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| ==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
| Rana Pratap had 11 ]s<ref>{{cite book| last=Sharma|first=Dashrath|title=Rajasthan Through the Ages: From 1300 to 1761 A.D:Volume 2 of Rajasthan Through the Ages| year=1990|page=274}}</ref> and 17 sons<ref>{{cite book| last=Meininger|first=Irmgard|title=Chittaurgarh| year=2000|isbn=9788124601501|page=38}}</ref> and 5 daughters of which ]<ref>{{cite book| last=Shashi|first=S.S|title=Encyclopaedia Indica: | Rana Pratap had 11 ]s<ref>{{cite book| last=Sharma|first=Dashrath|title=Rajasthan Through the Ages: From 1300 to 1761 A.D:Volume 2 of Rajasthan Through the Ages| year=1990|page=274}}</ref> and 17 sons<ref>{{cite book| last=Meininger|first=Irmgard|title=Chittaurgarh| year=2000|isbn=9788124601501|page=38}}</ref> and 5 daughters of which ]<ref>{{cite book| last=Shashi|first=S.S|title=Encyclopaedia Indica: | ||
| India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Volume 100| year=1996|isbn=9788170418597|page=185}}</ref> was eldest followed by Chanda Singh, Sahas Mal, Shekha Singh and others.{{citation needed|date=July 2013}} | India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Volume 100| year=1996|isbn=9788170418597|page=185}}</ref> was eldest followed by Chanda Singh, Sahas Mal, Shekha Singh and others.{{citation needed|date=July 2013}} | ||
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| Maharana Pratap Singh | |
|---|---|
| The Ruler of Mewar | |
 | |
| Reign | 1568–1597 |
| Predecessor | Udai Singh II |
| Successor | Amar Singh I |
| Born | (1540-05-09)9 May 1540 Kumbhalgarh Fort, Rajasthan, India |
| Died | 19 January 1597(1597-01-19) (aged 56) |
| Issue | Amar Singh Bhagwan Das (17 sons) |
| House | Sisodia |
| Father | Udai Singh II |
| Mother | Maharani Jaivantabai |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Maharana Pratap pronunciation or Pratap Singh (May 9, 1540 – January 19, 1597) was a Hindu Rajput ruler of Mewar, a region in north-western India in the present day state of Rajasthan. He belonged to the Sisodiya clan of Rajputs. In popular Indian culture, Pratap is considered to exemplify the qualities like bravery and chivalry to which Rajputs aspire, especially in context of his opposition to the Mughal emperor Akbar.
Accession
In 1568, during the reign of Udai Singh, Chittor was conquered by the Mughal Emperor Akbar after the third Jauhar at Chittor. However, Udai Singh and the royal family of Mewar had left before the fort was captured and moved to the foothills of the Aravalli Range where Udai Singh had already founded the city of Udaipur in 1559. Rana Udai Singh had wished Jagmal, his son, from his favorite - the Bhatiyani queen to succeed him. But after his death the senior nobles wanted Pratap, the eldest son, to be their king as was customary. During the coronation ceremony, Jagmal was physically moved out of the palace by the Chundawat Chief and Tomar chief Ramshah and prevailed upon Pratap, who was crowned as the next Rana of Mewar.
Conflict
Chittorgarh, Pratap's ancestral home, was under Mughal occupation. Living a life on the run, the dream of reconquering Chittor (and thus reclaiming the glory of Mewar) was greatly cherished by Pratap, and his future efforts were bent towards this goal.
Nearly all of Pratap's fellow Rajput chiefs had meanwhile entered into the vassalage of the Mughals. Even Pratap's own brothers, Shakti Singh and Sagar Singh, served Akbar. Indeed, many Rajput chiefs, such as Raja Man Singh of Amber (later known as Maharaja of Jaipur) served as army commanders in Akbar's armies and as members of his council. Akbar sent a total of six diplomatic missions to Pratap, seeking to negotiate the same sort of peaceful alliance that he had concluded with the other Rajput chiefs. This is clearly evidential of the ends sought by each of the two rulers.
Battle of Haldighati
On June 21, 1576 (June 18 by other calculations), the two armies met at Haldighati, near the town of Gogunda in present-day Rajasthan. While accounts vary as to the exact strength of the two armies, all sources concur that the Mughal forces outnumbered Pratap's men.
However, the numerical superiority of the Mughal army and their artillery began to tell. Seeing that the battle was favoring Akbar and with the huge amount of death of soldiers on both sides, Pratap's generals prevailed upon him to flee the field so as to be able to fight another day. Myths indicate that to facilitate Pratap's escape, one of his lieutenants, a member of the Jhala clan, donned Pratap's distinctive garments and took his place in the battlefield. He was soon killed. Meanwhile, Pratap was able to successfully evade captivity and escape to the hills.
It is said that Shakti Singh, Pratap's brother, who was fighting from side of Mughals, came to Pratap's side at this time and gave him his horse Unkar to escape, who also killed two Afghan horse riders, who had followed Pratap to the spot.
The battle of Haldighati has commanded a lasting presence in Rajasthani folklore, and the persona of Pratap Singh, is celebrated in a folk song “O Neele Ghode re Aswar” (O Rider of the Blue Horse).
Aftermath
Pratap retreated into the hilly wilderness of the Aravallis and continued his struggle. His one attempt at open confrontation having thus failed, Pratap resumed the tactics of guerrilla warfare. Using the hills as his base, Pratap continued small raids and skirmishes.
During Pratap's exile, he received much assistance from Bhamashah, a trusted general and aide of Pratap, who along with his brother Tarachand looted Mughal territory of Malwa and offered this large loot to Pratap to carry on his fight against Mughal. Bhamashah was promoted to post of Prime Minister after this by Pratap.
With the large booty at his disposal, Pratap organized another attack and Battle of Dewar followed in which army of Mewar was victorious and Pratap was able to claim back much of the lost territories of Mewar, except Chittor. The Bhil tribals of the Aravalli hills provided Pratap with their support during times of war and their expertise in living off the forests during times of peace.
Personal life
Rana Pratap had 11 Ranis and 17 sons and 5 daughters of which Amar Singh was eldest followed by Chanda Singh, Sahas Mal, Shekha Singh and others.
Final days
Maharana Pratap died of injuries sustained in a hunting accident. He died at Chavand, which served as his capital, on 29 January 1597, aged fifty-seven. A chhatri, commemorating Pratap Singh's funeral, exists in Chavand and is an important tourist attraction today. It is said that as he lay dying, Pratap made his son and successor, Amar Singh, swear to maintain eternal conflict against the Mughals. Amar Singh fought 17 wars with the Mughals. After Mewar was depleted financially and in man-power he conditionally accepted them as rulers. The treaty between Amar Singh and Mughal King Jahangir had some obligations that fort of Chittor would not be repaired and Mewar would have to keep a contingent of 1000 horse in the Mughal service. Besides Amar Singh would not have to be present at any of the Mughal Darbars.
Legacy
Most important of Pratap Singh's legacy was in the military field – after Haldighati, he increasingly experimented and perfected guerrilla warfare and light horse tactics. His innovative military strategy- use of scorched earth, evacuation of entire populations along potential routes of enemy march, poisoning of wells, use of mountain forts in Aravallis, repeated plunder and devastation of enemy territories along with harassing raids on enemy baggage, communications and supply lines- helped him recapture most of Mewar (except Chittor) by time of his death and enabled him to successfully tackled vastly stronger armies of Akbar. Harassing warfare perfected by Pratap Singh would in due course was adopted by Malik Ambar of Ahmednagar who taught and deployed local Marathas to fight invading Mughal armies, thus preparing them for future warfare against Mughals.
References
- ^ Rana, Bhawan Singh (2004). Maharana Pratap. Diamond Pocket Books. pp. 28, 105. ISBN 9788128808258.
- Sarkar, Jadunath (1994). A History of Jaipur : c. 1503 - 1938. Orient Longman. p. 83. ISBN 9788125003335.
- Sarkar, Jadunath (1994). A History of Jaipur. p. 48. ISBN 9788125003335.
- Daryanani, Mohan B. (1999). Who's who on Indian Stamps. p. 302. ISBN 9788493110109.
- Mathur, Pushparani (1994). Costumes of the Rulers of Mewar. p. 22. ISBN 9788170172932.
- Lal, Muni (1980). Akbar. p. 135. ISBN 9780706910766.
- Know Your Rajasthan: For University Students Appearing in Competitive Examinations and Interviews, and for Officials, Planners, and Government Departments by J. R. Kanungo - 1965 - Page 44
- Maharaj Shakti Singh and the Shaktawats of Boheda:a history of Boheda Thikana by D. L. Paliwal, Surendra Singh - 2004 - Page 42
- ^ Maharana Pratap By Bhawan Singh Rana. 2005. p. 80.
- Mann, Rann Singh (1989). Tribal Cultures and Change. Mittal Publications. p. 159. ISBN 9990056730.
- Sharma, Dashrath (1990). Rajasthan Through the Ages: From 1300 to 1761 A.D:Volume 2 of Rajasthan Through the Ages. p. 274.
- Meininger, Irmgard (2000). Chittaurgarh. p. 38. ISBN 9788124601501.
- Shashi, S.S (1996). Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Volume 100. p. 185. ISBN 9788170418597.
{{cite book}}: line feed character in|title=at position 22 (help) - Sharma, Sri Ram (2005). Maharana Pratap. p. 91. ISBN 978-8178710037.
{{cite book}}: line feed character in|title=at position 9 (help) - Chandra, Satish (2005). Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals Part - II. p. 122. ISBN 8124110662.
{{cite book}}: line feed character in|title=at position 9 (help) - Niraj, Jaysimha (1991). Splendour Of Rajasthani Painting. p. 15. ISBN 8170172675.
- Bakshi, S.R. (2008). Studies In Indian History: Rajasthan Through The Ages The Heritage Of Rajputs (Set Of 5 Vols.). p. 46. ISBN 9788176258418.
- "Maharana Pratap Ki Chhatri". Indira Gandhi National Centre for the arts. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
- Dutt, Romesh Chandra (1943). Pratap Singh, the last of the Rajputs: a tale of Rajput courage and chivalry. p. 180. ASIN B0006AVRDI.
- Sharma, Sri Ram (1971). Maharana Raj Singh and his Times. p. 14. ISBN 8120823982.
- Nicoll, Fergus (2009). Shah Jahan. Penguin Books India. p. 89. ISBN 9780670083039.
- Medieval India – 1000 AD to 1740, L.P Sharma