Following the infamous Padmavati controversy in Rajasthan, where filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali was assaulted by Rajputana group Karni Sena, now it’s the ministers who’ve backed a proposal to rewrite Indian history. The acting VC of Rajasthan University (RU), Rajeshwar Singh had forwarded BJP MLA Mohan Lal Gupta’s proposal to the Board of Studies. In his proposal, Gupta had demanded the education board to declare Maharana Pratap as the winner of Battle of Haldighati fought in 1576.
Initially, it was just Gupta vs. Education board. What’s more surprising is that now, even Haryana is keen on amending its history books. In this regard, Haryana education minister Ram Bilas Sharma had requested RU to submit valid research material to confirm Pratap’s victory in the battle.
How did Maharana Pratap’s Controversy arise in Rajasthan?
Gupta, who’s a member of Rajasthan University syndicate wanted to project Maharana Pratap as the hero, for his contributions have been neglected by the historians, so far. Several other ministers like Vasudev Devnani (School Education Minister) and Karlicharan Saraf (Health Minister) supported this move.
What Actually Happened During Battle of Haldighati?
The Battle of Haldighati was the last great battle fought by Pratap against the mighty Mughal Army, but the battle continued till Maharana’s death. With both the armies containing the Hindus (Rajputs) and the Muslims (Afghans) in a large number, the battle of Haldighati can’t be regarded as the struggle between Hindus and Muslims or between Rajputs and Mughals. It was a struggle for community independence since the last ‘free’ ruler of Rajasthan Rajputs, that is Pratap, didn’t want to lose his community’s pride to the Mughals.
Historian Satish Chandra Mishra’s authoritative texts on medieval history state that the Mughal army was led by Kanwar Man Singh. The initial battle between Man Singh and Pratap failed to break the stalemate between the two parties, with Rana retreating into the southern hills of southern Mewar. From here, he planned several attacks on Akbar’s army using guerrilla tactics.
Irritated by these unplanned assaults, Akbar followed up the battle of Haldighati by personally leading a campaign against Pratap from Ajmer to Mewar. However, the Mughal pressure on Mewar relaxed after 1579 due to Mirza Hakim’s invasion in Punjab. When Akbar moved to Lahore to control his kingdom in the North-west, Pratap took advantage of this situation and reacquired the kingdom of Kumbalgarh, Gogunda, Udaipur, Ranthambore and Chittor. He built his modern capital in Chavand near Dungarpur.
Why do Indians Advocate that Pratap won the War?
If we go by the facts then the battle was without outcome because both the parties eventually retreated from the battlefield. However, if we go by the technicalities, we discover that:
- A king can’t declare his victory over another kingdom unless he seizes their territory and kills or imprisons their ruler.
- The Mughals killed Pratap’s confidant Jhala Sardar, Man Singh, mistaking him for the king.
- Though Pratap retreated from the battlefield, he eventually returned the following day to ascertain his victory, but the Mughals had retreated by then.
- Thereafter, the battle continued between the Mughals and the Rajputs, with Pratap attacking Akbar’s army from the Aravallis.
- In short, Haldighati was not just a single war episode but a series of inter-linked attacks that followed until Pratap re-captured his lost kingdoms in the end.
Not only this, Pratap’s guerrilla techniques inspired subsequent generations like the great Maratha Shivaji and Indian freedom fighters to plan an attack on the Mughals and the British respectively.
All these points have led Rajasthan and Haryana ministers to question historical facts. History department head K.S. Sharma had received a mail from Haryana minister, seeking information on Gupta’s proposal. The minister contacted an Udaipur-based author who wrote a book titled “Maharana Pratap aur Haldighati ka Yuddh”. In this book, the author had claimed that Pratap was the real hero of the war.
While the debate continues over Pratap, it has added to the plight of poor students who’re all-the-more confused about historical facts now.
