MAHARANA PRATAP(1540-1597)

The Grandson of the illustrious Rana Sanga. Although Pratap was not a great statesman or administrator like his Grandparent, he was nevertheless a copy of his grandfather in terms of courage and self-respect. Also hailing from the Rajput Community the elements of Self Respect and Ego were present in Pratap in copius ammounts. Rana Pratap (1540-1597), as he is popularly called in India, was born in the kingdom of Mewar, in modern-day Rajasthan. In 1568, The city of Chittor was conquered by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Chittor being the capital of Mewar this was a great blow to Pratap. In 1572, Pratap became Rana (king) of Mewar with the support of the elder nobles. It was a begining of a life long battle for theretaking of Chittor.

Chittor Garh (Chittor Fort), his ancestral home, was under Mughal occupation and his co-Rajputs such as Raja Man Singh of Jaipur were part of Akbar's council. Akbar had wisely managed to convince Rajput Rulers and Princes to lead his campaign against other Rajputs who didnt fall under his sway. At that time Rana Pratap was the only bulwark against the mughal dominance of Rajputana territories (Land of the Rajputs, today's Rajasthan).

Living a life on teh run away from Chittot due to Akbar's onslaught, the dream of retaking and riding into Chittor (and thus reclaiming the glory of Mewar) was a cherished one. All of Akbar's overtures of friendship and peace were rebuffed by Rana Pratap. The special envoy from Akbar, Raja Man Singh was returned by Rana Pratap. Man Singh's sister was then the empress of the Mughals (being married to Akbar). This was distasteful to Rana Pratap as he saw this as a sell out on part of her brother Raja Man Singh.

However Rana Pratap's Sense of indignation insulted Raja Man Singh who came back at the head of a huge Mughal army. Later a gruesome and bloody battle followed between Rana Pratap's forces and Mughal forces, who were lead by fellow Rajput rulers who had joined hands with Akbar, in HaldiGhati, the year was 1576. What ensued was a bloody carnage where many soldiers of Mewar were killed or captured but Pratap wasn't. He escaped to the hills in his legendary horse Chetak.

Later on, he organized a small army of Bheels (a tribe of India) and started a Guerrilla war against Akbar. In the later stages of his life he re-conquered some parts of Mewar but due to failing health and an untimely death his long cherished goal of winning back Chittaur, remained unaccomplished.

Nevertheless he remains and shall remain a great hero in the eyes of all Indians and is common to see his likeness in form of statues at many a important location in India in today.