| ISBN :
81-7508-233-X
Vol. No : 10014
Contents
Rana Kumbha
Rana Sanga
Rana Pratap
Description Among
the galaxy of Rajput sovereigns, Maharana Kumbha occupies a pre-eminent
position. His natural abilities and achievement place him in the forefront
of the great rulers not only of Mewar, but of the whole of India. The material
for the Chitra Katha on Kumbha has been drawn from the book on his life
by Haribilas Sarda.
Kumbha never lost a battle
even when confronted with the toughest of adversaries. He built a number
of formidable fortnessess all over Rajasthan which proved to be of great
strategic importance to later rulers of Mewar. The Tower of Victory he
built in Chittor is one of the landmark of Rajasthan.
Early in the 16th century,
when a vast area of India was under the domination of foreign rulers, Rana
Sanga made a valiant attempt to defeat them. He fought a decisive battle
against Babar in March 1527 at Khanwa and might have won it, but he was
unfortunately betrayed by his trusted commander, Shiladitya. Defeated in
the battle, he made a solemn vow never to re-enter Mewar until he had avenged
his humiliation. Had his life been spared, he would have redeemed the pledge;
but he did not live to fulfil it. His tenacity of purpose, however, inspired
many of his successors including Rana Pratap.
During the reign of Akbar,
when almost everyone in Northern India had bowed down before him, only
the lone, unbending figure of Rana Pratap stood against him. Greatly, outnumbered
by Akbar’s huge forces, the Rana lived a hunted life in the jungles and
suffered grave hardships. But these sufferings only spurred him on in his
struggle for freedom.
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