15th June 2003

“Pratap” is a name redolent with glory and the aura of greatness. Maharana Pratap of Mewar (Udaipur) was a doughty warrior, resolutely independent, who never submitted to the might of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This unswerving resistance has made him a victim for the RSS attempt to rewrite history in as anti-Muslim a manner as is possible. They have installed a statue of Pratap in Dillee. Perhaps this would not have appeared an honour to Pratap. If he had agreed to come to the capital city there would have been no strife between him and Akbar. Pratap’s son Amar (Umra) did, eventually, submit to the Mughal army led by Khurram, later Shah Jahan. This was in the reign of Akbar’s son Jahangir. Jahangir gloried in this victory and has recorded his joy in his memoirs. He installed life size images of Amar Singh and his son Karan Singh inside the Agra Fort to commemorate this event. Unfortunately these sculptures have not survived.

Perhaps readers should know the Maharana better.

Pratap was born on 31st May 1539 A.D. He was the eldest of 24 (twenty four) sons born to the 19 (nineteen) wives of Maharana Uday Singh. Pratap’s mother Jaiwantibai was the daughter of a premier noble, Akshayraj Songara.

Uday Singh had escaped assassination a boy. His wet nurse (Dhaiy Maa) saw all legitimitate heirs to the throne being killed by the usurper Bunbeer True to her salt she substituted her own son for her ward and saw him slain before escaping with Uday. The foster mother and son had to live in disguise for years. When adult Uday Singh returned and after much struggle regained his throne. Then arose the question of his marriage. Akshayraj Songara of Pali was approached by the nobles for the hand of his daughter. Akshayraj wanted proof that Uday Singh was indeed the son of the Maharana and not the son of the wet nurse. The nobles asserted that Uday’s legitimacy. Akshayraj then asked that they eat together and partake of the food in the plate from which Uday was seen to eat. The strength of the taboos on beytee (who you give your daughter in marriage to) are as strong as the taboos on roatee (bread or food). Both involve the terror the Hindus have of becoming polluted and losing caste.

The required feast was held and the respected nobles all partook of the morsels handed out by Uday Singh from the plate he had been eating out of. The deal was struck, the Maharana contracted the first of his 19 (nineteen) marriages and his eldest son Pratap was born out of this union.

The Maharana Uday Singh was, however, excessively fond of his Bhatiyaari Rani, Dheerbai and as he lay dying he anointed her son Jagmaal as Yuvaraj or heir apparent.

The Maharana breathed his last at Goagoundaa on 28th February 1572. The princes his sons and the nobles present at his demise accompanied the bier to the cremation grounds for the last rites.

The Raja of Gwalior, Ram Singh arrived too late to accompany the funeral as also the Choondaawat Chief Sagar. The Choondaawats are a senior branch of the ruling family and it is their function to legitimize an accession to the throne by anointing the forehead of the chosen ruler with the blood flowing from their freshly cut thumb. The Raja asked ‘Where is Jagmaal?’

Sagar Choondaawat responded:

“Are you not aware that Jagmaal has been nominated heir apparent and successor by the late Maharana?”

At this point three senior nobles, Rawat Krishan Das, Rawat Sanga and Akshairaj Songara (father of Pratap’s mother) raised the question of the factionalism that would arise in Mewar if Jagmaal succeeded to the gaddi (throne) despite the claim of Pratap being stronger.

They said words to the effect that Mewar was facing an indomitable enemy like the Emperor Akbar. The mighty fort of Chittor had already been lost. Mewar had suffered great devastation from the Mughal armies investing it. If domestic strife were added to the woes there would be no future. In the circumstances tradition should be allowed to prevail by the enthronement of Pratap who was the rightful heir as being the eldest son and brave to boot. The Choondaawats had the right to anoint the ruler and Sagar should do his proper duty to all concerned.

When the princes and nobles accompanying the funeral returned Sagar took Pratap by the hand and leading him to the gaddee helped him to ascend it. He then took out his sword to cut open his right thumb and put the tilak or auspicious mark on Pratap’s forehead to anoint him Maharana of Mewar.

What followed shows the robust common sense and the priorities of the fun loving Rajputs. The day was Holi and the hunt called ‘Aheyrda’ is undertaken on this auspicious day. The death of the Maharana had cast a shadow on the day. The nobles persuaded Pratap to maintain the Aheyda hunt tradition as otherwise the day would, forever, become one of mourning.

The kettledrums were sounded and Mahrana Pratap proceeded to the Aheyda hunt.

Jagmaal took his family with him and proceeded to take shelter with the Mughal governor of Ajmer. He later visited Akbar and was given the estate of Jahaazpur inlieu of the military services he and his followers would provide for the Mughals.

We shall continue with the story of the Rajputs and the Mughals in future columns