Maharanas of Mewar represented the best and noblest in Hindu culture and polity. They translated into practice the Puranic concept of Ram Rajya. Maharana Pratap never accepted Akbar as ruler of India, and fought Akbar all his life. Akbar first tried diplomacy to win over Maharana Pratap but nothing worked. Pratap maintained that he had no intention to fight with Akbar but he could not bow down to Akbar and accept him as the ruler. Some scholars argue that there was some possibility that Maharana could have become friends with Akbar, but in the siege of Chittor, Akbar had killed 27,000 civilians. This left a lasting impression on Maharana’s mind and he decided he could not bow to such an injustice and cruelty. He himself used to carry 2 swords weighing 25 kg each weight with him always. Before any fight he uses to offer one sword to his opponent if he is not armed. In the battle of Haldighati, the Mughal forces greatly outnumbered Pratap’s men (1:4). Yet, Pratap’s men essayed many brave exploits on the field. Pratap personally attacked Man Singh: his horse Chetak placed its front feet on the trunk of Man Singh’s elephant and Pratap threw his lance; Man Singh ducked, and the mahout was killed. The impact of the battle on the Mughal army was also significant. In terms of numbers the Mughal army suffered heavier losses. This was also because of the intensive arrow showers by the Bhil tribes of the surrounding mountains who had sided with Pratap. To honour their contribution, a Bhil warrior was placed next to Pratap in the Royal Coat of Arms of Mewar. James Tod`s Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan declare that Maharana Pratap Singh stopped the marriage etiquette of Rajputs who had been giving their daughters to Mughals and his supporting Rajputs. Since Chittorgarh or Maharana Pratap Singh`s ancestral home, was under Mughal occupation, he livedlike anomad in the jungles and hills of Aravalli a life with the dream of re conquering Chittor and thus reclaiming the glory of Mewar. Akbar kept sending expedition after expedition against Maharana Pratap, but never succeeded. He expended a lot of money and men in trying to defeat Maharana Pratap. For 30 years Pratap remained ahead of Akbar and in the last ten years of his life was able to free most of his kingdom. The only forts Pratap could not recover was Chittor and Mandal Garh that saddened him a lot.
MEWAR WAS ONE OF THE FIRST STATE TO MERGE WITH INDIA WILLINGLY AFTER INDEPENDENCE. THE THEN MAHARAJA OF MEWAR CONSIDERED INDEPENDENCE AS THE FULFILLMENT OF 13 CENTURIES OF MEWAR’S DREAM.
TO SUM UP” MAHARANA PRATAP WAS AN EPITOME OF HINDU VIRTUES & ALWAYS FOLLOWED THE HINDU CODE OF CONDUCT WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW KILLING INNOCENTS & UNARMED PEOPLE
