Showing posts with label AKBAR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AKBAR. Show all posts

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Battle Of Haldighati and aftermath battle of Dewar-Maharana Pratap -Truth


Numbers and Composition of Armies:
Sesodia army:
Al-Badayuni, an eye-witness of the battle, gives a number of 3,000 for the army of Rana Pratap. This number seems to be very accurate by any realistic estimate. We know that at Chittor, a garrison of 8,000 best Sesodia soldiers was present, but most of it was slaughtered and thus, the men that managed to escape could not have been greater than 3,000. Apart from the main Sesodia army, Rana Pratap received help from Raja Ram Singh Tomar, the king of Gwalior who had lost his kingdom to the Mughals, and Hakim Singh Sur, an Afghan enemy of the Mughals who contributed some 300 Afghan horsemen. Taking these into account, the men under Pratap number no more than 4,000, and since a garrison of at least 1,000 men had to be placed at Kumbhalgarh, we arrive at a maximum number of 3,000 for the army of Rana Pratap. His army was organised in this way:
(i) Vanguard — 800 Afghan and Rajput horsemen. The Afghan horsemen were led by Hakim Khan Sur, and the Rajput horsemen were led by Bhim Singh Dodia, and Ramdas Rathore (son of Jaimal who died during 1568 siege of Chittor),
(ii) Right wing — 500 horsemen led by Raj Singh Tomar and his sons, along with the minister Bhama Shah and his brother Tarachand,
(iii) Left wing — 400 horsemen of the Jhala clan commanded by Man Singh Jhala (also known as Bida Mana),
(iv) The Center — 1,300 horsemen commanded by Rana Pratap himself.
Pratap had possession of two elephants, Lona and Ram Prasad, while had no musket or artillery as they had to be left in Kumbhalgarh for it’s protection against a siege. Pratap also received aid from a Bhil chieftain of Merpur in the form of 400 Bhil bowmen, but these bowmen were in the rear and were only used to ply their arrows from the forest or hill cover. Since the battle was fought in a pitched style in an open plain, the Bhil bowmen had no influence on the battle whatsoever and hence, their numbers should not be added to the total strength of the army.
Mughal army:
The army of 10,000 (infantry, cavalry, archers and muskets) was commanded by Man Singh Kacchwa. The army had possession of matchlock muskets and many elephants. Nearly 5,000 were Muslims under imperial service, while 5,000 were Rajputs and other Hindu auxiliaries. Apart from the Sheikhzadas of Fatehpur Sikri, and the Sayyids of Barha, the imperial Mughal army was mainly made up of Central Asian cavaliers and horse archers who were Uzbeks, Qazzaqs, Badakshis, and from other tribes. The army was organised in this way:
(i) Front — Skirmishers made up of 75 selected horsemen under command of Sayyid Hashim Barha,
(ii) Vanguard — Made up of Kacchwa clansmen led by Jagannath Kacchwa and Central Asian Mughals led by Bakshi Ali Asaf Khan (a Khwaja of Kazvin),
(iii) Reserve — Kacchwa clansmen under Madho Singh Kacchwa,
(iv) Centre — Led by Man Singh,
(v) Left wing — Central Asian Muslims led by Mulla Qazi Khan of Badakshan, troops from Sambhar led by Rao Lunkarn Shekhawat and Sheikhzadas from Fatehpur Sikri,
(vi) Right wing — Made up of Sayyids of Barha who were famous for their valour and played a decisive role in the battle,
(vii) Rear — Central Asian Muslims Commanded by Mehtar Khan
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -
Battle:
Stage I — Mughal Defeat:
The battle was started when Pratap led a ferocious frontal assault against the large Mughal army which was divided into conventional divisions as has been described in the previous post. At the head of the charge was the vanguard made up of ferocious Afghans under Hakim Khan Sur, and the Rajputs under Ramdas Rathore who routed the 75 skirmishers under Sayyid Hashmim Barha making them flee for their lives. The Afghan-Rajput vanguard then collapsed into the vanguard of the Mughal army which was commanded by Jagannath Kacchwa and Ali Asaf Khan. The Mughal vanguard was also broken and forced to give ground due to the great slaughter of Mughal troops led by Ramdas Rathor, Bhim Singh Dodia and Hakim Khan Sur. Behind the vanguard, the 3 parallel divisions of the Sesodia army were following and they too collapsed into the corresponding enemy divisions. The Mughal left wing (made up of Rajputs, Sheikhzadas of Fatehpur Sikri and Badakshis) was utterly routed and all it’s men either fled or took refuge in the right wing. Therefore, the plan of Rana Pratap to put all he had in one cavalry charge with great momentum and break the enemy lines seemed to be successful in the start. The left wing of the army and it’s vanguard sustained an utter defeat, and the official historian Al Badayuni says that “they fled away without drawing rein for miles.” Lunkarn Shekhawat and Qazi Khan were thus routed by Ram Singh Tomar, and Ram Singh Tomar (along with his three sons) now joined the centre and stood in front of Rana Pratap so as to protect him.
The right wing was also greatly pressed but luckily for the Mughals, the Sayyids of Barha bravely held their ranks inspite of the great slaughter led by the Jhalas. They were further strengthened by the reserve sent by Man Singh, and in this way, the right wing proved to be the pivot point of the battle. Man Singh proceeded to engage the centre led by Rana Pratap, and commanded Mehtar Khan (who was in the rear) to come forward and cover his left flank which was exposed due to the rout of his left wing. By this time, the momentum of the Pratap’s initial cavalry charge had been lost, and the battle entered the second stage.

Stage II — Stalemate:
Pratap followed the tactic of making simultaneous head-long charge by parallel solid columns of cavalry and then pursue the enemy if they break. In order to make this charge decisive, he had to invest all his manpower in it. His total strength was too small to allow him any measure of precaution, or to let him keep any rear or reserve. His ferocious assault led by Ramdas Rathore and Hakim Khan Sur was greatly effective but the Mughal army was three times as large, and as soon as the initial impetus of his charge exhausted, he became helpless. His horsemen were soon surrounded by horse archers and guns from three sides who started killing best soldiers and leaders of Mewar, one by one. The centre led by Pratap was also engaged by main body of Mughal army led by Man Singh, and the fight now became general. The Kacchwas fought with extreme anger and fury with their hereditary enemies and personal remarks and insults were being hurled from each side towards another. Many Kacchwas and Sesodias were thus slain, and the horse archers who surrounded them plied their arrows indiscriminately on the massive crowd of Rajputs. When asked by Al Badayuni, how their archers would distinguish between friendly and enemy Rajputs, the bigoted Ali Asaf Khan assured him, “on whichever side a man falls, it is a gain to Islam because it is one Hindu the less.”
Thus, the battle had been stabilised. Because of the small numbers, Pratap had no rear or reserve to follow up the initial success gained by a ferocious and headlong frontal assault. Pratap staked everything in making one bold charge on every front, and even though he was awarded with significant initial success, the Mughal centre and reserve had now come forward to repair the damage, while there was no reserve for Pratap to follow up his initial success.

Stage III — Elephant Combats:
The Sesodia men were loosing their morale by seeing themselves surrounded in three sides and the Muslims plying their arrows and musket shots on them continuously. All the divisions of the army were now being pushed towards the centre, and the charges led by Mewar horsemen could not build enough momentum so as to break enemy lines, due to the dead bodies lying everywhere. Therefore, to break the enemy line, Rana Pratap ordered an attack by his elephants who were reserved for later.
The first elephant, Lona crushed many enemy troops but was now opposed by the Mughal elephant Gaj-mukta. The two elephants made a head-on collision, and the Mughal elephant was left dazed. Before Lona could advance further, his driver was hit by a bullet and the elephant retreated to the Mewar centre. The second elephant, Ram Prasad made an even greater impact and sent many Mughals flying. To oppose him, two Mughal elephants, Gajraj and Ran-madar were sent. Before these heavily armoured beasts could clash into each other, the driver of Ram Prasad, Pratap Singh Tomar was shot down by an arrow. Now, a driver from one of the Mughal elephants quickly jumped onto Ram Prasad and managed to bring it under his control.
Close of the battle — Sesodia army withdraws:
After the brief elephant combat, the hand-to-hand combat was resumed. The men who lost their horses, now weilded their daggers and swords to attack the men of Men Singh Kacchwa. Ram Singh Tomar always kept in front of Rana Pratap and according to Al Badayuni, he “performed such prodigies of valour against the Rajputs of Man Singh as to baffle description. Similarly, the young heroes who acted as the bodyguards of Man Singh performed such exploits as were a perfect model.” The battle had raged for nearly three hours by then, and the Rana was now wounded by arrows and spears. The battle had turned irretrievably against the Maharana, and both the left and right wings had now crowded into the centre. Man Singh Jhala (also known as Bida Mana) who commanded the left wing, now knew that a defeat in the battle was certain, but the war could still be won if the Rana managed to escape from the battle. Therefore, he snatched away the royal umbrella (chattri) from over the head of the Rana, and ran into the Mughal lines with it, shouting that he was the Maharana and challenged the imperial soldiers to capture him. Every Mughal captain who immensely wished to earn the honour of being the killer of the emperor’s great enemy rushed towards him, and Bida Mana died a martyr’s death. Rana Pratap along with every alive soldier, all the supplies and civilians managed to escape and left nothing behind. A pursuit was not done because Man Singh was afraid of any ambush that might have been planted in the narrow Haldighati pass. Because of this, Rana Pratap had ample time to evacuate Gogunda with all the baggage and supplies and when the Mughal army proceeded to capture Gogunda on the next day (19th June), they found it empty. All they found there was some brave Rajputs who had volunteered to stay back so as to protect their temples. Since Rana Pratap had banned every kind of farming, cultivation or herding while Chittor was under the enemy, there was absolutely nothing in the countryside for the Mughals. Apparently, the only spoil they gained from the battle was the elephant Ram Prasad.
Even though the Sesodias had to retreat, the battle should be considered a tactical victory for them as they managed to escape without giving any prisoners or supplies, even when outnumbered three to one; and their resistance against Mughals was never halted in future.

I. Failure of Man Singh
After a “victory” in the battle on 18th June, Man Singh collected his exhausted troops and reached Gogunda on 19th June, but it was completely evacuated by now, and therefore, no booty was gained. Rana Pratap, along with his army relocated to the region around Kumbhalgarh and started a guerrilla campaign against Man Singh. Also, Rana issued an order banning the raising of any types of crops. This was a deathblow to the men of Man Singh, as they quickly exhausted all the supplies in the range of their foraging parties, while the supply caravans arriving from Mughal base in Western Mewar were all looted by Rana’s men. Therefore, Man Singh could not sustain his army and elephants, and abandoned his position at Gogunda, leaving behind some men in the towns that he had occupied. In a few days after he left, all of eastern Mewar including his capital Gogunda was quickly liberated by Pratap, and new raids were made into Western part of the kingdom. Man Singh was assigned the task to capture the Rana and make him submit, and in this, he utterly failed.
Now, Man Singh’s army moved to Ajmer where they met Akbar who had arrived there on 26th September, 1576. Akbar was very disappointed at Man Singh’s failure to suppress the Rana, and himself took a large army to Gogunda and established military posts at Mohi, Madar and many other places. One army was sent to occupy the small town of Udaipur which was only in it’s infancy then and another was sent against the chief of Idar (an ally of Mewar) who had revolted just after hearing of Pratap’s success against the Mughals, and raided Mughal territory. The Rao of Idar was forced to submit. Before coming to Gogunda, Akbar had also subjugated the chiefs of Sirohi and Jalor who were allies of Mewar and they too had revolted after Pratap’s success againt Man Singh, and raided Mughal territory. They were all made to submit, and the territory of Rana was encircled. Akbar, now sent a large army under Man Singh Kacchwa, Bhagwant Singh Kacchwa and Qutbuddin. They were given the task to follow Pratap into the hills, bring him out, capture his strongholds and make him submit. But this army was again harassed by guerrilla tactics of Rana Pratap who looted all their supply trains. Due to the lack of supplies, Man Singh and Bhagwant Singh retreated back to their base, without fighting a single battle. Akbar was extremely displeased and angered at this, and refused audience to Man Singh. Meanwhile, poor success of Man Singh in suppressing the Rana was presented to Akbar by his enemies as being due to his sympathy for the Rana, both being Hindu Rajputs. But Akbar realised that all these complaints were merely the result of their envy at seeing a Hindu’s rise to the highest rank in the Mughal court. Abu Fazl describes these envious courtiers as “tricksters, time-servers and evil-inclined wordspinners.” Disappointed Akbar then left Mewar for Malwa, and all his military outposts in Eastern Mewar were destroyed and their garrisons were slaughtered. Eastern Mewar was again liberated immediately by Rana Pratap, and raids into the Mughal territories started again.
Aftermath of Haldighati(only Haldighati not all campainags are taken into account)
II. First Campaign of Shahbaz Khan
The failed and disappointed Akbar left Mewar on 27th November, 1576. As soon as he left, Maharana liberated Udaipur and Gogunda, and slaughtered Mughal garrisons of Mohi and other places. According to Vir Vinod, Maharana did not sit peacefully for even one minute; and during this time, he did not even remove his armour and helmet. The road from Agra through Mewar was captured, and thus, the path of the Mughal armies and the path of Mecca pilgrims going to Gujrat through Mewar were blocked. Mughal emperor became furious at this, but now he was in Meerut. From there he sent a large army under Shahbaz Khan Kamboh, Man Singh Kacchwa, Maharaja Bhagwant Singh Kacchwa, Payanda Khan Mughal, Sayyid Hashim Barha, Ulag Asad Turkoman, Mirza Khan Khankhana, Sharif Khan Atgah, Ghazi Khan Badakshi, Sayyid Qasim, Sayyid Raju etc.
Shahbaz Khan was a Mir Bakshi of the Mughal empire appointed in 1572 and had proved himself in many great campaigns. On reaching Mewar on 15th October, 1577, he started his mission to capture Rana. But he was greatly harassed by guerrilla units of Pratap, and therefore, he requested another army from Agra. Akbar sent another large army under Sheikh Ibrahim Fatehpuri and it joined the forces under Shahbaz Khan Kamboh. Before proceeding towards Kumbhalgarh, Shahbaz Khan sent Man Singh and his father Bhagwant Singh back, as he did not want any Hindus to accompany him on this campaign. This completely Muslim army then marched straight towards Kumbhalgarh and mercilessly destroyed villages and towns, and slaughtered innocent people of Mewar. After a siege of several months, a small fort of Kelwara was captured, and from there Shahbaz Khan laid seige on Kumbhalgarh, where Rana was present with his army. Here, luck ran in Shahbaz Khan’s way, and a big gun of Kumbhalgarh exploded and destroyed most of the war materials and supplies. Rana Pratap evacuated the fort overnight and in the morning, the empty fort was captured by Shahbaz Khan. Maharana again took refuge in forests and hills. He first went to Rampura which was ruled by Rao Durga. Here, he was warmly welcomed and given protection by his clan-brothers. After this, the Rana went to the hills of Banswara and lived there for some months. While living here, he received help from his prime minister Bhama Shah who sent 250,000 rupees and 20,000 gold coins his way (apparently, he gained this wealth by looting Mughal territories) and these helped the exhausted Rana to strengthen his army and prepare for his conquest of those areas which were now occupied by Shahbaz Khan.
Meanwhile, from Kumbhalgarh, Shahbaz Khan launched attacks on Udaipur and Gogunda and captured them. After this, he wandered in hills of Mewar searching for Rana, but after three months, he returned empty-handed to Akbar. For all his boasts in the Mughal court, he did not fight a single battle with Pratap and gained no major booty. Before leaving, he established 50 military posts and garrisons in the forts that he captured. During his campaigns, he did a lot of destruction, burned cities and engaged in bloody massacres of civilians. However, it had the exact opposite effect, and as soon as he left, Kumbhalgarh and all forts and towns were liberated by Pratap, and the Muslim garrisons were completely slaughtered without leaving a single man alive. Thus, Pratap paid him back in his own coin, and the success of his long campaign was nullified.
With this ended the first campaign of Shahbaz Khan. It was not a success but with some luck, he still managed to capture Kumbhalgarh in a very short time. He proved to be a great general and his march from Gogunda to Udaipur was so quick that it has been greatly praised by military historians. Akbar was impressed by him, and as soon as Rana again started raiding Mughal territories, he sent Shahbaz Khan again to Mewar. I’ll write about the later campaigns of Shahbaz Khan in the next post.
Before ending, let us see in more detail the activities of Pratap after Shahbaz Khan left, and how he liberated Mewar again.
After hearing that Shahbaz Khan had departed after loosing his hope, Rana moved to Chappan mountains, leaving his earlier position in Banswara. After gaining financial help from his Prime Minister Bhama Shah, he attacked the Mughal army stationed at Diwer. This army was led by Sultan Khan and he faced the Rajputs bravely. In the battle, Sultan Khan was killed by a spear thrown by Amar Singh Sesodia, prince of Mewar. Another soldier of Mewar badly injured the Mughal elephant. The battle was easily won and the Mughal soldiers fled or were killed. After gaining control over Diwer, Pratap captured Hamirsara and set out to besiege Kumbhalgarh. After a brief siege, the mighty fortress was captured and the Mughal soldiers there were slaughtered. Ghazi Khan Badakshi, the man who was put in the command of Kumbhalgarh by Shahbaz Khan, was beheaded by the Rana. After this, Jawar, Chappan, Bagad, Chavand etc. were all captured from the Mughals, and the Rana made Chavand his centre for a next few days.
After this, raids were launched everywhere in the Mughal territories as far as Malwa. Tarachand, the brother of Bhamashah, who had also fought at Haldighati, was campaiging near Bassi and there, he met Shahbaz Khan who was on his way back to Panjab. Tarachand was defeated and badly wounded. Rao Chaindas escorted him safely to Chavand. Meanwhile, the chiefs of Dungarpur and Banswara and the former allies of Rana, Rao Aaskaran and Rao Pratap respectively, now started having friendly relations with Akbar. This alarmed Pratap and he sent an army under Rawatman to bring them under his control. The armies of Rawatman were helped by Rao Chandrasen of Jodhpur, and they met with the joined armies of Dungarpur and Banswara at the river Som. Rawatman was victorious in this battle, and both the chiefs temporarily accepted Maharana’s suzerainty. But after some time, Dungarpur, Banswara again revolted and this time, they received help from the Mughals in the form of a large army. Another battle took place at the Som river, and this time, Pratap was not successful. But it kept the Mughals busy and gave Pratap more time to strengthen his hold over Mewar. Meanwhile, Sahmal, the son of Rao Aaskaran of Dungarpur, who hated the Mughals, joined the Rana in Chavand. Rana now occupied the plains of Mewar and started waiting for the next step of Akbar. So far, Akbar had gained almost nothing from his numerous campaigns.
Later campaigns of Shahbaz Khan
After hearing about Pratap’s activities and raids, Akbar was outraged and again sent Shahbaz Khan to his second campaign, as he had done a satisfactory job in the first campaign. This time Akbar gave him strict orders that his goal was to make Rana accept Mughal suzerainty, and this was to be accomplished at all costs. Shahbaz Khan was given huge amount of money, so that the Rajputs can be bought off, if necessary. Turkic military leaders like Muhammad Hussain Mirza, Sheikh Timur Badakshi, Ali Khan etc. accompanied him. After reaching Mewar, Shahbaz Khan started building military posts and strengthening his control over cities and towns. After this he wandered cluelessly in hills and forests of Mewar, looking for Rana. But Rana was nowhere to be found. After losing hope, he returned back to Agra, and Rana became active once again. Meanwhile, Rao Chandrasen, an ally of Pratap, revolted and marched with his army to Ajmer. Here he was defeated by a huge army in command of Payan Muhammad Khan. This revolt kept Mughals busy and gave Pratap some time to establish control over Mewar.
Now, Akbar was becoming restless. He had conquered everything from Khandesh to Kashmir, and Gujrat to Bengal, but was continuously failing to subjugate Mewar. He offered many prayers in Khwaja mosque of Ajmer, but he never saw much success. After praying for a long time in the Ajmer mosque in October 1579, Akbar sent Shahbaz Khan to Mewar for the 3rd time. Pratap went into the hills again. Shahbaz Khan did all he could, and searched every corner of Mewar, but this time, Rana had taken refuge in mountains of Sodha, which are at a distance of 12 k.m. from Mt. Abu. Here Rao Dhula of Loyana gave him full respect and protection. He married his daughter to Maharana, and Maharana gave him the title of Rana. Akbar was saddened by another failure, and in disappointment, he called Shahbaz Khan back in July 1580. Rustom Khan, the subehdar of Ajmer, was assigned to leadership of Mewar campaigns, but before he could proceed, Kacchwa Rajputs of Sherpura revolted. Rustom Khan went to suppress this revolt but was killed. Now, Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khana (popularly known as Rahim), a famous Hindi poet, was appointed subehdar of Ajmer and was given the task to capture Rana.e, Amar Singh arrested women from the enemy camp along with a Mughal officer and brought them before Pratap. Rana Pratap rebuked his son for this act. He ordered to send women back to their camp with escorts.When Rahim Khan-e-Khana who was preparing to assault Maharana Pratap came to know this incident, he withdrew his forces.
The Aftermath form a basis wheather the battle was really a Victory or a Stalemate, the readers can decide
Eg.Battle of Dewar(1606)-Rana Amar Singh personally killed the Mughal commander Sultan Khan and his horse, due to which he is known as Chakrveer(also called Chakraveer). Parviz and Asaf Khan retreated from the battlefield but majority of historian call it stalemate as Rana was eventually defeated in 1615…now compare it with Haldighati

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Sunday, November 4, 2018

मरियम उद ज़मानी”, जोधा बाई बता कर एक झूठी अफवाह


जब भी कोई हिन्दू राजपूत किसी मुग़ल की गद्दारी की बात करता है तो कुछ मुग़ल प्रेमियों द्वारा उसे जोधाबाई का नाम लेकर चुप करने की कोशिश की जाती है!
बताया जाता है की कैसे जोधा ने अकबर की आधीनता स्वीकार की या उससे विवाह किया!
परन्तु अकबर कालीन किसी भी इतिहासकार ने जोधा और अकबर की प्रेम कहानी का कोई वर्णन नही किया!
सभी इतिहासकारों ने अकबर की सिर्फ 5 बेगम बताई है!
1.सलीमा सुल्तान
2.मरियम उद ज़मानी
3.रज़िया बेगम
4.कासिम बानू बेगम
5.बीबी दौलत शाद
अकबर ने खुद अपनी आत्मकथा अकबरनामा में भी किसी हिन्दू रानी से विवाह का कोई जिक्र नहीं किया!
परन्तु हिन्दू राजपूतों को नीचा दिखने के लिए कुछ इतिहासकारों ने अकबर की मृत्यु के करीब 300 साल बाद 18 वीं सदी में “मरियम उद ज़मानी”, को जोधा बाई बता कर एक झूठी अफवाह फैलाई!
और इसी अफवाह के आधार पर अकबर और जोधा की प्रेम कहानी के झूठे किस्से शुरू किये गए!
जबकि खुद अकबरनामा और जहांगीर नामा के अनुसार ऐसा कुछ नही था!
18वीं सदी में मरियम को हरखा बाई का नाम देकर हिन्दू बता कर उसके मान सिंह की बेटी होने का झूठ पहचान शुरू किया गया!
फिर 18वीं सदी के अंत में एक ब्रिटिश लेखक जेम्स टॉड ने अपनी किताब "एनालिसिस एंड एंटटीक्स ऑफ़ राजस्थान" में मरीयम से हरखा बाई बनी इसी रानी को जोधा बाई बताना शुरू कर दिया!
और इस तरह ये झूठ आगे जाकर इतना प्रबल हो गया की आज यही झूठ भारत के स्कूलों के पाठ्यक्रम का हिस्सा बन गया है और जन जन की जुबान पर ये झूठ सत्य की तरह आ चूका है!
और इसी झूठ का सहारा लेकर राजपूतों को निचा दिखाने की कोशिश जारी है!
जब भी मैं जोधाबाई और अकबर के विवाह प्रसंग को सुनता या देखता हूं तो मन में कुछ अनुत्तरित सवाल कौंधने लगते हैं!
आन,बान और शान के लिए मर मिटने वाले शूरवीरता के लिए पूरे विश्व मे प्रसिद्ध भारतीय क्षत्रिय अपनी अस्मिता से क्या कभी इस तरह का समझौता कर सकते हैं??
हजारों की संख्या में एक साथ अग्नि कुंड में जौहर करने वाली क्षत्राणियों में से कोई स्वेच्छा से किसी मुगल से विवाह कर सकती हैं??
जोधा और अकबर की प्रेम कहानी पर केंद्रित अनेक फिल्में और टीवी धारावाहिक मेरे मन की टीस को और ज्यादा बढ़ा देते हैं!
अब जब यह पीड़ा असहनीय हो गई तो एक दिन इस प्रसंग में इतिहास जानने की जिज्ञासा हुई तो पास के पुस्तकालय से अकबर के दरबारी 'अबुल फजल' द्वारा लिखित 'अकबरनामा' निकाल कर पढ़ने के लिए ले आया!
उत्सुकतावश उसे एक ही बैठक में पूरा पढ़ डाला पूरी किताब पढ़ने के बाद घोर आश्चर्य तब हुआ जब पूरी पुस्तक में जोधाबाई का कहीं कोई उल्लेख ही नही मिला!
मेरी आश्चर्य मिश्रित जिज्ञासा को भांपते हुए मेरे मित्र ने एक अन्य ऐतिहासिक ग्रंथ 'तुजुक-ए-जहांगिरी' जो जहांगीर की आत्मकथा है उसे दिया!
इसमें भी आश्चर्यजनक रूप से जहांगीर ने अपनी मां जोधाबाई का एक भी बार जिक्र नही किया!
हां कुछ स्थानों पर हीर कुँवर और हरका बाई का जिक्र जरूर था!
अब जोधाबाई के बारे में सभी एतिहासिक दावे झूठे समझ आ रहे थे कुछ और पुस्तकों और इंटरनेट पर उपलब्ध जानकारी के पश्चात हकीकत सामने आयी कि “जोधा बाई” का पूरे इतिहास में कहीं कोई जिक्र या नाम नहीं है!
इस खोजबीन में एक नई बात सामने आई जो बहुत चौकानें वाली है!
ईतिहास में दर्ज कुछ तथ्यों के आधार पर पता चला कि आमेर के राजा भारमल को दहेज में 'रुकमा' नाम की एक पर्सियन दासी भेंट की गई थी जिसकी एक छोटी पुत्री भी थी!
रुकमा की बेटी होने के कारण उस लड़की को 'रुकमा-बिट्टी' नाम से बुलाते थे आमेर की महारानी ने रुकमा बिट्टी को 'हीर कुँवर' नाम दिया चूँकि हीर कुँवर का लालन पालन राजपूताना में हुआ इसलिए वह राजपूतों के रीति-रिवाजों से भली भांति परिचित थी!
राजा भारमल उसे कभी हीर कुँवरनी तो कभी हरका कह कर बुलाते थे!
राजा भारमल ने अकबर को बेवकूफ बनाकर अपनी परसियन दासी रुकमा की पुत्री हीर कुँवर का विवाह अकबर से करा दिया जिसे बाद में अकबर ने मरियम-उज-जमानी नाम दिया!
चूँकि राजा भारमल ने उसका कन्यादान किया था इसलिये ऐतिहासिक ग्रंथो में हीर कुँवरनी को राजा भारमल की पुत्री बता दिया!
जबकि वास्तव में वह कच्छवाह राजकुमारी नही बल्कि दासी-पुत्री थी!
राजा भारमल ने यह विवाह एक समझौते की तरह या राजपूती भाषा में कहें तो हल्दी-चन्दन किया था!
इस विवाह के विषय मे अरब में बहुत सी किताबों में लिखा है!
(“ونحن في شك حول أكبر أو جعل الزواج راجبوت الأميرة في هندوستان آرياس كذبة لمجلس”) हम यकीन नहीं करते इस निकाह पर हमें संदेह
इसी तरह ईरान के मल्लिक नेशनल संग्रहालय एन्ड लाइब्रेरी में रखी किताबों में एक भारतीय मुगल शासक का विवाह एक परसियन दासी की पुत्री से करवाए जाने की बात लिखी है!
'अकबर-ए-महुरियत' में यह साफ-साफ लिखा है कि (ہم راجپوت شہزادی یا اکبر کے بارے میں شک میں ہیں) हमें इस हिन्दू निकाह पर संदेह है क्योंकि निकाह के वक्त राजभवन में किसी की आखों में आँसू नही थे और ना ही हिन्दू गोद भरई की रस्म हुई थी!
सिक्ख धर्म गुरू अर्जुन और गुरू गोविन्द सिंह ने इस विवाह के विषय मे कहा था कि क्षत्रियों ने अब तलवारों और बुद्धि दोनो का इस्तेमाल करना सीख लिया है, मतलब राजपुताना अब तलवारों के साथ-साथ बुद्धि का भी काम लेने लगा है!
17वी सदी में जब 'परसी' भारत भ्रमण के लिये आये तब उन्होंने अपनी रचना ”परसी तित्ता” में लिखा “यह भारतीय राजा एक परसियन वैश्या को सही हरम में भेज रहा है अत: हमारे देव(अहुरा मझदा) इस राजा को स्वर्ग दें"!
भारतीय राजाओं के दरबारों में राव और भाटों का विशेष स्थान होता था वे राजा के इतिहास को लिखते थे और विरदावली गाते थे उन्होंने साफ साफ लिखा है-
”गढ़ आमेर आयी तुरकान फौज ले ग्याली पसवान कुमारी ,राण राज्या राजपूता ले ली इतिहासा पहली बार ले बिन लड़िया जीत!
(1563 AD)
मतलब आमेर किले में मुगल फौज आती है और एक दासी की पुत्री को ब्याह कर ले जाती है!
हे रण के लिये पैदा हुए राजपूतों तुमने इतिहास में ले ली बिना लड़े पहली जीत 1563 AD!
ये ऐसे कुछ तथ्य हैं जिनसे एक बात समझ आती है कि किसी ने जानबूझकर गौरवशाली क्षत्रिय समाज को नीचा दिखाने के उद्देश्य से ऐतिहासिक तथ्यों से छेड़छाड़ की और यह कुप्रयास अभी भी जारी है!
लेकिन अब यह षडयंत्र अधिक दिन नही चलेगा ।
🚩🚩जय माँ भवानी. 🚩🚩

Monday, September 5, 2016

Harsh vardhan built Prayagraj / Allahabad fort and Akbar snatched it


हिन्दू राजपूत सम्राट हर्षवर्धन बैस ने बनाया था इलाहाबाद का किला । पूरा सत्य जरूर पढ़ें । share करें ।
मित्रो सम्राट हर्षवर्धन बैस पिता का नाम ‘प्रभाकरवर्धन’ था। हर्षवर्धन बैस का शासनकाल ६०६ से ६४७ ई० तक था | ४१वर्षों के शासन काल में हर्षवर्धन बैस ने अपने साम्राज्य का विस्तार जालंधर, पंजाब, कश्मीर, नेपाल एवं बल्लभीपुर तक कर लिया था। जनरल कनिंघम और बाणभट्ट के अनुसार हर्षवर्धन बैस सूर्यवंशी राजपूत क्षत्रिय थे !
हर्षवर्धन बैस सम्राट की उपाधी ग्रहण किया था लगातार ७३-८५ बार अरबों , तुर्क एवं हूणों को धूल चटानेवाला सबसे पराक्रमी सम्राट साबित हुए थे । भारतवर्ष की सीमारेखा अश्शूर , चीन , तुर्क तक फैल गया था ।
हर्षवर्धन ने अपने शासन काल मे अनेकों किले, सरोवर तथा उद्यानो का निर्माण करवाया था जिसमे से संगम के तट पर स्थापित इलाहाबाद (प्रयाग) का किला एवं रेल्वे स्टेशन के निकट उद्यान (खुशरोबाग) हर्षवर्धन द्वारा ६२५ ई० मे निर्मित करवाया गया था | मुगलो के शासन काल मे जब छल और बल से अकबर ने प्रयाग (इलाहाबाद) तक अपना साम्राज्य विस्तार किया तो सर्वप्रथम उसने प्रयाग का नाम बदलकर अल्लाहबाद कर दिया जिसे अंग्रेज़ो ने अपने शासन काल मे इलाहाबाद कर दिया |
आज भी इलाहाबाद मे प्रयाग रेलवे स्टेशन मौजूद है | अकबरनामा के अनुसार वर्तमान रेलवे स्टेशन के निकट स्थित खुशरोबाग जो अकबर के अय्याश पोते (खुशरो जहांगीर का बेटा) के नाम पर स्थित है वह वास्तव मे राजा हर्षवर्धन का स्थायी समारोह स्थल था | माघ के एक मास के दौरान राजा हर्षवर्धन स्थायी रूप से अपने शासन सत्ता के पदाधिकारियों एवं परिवार के साथ स्थायी रूप से तीर्थराज प्रयाग में संगम तट पर स्थित किले में निवास करते थे |
दैनिक कला प्रदर्शन को देखने के लिए हर रोज रथ यात्रा द्वारा संगम तट स्थित किले से देव उद्यान (खुशरो बाग) तक जाकर वह विभिन्न कलाकारों की कलाओं का आनंद लेते थे और उन्हें पुरस्कृत करते थे | माघ के अंतिम सप्ताह मे विस्तृत यज्ञ कर ब्राह्मणो को अपना सर्वस्व दान करके वापस अपनी राजधानी कन्नौज लौट जाया करते थे | इस कार्यक्रम के दौरान संपूर्ण राज्य में ना तो कोई शादी विवाह होते थे और न ही किसी भी तरह का कोई भवन निर्माण आदि कार्य उत्सव कार्यक्रम के दौरान हुआ करते थे, जो परंपरा समाज में आज भी खरमास में विवाहादि, भवन निर्माण, उत्सव आदि न करने के रुप में प्रचलित है |
राजा हर्षवर्धन के इसी सर्वस्व दान से प्रेरित होकर उनकी प्रजा भी उस उत्सव में ब्राह्मणों को अपने सामर्थ्य के अनुसार दान किया करती थी यही परंपरा आज भी मकर संक्रांति के अवसर पर प्रयागराज तीर्थ के तट पर खिचड़ी दान या सामर्थ्य अनुसार दान करने की चली आ रही है |
इस तरह यह स्पष्ट है कि इलाहाबाद का किला एवम देव उद्यान (खुशरो बाग) का निर्माण अकबर ने नही बल्कि राजा हर्षवर्धन ने किया था|
इलाहाबाद के किले का वस्तु जिसमे अनेक हिन्दू वस्तु के प्रतीक चिह्न उपलब्ध है, अति प्राचीन स्थापित पुराणों मे वर्णित अक्षय वट, देव वृक्ष एवं किले मे स्थापित अनेक देव मंदिर यह सीध करते है की किले का निर्माण किसी हिन्दू राजपूत राजा के द्वारा करवाया गया था |
वन्देमातरम् ।।
Manisha Singh 

Monday, January 25, 2016

चित्तौड़गढ़ का तीसरा जौहर और जयमल-पत्ता का बलिदान,Akbar's Expedition Against Chittodgadh and the Third Jauhar

----चित्तौड़गढ़ का तीसरा जौहर और जयमल-पत्ता का बलिदान----
राजपूत विरूद्ध मुग़ल युद्ध 1568 ईस्वी
पुरखों के शौर्य,रक्त और बलिदान को भुलाये कैसे???
पुरखो के शाका और जौहर को हम इतनी आसानी से नही भूल सकते।राजपूत योद्धा अपनी प्रजा के रक्षा करना जानते थे ,जीते जी एक पर भी आंच नही आने दी,कट गए मर मिटे इज्जत की खातिर जौहर की चिता में लाखो राजपूतानिया जिन्दा जल गई,लाखो राजपूत योद्धा कट गए, सिर कट गए धड़ लड़ते रहे ।
वक़्त 15 वी शताब्दी दिल्ली के मुग़ल बादशाह ने मेवाड़ चित्तौड़ पर आक्रमण की योजना की और खुद 60000 मुगलो की सेना लेकर मेवाड़ आया।उस वक़्त महाराणा उदय सिंह भी लोहा लेने को तैयार हुए अपने पूर्वज बाप्पा रावल राणा हमीर राणा कुम्भा राणा सांगा के मेवाड़ी वंसज तैयार हुए पर मेवाड़ के तत्कालीन ठाकुरो/उमरावो ने उदय सिंह जी को मेवाड़ हित में कहा की आप न लडे क्यों की आपको कुंभलगढ़ में सेना मजबूत करनी है ।अंत ना मानने पर भी उमरावो ठाकुरो ने उन्हें कुंभलगढ़ भेज दिया और फैसला किया मेड़ता के दूदा जी पोते वीरो के वीर शिरोमणि जयमल मेड़तिया को चित्तोड़ का सेनापति बना भार सोपने का और जयमल के साले जी पत्ता जी चुण्डावत को उनके साथ नियुक्त किया गया।
खबर मिलते ही जयमल जी और उनके भाई बन्धु प्रताप सिंह और दूसरे भाई भतीजे राठौड वीरो की तीर्थ स्थली चित्तोड़ की और निकल पड़े ।निकलते ही अजमेर के आगे मगरा क्षेत्र में उनका सामना हुआ वहा बसने वही रावत जाति के लूटेरो से!!!!!
भारी लाव लश्कर और जनाना के साथ जयमल जी को लूटेरो ने रोक दिया एक लूटरे ने सिटी बजायी देखते ही देखते एक पेड़ तीरो से भर गया सभी समझ चुके थे की वे लूटेरो से घिरे हुए है ।
तभी भाई प्रताप सिंह ने कहा की "अठे या वटे" जयमल जी ने कहा "वटे" तभी जनाना आदि ने सारे गहने कीमति सामान वही छोड़ दिया और आगे चल पड़े लूटेरो की समझ से ये बाहर था कि एक राजपूत सेना जो तलवारो भालो से सुसज्जित है वो बिना किसी विवाद और लडे इतनी आसानी से कैसे छोड़ जा सकते है।अभी जयमल की सेना अपने इष्ट नाथद्वारा में श्रीनाथ जी के दर्शन ही कर रही थी कि तभी लूटेरे फिर आ धमके और सरदार ने जयमल जी से कहा की ये "अटे और वटे" क्या है ????
तब वीर जयमल मेड़तिया ने कहा की यहाँ तुमसे धन के लिए लडे या वहा चित्तौड़ में तुर्को से ?
तभी लूटेरे सरदार की आँखों में आंसू आ गए और उसने जयमल जी के पैेरो में गिर कर माफ़ी मांगी और अपनों टुकड़ी को शामिल करने की बात कही पर जयमल जी ने कहा की तुम लूटपाठ छोड़ यहाँ मुगलो का सामना करो।अतः लूटेरे आधे रास्ते वीरो को छोड़ने आये और फिर लोट गए।
मेड़ता के वीर अब चित्तोड़ में प्रवेश कर गए और किले की प्रजा को सुरक्षित निकालने में जुटे ही थे कि तभी खबर मिली की मुग़ल सेना ने 10 किमी दूर किले के नीचे डेरा जमा दिया है। सभी 9 दरवाजे बंद किये गए 8000 राजपूत वीर वही किले में रहे।
मुगलो ने किले पर आक्रमण किया पर हर बार वो असफल हुये आखिर में मुगलो ने किले की दीवारो के निचे सुरंगे बनाई पर रात में राजपूत फिर उसे भर देते थे ।आखिर में किले के दरवाजो के पास दीवारे तोड़ी पर योद्धा उसे रात में फिर बना देते थे।ये जद्दोजहद 5 माह तक चलती रही पर किले के निचे मुगलो की लाशे बिछती गई।उस वक़्त मजदूरी इंतनी महगी हो गयी की एक बाल्टी मिट्टी लाने पर एक मुग़ल सैनिक को एक सोने का सिक्का दिया गया।वहाँ मिटटी सोने से अधिक महंगी हो गयी थी।
अब अकबर ने जयमल जी के पास अपना दूत भेजकर प्रलोभन दिया कि अगर मेरे अधीनता स्वीकार करे तो जयमल को उसके पुरखों का राज्य मेड़ता सहित पूरे मेवाड़ का भी राजा बना देगा।तब वीरवर सूर्यवंशी राजपूत गौरव राव जयमल राठौड़ मेड़तिया का उत्तर था-------
है गढ़ म्हारो म्है धणी,असुर फ़िर किम आण |
कुंच्यां जे चित्रकोट री दिधी मोहिं दीवाण ||
जयमल लिखे जबाब यूँ सुनिए अकबर शाह |
आण फिरै गढ़ उपरा पडियो धड पातशाह ||
अर्थात अकबर ने कहा जयमल मेड़तिया तू अपने प्राण चित्तोड और महाराणा के लिए क्यों लूटा रहा है ?
तू मेरा कब्ज़ा होने दे में तुझे तेरा मूल प्रदेश मेड़ता और मेवाड़ दोनों का राजा बना दूंगा ।
पर जयमल ने इस बात को नकार कर उत्तर दिया मै अपने स्वामी के साथ विश्वासघात नही कर सकता।
मेरे जीते जी तू अकबर तुर्क यहाँ प्रवेश नही कर सकता मुझे महाराणा यहाँ का सेनापति बनाकर गए है।
एक हरियाणवी रागिनी गायक ने भी जयमल के बारे में क्या खूब लिखा है कि जब अकबर के संधि प्रस्ताव को जयमल ठुकराकर अकबर को उसी के दूत के हाथों सन्देश भिजवाता है कि---
ए अकबर
"हम क्षत्री जात के ठाकुर, समझे न इंसाण तनै"
"रे तै हिजड़ा के गीत सुणे सै,देखे न बलवान तैने"।।
अब अकबर घबरा गया और उसने अजमेर शरीफ से दुवा मांगी कि अगर वो इस युद्ध में कामयाब हो गया तो वो अजमेर जियारत के लिए जरुर जाएगा।।।।।।।।।।।।।
एक दिन रात में जयमल जी किले की दिवार ठीक करवा रहे थे और अकबर की नजर उन पर पड़ गयी।तभी अकबर ने अपनी बन्दुक संग्राम से एक गोली चलाई जो जयमल के पैरो पर आ लगी और वो घायल हो गए।गोली का जहर शरीर में फैलने लगा।अब राजपूतो ने कोई चारा न देखकर जौहर और शाका का निर्णय लिया।
आखिर वो दिन आ ही गया 6 माह तक किले को मुग़ल भेद नही पाये और रसद सामग्री खाना आदि खतम हो चुकी था ।किले में आखिर में एक ऐसा निर्णय हुआ जिसका अंदाजा किसी को नही था और वो निर्णय था जौहर और शाका का और दिन था 23 फरवरी 1568!!!!!
चित्तौड़ किले में कुण्ड को साफ़ करवाया गया गंगाजल से पवित्र किया गया ।बाद में चन्दन की लकड़ी और नारियल से उसमे अग्नि लगायी गयी उसके बाद जो हुआ वो अपने आप में एक इतिहास था।
हजारों राजपूतानिया अपने अपनी पति के पाव छूकर और अंतिम दर्शन कर एक एक कर इज्जत कि खातिर आग में कूद पड़ी और सतीत्व को प्राप्त हो गयी ये जौहर नाम से जाना गया।
रात भर 8000 राजपूत योद्धा वहा बैठे रहे और सुबह होने का इन्तजार करने लगे ।सुबह के पहले पहर में सभी ने अग्नि की राख़ का तिलक किया और देवी पूजा के बाद सफ़ेद कुर्ते पजामे और कमर पर नारियल बांध तैयार हुए।
अब जौहर के बाद ये सभी भूखे शेर बन गए थे।
मुग़ल सेना चित्तोड किले में हलचल से पहले ही सकते में थी।उन्होंने रात में ही किले से अग्नि जलती देखकर समझ आ गया था कि जौहर चल रहा है और कल अंतिम युद्ध होगा।
सुबह होते ही एकाएक किले के दरवाजे खोले गए। जयमल जी के पाँव में चोट लगने की वजह से वो घोड़े पर बैठने में असमर्थ थे तो वो वीर कल्ला जी राठौड़ के कंधे पर बेठे।
युद्ध शुरू होते ही वीर योद्धाओ ने कत्ले आम मचा दिया अकबर दूर से ही सब देख रहा था।जयमल जी और कल्ला जी ने तलवारो का जोहर दिखाया और 2 पाव 4 हाथो से मारकाट करते गये उन्हें देख मुग़ल भागने लगी।
स्वयम अकबर भी यह दृश्य देखकर अपनी सुध बुध खो बैठा। उसने चतुर्भुज भगवांन का सुन रखा था।
"जयमल बड़ता जीवणे, पत्तो बाएं पास |
हिंदू चढिया हथियाँ चढियो जस आकास" ||
पत्ता जी प्रताप सिंह जी जयमल जी कल्ला जी आदि वीरो के हाथो भयंकर मार काट हुयी ।
सिर कटे धड़ लड़ते रहे ।
"सिर कटे धड़ लड़े रखा रजपूती शान "
दो दो मेला नित भरे, पूजे दो दो थोर॥
जयमल जी के एक वार से 2 - 2 मुग़ल तुर्क साथ कटते गए किले के पास बहने वाली गम्भीरी नदी भी लाल हो गयी। सिमित संसाधन होने के बाद भी राजपूती सेना मुगलो पर भारी पढ़ी।
युद्ध समाप्त हुआ कुल 48000 सैनिक मारे गए जिनमे से पुरे 8000 राजपूत वीरगति को गए तो बदले में 40000 मुग़लो को भी साथ ले गए ।
बचे तो सिर्फ अकबर के साथ 20000 मुग़ल बाद में अकबर किल्ले में गया वहा कुछ न मिला। तभी अकबर ने चित्तौड़ की शक्ति कुचलने के लिये वहाँ कत्लेआम का आदेश दिया और 30 हजार आम जनता को क्रूरता से मारा गया।यह कत्लेआम अकबर पर बहुत बड़ा धब्बा है।
अकबर जयमल जी और पत्ता जी की वीरता से प्रभावित हुआ और नरसंहार का कलंक धोने के लिये उसने उनकी अश्ववारुड मुर्तिया आगरा के किले के मुख द्वार पर लगवायी।
वही कल्ला जी घर घर लोकदेवता के रूप में पूजे गए मेवाड़ महाराणा से वीरता के बदले वीर जयमल मेड़तिया के वंशजो को बदनोर का ठिकाना मिला तो पत्ता जी चुण्डावत के वंशज को आमेट ठिकाना ।
वही प्रताप सिंह मेड़तिया के वंशज को घाणेराव ठिकाना दिया गया।
ये वही जयमल मेड़तिया है जिन्हीने एक ही झटके में हाथी की सिर काट दिया था
ये वही वीर जयमल जी है वो महाराणा प्रताप के सैनिक(अस्त्र शस्त्र) गुरु भी थे।
ये वही वीर है जो स्वामिभक्ति को अपनी जान से ज्यादा चाहा अकबर द्वारा मेवाड़ के राजा बनाए जाने के लालच पर भी नही झुके।
कर्नल जेम्स टोड राजस्थान के प्रत्येक राज्य में "थर्मोपल्ली" जैसे युद्ध और "लियोनिडास" जैसे योधा होनी की बात स्वीकार करते हैं ये जयमल पत्ता जैता कुंपा गोरा बादल जैसे सैंकड़ो वीरो के कारण है।
हिंदू,मुस्लमान,अंग्रेज,फ्रांसिस,जर्मन,पुर्तगाली आदि अनेक इतिहासकारों ने जयमल के अनुपम शौर्य का वर्णन किया है |
अबुल फजल,हर्बर्ट,सर टामस रो, के पादरी तथा बर्नियर जैसे प्रसिद्ध लेखकों ने जयमल के कृतित्व की अत्यन्त ही प्रसंशा की है |
जर्मन विद्वान काउंटनोआर ने अकबर पर जो पुस्तक लिखी उसमे जयमल को "Lion of Chittor" कहा |
नमन है ऐसे वीरो को।।।
refrence---
१-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chittorgarh
2-http://www.historynet.com/battle-for-chitor-storming-the-la
==============================================
THIS ENGLISH ARTICLE WRITTEN BY KUNVAR VISHWAJEET SINGH SISODIYA JI,
===Akbar's Expedition Against Chittodgadh and the Third Jauhar And Saka===
Date:-23 October 1567 - 23 February 1568
Casualties:-
1)Attacking Army:-29,336 to 39,500(Based On Several Estimates and Calculations)
2)Defending Army:-8000 Rajputs Warriors and ~30000 Civilians
=================
In October 1567, the Mughal forces of approximately 5,000 men led by Akbar surrounded and besieged 8,000 Hindu Rajputs in Chittorgarh Fort and within a few months Akbar's ranks expanded to over 70,000 men and possibly more than 80,000 troops during the late phases of the siege, which ended in a victory of the Mughals and the dreadful Jauhar and Saka at the defending side followed by massacre of civilians.
Strength:-
1)Attacking Army:-
80,000 men
80 cannons
95 swivel guns
800 matchlocks
250 war elephants
2)Defending Army:-
8,000 men+1000 Pathan Gunners probably from Kalki or Buxar commanded by Pathan Ismail Khan.
==================
The Siege of Chittorgarh began when Akbar and his personal Mughal force of 5,000 soldiers surrounded a 6 mile territory around Chittorgarh Fort. On 23 October 1567, Akbar arrived and setup encampments he raised green flags of the Mughal Empire, according to Hindu accounts he also brought large Islamic banners and emblems (Islamic flags were commonly used by the Mughal army). His personal presence in the battlefield was a message for the Rajput flanks inside the fort that the siege was not a temporal affair. The next day Akbar unleashed his powerful cannons, but within a few days of the siege it was evident that his mortars needed higher elevation. Akbar then ordered his men to build the Mohur Margi (Mohur Hill, also known as: Coin Hill). Akbar also displayed heads of dead villagers to incite the Rajputs to come out.
After an arduous siege Akbar ordered his men to lift baskets of earth during both day and night, in order to create a hill right in front of the fort by which the Mughal cannons could be placed. When the hill was completed Akbar placed his cannons and mortars near its tip, but the cannons were too slow to breach the thick stone walls of the Fort.
Akbar believed that the only way to achieve victory and break the deadlock was to blow a hole underneath Chittorgarh Fort. Akbar then organized his sappers to build two sabat's and to plant two separate mines under the heavy stone walls of the fortress of Chittor. More than 5,000 Mughals then dug their way through a secret sabat(A tunnel like structured corridor covered by animal hide) that neared the gates of the fort, but one of the mines exploded prematurely during a military assault killing about a hundred Mughal sowars. The casualties on the Mughal side had risen to almost 200 men a day due to Rajput muskets and archers.
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Accompanied by his courtiers and surveyors, Akbar made a reconnaissance of his target and ordered batteries to be set up at various strategic points around the fort. It took about a month for the whole circumference of the fort to be invested.
There were three principal batteries, one of which was Akbar’s, located opposite the Lakhuta gate in the north. The second battery, under Shujaat Khan and other officers, and the third, under Asaf Khan and other officers, were emplaced at unspecified locations. Meanwhile, Akbar sent his officers to devastate the rana‘s territory, hoping to find Udai Singh in the process, but they found no trace of the rana.
The opening phase of battle began when some overzealous Mogul troops launched a reckless direct assault upon the fort. Not surprisingly, the Moguls’ arrows and bullets glanced off the surface of the walls and battlements, whereas those the garrison discharged exacted a heavy toll on them.
After that minor debacle, Akbar decided that strategic planning rather than reckless courage was what was needed if the fortress was to be taken. Accordingly, the emperor adopted a two-pronged strategy. One entailed mining the walls of the fort in front of the royal battery, whereupon a party of selected Mogul troops would rush into the fort as soon as the breach was made. While the sappers dug mines under the walls, stonemasons opened the way by removing obstacles with their iron tools.
The other strategy called for the construction of sabats, or covered passageways, an ingenious siege contrivance that was peculiar to India. A sabat was a sinuous sheltered passageway that was constructed out of gunshot range, with earthen walls on both sides and a roof of planks strongly fastened together and covered with rawhide. When a breach was made by mines, troops would rush in under the cover of the sabat. Akbar ordered the construction of two sabats: one to be commenced from the royal battery and the other to be built in front of Shujaat Khan’s position.
At the same time, in the emperor’s presence, an exceptionally large mortar was cast to demolish the walls of the fort. When the defenders became aware of this and saw that the Moguls were making daily progress toward the destruction of the fort, they sent out two representatives to Akbar to bargain for peace, offering to become subjects of his court and to send an annual tribute. Several Mogul officers advised him to accept the offer, but Akbar was adamant: Nothing short of the rana surrendering in person would persuade him to lift the siege. As they were unwilling–or perhaps unable–to deliver the rana, the Rajputs had no choice but to continue the defense of their fort with renewed fervor.
While the sabat in front of the royal battery was being constructed, artillerymen and marksmen inside the fort kept up such a fusillade that about 200 Mogul laborers were killed daily, even though they protected themselves with rawhide shields. The corpses were buried in the walls of the sabat. But the workers were kept going by lavish gifts of gold and silver coins from the emperor–the amount of which was calculated according to the number of containers of earth added to the sabat. The sabat opposite Akbar’s position was soon completed near the fort. It was reported to be so extensive that 10 horsemen abreast could ride along it and so high that an elephant rider with his spear in his hand could pass under it.
At the same time, two mines close to each other were brought to the wall of the fort and filled with large quantities of gunpowder. A party of fully armed and accoutered Mogul soldiers, noted for their bravery, stationed themselves near the wall, ready to rush in when it was breached. On December 17, the gunpowder of both mines was set to explode at the same time. One part of the bastion was blown up, inflicting heavy casualties on the defenders. Unknown to the Moguls, however, only one mine had exploded. When the soldiers rushed toward the large breach and
and were about to enter, the second mine exploded (apparently, the match used to ignite the gunpowder of the mine that exploded first had been shorter than the other match, so the mines failed to discharge simultaneously).
Moguls and Rajputs alike, battling in the breach, were hurled into the air together, while others were crushed by falling debris. The blast was so powerful that limbs and stones were hurled a great distance from the fort. Mogul reinforcements and Rajput troops then engaged in a brief skirmish until the Rajputs succeeded in quickly repairing the demolished part of the wall. About 500 Mogul soldiers, including a significant number of noteworthy men, were killed, while a large number of Rajputs also perished. On the same day, another ill-timed mine exploded in front of Asaf Khan’s battery and claimed 30 more lives.
Akbar viewed these botched undertakings as temporary setbacks that should serve to inspire even greater exertion and resolve on the part of the Moguls. To ensure that the assault on the fort would continue unabated, he ordered the construction of the sabat in front of Shujatt Khan’s battery to be speeded up.
The emperor also frequently visited the sabat in his sector and fired at the garrison from loopholes in the sabat. One day, Akbar saw that some of his men were admiring the marksmanship of one of the musketeers of the fort when, at that very moment, a shot from that marksman hit Jalal Khan, one of Akbar’s attendants. Akbar was reported to have said to his injured attendant, Jalal Khan, that marksman does not show himself; if he would do so, I’d avenge you. Although he could not see the marksman, Akbar took aim at the barrel of the musket that projected from a loophole. He fired but could not determine whether his shot had found its mark. It was only later that Akbar learned that his shot had indeed killed the sharpshooter, who was identified as Ismail, head of the musketeers.
Akbar proved to be quite a marksman himself, killing many noted members of the garrison. But the emperor also came close to losing his own life on a few occasions. Once, a large cannonball that fell near Akbar killed 20 soldiers but left him unscathed. On another occasion, a soldier standing near Akbar was hit by a bullet, and the emperor was saved from the same round only by his coat of mail.
When the second sabat was completed, the Mogul forces prepared to launch a full-scale assault on the fort. The Mogul troops went about their operations with such vigor and intensity that for two nights and a day they had neither food nor sleep, inspired by the personal example of Akbar, who was supervising the operations and keeping up a fusillade upon the garrison from the sabat. Special quarters had been erected for Akbar on top of the sabat, and the emperor stayed there during this crucial period.
}
Abu Fazl's and Amarkavya Vanshawali Statement on the Blast of the mines using Gun Powder:-
"शब्दों महानेव बभूव पञ्च क्रोशाविधि(वधि)स्थाय¬ि जने: श्रुताश्व"(अमरकाव्य वंशावली,)
"50 kos,Pinjah Karva bestar rasid"
(Abu Fazl's Akbarnama(Persian Text,Vol II,Pg 400 and Pg 227)).
अमरकाव्य वंशावली limits the noise of the explosion to 5 kos whereas Fazl mentions 50 kos.
=================
As the Siege of Chittorgarh commenced a massive Mughal Army of nearly 60,000 gathered for battle and in this situation, Akbar had prayed for help for achieving victory and vowed to visit the tomb of the Sufi Khwaja at Ajmer if he was victorious. As the bombardment and the continuous assaults on Chittorgarh Fort continued, during one particular assault it is believed that a shot from Akbar's own matchlock wounded or killed the commander of the already demoralized Rajputs. It was only when almost all the Rajput women committed Jauhar (self immolation of women) did he Mughals realize that the condition inside the fort was now out of control and the total victory was within grasp.
{
On the night of February 22, the Moguls attacked the fort from all sides and created several breaches in the walls. The Rajput warriors put up a stubborn resistance. At one point in the fighting, Prince Patta’s mother commanded Patta to don the saffron robe, which would indicate his desire to die for his gods and his country. She also armed his young bride with a lance and accompanied her down the rock. The defenders of Chitor saw mother and daughter-in-law die heroically, fighting side by side.
The Moguls had destroyed a large part of the wall at the end of the sabat that faced the royal battery. The defenders collected such combustible materials as muslin, wood, cotton and oil to fill the breach, intending to set fire to the heap when the Mogul troops approached to prevent them from entering the fort.
Akbar was in a vantage point inside a specially made gallery on top of the sabat at the time, and he saw a man wearing a chieftain’s cuirass directing the proceedings at the breach. The emperor took out a matchlock he had christened Sangram (Akbar was said to have killed a few thousand birds and animals with this gun during his hunting trips). He then fired at the Rajput chief, but no one could be certain whether the chieftain had been hit.
An hour had passed when Akbar received reports that the Rajputs had inexplicably abandoned their defenses. At about that time, fire broke out in several places in the fort. Akbar’s Hindu adviser, Raja Bhagwan Das, told the Mogul emperor that the Rajputs must be performing their custom of johar.
}
=====Account Of Jauhar From Veer Vinod=====
"रावत पत्ता अपनी माँ सज्जन्बाई सोंनगरी और ठकुरानियो में से सामंतसी की बेटी जीवाबाई सोलंकिनी,सहसमल्ल की बेटी मदालसाबाई कच्छवाही ,इसरदास की बेटी भागवती बाई चहुवान,पद्मावती बाई झाली,रतनबाई राठोड,बालेसाबाई चहुवान,परमार डूंगरसी की बेटी बाग़डेची आसाबाई,वगैरह और दो बेटे व् पांच बेटियाँ आदि सबको आगमे जलाकर,तय्यार हो आया."(Veer Vinod,मोतीलाल बनारसीदास,chapter named 'बादशाह अकबर का चित्तोड़ लेना',Pg-80)
the jauhar were carried out at THREE different havelies: those of चुण्डावत पत्ता , साहिबखान चौहान, & ईसरदास चौहान ( may be also at जयमल्ल हवेली) led by Senior most thakurani of the haveli. Some are believed to have preferred जल समाधी । one estimate puts the figure at 300 more than that seem to be axeggaration.
Patta had 9 wives 5 daughters & 3 sons. His mother Sajjan bai Songari, wife Jivabai Solanki, & sister died on battle field fighting .
=================
The fortress of Chittor finally fell on February 1568 after a siege of four months when it was stormed by the Mughal forces. Akbar himself ordered two armored elephants" and 250 sowars to enter through two narrow breaches on the northern wall of the fort. Instead of surrendering to the Mughals the Rajputs chose to worship the sun one last time and fight to the death. This was common practise among the Rajputs also known as saka. Akbar then ordered the victorious Mughal forces to massacre the 30,000 civilian inhabitants of Chittorgarh Fort to compensate the soldiers killed in the war by the brave and talented Rajput soldiers.
Akbar then ordered the heads of his enemies to be displayed upon towers erected throughout the region, in order to demonstrate his authority and his victory over the Chittorgarh.(smith,2¬002,pg 342).
==================
Some Points to be noted
1)Akbar Shot Jaimal With his gun named "संग्राम."
2) The Ist Mughal War Elephant - Madhukar combats with Isar Das Chauhan:
A wonderful thing which happened that time, was that the Chauhan chief - Aissar Das Chauhan (or, Isar Das Chauhan) , who was one of the distinguished brave men of the fort, saw the elephant Madhukar and asked its name. When they told him he, in a moment, with daring rashness, seized his tusk with one hand, and struck with his dagger with the other and said, “Be good enough to convey my respects to your world-adorning appreciator of merit.”
{
Abu'l Fazl describes a"wonderful thing" (as he says) - which was a daring attack by Isar Das Chauhan on one of the Mughal elephants Madhukar. Isar Das asked the name of the elephant before seizing its tusk with one hand and stabbing it with his dagger in the other hand. Isar Das then coolly asked the elephant's commander to convey his (Isar Das') 'wishes' to Akbar ("world adorning appreciator of merit"). It is interesting to observe that even Fazl was forced to admire some of the courageous acts of the Rajputs, which were beyond imagination.
}
The IInd Mughal War Elephant - Jangia:
The elephant Jangia displayed great deeds. One of them was that a Rajput ran and struck his trunk with his sword and cut it off. Though his trunk was severed, which makes life difficult, it made wonderful conflicts before it died. It had killed 30 distinguished men before it was wounded, and it slew 15 afterwards. The elephant Madhukar also displayed wonderful deeds.
{
Here Fazl described one of Akbar's favorite Mughal elephants, "Jangia - the warrior", who killed 45 distinguished Rajputs before dying , despite its trunk being cut off by a sword!!
}
The IIIrd Mughal War Elephant - Kadira:
A wonderful thing was that the elephant Kadira ran away inside the fort on account of the noise and tumult, driving before it a number of doomed men who were coming to the breach. The lane was narrow, and it trampled and scattered them all. It was by the Divine aid that such a great boon was conferred. Aitamad Khan, who was riding on the elephant, was wounded, and died of his wounds a few days afterwards.
{
Description of another Mughal war elephant named Kadira. In Arabic, Kadira means - "the powerful". This elephant was disturbed by the battle sounds and ran helter-skelter towards a narrow lane and trampled many of the Rajput soldiers who were going to repair a breach in the fort walls. Abu'l Fazl calls this rampage by the elephant a "divine aid" and a "great boon".
}
The IVth Mughal War Elephant - Sabdiliya:
The Shahinshah used to tell me that - " At this time, he was standing on the wall of the fort and contemplating the Divine aids. The elephant Sabdiliya came inside the fort and was engaged in casting down and killing the Rajputs.
A Rajput ran at him and struck it with his sword inflicting a slight wound. The elephant, however, did not regard it and seized him with its trunk.
Just then another Rajput came in front of him and Sabdiliya turned to him while the first man escaped from his grasp and again daringly attacked him, but Sabdiliya behaved magnificently."}
Description of another Mughal war elephant named Sabdiliya. This name means - the beautiful (perhaps the charming killer) , who was throwing away and killing the Rajputs. The incident mentioned here relates to the story of this elephant's fight with two Rajputs. Akbar was watching this encounter standing on the wall of the fort.
}
==========Commanders¬ on Both Sides===========
Defending Army:-
1)Rao Medtiya Jaimal Singh Rathore(Kiledar)
2)Rawat Fateh Singh Chundawat/¬Sisodiya(Head Of The Infantry)
3)Isardas Chauhan(Head Of the Archery Division)
4)Sahib Khan Chauhan(Another Infantry Division)
5)Pathan Ismail Khan(Gunner's/¬Leader of 1000 Pathan Gunner's )
Attacking Army:-
1)Akbar
2)Abdullah Khan
3)Khwaja Abdul Majid
4)Ghazi Khan
5)Mehtar Khan
6)Munim Khan
-------------------------------------------------------
Sources:-
1)Muntakhab Ut Tawarikh
2)Akbarnama
3)Tarikh I Akbari
4)Amar Vansh Varnan
5)Oxford History Of India-V.A Smith
6)Amarkavya Vanshawali
7)Mewar and Mughal Emperor'-G.N Sharma
8)Mewar ke Maharana aur shahanshah Akbar-R.S Bhatt
9)Veer Vinod
10)Rajputane ka Itihas,Ojha
11)Rajputane ka Itihas,Gahlot
sanjay dwivedy

Saturday, October 31, 2015

इतिहास की अनकही कहानिया(The untold story of history)-HOW AKBAR DIED

इतिहास की अनकही कहानिया(The untold story of history)

मित्रो इतिहास मे कई वीरो की गाथाए है जो खो गई है ओर कई वीरो की वीरता के कार्यो का श्रेय किसी दूसरे को दिया गया लेकिन यहा यह लेख कोई वीर या वीरता की गाथा को नही है बल्कि एक महान प्रेम कहानी को सम्प्रित है|
भारत देश मे हीर रांझा,सलीम अनारकली,शाहजहा मुमताज कई प्रेमियो की कहानिया प्रसिध्द है तो कई इतिहास मे दबी पडी है|
इनमे से एक महान प्रेम कहानी है शहजादा सलीम(जहागीर) ओर मेहरू की
मेहरू का पूरा नाम मेहरून्निया था ओर वो एक विवाहित महिला थी जिसकी एक कन्या भी थी लेकिन शहजादा सलीम इस शादी शुदा औरत से दिलो जान से मुहब्बत करता था| इतना प्रेम करता था कि उसके अपने पिता अकबर से भी मतभेद हो गया था क्युकि अकबर ने सलीम से मेहरू का निकाह नही किया था बल्कि उसका निकाह शेर अफगान से कर दिया था इसलिए सलीम चाहता था कि किसी तरह अकबर को गद्दी से उतार कर खुद बादशाह बन मेहरू से निकाह कर लू|
लेकिन अकबर प्यार मे विश्वास नही करता था उसका मानना था कि सुन्दर स्त्रिया भोगने के लिए होती है गले बाधने के लिए नही|
सन १६०४ ईस्वी मे अकबर आगरा मे इतना बीमार पड गया था कि उसे दस्त ओर पेट मे ऐंठन होने लगी थी उसका समय निकट आ गया था| उसे किसी को अपनी गद्दी ओर राजपाठ का उत्तराधिकारी घोषित करना था,अकबर के सलीम से मतभेद तो थे लेकिन फिर भी उसकी इच्छा थी कि सलीम ही मुगल सल्तन्त का बादशाह बने|लेकिन मानसिह का सलीम से इतना मतभेद हो गया था कि मानसिह सलीम को जान से मार देता लेकिन उसकी बहन को उसने सलीम के प्राणदान का वचन दिया था ,मानसिंह चाहता था कि सलीम का भाई खुसरो बादशाह बने इस तरह सलीम के बादशाह बनने मे सबसे बडा काटा मानसिह ही था | अकबर की चाह थी कि सलीम ही बादशाह बने लेकिन मानसिह रूकावट है इसलिए अकबर ने मानसिह को जान से मारने की योजना सोचने लगा| उसने उस वेद्य को बुलाया जो उसका उपचार कर रहा था उसने हकीम से कहा कि ऐसी जहर की गोली बनायी जाए जो धीरे धीरे असर करे ओर उसकी कोई काट न हो ओर आदमी धीरे धीरे मर जाए | हकीम ने ऐसा ही एक गोली बनाई फिर अकबर ने दो 
रसगुल्ले बनवाए ओर उनमे एक रसगुल्ले मे वो जहर की गोली रखवा दी ओर दोनो रसगुल्लो पर अलग अलग वक्र चढा दिए ताकि पहचान हो कौनसे मे जहर की गोली है | फिर अकबर ने मानसिह को बुलाया ओर उससे रसगुल्ला खाने को कहा लेकिन पता नही कैसे अकबर ने गलती से जहर वाला रसगुल्ला खुद खा लिया| धीरे धीरे अकबर की तबीयत बिगडने लगी ओर रात्रि मे उसे अपना दम घुटती महसूस होने लगा हकीम ने उसे कई दवाईया दी लेकिन किसी का कोई असर नही हुआ अकबर का समय निकट था|
अकबर ने किसी तरह सलीम को अपने पास बुलाया ओर उसे बादशाह घोषित किया ओर अपनी कटार सलीम के पीठ पर बंधवा दी|
लेकिन सलीम को अपने बादशाह बनने से खुशी नही थी क्युकि उसकी मूल इच्छा तो ईरानी विवाहित औरत एक कन्या की मा मेहरू मे अटकी थी|
बादशाह बनने के बाद सलीम ने शेर अफगान को दूर किसी मिशन पर भेज दिया ओर सलीम गुप्त रूप से मेहरू से भेट करने गया ओर मेहरू को निकाह का प्रस्ताव भी दिया यहा तक की उसे शहजादी बनने का लालच भी दिया लेकिन मेहरू ने इंकार कर दिया उस दिन जहागीर बहुत क्रोधित हुआ ओर उसने इतनी मदिरा पी ओर नशे मे बडबडाने लगा | इस तरह सलीम ने कई बार मेहरू को मनाने की कोशिश की लेकिन हर बार वो असफल रहा लेकिन वो मेहरू से इतना प्रेम करता था कि उसने कभी जबरदस्ती नही कि नही तो मुगल खानदान मे तो जो सुन्दर युवती दिखती उसे लौंडी भी बना लिया जाता था लेकिन सलीम ने मेहरू को लौंडी नही बनाया|
लेकिन सलीम था तो पागल आशिक उसने शेर अफगान का धोखे से आगरा मे कत्ल कर दिया ओर मेहरू को निकाह का सन्देश भेजा लेकिन फिर मेहरू ने अस्वीकार कर दिया| इसी तरह बार बार असफल होने के बाद अन्त मे सन१६११ मे मेहरु ने उसे निकाह करने की स्वीकृति दी ओर इस प्रकार ४२ वर्ष की आयु मे जब जहागीर खुद दादा बन चुका था तब उसने अपनी प्रेमिका मेहरू से निकाह किया|
इस प्रकार उस प्रेम कहानी का अन्त हुआ| जिसमे पुत्र को पिता के प्रति विद्रोह करना पडा,किसी सुहागीन को विधवा बनना पडा,ओर एक प्रेमी को अपनी प्रेमिका के लिए वर्षो प्रतिज्ञा करनी पडी|
यही मेहरू आगे चल कर इतिहास मे नूरजहा ,नूरमहल के नाम से प्रसिध्द हुई|
ऐसे महान आशिक को हमारा सलाम है|
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