Maharana Pratap or Pratap Singh (09 May 1540 – 29 January 1597) was the ruler of Mewar, a region in north-western India in the present day state of Rajasthan. He was the eldest son of Maharani Jayawantabai and Maharana Udai Singh II, founder of Udaipur. He belonged to the Sisodia clan of Rajputs. Maharana Pratap Singh is widely regarded as a fearless warrior and ingenious strategist, who successfully fought the Mughals and safeguarded his people until his death. In popular Indian culture, he is hailed as an inspirational figure for exemplifying gallantry and resourcefulness.
In 1567, when Crown Prince Pratap Singh was only 27, Chittor was surrounded by the Mughal forces of Emperor Akbar. Maharana Udai Singh II decided to leave Chittor and move his family to Gogunda, rather than capitulate to the Mughals. The young Pratap Singh wanted to stay back and fight the Mughals but the elders intervened and convinced him to leave Chittor, oblivious of the fact that this move from Chittor was going to create history for all times to come.
Battle of Haldi Ghati
In 1576, Akbar deputed Raja Man Singh to lead a force of 5,000 soldiers against Rana Pratap. The Rana advanced with a force of 3,000 soldiers and took a position near Haldighati which was at the entrance of a defile. The Rana's army included an Afghan contingent of Hakim Khan Sur; the Rana also had a small contingent of Bhil tribal’s fighting alongside him. Anticipating the mughal attack, the Rana had also devastated the entire region up to Chittor to prevent the mughal forces access to food and fodder.
The Battle of Haldighati was fought on February 18, 1576. It was primarily fought in the traditional manner between cavalry and elephants since the mughals found it difficult to transport artillery over the rough terrain. In a traditional fight the Rajputs were at an advantage; their impetuous attack led to a crumbling of the mughal left and right wings and put pressure on the center until reserves, and a rumor of Akbar's arrival, turned the tide, and resulted in a Rajput retreat. The heat, and fear of ambush in the hills, resulted in the mughals deciding not to pursue the Rajputs into the hills. Thus this battle failed to break the existing stalemate. Considering that both the armies of Akbar and Rana Pratap included Hindus and muslims, considering that Akbar's army was led by Raja Man Singh, and Rana Pratap's army included an afghan contingent led by Hakim Sur, it would not be correct to view this battle as a fight between Hindus and Muslims. Nor can it be viewed as a battle for Rajput independence, since influential sections of the Rajputs had already cast their lot with the mughals. At best, this fight can be viewed as an assertion of local independence arising from local and regional patriotism.
In 1567, when Crown Prince Pratap Singh was only 27, Chittor was surrounded by the Mughal forces of Emperor Akbar. Maharana Udai Singh II decided to leave Chittor and move his family to Gogunda, rather than capitulate to the Mughals. The young Pratap Singh wanted to stay back and fight the Mughals but the elders intervened and convinced him to leave Chittor, oblivious of the fact that this move from Chittor was going to create history for all times to come.
Battle of Haldi Ghati
In 1576, Akbar deputed Raja Man Singh to lead a force of 5,000 soldiers against Rana Pratap. The Rana advanced with a force of 3,000 soldiers and took a position near Haldighati which was at the entrance of a defile. The Rana's army included an Afghan contingent of Hakim Khan Sur; the Rana also had a small contingent of Bhil tribal’s fighting alongside him. Anticipating the mughal attack, the Rana had also devastated the entire region up to Chittor to prevent the mughal forces access to food and fodder.
The Battle of Haldighati was fought on February 18, 1576. It was primarily fought in the traditional manner between cavalry and elephants since the mughals found it difficult to transport artillery over the rough terrain. In a traditional fight the Rajputs were at an advantage; their impetuous attack led to a crumbling of the mughal left and right wings and put pressure on the center until reserves, and a rumor of Akbar's arrival, turned the tide, and resulted in a Rajput retreat. The heat, and fear of ambush in the hills, resulted in the mughals deciding not to pursue the Rajputs into the hills. Thus this battle failed to break the existing stalemate. Considering that both the armies of Akbar and Rana Pratap included Hindus and muslims, considering that Akbar's army was led by Raja Man Singh, and Rana Pratap's army included an afghan contingent led by Hakim Sur, it would not be correct to view this battle as a fight between Hindus and Muslims. Nor can it be viewed as a battle for Rajput independence, since influential sections of the Rajputs had already cast their lot with the mughals. At best, this fight can be viewed as an assertion of local independence arising from local and regional patriotism.
No comments:
Post a Comment