Bharat Ka Veer Putra Maharana Pratap – महाराणा प्रताप

On the occasion of Maharana Pratap Jayanti(Birthday) , we are missing him and dedicate this post to this legend for his bravery. He was a true leader and no one like him ever borned and no one would ever born like him.

Born: May 9, 1540 in Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan

Father’s Name: Maharana Udai Singh II

Mother’s Name: Rani Jeevant Kanwar

Died: January 29, 1597 in Chavand

Maharana Pratap was born on 9th May 1540 in Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan. His father was Maharana Udai Singh II and his mother was Rani Jeevant Kanwar. Maharana Udai Singh II ruled the kingdom of Mewar, with his capital at Chittor. Maharana Pratap was the eldest of twenty-five sons and hence given the title of Crown Prince. He was destined to be the 54th ruler of Mewar, in the line of the Sisodiya Rajputs.

Maharana Pratap History

He was a very brave legend of Mewar and he spent all his life for his people.He was very popular from the childhood among his people and he always helped them because he was very brave from childhood. He took part in his first war at the age of 12 without his father’s permission. He passed all his life fighting with the enemies to save his people.He fought many battles but biggest battle of his life was fought in Haldighati and it is known as Haldighati Yuddha. Kind Akbar was his biggest enemy who want rule his kingdom but he couldn’t do it ever. Akbar ruled on whole India (Hindustan) and he was also a great king but he could never defeat Maharana Pratap and he screamed even in his dreams from Pratap. Akbar won whole places of India and all the Rajput Kings surrendered in front of Akbar but Maharana Pratap was not ready to submit himself and his kingdom to a Mugle Emperor. Maharana Pratap never led down his head in front of any enemy. No one could defeat him in the war zone. After that the battle of Haldighati was fought between Maharana Pratap and the chief of Mugal army Maan Singh. Akbar himself didn’t took part in the battle because he was scared of Maharana Pratap.

Maharana’s Brave Horse Chetak

In the 16th century AD, a King named Rana Pratap ruled over parts of Northwestern India. The king had to fight several battles in his lifetime. In most of his battles, his gallant horse named Chetak courageously fought with its master and guarded its master’s life.

Of the many battles that the king fought, the most important was the battle of Haldighati. Chetak lost its life in that battle, but it died as one of the greatest heroes of history.

During the battle, the army of Rana Pratap was only one fourth the size of the army of the enemy. But Chetak, just like its master, was not afraid. It galloped with the Rana on its back, towards the elephant on which the enemy was seated and raised its feet against the huge beast. The elephant panicked and turned round and in the process the sword attached to its trunk cut through one of Chetak’s legs. Chetak was made to wear a baby elephant’s mask to confuse the elephants of the enemy. The Mughal army was numerically superior, while Maharana Pratap’s men’s morale was at its peak. It was a fierce battle and in that short period Pratap personally attacked Man Singh and the folklore has it that his horse Chetak placed his hooves on the trunk of Man Singh’s elephant. Pratap threw his lance at Man Singh; unfortunately it missed the mark and killed the elephant driver instead. Man Singh soon retreated from the scene. However Mughal army and their artillery finally succeeded in surrounding Pratap.

Chetak was injured badly while Pratap was trying to attack Man Singh. He was bleeding profusely, but on sensing his master in danger, rode him to safety. The Mughal soldiers were chasing them; Chetak labored on and managed to give the enemies a slip and took a final leap over a small brook few kilometers away from the battlefield. The brave and mighty horse, Chetak collapsed and breathed his last, his master Maharana Pratap Singh weeping over him. The Chetak Samadhi(grave) is located at that spot.

With three legs, Chetak still lunged forward with its master. But soon Chetak understood that its master’s life was in danger. Then it refused to move forward. Turning back on its own, on three legs, it made an incredible leap over a stream, taking its master to safety, away from the battleground. Then it collapsed and died in its master’s lap.

A statue of Chetak still lives in the city of Udaipur in India.

Haldighati Yuddha(Battle)

On 21 June 1576, the forces of Rana Pratap and Akbar met at Haldighati pass. Akbar’s army was led by Man Singh. It was a fierce battle; both the forces put up a brave fight.Mughal army was the 10 times of Mewar army but they fought with bravery. Mughals were in fact taken aback by surprise by the attacks from Rana Pratap’s men. Many Mughals fled away without fighting. The Mewar army attacked the Mughal army in three parallel divisions. Realising the failure of the Mughals, Man Singh moved forward to the centre with full vigour to attack Rana Pratap, who at that time was commanding the centre of his small army. By this time, the Mewar army had lost their momentum. Slowly, the Mewar soldiers started falling. Maharana Pratap on his horse Chetak kept on fighting against Man Singh. But, Rana Pratap was heavily wounded by the continuous hit of the spear and arrows by Man Singh and his men. During this time, his aide, Maan Singh Jhala took the silver chattra from Pratap’s back and placed it in his back. Wounded Rana Pratap fled away from the Mughal army and was saved by his brother Sakta. Man Singh in the meantime killed Maan Singh Jhala thinking him to be Rana Pratap. He was taken aback when he came to know that he had actually killed one of Rana Pratap’s trusted men. Next morning, when he came back again to attack the Mewar army, no one was there to fight the Mughals. Even today, the battle’s result is considered indecisive or it can be considered as a temporary victory for the Mughals. The battle was “a glorious defeat” for Mewar.

After the battle Maharana Pratap lost everything of him and he was wounded but he didn’t lost his hope. After few years he again build his army with local people Bheels(Community) and trained them to fight. Then he freed all his kingdoms and Mugal could never ruled on his land called Mewar and gave his people a happy life again.

Death of Maharana Pratap

When Akbar lost hope of ruling the Maharana’s land Mewar, everything was going fine but no one was knowing the internal condition of Maharana. He was very sick and all his wounds were rotted. He was suffering from illness but he didn’t tell anyone and he trained his men for future. Suddenly he fall down practicing war fight his son and he was about to die. He died on 29 January 1597 but he is always alive in heart of Indian people. When he died , even his biggest enemy Akbar became sad and he wanted to live alone for some time becausehe really respect his bravery. Everyone take his name with respect. He died with sickness because no one could defeat him in the battle.

We salute such a legend whose bravery will always give a message to youth that you shouldn’t led down yourself for a bad reason and his bravery will never be old. He is alive in our heart and i am proud of taking birth on his land.