Mewar of Rajasthan has always been the abode of brave ones, warriors, pride, self-respect and sacrifices. Rana Sanga and Maharana Pratap were its stellar products. There always are exceptions. In 1533 Mewar was ruled by a cowardly character like Vikramaditya who was a debauchee. Then Sultan Bahadurshah was the ruler of Gujarat. With a large force he launched an attack on Mewar. Vikramaditya may have been an undesirable ruler but Mewar was not bereft of brave ones. There was a state in Mewar called Devalia Pratapgarh and its ruler Rawal Vadhji was an old battler. He rushed to Chittaur with his soldiers to defend Mewar. Some other Rajput bands joined him and a defending force built up under Raval Vadhji.
The enemy force was massive. It had guns and cannons as well. Bahadurshah’s army laid siege of the fort and connons began to shell the fort from all sides. Rajputs began to shoot arrows from the fort wall tops. They claimed many of the enemy. The enemy force was many times bigger in size, material and strength. Its cannons were wreaking havoc. The Muslim force had guns as well whereas Rajputs depended only on bows, arrows, swords and spears. From the fort they could only shoot arrows. Under intense shelling a wall of the fort collapsed. There 500 Handa soldiers were fighting against the enemy force under the command of Arjunrao. They fought bravely and became martyrs eventually.
The attacking force led a fierce charge in a bid to storm into the fort as Hada soldiers no more stood in its way. The Rajput soldiers who were manning the fort walls and shooting arrows rushed down to hold the enemy charge. In small waves they tried to push back the enemy. They were thinning out as the soldiers were dying in every attempt. Bahadurshah rallied his soldiers and commanded them to flood into the fort. The enthused enemy soldiers moved forward with battle cries of ‘Ya Ali’ but a new defending force confronted them. It was a force of women commanded by Rajmata of Mewar, Jawaharbai. Above 40 she was and astride her horse she rattled her sword looking fierce in crimson face.
She had a spear in her left hand that tore through enemy bodies dealing out death. Her act was enthusing the few remaining Rajput soldiers who pounced on the enemy with telling effect. Some distance away Bahadurshah was looking at the fury called Jawaharbai. It amazed him but he had too many soldiers to sacrifice. Rajput warriors were falling dead one by one but at a heavy price.
Meanwhile, Jawaharbai was carrying on the fight valiantly. Every one of her dying soldiers made her go at the enemy with vengeance. For hours the battle raged on. Most of the Rajput soldiers had died. A cannon shell hit Rajmata. She fell off her horse. Her body had become a pulp and she was dead, a martyr the brave woman had become. Rajputs quickly prepared a massive pyre of wood, put the dead bodies of Jawaharbai and other women on it and set it on fire.
When Bahadurshah entered the fort with his army he found no Rajput soldier alive. There only were big heaps of ashes and half burnt wood. That was the kind of amazing acts of valour that earn a special place of honour for Mewar in Rajasthan and Sisodiya dynasty amongst the Rajput royals.
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