Maharana Pratap - A Great Warrior
He was Hindu Rajput king of Mewar. He was born on 9 may, 1540 in Kumbhalgarh and died on 19 January 1597.
His mother's name is Maharani Jayawanti Bai and she was also the first teacher of Maharana Pratap.
He is mainly famous for his participation in the battle of Haldighati and the battle of Dewar.
From childhood, he was a great leader. He always played a leader role in his games and delegate the works to his friends.
Maharana Pratap was a strong warrior.
His height was about 7 feet 5 inches. He had carried a 360 kg weight, which included a spear weighing 80 kg, two swords weighing 208 kg and his armour was 72 kg heavy and His own weight was more than 110 kg.
His Childhood and Early Life
In 1567, the Mughal forces were occupying Mewar’s capital, Chittor.
His Childhood and Early Life
In 1567, the Mughal forces were occupying Mewar’s capital, Chittor.
Instead of fighting with the Mughal forces, Udai Singh who was the father of Maharana Pratap left the capital and shifted his family to Gogunda.
Maharana Pratap didn’t like this decision and took an against action of this decision and wanted to take the fight with the Mughals, but the elders were able to convince him that leaving the place is the right decision.
In Gogunda a temporary government was established by the kingdom of Mewar.
In 1572, after the death of Udai Singh, Rani Dheer Bai asked to make her son a new king because he was Uday Singh’s eldest son, Jagmal, but the senior courtiers felt that Maharana Pratap can handle the prevailing situation.
In 1572, after the death of Udai Singh, Rani Dheer Bai asked to make her son a new king because he was Uday Singh’s eldest son, Jagmal, but the senior courtiers felt that Maharana Pratap can handle the prevailing situation.
This is how Maharana Pratap succeeded to sit on the throne his father.
In the family of Maharana Pratap had eleven wives with five daughters, and seventeen sons but his most lovable wife was his first wife named Maharani Ajabde Punwar.
He married her in 1557 and in 1559, his first son Amar Singh was born.
It is said that Maharana Pratap married ten more princesses in order to increase the strength of the Rajput unity. Maharana Pratap spent many years of his life in forests and it is also said that there was a time when his family had to survive on Roti made up of grass.
The Battle of Haldighati
On 18 June 1576, the Rajput army fought with the Mughal army (under the command of Asaf Khan and Man Singh from Amber) at Haldighati.
It is said that Maharana Pratap married ten more princesses in order to increase the strength of the Rajput unity. Maharana Pratap spent many years of his life in forests and it is also said that there was a time when his family had to survive on Roti made up of grass.
The Battle of Haldighati
On 18 June 1576, the Rajput army fought with the Mughal army (under the command of Asaf Khan and Man Singh from Amber) at Haldighati.
According to historians, it was one of the wildest fights ever fought, with the Mughal forces were more than the Rajput army.
The responsibility of Mewar’s army was on the shoulder of Ram Shah Tanwar and his sons namely, Chandrasenji Rathore, Rawat Krishnadasji Chundawaat, and Maan Singhji Jhala.
The war lasted for 4 hours and resulted in massive loss of lives from the Mewar side (approximately 1600 soldiers) and only 150 soldiers and 350 wounded lost from the Mughals side.
The war lasted for 4 hours and resulted in massive loss of lives from the Mewar side (approximately 1600 soldiers) and only 150 soldiers and 350 wounded lost from the Mughals side.
Maharana Pratap was badly injured but he was able to escaped to the nearby hills.
Mughals were able to occupy several parts of Mewar, including Gogunda and the nearby areas except for some regions of Aravellis, but they failed to catch Maharana Pratap.
The Battle of Dewar
At the time of the Battle of Haldighati, when the Mughal forces are more than the forces of Maharana Pratap, he took a lesson and changed his art of war from open warfare to guerrilla warfare and pull back from the battlefield.
After the battle, only 7,000 soldiers were left from the Maharana Pratap side and On the other side, Mughal forces have occupied Kumbhalgarh, Gogunda (temporary capital of Mewar after Chittorgarh was captured by the Mughals), Udaipur & Chappan.
To defeat Maharana Pratap, Akbar sent many times his army more than 1,00,000 soldiers each time between 1577 to 1582 but every time he failed in his mission.
When Maharana Pratap needed money to restore his army and regain his territory then his minister Bhamashah came forward to help him.
He was Rana’s minister – this office was passing from generation to generation in his family. He gave his wealth and his ancestor’s wealth to Maharana Pratap that is sufficient for the maintenance of 25,000 men for twelve years.
Written By: Lakshya Thakur
Edited By: Komal Jha
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