As we have already noted, the battle of Khanua (1527) did not result in the total eclipse of Rajput influence in the north. Rajputana still formed a powerful factor in the history of India. Gifted with the true insight of a statesman and liberal in outlook, Akbar realized the value of Rajput alliance in his task of building up an Empire in India for his dynasty, which was a foreign one, at the cost of the Afghans, who were the “children of the soil “. Thus he tried, as far as possible, to conciliate the Rajputs and ensure their active co-operation in almost all his activities. By his wise and liberal policy, he won the heart of most of them to such an extent that they rendered valuable services to his empire and even shed their blood for it. The Empire of Akbar was, in fact, the outcome of the co-ordination of Mughul prowess and diplomacy and Rajput valour and service. In 1562, Raja Bihari Mall, of Amber (Jaipur), tendered his submission to Akbar and cemented his friendship with him by a marriage alliance. Bihari Mall, with his son, Bhagwan Das and grandson, Man Singh, proceeded to Agra. He was given a command of 5,000 and his son and grandson were also admitted to high rank in the army. Thus was opened the way through which the Mugbul Emperors were able to secure for four generations “the services of some of the greatest captains and diplomats that medieval India produced”.
As we have already noted, the battle of Khanua (1527) did not result in the total eclipse of Rajput influence in the north. Rajputana still formed a powerful factor in the history of India. Gifted with the true insight of a statesman and liberal in outlook, Akbar realized the value of Rajput alliance in his task of building up an Empire in India for his dynasty, which was a foreign one, at the cost of the Afghans, who were the “children of the soil “. Thus he tried, as far as possible, to conciliate the Rajputs and ensure their active co-operation in almost all his activities. By his wise and liberal policy, he won the heart of most of them to such an extent that they rendered valuable services to his empire and even shed their blood for it. The Empire of Akbar was, in fact, the outcome of the co-ordination of Mughul prowess and diplomacy and Rajput valour and service. In 1562, Raja Bihari Mall, of Amber (Jaipur), tendered his submission to Akbar and cemented his friendship with him by a marriage alliance. Bihari Mall, with his son, Bhagwan Das and grandson, Man Singh, proceeded to Agra. He was given a command of 5,000 and his son and grandson were also admitted to high rank in the army. Thus was opened the way through which the Mugbul Emperors were able to secure for four generations “the services of some of the greatest captains and diplomats that medieval India produced”.
But Mewar, where the Rajput spirit had manifested itself “in its very quintessence”, which had been provided with excellent means of defence in its steep mountains and strong castles, and which had contested with Babur the supremacy of Northern India, did not bow its head in obedience to the Mughul Emperor. It offended him by giving shelter to Baz Bahadur, the fugitive ruler of MaIwa. Its independence was, however, galling to Akbar, who cherished the ideal of an all-India empire, the economic interests of which also demanded a control over Mewar, through which lay the high ways of commerce between the Ganges-Jumna Doab and the western coast. The ambitious design of Akbar was facilitated by the prevalence of internal discord in Mew&r, following the death of Ranga Bangs, and by the weakness of Udai Singh, the unworthy son of a noble sire. “Well had it been for Mewar,” exclaims Tod, “had the annals of Mewar never recorded the name of Udai Singh in the catalogue of her princes.” When Akbar besieged the fort of Chitor in October, 1567, Udai Singh fled to the hills, leaving his capital to its fate. But there were some brave followers of the Rana, notably JiLl-r-ii and Patta, who offered a stubborn opposition to the imperialists for four months (20th October, 1567, to 23rd February, 1568) till Jaimall was killed by a musket-shot fired by Akber himself. Patts she fell dead later. The death of the leaden of the defence disheartened the besieged garrison, who rushed on their enemies sword in hand ‘ and fought bravely till they perished to a man. The Rajput women performed the rite of Jauhar. Akbar then stromed the fort of Chitor. According to Abul Fazl 30,000 persons were slain, but the figure seems to be Akbar’s wrath fell also upon what Tod calls highly exaggerated. Thus be removed the huge kettledrums (eight or ten feet in diameter, the reverberation if which proclaimed for miles around the entrance and exit of the princes from the gates of Chitor) and also t he massive candelabra from the shrine of the Great Mother of Chitor, to Agra.
Struck with terror at the fall or Chitor, the other Rajput chiefs, who had so long defied Akbar, submitted to him. In February1569, Rai Surjana Hara of Ranthambhor surrendered to Akbar the keys of his fortress and entered into the imperial service. raja Ramchand, the chief of Kalinjar in Bundelkhand, followed suit in the same year. The occupation of Kalinjar greatly strengthened Akbar’s military position and marks important step in the progress of Mughul imperialism. In 1570 the rulers of Bikaner and Jaisalmer not only submitted to the Mughul Emperor but also gave their daughters in marriage to him.
Thus, one by one, the Rajput Chiefs acknowledged Mughul away, but Mewar still refused to own it. Udai Singh retained his independence though he had lost his ancestral capital. After his death on death on the 3rd March, 1572, at Gogunda true Patriot nineteen miles north-west of Udaipur Mewar found a true patriot and leader in his son Pratap, who, being in every respect faithful to the traditions of his country, offered uncompromising resistance to the invaders. The magnitude of his task can be well understood when we noted that without a capital, and with only slender resource he had to oppose the organized strength of the Mughul emperor, who was then ” immeasurably the richest monarch on the face of the earth”. Further, his fellow chiefs and neighbours and even his own brother, devoid of the high Rajput ideals of chivalry and independence, had allied themselves with the Mughals. But no obstacle was too alarming for this national hero of Rajputana, who was made of nobler stuff than his relatives. “The magnitude of the peril confirmed the fortitude of Pratap, who vowed in the words of the bard, ‘to make his mother’s milk resplendent’, and he amply redeemed his pledge. “
