Maharana Pratap

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other people named Pratap Singh, see Pratap Singh (disambiguation).

Maharana Pratap
Sisodias of Mewar
FatherUdai Singh II
MotherJaivanta Bai Songara (Chauhan) of Jalore
ReligionHinduism
Sisodia Rajputs of Mewar
II
(1326–1971)

Pratap Singh I (Hindi pronunciation:

Mughal Emperor Akbar including the Battle of Haldighati
.

Early life and accession

Maharana Pratap was born to

Vanvir Singh.[5][6][7] His younger brothers were Shakti Singh, Vikram Singh and Jagmal Singh. Pratap also had two stepsisters: Chand Kanwar and Man Kanwar. His chief consort was Maharani Ajabde Bai Punwar of Bijolia.[8] Their eldest son was Amar Singh I.[9] He belonged to the royal family of Mewar.[10] After the death of Udai Singh in 1572, Rani Dheer Bai Bhatiyani wanted her son Jagmal to succeed him[11] but senior courtiers preferred Pratap, as the eldest son, to be their king. The desire of the nobles prevailed and Pratap ascended the throne as Maharana Pratap, the 54th ruler of Mewar in the line of the Sisodia Rajputs.[12] He was crowned in Gogunda on the auspicious day of Holi. Jagmal swore revenge and left for Ajmer, to join the armies of Akbar, and obtained the town of Jahazpur as a Jagir as a gift in return for his help.[13]

Military career

Background

Pratap Singh, gained distinction for his refusal to form any political alliance with the Mughal Empire and his resistance to Mughal domination. The conflicts between Pratap Singh and Akbar led to the Battle of Haldighati.[14][15]

Battle of Haldighati

Main article: Battle of Haldighati

The

Amer, entreating him to become a vassal like many other rulers in Rajputana. When Pratap refused to personally submit to Akbar and several attempts to diplomatically settle the issue failed, war became inevitable.[16][17]

The forces of Pratap Singh and Mughal and Rajput general Man Singh met on 18 June 1576 beyond a narrow mountain pass at Haldighati near Gogunda, modern day Rajsamand in Rajasthan. This came to be known as the Battle of Haldighati. Pratap Singh fielded a force of around 3000 cavalry and 400 Bhil archers. Man Singh commanded an army numbering around 10,000 men.[18][19][20] After a fierce battle lasting more than three hours, Pratap found himself wounded and the day lost. He managed to retreat to the hills and lived to fight another day.[21] The Mughals were victorious and inflicted significant casualties among the forces of Mewar but failed to capture Maharana Pratap.[18][19][20]

Haldighati was a futile victory for the Mughals, as they were unable to kill or capture Pratap, or any of his close family members in

Kumbhalgarh were all under Mughal control.[22]

Post-Haldighati Mughal invasions

Main article: Shahbaz Khan's invasions of Mewar

Shahbaz Khan Kamboh led multiple invasions that resulted in the subjugation of key areas in Mewar, such as Kumbhalgarh, Mandalgarh, Gogunda, and Central Mewar, bringing them permanently under Mughal rule. The Mughal Empire established its supremacy in Mewar after Shahbaz Khan's invasions. This ultimately led to a significant weakening of Pratap's power, forcing him to retreat to his hilly abode.[citation needed]

Reconquest of Mewar

Main article: Recovery of mewar
Maharana Pratap Memorial in Dewair for the battle of 1582.[23]

Mughal pressure on Mewar relaxed after 1579 following rebellions in Bengal and Bihar and Mirza Hakim's incursion into the Punjab. After this Akbar sent Jagannath Kachhwaha to invade Mewar in 1584. This time too Mewar army defeated Mughals and forced them to retreat. In 1585, Akbar moved to Lahore and remained there for the next twelve years watching the situation in the north-west. No major Mughal expedition was sent to Mewar during this period. Taking advantage of the situation, Pratap recovered some of his territories at Mewar (except its former capital), and Mandalgarh.[24]

Patronage of art

Maharana Pratap's court at Chavand had given shelter to many poets, artists, writers and artisans. The Chavand school of art was developed during the reign of Rana Pratap. He also had renowned artists like Nasiruddin in his court.[25]

Revival of Mewar

Maharana Pratap took refuge in the Chappan area and started attacking the Mughal strongholds. By 1583 he had successfully captured western Mewar, which included Dewar, Amet, Madariya, Zawar and the fort of Kumbalgarh. He then made Chavand his capital and constructed a Chamunda mata temple there. The Maharana was able to live in peace for a short time and started establishing order in Mewar. The Mughals shifted their attention to Punjab and other north-western provinces after Jaganath Kachwaha's invasion of Mewar. Pratap took advantage of this situation to attack the Mughal occupied areas of Mewar and captured thirty-six Mughal outposts. Udaipur, Mohi, Gogunda, Mandal and Pandwara were some of the important areas that were recaptured from this conflict. According to the 1588 inscription near Jahazpur, the Rana gave the lands of Pander to a trusted follower called Sadulnath Trivedi. G.N. Sharma claims that the Pander inscription is proof that the Rana had occupied north-eastern Mewar and was granting lands to those who had been loyal to him.[26] From 1585 till his death, the Rana had recovered a large part of Mewar. The citizens who had migrated out of Mewar started returning during this time. There was good monsoon which helped to revive the agriculture of Mewar. The economy also started getting better and trade in the area started increasing. The Rana was able to capture the territories around Chittor but could not fulfill his dream of capturing Chittor itself.[27]

Death

Reportedly, Pratap died of injuries sustained in a hunting accident,

Mughals and to win Chittor back.[30]

Legacy

Statue of Maharana Pratap in City Palace, Udaipur.

Maharana Pratap is a prominent figure in both folk and contemporary

Rajasthani culture and is viewed as a folk hero and celebrated warrior in that state, as well as in India as a whole.[31]

Historian Satish Chandra notes –

"Rana Pratap's defiance of the mighty Mughal empire, almost alone and unaided by the other Rajput states, constitute a glorious saga of Rajput valour and the spirit of self sacrifice for cherished principles. Rana Pratap's methods of guerrilla warfare was later elaborated further by Malik Ambar, the Deccani general, and by Shivaji".[32][33]

Bandyopadhyay also seconds Satish Chandra's view with the observation that

Pratap's successful defiance of Mughals using guerrilla strategy also proved inspirational to figures ranging from Shivaji to anti-British revolutionaries in Bengal.[34]

In 2007, a statue of Maharana Pratap was unveiled by former President Pratibha Patil in the Parliament of India.[35]

In popular culture

Film and television

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Rana Pratap Singh – Indian ruler". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  2. ISBN 978-3-82588-042-2. Archived
    from the original on 12 April 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Maharana Pratap Jayanti: Know the Real-life Story of the brave Rajput warrior". News18. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  4. ^ Nahar 2011, p. 7.
  5. ^ Rana 2004, pp. 28, 105.
  6. ISBN 978-8-12500-333-5
    .
  7. ISBN 978-8-49311-010-9
    .
  8. ISBN 978-81-237-4339-4
    .
  9. ISBN 978-81-7871-005-1
    .
  10. Udaipur State
    : Maharana Pratap Smarak Samiti. p. 29.
  11. ISBN 978-0-70691-076-6
    .
  12. ^ Augustus 1890, p. 190; Rana 2004, p. 17.
  13. ^ Majumdar 1974, p. 234.
  14. ISBN 978-0-19-994002-8
    .
  15. ISBN 978-1-107-11856-0
    .
  16. ^ Sarkar 1960, p. 75.
  17. ^ Chandra 2005, pp. 119–120.
  18. ^ a b de la Garza 2016, p. 56One year later the Rajputs attempted a similar all-out charge at Haldighati. The result was an even more decisive Mughal victory.
  19. ^ a b Raghavan 2018, p. 67Although most of the other Rajput rulers soon entered the Mughal alliance system, the kingdom of Mewar continued its resistance. Udai Singh was followed by his son, Pratap Singh, whose continued opposition to Mughal expansion – despite military defeats, most notably in the battle of Haldighati in 1576...
  20. ^
    ISBN 978-0-313-33536-5. Archived from the original
    on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  21. ^ Sarkar 1960, p. 77–79.
  22. ^ a b Chandra 2005, pp. 121–122.
  23. ^ "Maharana Pratap – the Rajput Warrior who single-handedly fought Akbar's might". International Business Times. 9 May 2020.
  24. ^ a b Chandra 2005, p. 122.
  25. ISBN 9789386228963
    . Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  26. ^ Sharma, GN (1962). Mewar and the Mughal Emperors: 1526-1707 A. D. Shiva Lal Agarwala. p. 103.
  27. ISBN 9788129115010
    .
  28. ISBN 978-8-17871-003-7
    .
  29. ISBN 978-8-17625-841-8
    .
  30. ^ Rana 2004, pp. 77–79; Nahar 2011, pp. 198–201.
  31. ^ Nahar 2011, p. 1.2.
  32. ^ Chandra, Satish (1983). "Medieval India". National Council for Educational Training and Research. p. 153. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  33. ^ Meena, R. P. "Rajasthan Year Book 2021".
  34. ^ Bandyopadhyay, Brishti (2007). Maharana Pratap: Mewar's Rebel King. New Delhi: Rupa Co.
  35. ^ "Maharana Pratap's statue unveiled". Hindustan Times. 21 August 2007. Retrieved 21 February 2021.

Sources

External links
Maharana Pratap
Born: 9 May 1540 Died: 19 January 1597
Preceded by Rana of Mewar
1572–1597 		Succeeded by
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