do so. In 1576, Akbar conquered Udaipur and called it as “Mohammadabad” and similarly Chittorgarh was known as “Akbarabad”. But, both the names were never established. Maharana Pratap fought back for almost 25 years and experienced a serene death on January 19, 1597 at Chawand region. The reason of his bereavement was a wound caused at some stage in a hunting sport. Akbar, the Mughul Emperor was whispered to have shed tears at the death of the brave warrior Maharana pratap, as he was the only brave emperor who declined to sell his admiration for comfort and luxury. Maharana Pratap was lovingly called as “KIKA” particularly by the poets and tribals. The sad part is there is no original image of the Maha Rana Pratap. It is believed that there was only one picture of Rana Pratap that was taken at some stage in his combat against the Mughals. This picture was taken by British realm.
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