Maharana Pratap was the Hindu Rajput king of the Mewar Kingdom in Rajasthan, India. He was one of the finest soldiers in the Rajput warriors, and his valiant hymn still reverberates today.
Maharana Pratap Biography
Who does not know Maharana Pratap Singh Ji? He was the great Mewar king known for his bravery, gallantry, and martyrdom. There were many rulers of the Rajput kingdom, such as Bappa Rawal, Rana Hamir, and Rana Sanga but titled Rana, one Sisodiya member was addressed Maharana.
Bharat Ka Veer Putra Maharana Pratap is a name to remember for his heroic role in the battle against Mughals invaders. He’s among the gallant warriors with stalwart hearts who defended Nation, Dharma, Culture, and Freedom by immolating his life.
Biography and Information
⦁ Maharana Pratap Birth date: 9th May 1540
⦁ Maharana Pratap Birth Place: Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan
⦁ Maharana Pratap Spouse: Maharani Ajabde Panwar, Phool Kanwar Rathore, and others
⦁ Children: Amar Singh I and Bhagwan Das
⦁ Cast: Rajput, Hindu
⦁ Height: 7ft 5 inch approx
⦁ Father Name: Maharana Udai Singh II
⦁ Mother name: Maharani Jaiwanti Bai
⦁ Dynasty: Sisodia Rajput of Mewar
⦁ Cousins: Rana Sanga( Grandfather), Rani Karnavati( Grandmother), Mirabai( Aunt), Jagmal( Brother)
⦁ Died on: January 19, 1597
⦁ Death Place: Chawand, Rajasthan
Maharana Pratap Singh History
Vir Shiromani Pratap Singh Ji was the 13th king of the Mewar dynasty, now a part of the northwest Rajasthan region. He was renowned for his bravery in the battle against Akbar on the Haldighati Battlefield and the Battle of Dewair. He was privileged as Mewari Rana for his resistance against Mughal Empire expansion in the Mewar region. He was the ruler of Sisodia kingdom from 1572 to 1597 (till his death).
Maharana Pratap: Childhood and Early Life
Rana Udai Singh Ji II and Rani Jaiwanti Bai welcomed him into the world on May 9, 1540, at Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan. Rana Udai Singh II, a Mewar monarch, held Chittorgarh as his capital. Kunwar Pratap Singh Ji was the eldest of Rana Udai Singh II’s, 25 sons and qualified for the title of Crown Prince or Baojiraj. In his wake, he left a legacy as the 54th custodian of Mewar.
Succession
Upon the death of Raja Udai Singh Ji II, Kunwar Pratap Singh Ji became the 54th custodian of Mewar Kingdom. Being the eldest son, he ascended the throne in Gogunda on 28 February 1572.
Under the influence of his favorite queen, Rani Bhatiyani, Rana Udai Singh disregarded the rule of succession and proclaimed his dear wife’s son— Jagmal, to be the successor of the Mewar throne. In response to this knowledge at Raja Udai Singh’s funeral, Kunwar Pratap’s uncle, Sonigara Maan Singh of Pali, intervened. Despite this, he did not disrespect the late Udai Singh II.
Krishna Rawat Das and Raja Ram Shah (Prince of Gwalior), backed Kunwar Pratap Singh. Each of them gently held Raja Jagmal’s arms and spoke to him, You have made a mistake— the place belongs to your elder brother. They presented Kunwar Pratap with a sword, and Rawat Krishna Das acclaimed Kunwar Pratap Singh as the Maharana of Mewar— hence he was known as Maharana Pratap Singh of Mewar.
A coronation ceremony occurred in Kumbhalgarh, attended by all Mewar chiefs, including Rao Chandrasen Ji. Rana Jagmal was offended and had no allies, so he left Mewar and went to the court of Akbar, who was interested in the schism and gave Jahajpur as his Jagir.
The Maharana of Mewar
The chiefs of Mewar proclaimed Maharana as the successor of the Mewar dynasty in 1572 AD. He maintained the dignity and independence of the country for 25 years single-handedly. Due to the alliance of his brothers with the Mughal army and his treaty with the Rajputs, his throne was full of thorns.
During the last siege of Chittorgarh, many Rajput warriors were slaughtered and the area was ravaged. Due to a lack of money and troops, Maharana Pratap may have joined forces with foreign monarchs for peace and prosperity. But he believed martyrdom was preferable to servitude. He stood tall opposite the Mughals and invaded them from his country with a few devoted people, his beloved horse Chetak, minister Bhama Shah, and string bills.
The Maharana of Mewar declined to sign treaties with the Mughal authority, which irritated Emperor Akbar since he wanted to expand his dominion throughout the kingdom but had failed to take Mewar.
Mewar served as a commerce hub between Mughal and Gujarat domains. The Maharana’s declaration of independence prevented Akbar from capturing Mewar despite capturing numerous Rajput regions.
The Ballad of Haldighati
Missions of Diplomacy
Akbar knew the strength of Maharana Pratap— he did not attack Mewar directly but strengthened the hold on seized territories. All the Rajput princes aligned with Mughal Emperor, including Marwar, Amber, Bikaner, and Bundi confederated with the Mughal emperor and sealed the boundaries of Mewar from north, east, and west.
From 1572 through 1576, Akbar dispatched four ambassadors to Maharana and requested him to submit. Korchi Jalal Khan, Akbar’s beloved, delivered the first peace mission. In 1572, he reported to AKbar in Ahmedabad that he had failed to convince Maharana Pratap Singh Ji. Akbar sent another ambassador, this time the Prince of Amber, Maan Singh Ji. Although got a warm welcome, he was unable to persuade Maharana. Maan Singh invited Maharana to the Amber feast, but he did not go and instead sent his son Amar Singh, who claimed to have stomach problems. It enraged Mughal Shahjahan, who ordered Maan Singh’s father, Raja Bhagwan Das of Amber return empty hand. Finally, Raja Todarmal attempted but failed to persuade.
The Battle of Haldighati
On April 3, 1576, Raja Maan Singh, Asaf Khan, Sayyad Hashim, Barha, Sayyad Ahmad, Raja Jaggan Nath Kacchwaha, Mehtar Khan, and other leaders set out for Mandal Garh for a face-to-face combat strategy.
Maharana learned of Maan Singh’s preparations and prepared for the war. He was aware of Raja Ram Shah of Gwalior’s backing, as well as that of his sons, Salivahan Bhawani Singh, Jhala Maan Sajjawat, Jhala Bida, Rawat Krishna Das, with 3000 cavalry and 400 Bhils. On the contrary, Maan Singh commanded an army of 10,000 Mughal soldiers.
Because Maharana Pratap moved from Chittorgarh, the army had to rely on Udaipur. Pratap left for Gogunda in mid-June since the mountainous region was considerably safer for the army, and Maharana was the champion of guerilla warfare. It was especially advantageous against Mughal canons owing to steep terrains, as Maharana Pratap had no room for experimental risks. He understood Maan Singh wanted to take him to the broad plains because it would be better for Akbar and his army. As a result, Maan Singh reluctantly traveled to Haldi, Molela.
Every step taken by the Mughals in the terrain was reported to Maharana Pratap or Rana Kika ( affectionately called Maharana, Rana Kika by the Bhils). The Mughal army headed in three directions as Maan Singh planned for three prolonged movements.
⦁ The central forces went from Badshahi Bagh and tapered passage of Balicha, Sangath, Haldighati, Kaloda, and Loseeng.
⦁ The Left-wing proceeded south from Unwas, Sembal, and nearby Kaloda to back up central forces.
⦁ The Right-wing planned to attack from the right of river Daboon and then merge with the central forces of Kaloda.
The Battle of Dewair- A Forgotten Saga
In 1572, the first battle of Dewair took between Maharana Pratap and the Mughals. It was a forgotten conflict in which Maharana assaulted the Mughal base camps in Dewair village. Mughal Commander in Chief Behlol Khan responded against Mewar troops.
Maharana brutally assassinated Behlol Khan. Fear of Pratap caused Mughal troops to evacuate the camp after Behlol Khan’s death. To vengeance the defeat of Haldighati, Mewari soldiers demolished the captured encampment. The entire Mewar dynasty lauded Maharana, as was his son Amar Singh, who demonstrated Rajput valor in combat.
Following the restoration of the Dewair battle, Maharana desired to win and restore Kumbhalgarh while remaining on the banks of the fortress. The brutality of the Dewair incident terrified the Mughal forces, who retreated from the Kumbhalgarh fort without fighting. Once again, Kumbhalgarh came under the Mewar Kingdom.
Maharana Pratap Death
Maharana Pratap died on January 19, 1597, following injuries sustained at the Chavand hunting incident. Amar Singh, his eldest son, succeeded him. On his deathbed, Maharana urged Rana Amar Singh not to submit to the Mughals and to reclaim Chittorgarh from the Mughals.
Maharana Pratap Last Wish
After many efforts, Maharana’s pledge to liberate Chittorgarh remained unmet. On his deathbed, he called his eldest son, Amar Singh, and gave over the burden of rescuing Chittorgarh, and he died in peace. He encouraged him not to give up and to resist the Mughal soldiers. He is unique. Despite many troubles, he was the only one who refused to yield to the ruthless Akbar. He battled for Mewar for 12 years and was invincible. He conquered a massive area of Mewar from the Mughals, including Kumbhalgarh and Dewair. He is unquestionably a fighter!
Legacy of Maharana Pratap Singh
Maharana Pratap is said to be the first Indian freedom fighter. After many hurdles, he did not give up and stood tall against the Mughal army. There are so many television serials on Maharana Pratap chivalry.
He was an essence of pride, chivalry, and sovereignty for generations. He is remembered for the Haldighati battle fought in 1576, where he showed courage and leadership qualities against the Mughals even with low resources.
He was a true lover of architecture, culture, and tradition. It is why he promoted literature, music, and architecture in his kingdom. Several monuments and memorials are made in honor of Maharana Pratap in which one iconic statue stands tall as Maharana Pratap Memorial of Moti Magri in Udaipur where it showcases a bronze statue of a tall, courageous Maharana with his spear (Bhaala) riding his beloved horse Chetak who saved Maharana’s life in Haldighati battlefield even with severe injuries.
Maharana Pratap Personal Life
Maharana Pratap was married eleven times and had seventeen sons and five daughters. In 1557 he married his first and most cherished wife, Maharani Ajabde Panwar. He had his first son from Maharani Ajabde, Amar Singh, in 1559, and he was the Mewar kingdom’s heir after Maharana.
Pratap Singh Ji married ten additional princesses to keep the Rajput united. He spent most of his time in the jungle, and his family subsisted on grass chapatis.
Vir Shiromani Maharana Pratap Jayanti
Maharana Pratap Jayanti commemorates Maharana Pratap, a heroic Rajput warrior, and the 13th Mewar King. It happens on the third day of the Jyestha Hindu Month calendar, which is in May or June. It is observed on the third day of the Hindu month of Jyestha, which occurs in May or June. Maharana Pratap Jayanti 2022 is commemorated on Thursday, 2 June 2022 according to the Hindu calendar. This year’s anniversary is on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. The death anniversary of Maharana Pratap happened on January 19, 2023.
People honor Maharana Pratap by organizing cultural events, processions, and feasts. Schools and colleges hold lectures and discussions to teach students about Maharana’s gallantry. To herald him raising the national flag and singing patriotic songs are performed at Chittorgarh Fort.
Who Defeated Maharana Pratap?
Maharana Pratap was a renowned warrior who fought against the Mughals. Despite fighting several wars, Maharana Pratap Singh was unbeaten by Akbar or any other Mughal commander. However, he has to pay an enormous cost for his exile, including territory loss and economic suffering. He is an emblem of resistance against foreign invaders and an encouragement to future generations.
Amazing Facts About Maharana Pratap Singh
- Maharana Pratap stood seven and a half inches tall and weighed 110 kilograms.
- The total weight of Maharana Pratap’s spear, shield, two swords, and armor was around 208 kg.
- He had eleven wives named Maharani Ajabde Panwar, Rani Lakhabai, Rani Champabai Jhati, Rani Shahmatibai Hada, Rani Ratnawatibai Parmar, Rani Solankhinipur Bai, Rani Amarbai, Rani Phool Bai, Rani Alamdebai Chauhan, Rani Jasobai Chauhan, and rani Khichar Ashabai.
- Maharana Pratap survived on grass chapatis in the forest for a long. When a wild cat stole the roti from his daughter’s grasp, he chose to submit in front of Akbar. He drafted a letter outlining his submission intentions, which Akbar joyfully forwarded to Prithviraj, a poet under the Mughal Emperor. He replied to the Rajput warrior, encouraging him to fight.
- He was a man of words who valued the dignity of women. In one fight, Amar Singh acquired women from the Mughal camp as prisoner prizes, but Maharana Pratap directed his son to escort the ladies to the enemy camp. According to legend, Abdur Rahim Khan-e-Khana was planning an attack on Pratap when he learned of the news.
- Despite a dearth of food, guns, and money, Maharana did not surrender to the Mughals. Bhama Shah, a Maharana Pratap minister, assisted him throughout the crisis.
- He was the master of Guerilla Warfare tactics.
- Chetak, his beloved horse, saved his life during the Battle of Haldighati. He died after leaving him in a secure location.
- Maharana Pratap was known as Rana Kika because he spent much of his boyhood in the jungle between Bhils.
- Chetak, Pratap’s favorite horse, had blue eyes and was known as the Rider of Blue Horse.
- Aside from Chetak, he was fond of an elephant named Ramprasad. He slew during the Haldighati conflict. Raja Man Singh used seven elephants to apprehend Ramprasad.
- The real Maharana Pratap photo is housed in Udaipur’s Maharana Pratap Memorial, Moti Magri.
- Maharana Pratap Engineering College, Kanpur is a prominent college named after a legendary persona.
Pratap Gaurav Kendra Rashtriya Teerth
Pratap Gaurav Kendra in the Tiger Hills of Udaipur, Rajasthan, has the World’s biggest metal statue of Maharana Pratap. It is 57 feet tall and tries to provide thorough information on the Mewar king’s accomplishments.
It is a Teerth that celebrates Hindu culture while also resurrecting the past of notable personalities.
Many idols of Mewar’s renowned figures, including Bappa Rawal, Maharana Kumbha, Maharana Sanga, Maharani Padmini Devi, Mirabai, Panna Dhay, Udai Singh, and others, are erected with light and sound shows at the Kendra.
It is must visit if you want to learn about the lionized warrior.
Conclusion
We recall Maharana Pratap as a Tejaswi Shoorveer who often remarked— Apne aur apne pariwar ke sath jo rashtra ke bare me soche wahi asli nagrik hai. He will always be an inspiration to all Indians. Jai Hind!
