In the pages of our history there exists thousands of stories of great empires and their kingdoms that once emerged and completely vanished from the face of the earth , there remain stories and saga of warriors , fighters, hero's and kings whose reminiscent's and witnesses now only remain evident in historical documents , ancient monuments, forts , palaces, Tombs whose remains are a keepers and bearers of history.
Who were those people , how was their living to know this lets revert back in the pages of history.
15th century India constituted many big and small states among them one was Mewar.
Mewar which in those times emerged as the chief state of Rajputana. It was the time when Mughal rule was expanding its reach throughout India , many states bowed down and accepted the suzerainty of the mighty Mughal empire and accepted their subordination.
Whereas here in the North of India Rajput's were a principal power. Mewar used to be ruled by the Rajput rulers of the Sisodia clan , who were always at loggerheads against the Mughals.
Glancing through the pages of Mewar's history there emerges the name of a valiant warrior whose name is Maharana Pratap.
Maharana Pratap is considered as a epitome of gallantry and bravery, a warrior who could sacrifice his life for his motherland, a fearless freedom fighter.
Maharana Pratap whose tales of gallantry still resonate throughout the hills of the Aravalli, Maharana Pratap's tales of bravery and valour are still part of the folk lore of the people throughout the region and all over India.
Mewar has two principal forts Kumbhalgarh and Chittorgarh. In between 15th & 16th century Mewar reached the pinnacle of its glory under the rule of Rana Kumbha and Rana Sanga. Their descendant
Maharana Pratap was born on 9 of May 1540 in the fort of Kumbhalgarh. Here only at this place was born Pratap whose father was Maharana Uday Singh and mother was Rani Jaywanti Bai.
Pratap the successor of Mewar was adored and cherished by the people of his kingdom , Pratap was brought up among the Bheel's (tribal people) also named KUKA.
Pratap the future Maharana of Mewar enjoyed the company of these forest dwellers.
The flame of patriotism always remained ignited in his heart which he seemed to have inherited from his ancestors.
Mewar always held a annoying position in the eyes of the Mughals and wars continued to happen.
Despite Mewar's political importance it also had significant trade routes that connected the markets of the Ganga plains with the western shoreline therefore it became necessary for the Mughals to subdue Mewar under Mughal dominion.
If we look at the history of Medieval India back then, then we will find that the Mughal Empire had spread across the length and breadth of India under the rule of one of the most ambitious Mughal King Akbar.
Many of the Rajput rulers as well as some of Rana Pratap's own relatives had accepted Akbar's sovereignty as a result of which they were bestowed with highest court honors as well as esteemed posts within the Mughal Court. They were also alloted large sums of Jagir's(feudal lands).But despite all this Rana Pratap refrained to bow down against the mighty Akbar.
It is said that on 28 February 1572 on the auspicious day of holi Pratap was coronated at the Gogunda Fort.
After Pratap's coronation ceremony , he neither received any established capital nor the resources at his disposal were adequate. Despite his limited resources he continued with his struggle against the mighty Mughal empire.
Pratap treated every difficulty as a challenge and this strengthened his determination .
Akbar sent numerous ambassadors and envoys to Rana Pratap asking him to to accept his sovereignty , but Rana being a brave Rajput with immense patriotism refused his offer.
Despite losing his imperial grandeur and royal lifestyle , in the face of challenging to difficult circumstances Rana Pratap never bowed down against Akbar.
As was Rana's sharpened sword so was to him, his dear horse named Chetak.
If we look at Mewar's geographical situation ,we find that a major portion of Mewar is rocky and hilly, adorned with forests around it with numerous tribal settlements.
Rana Pratap with the help of his brave fighters and tribal warriors organized an army & continued to prepare for wars.
On 18th of June 1576 was fought the history's most famous , battle of Haldighati between the armies of Akbar and Maharana Pratap. On one side was a vast army of Akbar under the command of Raja Man Singh, with 10,000 cavalry and thousands of men in infantry while on the other side was Maharana Pratap's Army with merely 3000 cavalry and handful of foot soldiers ,unafraid of death and willing to sacrifice their life for the defence of their motherland.
Despite being defeated the tales of Pratap's courage and glory continued to spread across the hills of Aravalli's. Pratap's success story didn't remain a regional phenomenon but tales of his glory spread throughout the entire nation.
Pratap after the loss took asylum in the forests of the aravalli's. Now a major problem for Maharana was to decide , where to shift his capital. 16 Km. away from Udaipur was a place called Chavand, Chavand was situated at a mountainous terrain and took immense effort to travel on the hilly tracks. Besides that it had ample of natural water sources.It was here only that Pratap established his new capital and strenghtened his administrative control.
Maharana with the assistance of Bhamashah and Bheel Sardars (Tribal leaders) consolidated his position by accumulating financial resources and manpower.
Along with his allies Maharana continued to fight using Guerilla warfare techniques.
After 1579 the Mughal pressure on Maharana started dissipating and Maharana's stronghold started to rise.
Mughal rule under Akbar was busy dealing with revolts in eastern India and frontline activities in the north-western region.
Taking advantage of the opportunity Rana was able to reconquer major parts of his kingdom besides Chittorgarh and Mandalgarh.
Mewar was once again free and under the Rajput rule.
It is said that Mewar's lion Rana Pratap once while hunting a game of lion got severely injured and on 19th of January 1597 took his last breath in Chavand.
Maharana Pratap established such high ideals which way surpass the boundaries of nation's and time and continues to inspire people for once love for his motherland and pride in warring for his self -esteem.
Maharana Pratap continues to be a gem of a warrior and a epitome of bravery and valour still remembered and praised in the folk songs and traditions of present day Rajasthan whose character and personality is personified no less than a godly Avatar.
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