Bharat Ka Veer Putra Maharana Pratap

“Bharat Ka Veer Putra Maharana Pratap jald hi Sony Entertainment Television par”

“Maa, see here, another Historical!” I smiled, waving at the TV.

“About whom?” She frowned, knowing it would mean one more 30-minute slot to take over the TV. As if Mahabharat was not enough!

“Rana Pratap Singh!” I said gleefully. “They are not showing who will play it, though.”

The last Historical I truly loved was Veer Shivaji, which ended suddenly.

Two days later….

“Bharat ka veer putra Maharana Pratap Sattais May se Sony Entertainment Television par”

27^th May 2013:

“Dhola maru Dharti ro… laal ayo re….”

His brown eyes, that red tika, that run through the sands of Jaisalmer … I was already in love with Kunwar Pratap. Having read the history, I knew Dheerbai’s sweet talks were purposeful, but so what? One needs talent to make the enemy dance to your tunes. And Jaivanta Bai ji. Wow! That aura of grace, I was always a fan of Rajsree ji. And one episode gave me three favourites together, Faisal Khan, Aashka Goradia and Rajshree Vaidya Thakur. Okay, I admit it, since the first episode itself, I was Okay Udai Singh, I don’t like you! That innocent smile Kunwar Pratap wore was so adorable.

Kunwar Pratap’s journey was slowly mesmerising us as much as Faisal’s acting!

The Gurukul days, Raghavendra ji, the Shams Khan Kill, the Surtan days, Krishna, Panna Dhai. Every episode kept me hooked, crying, smiling and laughing with Kunwar Pratap. Heard he was going to be there for only two months, but the popularity apparently made them extend that period. Thank God for that. Those wars and dialogues were always wow, “Jauhar phir na aega…” a promise he couldn’t keep later.

Entered Ajabde Punwar, and she was just like I imagined her to be. No serial ever made me say “Aww” every time my eyes met and made my heart race when he held her hand and dragged her away from the Afghan attacks. I cried buckets when she was fighting for his life. Ahh, good old days!

27^th May 2014:

Udai Singh wanted an alliance with Marwar thanks to the sacrificing soul called Ajabdeh. I was really pissed off with how he was pushing her to confess, and she was pushing him away and hurting him. Cometh the next episode, and I was blown away with “Hum e mil chuki hai… humare samne khadi hai.” The lone tear that escaped his eyes every time made a million hearts ache. Then again, she…err… Kher chodo!

27^th May 2015:

Post-leap, I am sure half of you left watching it. But truth be said, I never had a problem with it, coz… BKVPMP was never about PrAja alone. It was mostly his ideals, his war techniques, bravery and achievements. And post-leap, they did total justice to that except for some Dheer drama.

It was that episode where he led an army against Akbar in Chittorgarh, somewhere near December 1567 and drove him away at least for a month. Ajabde’s prayers, Amar’s bravery and his confidence were shown beautifully. Yes, I missed the romance, but that was their real life, full of struggles with each other; life is not Romantic.

Here to mention, I had decided randomly to write their real history in a fiction form in my blog, and I got overwhelming responses, especially on “She Left”. I kind of dreaded the day when she would.

And I was not wrong.

I had made friends across the country and out of it for these few blogs, and I was so grateful to have them. I am glad I can say I still have them there, just a message away. Incidentally, to mention, it was this very day that my dad and I decided on a Mewar trip post the episode, I just didn’t know he would make it so soon!

27^th May 2016:

It’s been months since the show was over. Yet every episode is in my blood and soul. Every time I am free, I turn to these very episodes to make me laugh, cry and smile the same way they did two years back. Kunwar Pratap and Ajabde’s love still makes me wish, dream and imagine. Their bravery makes me wonder. I have spent nights (read till dawn) talking episodes and stories, plots and subplots with many fellow MRPians, and I still do so, which makes me smile every time. All the FCs, fandom and craziness have remained the same, and it’s awesome to be a part of this crazy bunch.

Today, on the third anniversary, I am glad I was a viewer.

Maybe 20 years later, people will still remember a certain Saas Bahu Drama or a Supernatural Show, but for me, Bharat Ka Veer Putra Maharana Pratap is the one that touched my soul and gave me ideals. There have been crunch situations when I feel lost, and yes, I may sound crazy, but his ideals and her beliefs make me believe.

Reading about him has increased twice in the last two years, and the more I read his folklore and history and listen to the local songs about him (do listen to those!) I bowed to the man whose statue stands overlooking Chavand, a lamp at his feet that cold air gave me goosebumps, and I whispered “Kunwar Pratap” with tearful eyes.

Many didn’t know a certain Ajabdeh Baisa and her contribution to his life. But being a history lover and having a special interest in the not-so-famous women behind the successful men, I had stumbled on her name before, like I did on Jaivanta Bai’s and her character was more than justified in the show. Moreover, going to his land and seeing his name with hers, I smiled to myself.

Faisal and Roshni, Ssharad and Rachna indeed made them alive onscreen, and those lines “Hoke vivash phir aoge tum, chod ke phir na jaoge tum” still haunt me.

I should stop now as it will take me days, months and years to describe my feelings towards the show, and them, and RoSal. It’s been three years, and I won’t forget in the next 30! Thank you, BKVPMRP, Faisal, Ssharad, and the team for making people remember a soul who was the true first freedom fighter of India.

Lord Rama said, “Our love makes us immortal, our deeds make us God”

I looked up at that board that said “Patni: Ranisa Ajabdeh Bai”, and I smiled at his statue, remembering those words.

Yes, their love made them immortal 500 years hence, and their deed made him Mewar’s “Ekling ka kahe jo Avatar, woh Pratap hai”

Jai Eklingji, Jai Mewar, Jai Maharana Pratap!

Chittorgarh: The First Jauhar

The concept of Jauhar holds a profound place in Rajputana history. It is a ritual where Rajput women willingly choose death by jumping into a fire altar, invoking the gods, and embracing honour rather than living under the humiliation of enemy conquest. Unlike Sati, Jauhar was never forced or compulsory; it was considered the most honourable death a Rajputani could choose when their men lost battles and the enemy laid siege. The Historical Setting: Jauhar Gate and Chittorgarh Fort Chittorgarh Fort once housed the palace of Rana Ratan Singh near the famed Vijay Stambh and his Jal Mahal at the fort’s main gate. When Alauddin Khilji invaded Chittor, much of this was destroyed. However, later ruler Rana Kumbha rebuilt the Jal Mahal and re-established the Jauhar Sthal to honour Queen Padmavati (also known as Padmini). Ratan Singh, who ruled Mewar during Khilji’s reign as Sultan of Delhi, was known to be a peace-loving monarch who enjoyed music and poetry. One of his court poets, Ragha...

Maharana Pratap: The Sun of Mewar

Many of you have read my fan fiction as well as historical representations of the life and times of Maharana Pratap Singh of Mewar. I provided small details of his life in many articles. But never have I ever made a separate historical post on him. It is very difficult to put together his life without the help of folklore because historical evidence is scarce. This one was requested, and hence here it goes. Needless to say, this one is very special. This is a blend of history and folklore. Leave your love. ❤️ Background and Birth: The year was 1540. Mewar was under a cloud of uncertainty. Banbir, their ruler for four years now, was a very incompetent ruler who always spent his time in luxury, drinking and dancing with girls. The crown prince Udai Singh was rumoured to have been killed by him. Chittorgarh was in darkness. Around March 1540, Mewar once again saw hope as some trusted generals, along with Kunwar Udai Singh, attacked Chittorgarh, taking Banbir by surprise. He was soon t...

Haldighati: The Battlefield

The year was 1576 CE. Four years had passed since Maharana Pratap’s coronation as the ruler of Mewar in 1572 CE. In those years, the land simmered not just with heat but with tension. The Timurid emperor Akbar, determined to fulfil his imperial vision, had sent not one, but three peace emissaries with Man Singh and Bhagwan Das leading them, between 1573 and 1575 CE, offering reconciliation in carefully worded treaties. But the wounds of Chittorgarh’s fall in 1568 CE were fresh for Pratap. With the blood and tears of Jauhar and Saka still alive, with the thousands mercilessly killed, there would be no peace without freedom. Pratap was no ordinary king, to be driven just by his zeal. He was a strategist, steeped as much in statecraft as in pride. When Man Singh came in 1575 CE with yet another offer, he was quick to realise that Akbar was reluctant to an out-and-out battle with Mewar. Pratap chose not to appear himself, sending his heir, Amar Singh, instead, stating that kings met kings...

The Cortege That Shook The Raj: Kanailal Dutta

10th November, 1908 Around late morning, a procession of lacs made their way through the streets of Calcutta (Kolkata), India. Some were chanting “Vande Mataram”, others blew conch shells, and Ululation filled the air. Flowers were being showered from all directions, and garlands made their way through the crowd, being thrown at the procession in the middle. Bhagwat Gita and Ananda Math (Novel by Bamkim Chandra) were offered. No, this was no “ Sobha Jatra ” or celebration. There were no religious festivities either. That dawn, the Alipore Jail, which opened only two years back, witnessed the hanging of Kanailal Dutta, a twenty-year-old member of the “Jugantar Dol”, an anarchist group that was set up primarily by Aurobindo Ghosh (Later Rishi Aurobindo), his brother Barindra and their associates. Kanailal hailed from Chandannagore, and although he was not present in most of their meetings in Kolkata, he was still one of their early members from Chandannagore, then a French province. ...

Sisodiya: Kings, Queens and Princes (1538 - 1597)

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The Suta Putra

He was born as the eldest son of the Princess of Kuntibhoj. She was unmarried and had a bright future ahead of her. She did not want to sabotage her life and future for the unwanted child. She wrapped him in a blanket and decided to float him on the River, hoping the Mother Goddess would safely deliver him to someone. His father, the Sun God himself, was sympathetic to her plight and, for the safety of his son, provided him with a set of golden Kavach and Kundal (A set of earrings and a locket/beads/armour) to protect him. These were powerful enough to save him from any weapon. The currents took the baby far away to the land of Hastinapur. The royal charioteer Adhirath and his wife Radha were bathing there and praying to the Sun God for a child. A basket floated past them with a baby in it. They picked the baby up and decided to call him their son. Growing up, he wanted to learn archery and train as a Kshatriya, much to the objection of his parents. He went to Parasurama, the teacher o...

Rani Padmini: The Valiant Queen

This story is a retelling of some parts of Malik Mohammad Jayasi's Padmavat, which was a historical fiction poem written in 1540, about 200 years after the siege of Chittorgarh by Allauddin Khilji. Historically, the Rajputs of Mewar didn't keep accounts of their queens, even by name, so the name Padmini or Padmavati was made up by Jayasi to represent the women of Chittor who chose the Jauhar. Historically speaking, Allauddin Khilji wanted the trade route to Surat for himself, which went through Mewar and Rana Ratan Singh, a patron of art, was not known for his military skills. So when Khilji surrounded the fort, the only way out was the Saka and Jauhar. Rani Padmini's Jauhar, as it is now popularly called, is also not the first Jauhar Khilji witnessed. The Jauhars of Ranthambore and Jaisalmer happened before he attacked Chittorgarh. Also, the act of Jauhar happened as early as the Greek invasions of Porus's state, when it is described as the "Mass immolation of Sat...

Chawand: The Maharana's Capital

The road from Udaipur quickly fades into quiet countryside as you head toward Jaisamand Lake and Chavand, a journey that few package tours offer, but one that is forever imprinted on my memory. Just shy of an hour and 59km from the city bustle, you reach Jaisamand (Dhebar Lake), the “Ocean of Victory,” sprawling as Asia’s once-largest man-made lake . Built in 1685 by Maharana Jai Singh, who followed his father’s legendary tradition of dam-building, this vast sheet of water shimmers in the sunlight. I watched local ferries pass, and marble stairs dip into blue shallows, imagining bygone queens slipping into cooling water beneath the massive embankment. Even today, friendly boatmen linger, eager to usher you onto the lake for a breezy ride. They tell you stories of how once a Maharana roamed these dense forests in search of freedom. Do pause here and soak in the peaceful air before venturing further southwest, toward the forgotten echoes of Mewar’s pride. The drive to Chavand, ...

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Etched In Stone

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