Maharana Pratap Biography: Early Life, HaldiGhati War

Today, we will talk about Maharana Pratap biography, the king of the Sisodia Rajput in Udaipur, Mewar. He is considered an example of courage and perseverance.

He rejected the submission of the Mughal emperor Akbar. To get freedom from the rule of Mughals, he fought till the end of his life. Maharana Pratap Singh defeated the Mughals many times in battle as well. 

Indian history is resonant with the name of Maharana Pratap. He was such a warrior who reminded the Mughals of Chhati’s milk. The land of India is proud of the story of its courage. Maharana Pratap was the Rana of the people of Mewar. 

Presently this place comes in Rajasthan. Pratap was a descendant of the Sisodia dynasty among Rajputs. He was a brave Rajput who protected his empire till his last breath in every situation.

He always respects the people above himself and his family. There was such a Rajput, whose courage was also saluted by Akbar. Maharana Pratap was perfect in fighting skills, but he was also a passionate and religious person. His first teacher was his mother, Jaywanta Bai.

Let’s know some more things related to Maharana Pratap biography. 

Summary of Maharana Pratap biography

Below is the short version of Maharana Pratap biography. 

Early Life of Maharana Pratap 

Maharana Pratap was born on 9 May 1540 in Kumbhalgarh fort, Rajasthan. His father’s name was Maharana Udai Singh, and his mother’s name was Rani Jaiwanta Bai. Since childhood, he has been possessive and talented.

Maharana Pratap’s childhood was spent with the Bhil community. So Bhils used to call Maharana as Kika. Maharana Pratap used to learn the art of warfare along with the Bhils.

According to author Vijay Nahar’s book Hindutva Surya, when Maharana Pratap was born, his father Udai Singh was surrounded by war and insecurity. According to Hindutva Surya, Kumbhalgarh was not safe at that time. At that time, the king of Jodhpur was Maldev, and he was the most powerful in North India.

Life Story of Maharana Pratap 

So here begin the complete life story of Maharana Pratap in today’s blog of Maharana Pratap biography. Rana Udai Singh’s second queen Dhirbai, known as Rani Bhatiani, she wanted to make her son Kunwar Jagmal the successful King of Mewar. 

When Maharana Pratap became the king of Mewar, at that time, Kunwar Jagmal befriended the Mughals in his opposition. The first coronation of Maharana Pratap took place in Gogunda on February 28, 1572, and the second coronation of Rana Pratap took place in 1572 AD in Kumbhalgarh fort.

Many neighbouring states friendship with Akbar. Maharana Pratap’s kingdom Mewar was independent even at that time. The Mughal emperor wanted to subjugate the kingdom of Mewar.

Read: Tipu Sultan Biography: Early Life, Facts and Education

But Rana Pratap refused to accept the suzerainty of the Mughals, which resulted in the historic Battle of Haldighati.  Akbar’s army had immense force compared to Pratap’s army, yet Maharana Pratap did not change his decision to fight. They wanted freedom in any condition.

This battle of Haldi Ghati took on 18 June 1576 AD between Mewar and the Mughals. In this war, the army of Mewar was led by Maharana Pratap. Bhil tribals also came from the nearby hills to help Pratap. 

The battle site was a narrow mountain pass at Haldighati near Gogunda in Rajasthan. About 3,000 horsemen and 400 Bhil archers descended from the side of Maharana Pratap. Raja Man Singh of Amer led the Mughals. But unfortunately, the Mughal army won at the end of the war. To avoid the wrath of the Mughal army, Jhala Singh helped Maharana Pratap to escape from the war. 

The HaldiGhati War 

Haldi Ghati War was the biggest war in history, in which there was a war between the Mughals and the Rajputs, in which many Rajputs had left Pratap and accepted the suzerainty of Akbar.

 In 1576, Raja Man Singh led 5000 soldiers from Akbar’s side and already deployed 3000 soldiers at Haldighati and sounded the trumpet of war. On the other hand, the Afghan kings supported Pratap, in which Hakim Khan Sur supported Pratap till his last breath. 

This battle of Haldighati lasted for many days. The subjects of Mewar were given shelter inside the fort. The subjects and the state people started living together. Due to the long war, there was a shortage of food and water. Women reduced their food for children and soldiers. Everyone supported Pratap in this war with unity. 

Seeing his spirits, Akbar also could not stop himself from praising the spirits of this Rajput. But Pratap lost this war due to a lack of food. On the last day of the war, all the Rajput women dedicated themselves to the fire by adopting the Johar.

And others achieved Veergati by fighting with the army. The senior officers sent Pratap’s son away from Chittor, Rana Udai Singh, Maharani Dhir Bai ji and Jagmal. A day before the war, he secretly drove Pratap and Ajabde out of the fort by giving them sleeping medicine. Behind this, he thought to make Rajputana back. 

 When the Mughals took possession of the fort, they could not find Pratap anywhere, and Akbar’s dream of capturing Pratap could not be fulfilled.

 After living life in the forest for many days, with hard work, Pratap established a new city named Chavand.  Akbar tried a lot, but he could not find Pratap. 

Maharana Pratap Chetak Horse Story

Chetak was the favourite horse of Maharana Pratap. Sensitivity, loyalty and bravery were overwhelming in Chetak. It was a blue-coloured Afghan horse.

 Once, Rana Udai Singh called Pratap to the palace in his childhood and asked him to choose one of the two horses. One horse was white and the other blue.

As soon as Pratap said something, even before his brother Shakti Singh told Udai Singh, he also wanted a horse. Shakti Singh used to hate his brother from the beginning.

 Pratap liked the Neil Afghani horse, but he moves towards the white horse and keeps tying his pool of praise, seeing him rising, Shakti Singh quickly goes towards the white horse and rides it, seeing his quickness, Rana Udai Singh gives Shakti Singh a white horse, and Pratap gets a blue horse. The name of that blue horse was Chetak, which Pratap was very happy to get.

Chetak has his place in many heroic stories of Pratap. Due to Chetak’s agility, Pratap won many wars. Pratap loved his Chetak like a son.

Chetak got injured in the battle of Haldi Ghati. At the same time, a big river comes in the middle, for which Chetak has to span a width of about 21 feet. Chetak decides to walk that distance to protect Pratap, but due to being injured, after some distance, he gives up his life. On June 21, 1576, Chetak bids farewell to Pratap. After this, Pratap has a tinge in his mind for Chetak.

Even today, there is a tomb of Chetak in Rajsamand in Haldighati, which the visitors see with the same reverence as the idol of Pratap.

Achievements of Maharana Pratap

East 1579 to 1585, Maharana Pratap was winning one stronghold after another. Due to this, the pressure of the Mughals was going on in Mewar. To take advantage of that time, Maharana Pratap intensified his efforts. 

Even after twelve years of struggle, Akbar could not make any changes in it. Akbar’s empire ended in 1585 AD. Maharana Pratap used to carry a total weight of 360 kg, which included a spear of 80 kg, two swords weighing 208 kg, and his armour was about 72 kg heavy.

Death of Maharana Pratap

So, here comes the end of Maharana Pratap biography. Maharana Pratap died in his new capital Chavand, on 19 January 1597, eleven years after the end of Akbar’s empire. Akbar felt very sad after the death of Maharana Pratap because, in heart, he was an admirer of the qualities of Maharana Pratap. The name of Maharana Pratap will always be immortal in the history of India. 

Conclusion 

So, this was the end of today’s blog about Maharana Pratap biography. We have tried to give you 100% accurate information about Maharana Pratap biography. Maharana Pratap was very talented, and he gave us many examples of his courage. Please share Maharana Pratap biography who wants to know detailed information about Maharana Pratap.