Battle of Haldighati

Here, we’ve gathered all the information about the epic Battle of Haldighati and presented it in a story format.

‘A blood bath that left its traces by covering up the war land area in red!’

• The Battle of Haldighati was fought between Mughal Emperor Akbar and Rana of Mewar Maharana Pratap.
• The army of Mughals was led by Maan Singh I of Amber.
• Akbar was renowned to create vassals of the Hindu Emperors all around India, Akbar sent several proposals to Mewar Kingdom to turn into one of his allies, and his agenda behind this proposal was to secure a direct route to Gujarat via Rajasthan.

Siege of Chittorgarh

• Maharana Udai Singh II father of Maharana Pratap refused to lower his esteem as he believed that all his ancestors kept their heads high and never bowed down to the Mughals.
• Therefore, to capture the Mewar Kingdom, Akbar marched towards Chittorgarh and sieged Chittorgarh’s fort from 20^th October 1567 to 23^rd February 1568.
• After 58 days of siege, Akbar’s forces were successful in breaching the wall of the fort on 22^nd February night.
• The Chitorgarh fort consisted of 8000 Rajputi soldiers in command of Jaimal Rathore, they tried to fight back but the Mughal Army outnumbered theirs.
• Maharana Udai Singh II already fled from the Chittorgarh fort to Gogunda and later was nowhere found and declared dead.
• The Siege of Chittorgarh made the Mewar dynasty lose its eastern belts to the Mughal Empire.

Image Source

Reign of Maharana Pratap Commence

• Later, in 1572, Maharana Pratap the successor of Maharana Udai Singh II was crowned as the king of Mewar.
• Maharana Pratap was born on 9^th May 1540 and was believed to be the bravest Maharanas of Mewar, apart from him tales of bravery, his kindness is also well sung till now.
• Maharana Pratap also believed in the principles of his ancestors and refused to bow down to the Mughal Empire throughout his life.

Image Source

Udai Sagar Lake Connection

• Kunwar Man Singh I of Amber was sent by Akbar to extend his hands towards the Mewar Kingdom and accept their sovereignty.
• In 1573, Man Singh invited Maharana Pratap on the bands of Udai Sagar Lake to discuss about the proposal and sit upon to decide the surrendering terms and conditions.
• The invitation was surely refused by Maharana Pratap which led to the Battle of Haldighati.

Battle of Haldighati

• As the name suggests Battle of Haldighati was fought in a hilly region of the Aravalli range called Haldighati, ‘Haldi’ is referred to turmeric in Hindi. Haldighati bore turmeric colored rocks, that later turned red after the bloody battle.
• It was fought on 18^th June 1576 between Mughal army lead by Maan Singh and Mewar army lead by Maharana Pratap.
• The base camp of Mewar army was setup in Gogunda and the base camp of Mughals was setup in Mandalgarh.
• The Army of Man Singh positioned them on the entrance of the Haldighati Pass and waited for the Mewar Army there.
• It is believed that Mewar Army consisted of 20,000 men, whereas Mughal Army consisted of 80,000 men.
• Rana’s Army was supported by Hakim Khan Sur along with his Afgans, Bhim Singh of Dodia, Ramdas Rathor (Son of Jaimal), Ram Sah Tonwar king of Gwalior, Bhama Shah, Tarachand, Bida Jhala of Jhala, and Bhils.
• Mughal Army was led by Sayyed Hashim of Barha, Jagannath of Kachhwa Rajputs, Bakshi Ali Asaf Khan, Madho Singh Kachhawa, Mulla Qazi Khan of Badakshan, Rao Lonkarm of Sambhar, Salim Chisti, Mihtar Khan, and lastly Man Singh I.
• Rana chose to go for a full frontal assault along with his army at the Mughals which surely had its consequences.
• The Mewar Army fought bravely but was outnumbered, later after the loss of their war elephants, the Mewar Army started falling.
• Maharana Pratap then was injured with a spear.
• There were around 350 soldiers of the Mewar Army who decided to stay back and fight so that Maharana Pratap could be safely taken away from the battlefield.

The Tale of Chetak’s Friendship

• Chetak was not only the horse on which Maharana Pratap fought his battles, but was the knight in shining armor that saved his life as well.
• On realizing that his master was heavily injured in the Battle of Haldighati, Chetak took him away on his back.
• In order to keep him away and safe from the Mughal Army, he had to cross a water stream.
• Chetak forgetting about his own severe leg injury crossed the stream with all the life left in him.
• He made sure Maharana Pratap was safe from the Mughal army, but the efforts in crossing the stream made him lose his life.

Image Source

Who Won the Battle of Haldighati?

• It was believed that Mughals won the battle of Haldighati and Maharana Pratap lived in exile for a number of years.
• And later in 1582, Maharana Pratap regained his army and attacked to acquire his Mewar Dynasty back.
• But in 2017, the Education State Minister of Rajasthan Vasudev Devnani claimed that the history that has been taught in the Class X of Rajasthan Boards is incorrect and the Battle of Haldighati was won by Maharana Pratap.
• She said that there were another 6 consecutive attacked forced by Akbar on the Mewar Dynasty after the Battle of Haldighati, she questioned that if  he won the Battle of Haldighati then why would he went on attacking the Mewar Dynasty.
• Later, Dr. Chandrashekhar Sharma (Meera Kanya Mahavidyalaya Udaipur’s Professor) presented more proofs backing up the theory that Maharana Pratap distributed village lands near Haldighati to diwan of Eklingnath, one year after the battle of Haldighati.
• He also stated that the Mughal Generals that leaded the Army in the battle: Maan Singh and Asif Khan were forbidden from Akbar’s Court after the battle.

Who do you believe was the Victor of Battle of Haldighati according to you? Let us know in the comment section below.

Don’t forget to like, share and subscribe to My Udaipur City. Also mention your views, suggestions, and queries via comments.