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Mahrana Pratap was a great Hindu ruler of Mewar. Almost everybody knows his struggle and his determination to keep the foreign invaders away from his motherland. India’s first freedom fighter, Maharana Pratap was the only Rajput ruler of the 16th century who continued to defy Akbar. In addition, here today I will reveal some lesser known facts about this great warrior.

During his struggle in the jungle, Maharana Pratap and his family had nothing to eat. It was during this time, they ate rotis made of grass. However, there came a moment when even the cat stole Mahanrana’s daughter’s roti which made him think to submit himself to Akbar. During that instance, he had his own moments of self doubt and so he wrote to Akbar regarding his submission plans.

Akbar was so happy hearing this that he gave the letter to PRITHIRAJ, another Rajput poet and warrior who was working under Akbar. Prithiraj wrote back to Maharana Pratap, giving him the strength and in a way trying to tell that, “Don’t join hands”. This letter made him reverse his decision of submission.

The Haldighati War

Bhama Shah

After the Haldighati war, Pratap Singh’s army became weaker and weaker due to the continuous Mughal attacks, finally there came a moment when Pratap no more had money to keep his army. However, his minister Bhama Shah came to his rescue when he gave all his wealth to Maharana Pratap. Pratap with the help of this money could then support his army of 25000 soldier for a good 12 years.

This help from Bhama Shah not only gave Pratap a financial backing but moral and emotional support because, after witnessing the pain of his soldiers he was losing the spirit to fight Akbar.

Pratap Singh had 11 wives. Ajabde Punwar daughter of Rao Ram Rakh Panwar was his first wife. Maharana Pratap’s successor Amar Singh was the son of Ajabde Punwar. Apart from Ajabde Punwar, he had 10 more wives – Solankhinipur Bai, Champabai Jhati, Jasobai Chauhan, Phool Bai Rathore, Shahmatibai Hada, Khichar Asha bai, Alamdebai Chauhan, Ratnawatibai parmar, Amarbai Rathore and Lakhabai. In all, Maharana Pratap had 17 sons and 5 daughters.

Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana being received by Akbar

At one point of time all the women folk of Rahim Khan-e-Khana along with a Mughal officer felt in the hands of Amar Singh.He arrested all the women and brought in front of Maharana Pratap. During this time, Rahim Khan-e-Khana was actually campaigning against Maharana Pratap and was getting ready to assualt the Mewar raja. However, when Maharana got to know about the arrest of the women from the enemy camp, he immediately rebuked his son Amar Singh for arresting them and at once gave the orders of setting them free and escorting them till their camp.

This gesture melted Khan-e-Khana’s heart so much that he refused to campaign against such a kind-hearte king. Khan-e-Khana was the son of Bairam Khan and so Akbar was his foster father. He is none other than the Rahim das we know, a ardent devotee of Lord Krishna.

Once Maharana Pratap through his Bhil spy got to know that Raja Man Singh along with few hundred soldier is hunting in the jungle. It was very easy for Maharana Pratap to defeat Man Singh here in the jungle when he was out on a hunting spree with only few soldiers. However, Maharana Pratap straight away refused any attacks on Man Singh, and said he shall handle Man Singh in the battlefield rather than back stabbing him.