Shakti Singh considered himself as valiant and skilled a warrior as Maharana Pratap. There was some truth in it. This ego made him clash with Pratap. Rana Pratap was also guilty of neglecting the talents of his brother Shakti Singh due to some unspelled fears. Shakti was exiled from Mewar for the crime of displaying rebellious mood during the hunting expedition.
Shakti Singh left Mewar feeling vicitmised. He would naturally like to settle scores with Maharana Pratap Singh. Many a time he was seized with a wish to challenge Pratap for an open duel before the people or warriors to show what he was. He thought he was as deserving to inherit the throne as Pratap was. After all Pratap himself sat on the throne after removing another brother who had their father’s sanction.
If Jagmal was guilty of ignoring Pratap Singh, he himself was guilty of the same crime for ignoring Shakti Singh in the same way.
Shakti Singh thought that Emperor Akbar was the only person who would appreciate his true worth. Akbar was the third emperor in his dynasty. His grand father Babar invaded Indian land and established Mogul rule in part of this land. His son, Humayun expanded the boundaries of that part. Akbar studied the warring acts of his father and grandfather for the expansion of the empire.
He worked out a different tactic which was more effective and was in tune with the situations around. It was to take advantage of the disunity of the local rulers and their quarrelsome nature. As forcible conversion into Islam was not working, Akbar decided to try secular approach and it was working beautifully. This new policy gained him popularity among the Hindu masses also. Thus, the clever emperor became Akbar, the great.
Now Rana Pratap’s another brother had walked into the trap of Emperor Akbar.
He received Shakti Singh with due respect as the brother could prove a winning pawn in the empire expansion game. Shakti Singh was dying to take revenge on his brother for mistreatment meted out to him. Akbar promised him that he would get his chance because Moguls were already in the process of launching an attack on Mewar.
Shakti Singh revealed to Akbar the military secrets of Mewar. Akbar wanted to use some trick to trap Rana Pratap and capture him. Shakti was for all out war against Rana Pratap which would give him greater satisfaction as he hoped that Akbar would let him lead the Mogul army into war.
Akbar wanted to avoid blood shed. He sensed that Shakti Singh was not thinking in a rational manner. He was blinded by a wish to take revenge. So, Akbar decided not to trust the judgement of Shakti Singh blindly.
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