Maharana Pratap is unarguably the most heroic Rajput King in the annals of Rajputana princedom epitomizing the Rajputana pride and self respect. Known for his indomitable valor and chivalry, Maharana Pratap resisted the mighty army of Mughal Emperor Akbar and fought for the pride of Rajput till his last breath. His exploits against the Mughal army has become the stuff of legends and has been embossed indelibly on the mind and spirits of Rajputs and others alike.
Descendent of the rulers of Mewar, the Sisodiya clan of Suryavanshi Rajput, Maharana Pratap exemplifies the qualities to which Rajputs even nowadays aspire to. In 1572, the time when Maharana Pratap ascended to Mewari kingdom was a turbulent time as Akbar had successfully laid siege to the Chittorgarh fort from where the Prince of Mewar used to rule their kingdom. \Maharana Udai Singh, father of Pratap Singh, has fled from the fort in face of impending doom together with his family and had moved his base to another location in the foothills of the Aravili hills. This place was later went on to be known as Udaipur.
Maharana Pratap was one of the few Rajput princes who refused to submit to the rule of Akbar the great and defied him till the end of his life. Maharana Pratap was also against the custom of marrying Rajput princesses to Mughal kings and lords in order to appease them as practiced by many Rajput clans of that time. The most famous battles fought between the Maharana and Mughal forces was the battle of Haldighati in 1576 which has become a stuff of legends in Rajput folklore. Not only did this battle immortalized and romanticized the story of valor and daring of Maharana in the annals of Rajputana history, but the battle is also remembered for the bravado of the Chetak, horse which Maharana Pratap rode during this battle. The famous battle of Haldighati was fought with 20,000 Rajputs against a Mughal army of 80,000 men commanded by Raja Man Singh of Amber. The battle was fierce though indecisive, to the Mughal army's astonishment.
The battle of Haldighati was lost but Mughal too sustained heavy damages and Prince Man Singh leader of the Mughal forces barely surviving the assault of Maharana. In January 1597, Rana Pratap Singh I, Mewar's greatest hero, was seriously injured in a hunting accident. He left his body at Chavand, aged 56, on January 29, 1597. He died fighting for his nation, for his people, and most importantly for his honor.
Descendent of the rulers of Mewar, the Sisodiya clan of Suryavanshi Rajput, Maharana Pratap exemplifies the qualities to which Rajputs even nowadays aspire to. In 1572, the time when Maharana Pratap ascended to Mewari kingdom was a turbulent time as Akbar had successfully laid siege to the Chittorgarh fort from where the Prince of Mewar used to rule their kingdom. \Maharana Udai Singh, father of Pratap Singh, has fled from the fort in face of impending doom together with his family and had moved his base to another location in the foothills of the Aravili hills. This place was later went on to be known as Udaipur.
Maharana Pratap was one of the few Rajput princes who refused to submit to the rule of Akbar the great and defied him till the end of his life. Maharana Pratap was also against the custom of marrying Rajput princesses to Mughal kings and lords in order to appease them as practiced by many Rajput clans of that time. The most famous battles fought between the Maharana and Mughal forces was the battle of Haldighati in 1576 which has become a stuff of legends in Rajput folklore. Not only did this battle immortalized and romanticized the story of valor and daring of Maharana in the annals of Rajputana history, but the battle is also remembered for the bravado of the Chetak, horse which Maharana Pratap rode during this battle. The famous battle of Haldighati was fought with 20,000 Rajputs against a Mughal army of 80,000 men commanded by Raja Man Singh of Amber. The battle was fierce though indecisive, to the Mughal army's astonishment.
The battle of Haldighati was lost but Mughal too sustained heavy damages and Prince Man Singh leader of the Mughal forces barely surviving the assault of Maharana. In January 1597, Rana Pratap Singh I, Mewar's greatest hero, was seriously injured in a hunting accident. He left his body at Chavand, aged 56, on January 29, 1597. He died fighting for his nation, for his people, and most importantly for his honor.
Rajput islia he jana jate hai. [apani bahaduri aur shurya ke lie]
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