In the Memory of Maharana Pratap May 22 2004

We may or may not know about Maharana Pratap outside of the stories we were told in our childhood, but considering the times we are in, it is only befitting that we remember this eternal patriot who is credited as having fought the first war of Independence.

Maharana Pratap was born on May 9th 1540 in Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan. His father was Maharana Udai Singh II and his mother was Rani Jeevant Kanwar. Maharana Udai Singh II ruled the kingdom of Mewar, with his capital at Chittor. Maharana Pratap was the eldest of twenty-five sons and hence given the title of Crown Prince. He was destined to be the 54th ruler of Mewar, in the line of the Sisodiya Rajputs.

He left his body at Chavand, aged 56, on January 29, 1597. He died fighting for his nation, for his people, and most importantly for his honour.

His last moments were an appropriate commentary on his life, when he swore his successor, Crown Prince Amar Singh to eternal conflict against the foes of his country's independence. Maharana Pratap was never able to win back Chittor but he never gave up fighting to win it back.

It is difficult not to draw parallels with what is happening in India these days - the Jagmals and Man Singhs are back in power. Even though India is not subjugated and its spirit is still free, one cannot but wonder at the alacrity with which some of our own were ready to offer India's crown to an outsider. It is not that India would have been brought under foreign rule - it would just be a symbolic rule by an outsider. At 32 years of age, not much older than I am today, Maharana Pratap was leading his men, and people, in a battle to prevent just that - a rule by an outsider, if only in name - Akbar only wanted Maharana Pratap to say that Akbar was his king, his Jahanpanah. Considering that Maharana Pratap had fought the most important battle of his life by the time he was 36 years old, it gives me some cause to pause and reflect how I look at myself today, now that I have entered the 24s. This great man died because he would not agree to be ruled by an outsider, even in name. I, like many other Indians, would have been anguished, dejected, heart-broken for 10-15 days and then life would have returned to "as-is" had an outsider ascended to the throne of India. Where are the Maharana Prataps today? Would he not be thinking, wherever he may be today, as to why we find so much trouble peforming our duty to our country when he underwent a lifelong penance? He too was aware of Vaasudhaiv Kutumbakam but he did not misuse it nor mistake where it was applicable.