Mewar: The Land of Bravehearts

Since time immemorial, the Indian Subcontinent has witnessed many great battles, dynasties and eras. The most prominent rulers of the medieval age happen to be the Mughals or Timurids. Originally from Samarkand and Fergana, Babur, the chief of the small army that introduced gunpowder and cannons in the field of Panipat, was originally hired by the rulers of the subcontinent to oust Sultan Ibrahim Lodi from the throne of Delhi. Once Babar acquired Delhi and declared himself the emperor, there started a never-ending battle started between the native rulers and his army.

Rana Sanga of Mewar started to oppose Babar, as one of his strongest opponents, the most famous battle being the Battle of Khanua, where he finally won. Rana Uday Singh, Rana Pratap and others followed in his footsteps as Guardians of Mewar. The Jauhar (self-sacrifice of women to save their dignity from the invaders) happened thrice in the Chittorgarh Fort, the Capital of Mewar, within a span of four Generations of the Sisodia Clan. This proved the strong opponents the Mewar Rajputs proved to be. The men fought to sacrifice themselves for their motherland, while the women laid down their lives through Jauhar in losing the battles.

Rani Padmini (as people assume her name to be) was the first queen of Chittorgarh to lay down her life through Jauhar. Years later, Rani Karnavati followed. She was the wife of Rana Sanga, who died of war injuries, while her incompetent son Vikramaditya lost the throne to the Afghan invasion of Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. After giving away her child, Uday Singh, to a Wet nurse named Panna Dhai to save them, she, along with 10000 women, performed the act of Jauhar. Karnavati had sent a rakhi to Humayun, who could not come in time to save Chittor from the Afghans, while he was far east on his way to Bengal. He, however, came to reinstate Vikramaditya as the ruler. Rana Uday Singh became king after his elder brother Vikramaditya was killed by their uncle Banbir.

Chittorgarh

Amidst the battles and deaths in the heart of Mewar, Chittorgarh witnessed the Bhakti movement through Meera Bai, who was actually the Yuvrani of Mewar, widow of the eldest Prince, Bhoj Raj, son of Rana Sanga. Her devotion to Lord Krishna led to a lot of followers spreading the message of love through her songs. She, who could not tolerate violence, left Mewar on Rani Karnavati's advice and settled in Dwarka to preach. Rana Uday Singh tried to bring her back in vain.

Uday Singh

The Royal Heir to Rana Uday Singh was born to his first wife and Chief Consort Rani Jaivanti Bai of the Sisodia clan on 9th May 1540AD. The child was foretold to be a great leader. What he proved was to be an ideal son, husband, father and loving king as well. He was Maharana Pratap Singh of Mewar. Rana Pratap Singh was trained by his mother on the principles of love and honesty. He learned to value life and become brave to face it. His stepmother, Sajjabai, and Dheerbai led their sons, Shakti and Jagmal, respectively, against Pratap to fight for Akbar so that they could sit on the throne of Mewar. Pratap fought seventeen battles in his lifetime. The most famous battle was that at Haldighati.

Rana Pratap Singh is believed to have married his childhood friend Ajab Deh Punwar, Daughter of Ram Rakha Punwar, a chieftain, Samant, under his father Uday Singh for the province of Bijolia, near Chittorgarh. He was only seventeen, and she was fourteen when their childhood love culminated in marriage. It was 1557 AD. He had ten other wives, notable among them were his marital alliances with the Chauhans through his fourth wife, Jasobai and eight wives, Alam De Bai. He married Phool Kanwar Rathore, Princess of Marwar, after her father sought refuge under Udai Singh. His first son (of his 17 sons and 5 daughters) was born to a fifteen-year-old Ajab De on 16th March 1559 AD. The year also marked the birth of Udaipur under his father.

In 1568 AD, Akbar's huge army attacked Chittorgarh fort and seized it. The Loyal subjects took it upon themselves to save their king's family and helped them escape. Two Rajput warriors, Patta and Jaimal, fought Akbar's army before committing Saka, and the remaining women performed Jauhar. After this incident, Udai Singh found it unsafe to return to Chittor and made Udaipur his capital. He was influenced by Dheerbai to make her son Jagmal the heir on his deathbed, but the subjects chose Pratap as the king. Pratap became king in the year 1572 at Gogunda, where Udai Singh died. Pratap led his army to fight using guerrilla warfare tactics and light horse tactics that were later taken up by many armies. Pratap, after one of these battles against Akbar, was hiding in the forests with his family. On seeing his children starve, he once believed and thought of surrendering to his foe. His cousin, the King of Bikaner, wrote to him in a very famous letter, motivating him to go ahead and represent the Rajputs and not surrender to Akbar. Even his subjects and wives were supportive of this struggle.

Maharana Pratap Statue, Moti Magri

He shifted his capital to Chavand during this time. Being Ajab De's son, Amar Singh always got the favour of his father and his subjects, who loved their queen for her down-to-earth, warm nature and patriotism.

A young Amar Singh took charge, and this led Akbar to prepare and attack them at the famous battle of Haldighat, where Pratap reunited with his stepbrother-turned-foe, Shakti Singh. Rana Pratap's horse Chetak, "The Flying Horse", became an epitome of loyalty and bravery, as even after being seriously hurt, he led his master to safety before breathing his last.

Amar Singh

Rana Pratap led many successful battles in Rajputana against other Rajput Rulers also. He went on a hunting spree with his son, Amar Singh, in the year 1597. He was attacked by a tiger he thought was dead with his arrow. He died because of those injuries, on 19th January 1597, at Chavand, his then Capital. He made Amar Singh promise not to surrender to the Mughals and to keep his state independent, but Amar Singh failed to do so.

After going through repeated battles with Jehangir, an impressed emperor asked Amar Singh to sign a treaty with Prince Khurram (Shah Jahan) that, although Amar Singh would still remain ruler of Chittorgarh, it would be under Mughal territory. However, Amar Singh could not relocate his capital back to Chittor as his father wished. The inhabitants refused to go back there, and so he made Udaipur the permanent capital, away from the Mughal influences. He was later invited to Ajmer Fort by Jehangir to extend a hand of friendship and end their battles, which he accepted gracefully. He was succeeded by Karan Singh, his eldest son, after his death. His grandson was Raj Singh I, whom I mentioned in my blog, Charumati's Love for Defeating Aurangzeb.

Etched In Stone

This historical short story is a fictitious account of Ashoka, the Mauryan Emperor and his first wife Devi, who finds no place in Magadhan History. There is another fiction about her in the blog as well. This story stemmed from a merge of two ideas, one was to mention the cave inscription found in Saru Maru that mentions Asoka spending some days there with his lover (presumed to be Devi), the other idea of how if words did not immortalise a lot of battles and achievements, the names of many great men would be lost in time. The prince stood on the edge of the cliff, looking at the horizon. Dawn arrived as the birds started leaving their nests, wings fluttering, eager to discover the world. He looked up at them, the thought of once again going back to exploring the length and breadth of his state making him feel a little restless as he eyed his healing wounds. He was left to die; his enemies wished so. Yet by some miracle of fate, as if his purposes were yet to be fulfilled, here he was ...

Rakhi Tales

A Rakhi to the Enemy: The year was 1535 CE. The Rajmata of Mewar, widow of Rana Sanga, was in a dilemma. On one hand was an attack from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat as a threat to her capital, Chittorgarh, and the throne of her beloved teenage son Vikramaditya. On the other hand, there was the son of her husband's archenemy, Humayun, who could be of some help. Rani Karnavati wrote a letter to Humayun, who was in the east at that time. Along with it, she sent a Rakhi, a thread of brotherhood, asking him, as a sister, for protection against the enemy. But the road was too long, and time was of the essence. Humayun arrived at Chittorgarh, in response to her letter, keeping his end of the bargain but a little late. Rani Karnavati had already performed the Jauhar. They never met. Humayun established Rana Vikramaditya on the throne of Mewar, as he had promised as a brother, and returned to his post. Two dynasties, political rivals and sworn enemies, from Sanga-Babur to Pratap-Akbar and even R...

Bijolia: Her Home

Journey to Bijolia: Lost Kingdoms and Timeless Temples of Mewar Bijoliya translates to a stop between two cities. Nestled in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district, Bijolia sits 55km from Bundi and 105km from Chittorgarh on the well-travelled Bundi-Chittorgarh road. Once part of Mewar, this seemingly sleepy town guards a rich and layered past: it was ruled from the 11th to the 13th century by the Punwars (or Parmar Rajputs) before falling under the Chauhan dynasty, who shifted the region’s capital to Bhilwara and constructed the imposing fort there. After a brief Chauhan rule, Bijolia was reclaimed by Rana Kumbha and became an integral part of the Mewar kingdom, with the Parmars serving as local Raos, representatives and stewards of the royal house. Despite its history and the famed Bijolia inscriptions (a treasure for historians), Bijolia has never found a seat on Rajasthan’s primary tourist circuit, especially if you’re venturing out by public transport or private car. While a handful of...

A Veranda Vendetta

“Outrage in Calcutta; Terrorist Raid, British Officer Murdered” Read the headlines of The Times on Tuesday, 9 th of December, 1930 . 1930: A significant year 1930 was a very significant year in the history of India’s Freedom Struggle against the British Raj. The Indian National Congress went ahead to declare the 26 th of January as India’s Independence Day, celebrating it nationwide; the Civil Disobedience Movement was officially started by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, and Subhas Chandra Bose was arrested for participating in the same. On 18 th April, Surya Sen, better known as MasterDa, had done the unthinkable, raiding the British Armoury with his students and fellow teachers at Chittagong. He was still on the loose, yet to be found. In this year of growing protests against the colonisers, an incident emerged that shook the British at their old capital. The Bengal Volunteers Corps was a group of volunteers organised in the 1928 Calcutta session of ...

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

I am back with another History post, this time it is on the wives and sons of Rana Udai Singh II of Mewar, his son and heir Maharana Pratap and Rana Amar Singh. This is a continuation of the Sisodia Family History I posted some time back. The information has been taken from Annals of Mewar by James Todd, Maharana Pratap by B.N. Rana, and Maharana Pratap by Rima Hooja. Udai Singh II was the son of Ranisa Karnawati and Rana Sangram Singh. He was born on 4th August 1 522, at Chittorgarh and died on 28th February 1 572 at Gogunda . He was the Ruler of the Sisodia Dynasty. He is believed to have 56 sons and 2 5 wives, apart from the many insignificant queens in his Rani Mahal. Here is a list of his main queens and their sons. Maharani Jaivanta Bai Songara of Jalore was his chief queen and consort. Her son is Maharana Pratap. He was married to her before he went to war with Banbir, as her father, Akshayraj Rao, was a friend and ally of his father, Rana Sanga. Saj...

Mewar: Parting Words

The journey through Mesmerising Mewar ended the night I boarded my train from Udaipur, my heart weighed down by the memories I was leaving behind. As the city lights shimmered in the darkness, I found myself turning back at every chance, reluctant to bid farewell to Mewar, a place that felt less like a travel destination and more like a forgotten home. Sometimes I wonder if my love for the place comes from another life. My parents certainly think so. With the city’s silhouette fading behind me, it felt only right to share my last thoughts: the flavours of the cities, the hills of Aravallis, the moments that made those 15 days feel like a dream, a dream I had dreamt a long time ago, to see his world, through his eyes. His home. I’ll be forever grateful for. The Food: Soul of Mewar Udaipur is a feast in every sense! I dove headfirst into plates brimming with local aloo sabzi, peas cooked with a gentle sweetness, and the signature Rajasthani Churma that seemed to melt away any tra...

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, ...

Nawab E Bengal

Background: Nawab Alivardi Khan was ruling Bengal at the peak of Nawabi rule, expanding his strong empire. He had successfully suppressed the Marathas and had given a strong message to the British East India Company’s rising influence at Calcutta. Highly aware of the British Colonial policies across the globe, Nawab Alivardi Khan was strict with his policies and stronghold over Murshidabad, the then capital of Bengal (including present-day Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, and Bangladesh). He had two daughters and no sons. Amina Begum was the elder one, followed by Ghaseti Begum. Amina had three sons with her husband and courtier, Ahmed Khan. The second son, Mirza Mohammad, fondly called Siraj-Ud-Daulah (light of the country)by his grandfather, was born in 1733C.E. He was his grandfather’s favourite because he was born while he won over the Marathas. Alivardi Khan never let the “fortune child” of the family out of his sight. Siraj grew up accompanying...

The Hidden One

In the grand fort of Daulatabad, a princess was born in 1638 to Emperor Aurangzeb and his cherished consort, Dilras Banu Begum. She was christened Zeb Un Nisa, her very name meaning “ornament of womankind.” The youngest of her sisters, Zeb Un Nisa, grew up surrounded by the opulence of the Mughal harem at the Red Fort, under the spiritual guidance of her Sufi uncle Dara Shikoh and her wise aunt Jahanara Begum. From her earliest days, she was captivated by poetry, spending hours immersed in literature, her mind dancing among the verses of Persian and Urdu poets. As she blossomed into adulthood, Zeb Un Nisa cultivated her own literary voice and gathered the greatest poets of the Mughal Empire in her private council. Adopting the pen name Makhfi, the Concealed One, she wove magic with her words, always returning to one intoxicating theme: Love. Her father, Emperor Aurangzeb, was the most powerful man in India, unyielding in his faith and rule, yet also deeply affectionate towards his d...

The Thirteenth Night

This is part of the "Uttara Series" You will find under the Mahabharata. The series is also available on Wattpad. The night of the Bhadra Amavasya saw a funeral pyre in the Pandavas' camp. Wails of the ladies filled the air as the young brave heart was turning into ashes. The ashes lit up a celebration in the Kauravas' camp. Duryodhan, Dushyasan, Shakuni, and Jayadrata all succeeded in their mission. Breaking the Pandavas' backbone, killing their favourite son. Karna joined in the celebrations reluctantly; he had released the boy from the pain. The face kept coming back to him. After all, he was his nephew. He shut his eyes in pain. The air tonight seemed cursed. The pyre burning made the teenage widow run towards it. She had no hope of living without him. Life was already tough; each day, he went to war with a smile on his face. She had already lost her brother. Now she had none to return home to her. "Stop!" His mother pleaded between the wails. "...

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