Rajputs in medieval age - battles and discussions

[Bornubus]

Remembering Maharana Pratap: 10 interesting facts about India's first freedom fighter
The life of Maharana Pratap: 9 facts you must know.
The life of Maharana Pratap

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One the greatest warriors of Indian history, Maharana Pratap died on January 29 in the year 1597. Maharana Pratap was the ruler of Mewar, a province in modern day Rajasthan in North West India.

Pratap was the eldest son of Uday Singh II, founder of Udaipur, and Maharani Jaiwanta Bai. Renowned as a fearsome warrior and an excellent combat strategist, Pratap protected the Mewar region against the repeated onslaughts of the Mughals.

On his 419th death anniversary, we bring to you nine facts about Maharana Pratap:

1. Maharana Pratap is revered as one of the strongest warriors India has ever seen. Standing at 7 feet 5 inches, he would carry a 80-kilogram spear and two swords weighing around 208 kilograms in total. He would also wear an armour weighing 72 kilogram.

2. Pratap's ascension to the throne was dicey. Rani Dheer Bai, Pratap's stepmother, wanted Kunwar Jagmal to be the king after Udai Singh's defeat at the hands of Mughal emperor Akbar. In 1568, Akbar had captured the Chittorgarh Fort and the Mewar royalty took shelter in Udaipur. After long conflict and debate, Pratap was made the king as the court saw Jagmal to be an unfit ruler.

3. Before fighting the Mughals, Pratap had to face the wrath of his domestic adversaries. By the time of his reign, almost all Rajput dynasties had surrendered to Akbar and had become members of his council. Akbar sent six diplomatic missions to Pratap to create a peaceful alliance between the two mighty rulers.

4. After the fifth diplomatic mission, Pratap had sent his son Amar Singh to the Mughal court to deny Akbar's proposal of peace. As he did not present himself before the Mughal emperor, it was not a fair sight. Due to his act of defiance, Akbar decided to march on Pratap.

5. Pratap's prowess in fights was proved at the Battle of Haldighati in 1576. Mughal emperor Akbar ordered Man Singh I, one of his Rajput army commanders, and Asaf Khan I to attack Pratap. Man Singh and Asaf Khan had gathered an army almost half the size of the Mughal military force and held position at Haldighati, a mountain pass around 40 kilometres from Udaipur.

6. On the other hand, Pratap had gathered Gwalior's Ram Shah Tanwar and his three sons- Rawat Krishnadasji Chundawat, Maan Singhji Jhala and Chandrasenji Rathore of Marwar, the Afghan leader Hakim Khan Sur and a small army of people from the Bhil tribe led by Rao Poonja.

7. The battle took place on June 18, 1576 for four hours. The Mughal army found a traitor in Pratap's brother Shakti Singh who told them about the secret pass.

The Mughal cavalry was led by Man Singh I but was outfought at first by the Rajput soldiers. Pratap decided to kill Man Singh on his own and rode his war horse Chetak against Man Singh's elephant. Both Chetak and Pratap were injured by Man's elephant. Seeing this the Mewari contingent lost hope. However, Pratap chieftain Man Singh Jhala exchanged armours with Pratap to confuse the Mughal army. Chetak tried to escape via Haldighati pass with a single long leap, for which it is famous, but was killed by Mughal archers.

Pratap was devastated to know about his horse's death. Realising his fault, Shakti Singh offered his own horse to Pratap, so that the latter could escape.

8. After the battle, the Mughal forces, personally led by Akbar, continued to conquer the entire Mewar region including Chittor, Gogunda, Kumbhalgarh (Pratap's temporary capital) and Udaipur. All Rajput dynasties including that of Bundi surrendered to Akbar, leaving Pratap completely alone.

9. After 1579, following rebellions in Bengal, Bihar and Punjab, Akbar loosed the noose on Mewar. Pratap took advantage of the situation and gathered an army using the money given by Dan Shiromani Bhamashah, who later became one of Pratap's ministers. Pratap recovered most of his turf-- Kumbhalgarh and the areas around Chittor. He gathered an army of 40,000 soldiers and conquered Gogunda, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore and Udaipur from Mughal ally Jagannath Kachhawa.

10. Pratap had rebuilt his capital in the city of Chavand, around 60 kilometres south of Udaipur and spent the rest of his life there. Because of his fight for freedom against the Mughals, Maharana Pratap is widely regarded as India's first freedom fighter.

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http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/maharana-pratap/1/582429.html#comment

 

[Abhinav Dharma]

BAPPA RAWAL

AND RANA SANGA

AND RANA KUMBHA ARE FORGOTTEN

 

[Abhinav Dharma]

BAPPA RAWAL WAS BROUGHT UP BY A BRAHMIN

 

[dude00720]

I enjoy Maharana Pratap Story. Truly Courageous. But, why dont we talk so much about Hamvira who rebuilt Mewar after Alauddin Khiliji destroyed it

 

[Bornubus]

From the European battlefield of France ww1 a Poem written by an Indian troop dedicated to Rajput - Sikh warriors

 

[angeldude13]

BAPPA RAWAL

AND RANA SANGA

AND RANA KUMBHA ARE FORGOTTEN

They aren't forgotten in Rajputs. A cousin of mine named his son Saanghi to honor maharana Sangha...

 

[Subramanian]

When was Rajputs rulings paki land,the last hindu ruling dynasties were Brahmans,Kabul shahi and Dahir were Brahmans,his capital was Brahmanabad.

And our kins are Dogras not sindhi trader Bhuttos or any mallecha who claimed rajput status upon conversion.

BTW it was Rajputs whose women never hesitated to jump into funereal pyre,such a bravery only showed by these women,there is no equal in the world.

And show some respect to the likes of Prithviraj who took Ghari on his own and ultimatly died with honor that too without the help of any half naked dravid ruler from south.

You also have to show respect to inferior or substandard soldiers but let us talk about today,maratha boys are strong and compete well with the jat and ahir/gujjar/rajput guys and others.

dont say shit about each other.

 

[Bornubus]

The Rajput At Versailles



The Maharajah of Bikaner, consummate soldier and Peace Treaty signatory
HUGH PURCELL

GETTY IMAGES (FROM OUTLOOK 31 MARCH 2014)

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Short notes on the Great War

Japan saw the war in imperial terms, and lured by the prospect of new possessions in the Pacific and especially expansion in China, joined the Allies in August 1914. In its one decisive act, Japan attacked and secured the German naval base of Tsingtao in China’s Shantung province in November 1914. It refused to be drawn into the European conflict, but the country’s navy rendered useful province in the Pacific by escorting convoys of Australians and New Zealanders to the Middle East when the Royal Navy was widely extended. They also helped put down a mutiny of Indian soldiers in Singapore in 1915.

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Visitors to the Imperial War Museum in London cannot miss Sir William Orpen’s iconic picture, The Signing of the Peace. Standing directly behind the heads of the great powers, President Wilson of the United States, Prime Ministers Lloyd George of Great Britain and Clemenceau of France, is the Maharajah of Bikaner. There he is, placed centrestage between two pillars, the majestic maharajah, the light shining on him from the mirror behind, his army uniform and elaborate turban further distinguishing him from the black-suited politicians around. Many people gaze at this picture and wonder who this eye- catching soldier was and why he was at the Palace of Versailles for the signing of a treaty that was to shape the remainder of the 20th century? It is as a statesman that the Maharajah of Bikaner is best remembered, and his achievement in getting India admitted to the League of Nations when she was certainly not a self-governing nation was considerable, but it was as a soldier that he would have most liked to have left his mark.

On August 4, 1914, the British empire declared war on Germany. The young maharajah of this desert kingdom in Rajasthan saw this as a glorious opportunity to emulate his ancestors, the Bika Rathores, of whom 17 out of 21 had led their own troops in warfare. He instantly sent a cable to the king-emperor, George V, that was couched in terms of medieval chivalry: “I have the great honour and privilege of having served Your Imperial Majesty as Aide-de-Camp longer than any other Indian Chief. I implore Your Imperial Majesty most earnestly, if the Empire is involved, to give me an opportunity for that personal military service which is the highest ambition of a Rathore Rajput Chief....I am ready to go anywhere in any capacity for the privilege of serving my Emperor.... This is the opportunity of a life-time....”

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Ganga Singh, 21st Maharajah of Bikaner, was not the only prince to see himself in this light. The Times of India used similar language in August 1914: “The swords of the martial Princes leapt from their scabbards.” Little did they know what was to come. As a matter of fact, the Indian subcontinent was surprisingly united in “sharing the responsibilities of Empire”, as the young Mohandas Gandhi put it. He and other reformers hoped that by willingly entering the war India would show herself worthy of self-government. More worldly observers, probably including Bikaner, predicted a German/Ottoman alliance moving men and material down through the Middle East and up through Afghanistan, thereby threatening the North-West frontier: this happened in 1916.

The 34-year-old Rajput arrived in north France in October with an appointment on the HQ staff of the 7th Indian Division stationed near Bethune; from there he was assigned to the headquarters staff of Sir John French, Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force. He saw no action and was intensely frustrated. His highness was not allowed to risk his life, for in Europe the days when a prince was expected to lead his troops into battle were gone.


http://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/the-rajput-at-versailles/289888

 

[armyofhind]

Rajputs are strong and martial people, very brave as well. They always fought for dharma and protect ed India from islamic Barbarians.

On personal note, I have many rajput friends and they are quite honorable and take great pride in their ethnicity like us Brahmins.

Of course. That's the way we are brought up since childhood.
My mother especially has always recounted me stories of Rajput valour since I was a small child.

It runs in the blood.

 

[armyofhind]

The museum in the royal palace at Udaipur has Rana Prataps armor and weapons.

It also has a painting which illustrates the legend of Rana Prataps severing an enemy mounted solider in half ALONG with his horse in one swing.
Some distance away from the field of Haldighati is the tomb of the great steed Chetak as well.

 

[F-14B]

The nairs of the south can be put in to the same category as the rajputs aprime example was the battle of kolachel where the travancorian forces (elements of which were later integrated as the 9th and 16th battalion madras regiment) defeted the dutch and forced the force commander of the Dutch to surrender and join travancore as commander in chife of all armed forces
But little about this battle i known in the northern reaches of india

 

[Tarun Kumar]

I think the basic problem of indian military has been the theory of martial races. Because we never organized our armies along Roman lines where regiments were open to all provided they met the regimental standards, Indian army was always defeated historically by invaders. Read about Roman regimental standards and how even common peasants from Roman countryside became fierce warriors to defend regimental standards (Regiments or legions were named after animals). Loss of Regiment flags and mastiff was considered such a serious crime that a soldier who surrendered the standards in battlefield was immediately executed. Roman emperors infact concluded peace treaties on precondition that their regimental standards will be returned. No wonder they forged the most powerful empire on the planet. We need similar spirit in our army.

 

[armyofhind]

I think the basic problem of indian military has been the theory of martial races. Because we never organized our armies along Roman lines where regiments were open to all provided they met the regimental standards, Indian army was always defeated historically by invaders. Read about Roman regimental standards and how even common peasants from Roman countryside became fierce warriors to defend regimental standards (Regiments or legions were named after animals). Loss of Regiment flags and mastiff was considered such a serious crime that a soldier who surrendered the standards in battlefield was immediately executed. Roman emperors infact concluded peace treaties on precondition that their regimental standards will be returned. No wonder they forged the most powerful empire on the planet. We need similar spirit in our army.

Indian Army as we know it today was never defeated by foreign invaders except 1962 where we all know who's fault it really was.
Apart from that, the very Romans you are praising so much were defeated by Rajputs right here in Rajasthan.

 

[Tarun Kumar]

Not really. Romans never invaded India although Trajan had ambition to do so but was too old by the time he defeated Persia and was ready to march to India. Here I am referring to historical Indian army not modern Indian army. Historically our army was not organized along regimental lines and often generalship was based on ties of caste and kin and not abilities. Rajputs, not belittling their valour were always defeated by foreign invaders through combination of superior tactics and weaponry.

 

[India22]

Rajputs did not exist when Roman Empire existed. Historically India was far behind of other nations like Western world, China and Persia in innovation of military technology.

 

[armyofhind]

Not really. Romans never invaded India although Trajan had ambition to do so but was too old by the time he defeated Persia and was ready to march to India. Here I am referring to historical Indian army not modern Indian army. Historically our army was not organized along regimental lines and often generalship was based on ties of caste and kin and not abilities. Rajputs, not belittling their valour were always defeated by foreign invaders through combination of superior tactics and weaponry.

If you are referring to them historically, you cannot call them Indian Army. At that time there was no India. Separate kingdoms.

And Rajputs defeated a lot of Foreign invaders including the turks.
Babur was able to win through treachery, not superior weapons.
This is what one says when one is fed on Libtard versions of history where the musalman is glorified.
Akbar with all his vast army and including support from other rajputs was never able to take mewar.
What does that tell you about the fighting prowess of the foreign invaders?

And go look up what the Dogras did to musalmans.

 

[F-14B]

Are bhai Bappa Rawal (He was saved and brought up by the Brahmins )Defeated The ummayid caliphate of muslim arab which was coming to India after defeating Persian and Sassanid army but in Morden world rajputs are generally not friendly people but some of them still are my friends

Not may people know about bapa rawal or the role he played in the battle of rajasthan against the arabs or the painful defeats that the rajputs inflicted on the arabs blame bloody history books for that but owning the fact that indians could whoop the ass of marde e moin would hurt secular tendencies and a particular community
But i am bloody proud of my roots and will proudly say that i am a hindu lohar and that all my ancestors include greats like bapa rawal

 

[Bornubus]

Rajputs did not exist when Roman Empire existed. Historically India was far behind of other nations like Western world, China and Persia in innovation of military technology.

Very poor knowledge of History.


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[Krusty]

Rajputs did not exist when Roman Empire existed. Historically India was far behind of other nations like Western world, China and Persia in innovation of military technology.

Time for you to hit the history books ...

 

[F-14B]

I don't understand that muslims are dumb enough to believe in theories like mard e momim
That too said by Chhakka zaid hamid lol they were assfucked by Hindus Later on , bu mongols, Christians

They belive that because they suffer from an unfortunate tendency to mix superiorityand inferiority compalex together and think that pagans are inferior to them in all ways
But coming to the moimins of the subcontinent suffer from neo conversion illnesses this forces them to ape their arab masters to escape the pull of their indiv roots